mychips

Q: 10.3.9 Internet issues

Hi All

 

i have been trawling through the fourms and still cannot find a solution to my iMac internet issues. I have done a complete format and reinstall of Mac OS X 10.3.9 (to be fair i downloaded update on another computer and instelled via USB stick) everything works great can import into firewire from camcorder etc. Airport card can see the wireless connection but when i enter the password it states there is a problem and connot connect. I have tried everying (to what i can understand anyway) and teh main reason for a clean install was to get rid of any possible conflicts that may have been there.

 

everything else can use the internet including my MacBook (intel) fine. Some one did suggest once that DNS settings were not correct which to be honest i did not userstand how to alter them, plus if eberying else was ok why just this iMac playing up.

 

Please can you assist just want to this to connect so my son can upload his filming to pleople for his re school assignments.

 

thank you in advance

 

Peter

iMac, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on May 18, 2014 8:33 AM

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Q: 10.3.9 Internet issues

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer May 18, 2014 2:21 PM in response to mychips
    Level 6 (14,355 points)
    Desktops
    May 18, 2014 2:21 PM in response to mychips

    Oops!

     

    Could you specify what iMac you have, the specs of the system & computer,

    as that may help research or find workable ideas for you to try. This would

    help in troubleshooting, or in discovering Support articles to link you to in

    the course of a discussion.

     

    I just re-read your post and had thought it was for a later

    mac + OS X that would not run in PowerPC vintage!

     

    (The mention of MacBook threw me off, as did a recent newer

    OS X upgrade that may run -- in that newer hardware 10.9.3)

     

    So you've upgraded a PowerPC iMacG4 to Leopard 10.3.9

    and the internet doesn't work? The wireless router may be

    using a different security protcol than the old Airport Card

    can support; you may have to test the unit via Ethernet to

    be sure the computer itself is fully updated. It may go to

    Apple servers to look for Software Updates.

     

    The settings for the wireless security may be incorrect,

    since later WPA2, won't apply to vintage AirPort card.

    With a later OS X such as Tiger 10.4(.11) the odds do

    improve for connectivity to the internet.

     

    The DNS settings should not be an issue if you can use the

    internet with a recent version computer and later OS X.

     

    Not sure how to help, except to try as a test, to run without

    the security you'd really want with the wi-fi (WPA2, etc)

    turned on, to see if the old iMac can then use it.

     

    Another issue would be the lack of correct frequency; a

    newer Wi-Fi system may not be set to be backward

    compatible to 802.11a/b, newer ones use 802.11/b/g/n/+

    You may check to see if the router has a setting to allow

    use of lower or older spec connection.

     

    •Solutions for connecting to Internet, set up sm Network & troubleshooting:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1714

     

    •Creating a small ethernet network:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1433

     

    Panther is a very old OS X and hardly finds any support.

     

    There is an area in ASC discussions for 10.3.x & earlier:

    https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/mac_os_x_v10.3_and_earlier

     

    You may be able to get a download .PDF manual for Panther

    http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/MacOSX10.3_Welcome.pdf

    Or later Tiger, in .PDF from this Manuals support site:

    http://support.apple.com/manuals#macos

     

    Sorry to not have more info...

  • by mychips,

    mychips mychips May 21, 2014 1:10 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 21, 2014 1:10 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Thank you for the advice, i did remove the security on my router and hey presto it connected to the internet so must be to do with my router and security, i even tried WPA and still not connection. not sure how to progress but at least it connects when i need it too.

     

    Also you asked about spec of the iMac which is a PPC G4 800mhz with 256MB ram 15" monitor which i did a clean install of Panther upto 10.3.9

     

    thank you for the support.

     

    Peter

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer May 21, 2014 5:24 PM in response to mychips
    Level 6 (14,355 points)
    Desktops
    May 21, 2014 5:24 PM in response to mychips

    Another idea of the older computer would be to try & locate a vintage

    AirPort express or extreme from the 802.11b/g/n era and use a split

    connection from the router or cable box, etc so your other wi-fi base

    can run a modern secure protocol, and the vintage computer can

    run from the other compatible one.

     

    Seems odd that I have a few spares of the series in reference, as

    whenever I happened across duplicates of ones I bought new, I

    got these spares for only a few dollars each; while having paid

    over $150. for AirPort Extreme models at discount for ones I use.

    So, some cost me as little as $2., two others $5. each. The model

    Extreme offered Ethernet, USB2.0, in-out for wired internet. And

    a fairly good range distance, essentially fair over line-of-sight.

     

    I found that mine could run a USB printer as a wi-fi via the AEBS.

    A friend was able to use a USB hard drive via the port on theirs

    for storage, but that was not said to be supported. I tried one of

    mine outdoors in a waterproof container, to expand a network.

     

    The good thing about the AirPort Extreme (white orb, circa 2004)

    is they had a 56k dialup modem, several extra ports, and can be

    used to relay other wireless base stations like a repeater. Or with

    an Express model, they can support several computers and they

    need not all be running unsecured. The configurations of how to

    do this now may be harder to discover, I used to have all that on

    paper and also some great bookmarked sites. They're gone now.

     

    The iMac G4 800 can run up to 1024MB RAM if the factory slot

    is upgraded with a suitable 512MB chip and the lower slot also

    to an appropriate spec 512MB chip. Each location uses different

    type of RAM; and the factory slot is a very busy job to upgrade.

     

    You could research the correct upgrade RAM for the user friendly

    slot in the bottom (under metal plate) and have the iMac running

    with 768MB Total, or 256+512. If at some future date the internal

    battery is replaced (PRAM battery) that would be a fair time to

    also have the RAM upgraded; be sure the RAM is of best quality

    so as to not have odd failure because the RAM can act up badly

    if that is not of high quality. I have experience in this kind of thing.

     

    If the computer had 1024MB (1GB) RAM total, and checked over

    to be sure it has stable hardware, perhaps some upgrade or new

    items, it could run Tiger 10.4.11 as a fine last system. The iMac G4

    800 17" that I had, with superdrive, airport, 56k modem, etc worked

    well with Tiger 10.4.11; but still worked best with its own branched

    wi-fi base station. And its own older 802.11b/ settings.

     

    Sometimes it can be fun to be on the lookout for cool vintage hardware

    and whatever software you can save from being tossed; to keep & use.

     

    Glad to hear you were able to get the iMac G4 to work, so far...