Problem Accessing Computer to Install OS 10.3

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starmint

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I received an iMac DV+ from a school and I want to replace the OS with OS 10.3. I have the discs but the problem is the computer is locked down with an administrator password that I don't know. I can log in fine as a student but many things are locked down. All I want to do is wipe the whole thing and start fresh. One way was to replace the OS but the problem is I cannot boot up from the OS 10.3 disks. With out the admin pass. it will not allow me to change the startup disk. I tried resetting the Open Firmware (it lets me start in open firmware mode but that's all) It will NOT allow me to start in Single User Mode. I've tried resetting the PRAM. The only other thing I can think to do is replace the internal HD. Any suggestions on other things to try?
And where's a good place to get a small internal HD that'll work? I found this one online:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270610491649&fromMakeTrack=true
 
The only password that will stop you (and will also prevent installing on a replacement hard drive) would be a firmware password. Try this:
Put your 10.3 install CD in the drive. Shut off the iMac by holding the power button for 5 seconds.
Then, press and release the power button, and immediately hold the Option key on your keyboard. You should then see a curly arrow icon, a right-facing arrow icon, and a boot icon for the hard drive and an icon for your installer CD.
Do you get a password screen, with a padlock, instead of the drive icons?

Someone has said that buying a used hard drive is like buying used toilet paper. I would'nt exactly describe it that way, but you don't know what you are getting with a used hard drive. You can buy brand new 80 GB for not much more.
http://www.compusa.com/applications...0gb-ide-hard-drive&Nav=|c:134|&Sort=0&Recs=10

Do you know how much memory you have installed? That may be preventing the OS X boot, too, as an iMac with OS 9 could have only 64 MB installed. Good for OS 9, but not for OS X.
 
If it's a true open-firmware password, then there is only one way to bypass it:

1) Change the amount of RAM significantly (add or remove RAM modules), then
2) Start up the computer, and immediately zap the PRAM three times in a row

That two-step procedure should remove the open-firmware password from the machine, at which point you should be able to use an alternate startup volume to install Mac OS X.
 
DeltaMac said:
You should then see a curly arrow icon, a right-facing arrow icon, and a boot icon for the hard drive and an icon for your installer CD.
Do you get a password screen, with a padlock, instead of the drive icons?

I inserted disc one of the 2 install DVDs-held down Option. The screen came up with the Mac Hard Drive, OS Install CD and a System Check button. When I clicked on the install, nothing happened, it would just show the same screen again. When I used the System Check, it said it wasn't able to be used on the computer, I think because the OS is so old (OS 9).

It's a 20GB HD. Built in memory is 64. Virtual memory is 65. Largest unused block is 37.9.

When I opened the disc in the student account, I found the icons to install OS X but I just kept getting errors, that it couldn't find the files and such. And then when I ran the install program I clicked "Restart" in the box that popped up for the install and it said only the owner could change the start up disc.
I will try the RAM removal/change next. Does the computer have more RAM than just any extra that's clipped in? Meaning, if I remove the RAM card internally, does it have more RAM stored else where it can start up ok with?
Thanks for your advice.
Click to expand...
 
Ok, this is very strange. The computer is slot-loading. I can insert and eject a cd fine. The disc I've been using is the first of 2, DVDs that say "eMac Software Install and Restore 1 of 2". On these DVDs are the OS X 10.4 installers.
But I also have 3 CDs, same stuff, they say "Panther Mac OS X Version 10.3" but the computer won't take them! And when it finally did, the cd was stuck and it wouldn't eject! I got it out...but it wasn't fun. Can I hook the iMac to my eMac running OS 10.3 and access it that way?
Sorry for such long posts.
 
You don't have a firmware password, so you don't need to do that memory removal. In fact, you probably have memory in only one slot, and there is no other memory except what's in the slots - AND! - 64 MB of RAM is not enough to install OS X, and that is what is stopping you. 10.3 requires a minimum of 128MB, and 10.4 requires a minimum of 256MB just to install OS X.
It's very easy to upgrade your memory. Your iMac has the 2 memory slots inside the access door on the bottom of the case. Each slot can take up to 512MB of PC-133 SDRAM.
 
Ok, great! I added some extra RAM, equals 128. I started up the disc A OK. But now it says it needs a firmware update! I found it, downloaded it, put it on a jump drive, opened it, AND the computer gave me an error basically saying I didn't have sufficient privileges to open it!
So, any other way I can update the Firmware? Don't think I can connect the computer to the internet (not enough privileges!!) But I can use the disc to wipe the drive....Is that a good idea? Just erase the HD using the install disc?
 
The firmware needs to be updated, and you have to be booted to OS 9 to do that update. So, you have a 'catch-22', where you need the update, but you don't know the password to have permission to run the update.
Do you also have the OS 9 installer disk? You could use that to erase the hard drive, then reinstall OS 9 just to update the firmware. You have to be updated to OS 9.1 or higher. Then the OS X can be installed, after updating the firmware.
 
No, I don't have the OS 9 installer disc. Just 10.3. Is there a way I can access the Mac through my newer eMac? Using an ethernet cable maybe? I have:
1) eMac running OS X 10.3
2) old iMac, locked, running OS 9
3) old iMac with wiped HD and no operating system
 
The only way to upgrade the firmware, is by running the firmware updater from OS 9.1, booted to the iMac internal hard drive.
If the eMac has OS 9, you could copy the OS 9 System Folder (that's the folder name "System Folder") to the iMac hard drive, and use that to install the firmware.
You could also install the OS X software by booting to the eMac with the installer, and then install on the iMac, which is connected to the eMac through a FireWire cable. (note - I think that Firewire target mode works better after the firmware update, so you have a catch-22 with that)
The firmware update (depending on which version you already have on the old iMac) also provides compatibility with 512MB RAM memory sticks, so if you wanted to upgrade to larger chips, you still have to update the firmware.

The first step is upgrading the firmware, obviously, and you have to boot from OS 9.1 to do that..... If you don't have access to OS 9 at all, then that's a big challenge...
You got this iMac from a school, maybe there's some sources there?
 
Ok, it'll be a few days until I can mess with it but I will try what you suggested and post back. I don't go back to the school I got it from until next month, they may have it, but they probably recieved the computers with the OS already installed, or the traveling tech guys did it. I tend to doubt they'd have any at the school, but if I get stuck I guess I can try.
 
So I am able to connect my old iMac to the newer eMac via firewire and I'm transferring over the OS9 System Folder but it's taking FOREVER! Are there folders I can skip or a quicker way to copy them?
 
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