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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Old Imac G3 Question

ronnie_g - Aug 16, 2005 - 11:59 am

I am new to the iMac OS, and am starting from scratch!!!

I was given a iMac G3 Slot load CD, I upped the ram and installed Fedora core 4.

Bought a even older G3 iMac tray load that I have no passwords or serial numbers for. Also bought (from e-bay) a 4 cd set of iMac Media (603-0746) that now appears can't be installed on this unit? I get a error "This configuration is not supported on this computer"

Open Firmware is ID'ed as 3.0.f2 4/23/99

Questions:

Any way I can get the iMac media to install?
(Have seen adds for universal install cd on e-bay)

I know the units are really old, I just picked them up to get some training on iMac, not really willing to invest $100 in a new OS, if I can't install the iMac OS I guess I'll run Linux on both units?

Thanks for your time, and suggestions!

Ron (S. Florida)

powermac - Aug 16, 2005 - 12:51 pm

What OS is on them now? And what OS are you trying to install.
I am not sure what Fedora Core is ?

ronnie_g - Aug 16, 2005 - 4:20 pm

Fedora is the free / open Version of Red Hat Linux, thats on the newer iMac, am using it to send this...

Older one had / has OS X, and 9.?, but would like to re-install a 9.x and 10.x to start from scratch, I don't have any of the passwords for the last owner.... Plus it has a lot of junk that i'd like to clean off

I bought a 6 CD iMac set off ebay, 4 CD's restore for 10.1.3, 9.2.2 (CD # 691-3634-a) 1 cd is a test, 1 cd iMac apps.

powermac - Aug 16, 2005 - 7:00 pm

If the 4 CD are for a specific Imac, then they won't work on the machine, unless it is that specific model.

As far as resetting passwords, on the first install CD for MAC OSX, allows you to reset an administrator password. That is not much help, since the CD won't work.

Is the G3 slot loading model, the Imac DVD model, which reads DVDs?

ronnie_g - Aug 16, 2005 - 11:14 pm

The old one is a +- 333, +- 4/99 - 10/99
Newer is a +- 350 +- 10/99 - 7/2000 slot CD (not DVD).

How do I tell what OS software will load into the older one?
I know if I go to CompUSA and spend +- $180 for OS-X it will or might install on the newer one, but if I buy from e-bay how can I tell what will load onto the older iMac.

I did mention on the first post, some one has a iMac boot CD that will allow any of the restore sets to be loaded onto another version. ANy thoughts where that could be found?

Or where their might be a site that would have something like that to download as a .iso?

Thanks again

powermac - Aug 17, 2005 - 9:34 am

As far as what OS will load on what depends on ram. I have a slot loading G3 Imac I use for a music server. I have Jaguar on it. Tiger is simply to much for it.

As far as a Imac boot CD that will allow any restore to be loaded is beyond my knowledge. I have never heard of any such CD. I have heard that people have extracted the OS from those model specific CDs. Perhaps you can check out macosxhints.com.

Sorry I was not more help. My advice is to focus on the G3 Slot loading first.

If I am gathering the information correctly, the machine boots, you do not have the password to enter the desktop? You want to do a clean install, but the install CD are not those specific to that machine. If you get the spec from the machine, you may be able to purchase the machine specific ones, or a version of Jaguar or even Tiger (depending on how much ram), from ebay.

I am going to re-pool your question, and perhaps some one else could be more assistance to you.

ronnie_g - Aug 17, 2005 - 4:08 pm

I do have the slot load up and running, just not a Mac OS, it is Fedora Linux.
My first plan, going back maybe 4 or 5 mo was to make a multi boot iMac & Linux on the slot load, when the CD's I bought didn't install I did a full Linux install on the slot iMac and saved the older one for 100% iMac learning & use, it has Mac 9.? and X.? on it, but I don't have any of the user passwords. I pulled the hard drove (to save the OS) and installed another (Mac approved) hard drive. I can get it to do a Cd start on the iMac software I bought, but it won't install, no options to clean the drive or anything.

I am thinking e-bay may be my only solution in the price range I am willing to pay. This started off as a training experiance in the iMac, I know the units are old/outdated so I am not willing to buy new store price software. Had 'thought' I could locate iMac software at the local computer shows, learning iMac is not all that common in my area?

Till I locate a iMac OS to load, I can't do much more with the older unit, it appears to be too old for even Linux to load onto it? Though it has iMac X running (on the pulled hard drive).

TechSupport - Aug 20, 2005 - 4:30 pm

This ticket has been moved to the open forums for more exposure.

Please follow this link:

http://www.macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240158