Any Wise Advice Before I Reinstall OS9?

[tupelo8]

My older G4 can't handle OSX and OSX software (graphics-heavy), so I want to reinstall OS9, and previous software. Is there anything I should be careful of, or need to save elsewhere? Will I lose all my email settings? Do I need to "uninstall" before I reinstall? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (I'm not giving up – I'm getting a new dual G4 or G5 imac, when I can make up my mind, but in the meantime I want my G4 back the way it was).

[Buzz]

You will lose everything when you go from OSX to OS9. There's no way around that. Apple and other software manufacturers didn't plan on anyone wanting to go back.

I don't know why you say your G4 can't handle OSX. I've got OS10.3.4 running on a G3, 2-G4s and a G5 just fine.