Mac OS 9.0.4 -- need compatible DVD drive

[2Long2Retirement]

I cannot upgrade my OS at this time bc I have too many peripherals and too much software that won't be able to survive the transition. However, I have a directory error (invalid PEOF) which Disk First Aid cannot repair, and I can't get Norton to boot from its CD bc evidently I have the wrong disk driver for the version I have (and I'm sure the newer version is even more incompatible).

So I wanted to buy an external DVD drive to back up my entire hard drive, and then reformat. But all the DVD drives I have found only work with Mac OS 9.1 and beyond. Does anyone know of any that will work with 9.0.4? I think the incompatibility may be related to USB version support.

 

[jmgalvin]

You should be able to go to Apple's site and download the update to 9.1 and/or 9.2. It's free and has no negative effect on the OS.

The USB support in all Mac OS 8 & 9 versions is 1.1. USB 2 is very new and, I believe, only supported by 10.3X

 

[jmgalvin]

One other thing you might consider - an outboard Firewire/USB hard drive.

If you just want to back up files this might be easier, and cheaper. If you get a firewire/usb combo you can back up from your present usb equipped mac. the included USB 2 on the drive is bsckwards compatible with USB 1.

Then if you get a new mac in the future, the drive can be plugged into either a firewire or usb port - the firewire being far faster. If you happen to get a pc, it can be plugged into the usb port, or firewire if the pc is so equipped.

These things are not too expensive and can provide a lot of backup space. Just makesure that the brand/model is compatible with OS 9. Both LaCie and OWComputing have resonably priced drives that work with osx and classic.