Mac OS 8: Unable To Start From Mac OS 8 CD

Symptom

The Mac OS 8 CD will not start up.

Solution

This error is caused by AppleTalk being inactive on the computer. The CD was revised in the second printing to prevent this error, but Apple is not going to replace CDs of the first printing for this minor issue.

There are multiple work arounds - these are listed in the preferred order of the least disruption to your computer's settings:

1. Start up to the appropriate Disk Tools disk included in the Mac OS 8 box (there are images on the CD if you need to make replacements). This disk has a CD driver that will recognize Apple CD-ROM drives, and you can insert the Mac OS 8 CD and do your install from there.

2. Starting up with the CD, hold down the Shift key as soon as you see the "happy Macintosh" icon.

3. Start up to your regular hard disk, insert the Mac OS 8 CD, and run the Installer. If you chose this option, make sure you run Disk First Aid to check your hard disk while started to your Disk Tools disk first. As a recommendation, you should use the Clean Install option if you install this way to avoid altering the active System Folder. If you have a third-party CD-ROM drive, you will probably not be able to use the first choice (nor possibly the second), and this choice would be your first.

4. Start up to your regular hard disk, make AppleTalk active, and restart with the Mac OS 8 CD. Once you have finished the installation, you may make AppleTalk inactive again.

5. Reset your parameter RAM (which reactivates AppleTalk) and then you can start with the Mac OS 8 CD. This option is last because resetting parameter RAM may make some undesirable changes to your computer, such as serial port selection, deleting a RAM disk, or changing your choices in the Memory control panel.

The startup error does not represent a problem with your computer, nor does it indicate a faulty CD disc, so you need not be concerned on those counts.