fucking macs. i need some computer help.

ok, here's the deal.

i have a g4 running os9x. i have a "borrowed" copy of osx (i don't even know which version, cuz i suck). i would like to upgrade. i don't know how to partition my hard drive. i have a cd burner, but because i'm totally not computer savvy, i seem to be completely incapable of backing up my files.

i want to upgrade, but make sure nothing gets lost in the transition.

any of you geeks know how the fuck i'm gonna go about this? i'm close to just calling up the mac support line and being honest, which is never a good policy.

You don't need to partition. OS X installs a startup disk on top of OS 9 (i b'lieve) and you can boot into either. Or you can run 9 through X in 'classic mode.' Google for it, and you'll find probably a hundred message board topics devoted to this.

well with my limited knowlegde of OSX from work, I know that we upgraded from 9, but OSX still has a "classic" environment that allows 9 to still run and let you run your 9 apps, so maybe you don't need to back them up. But don't quote me on that.

try borrowing a copy of toast. it's always good to have a backup.

anybody who knows about this shit live in jersey? i'll pay you to make it go. i'm really just terrified of fucking up and losing important shit.

So back it up on CD. in fact, you should ALWAYS back up critical shit. It's a good habit to get into. I've lost way too much in my computing life and wished I had made backups.

best solution here? Take the time to burn your crucial apps, all your documents, basically, anything that you think is 'important shit.'

Once you have copies of all of that, and have VERIFIED that they all work, then go ahead with OS X installation. I'm pretty certain you'll be fine, but if you're not, then at worst, you can reformat, install OS X alone, and run your OS 9 apps in classic mode. If you back everything up, that's the absolute worst that can happen.

Unless you happen to accidentally drop your computer into the bathtub in which you're sitting while it's plugged in. That would be pretty awful.

maybe if you post this in the Mac Users group you'll find some local help.

good luck!

oh, i should add that i have a G4 and when i installed OS X it left the OS 9 environment alone.

and yes, you should implement a backup regimen regardless.

1. Put blank CD-R into drive
2. Select "Standard," then click "Prepare"
3. Drag files/folders onto CD-R icon on desktop until the computer says you can't anymore
4. Highlight CD-R icon, then go to the "Special" menu and select "Burn CD-R"
5. Repeat until you do this with all of your files.

Start backing your files up or I'm going to find you and kick your ass.

(Not really...that's the former IT in me talking. But BACK-UP!! It's important. )