Trying to install Tiger (DVD) on iMac G3 (CD Only)

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Level 2

295 points

Trying to install Tiger (DVD) on iMac G3 (CD Only)

I recently inherited an iMac G3 and want to format the internal HD and install a fresh copy of Tiger. Unfortunately, I only have Tiger on a DVD and the iMac has a slot-loading CD drive that won't recognize the disk. Is there anyway I can boot the iMac G3 up over the ethernet or firewire to my G5 and use its DVD drive to perform the formatting and install?

I read where Apple offers an exchange media program but I don't want to give up my Tiger DVD for future use. And I don't want to pay the $150+ quotes online I've seen for an internal iMac G3 DVD upgrade.

Any thoughts or ideas would be great.

Thanks,
Josh

Dual 2GHz Power Mac G5 with 1G RAM; HP Compaq nc6230 with Windows XP (spk 3), Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 28, 2008 5:56 PM

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Answer 1

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Oct 28, 2008 6:03 PM in response to Josh Scott

Apple no longer offers the CD swap program so it's not an option any more. It will work via firewire using your G5. Before you begin how large a hard drive in the G3? How much ram?

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Answer 2

Josh Scott Author

Level 2

295 points

Oct 28, 2008 6:07 PM in response to sig

20G HD in the iMac G3, 256MB of RAM. According to Apple's Tiger requirements it meets the minimum correct?

Also, am I going to be using the G5 in Firewire Target Disk Mode to get this to work? I'm reading up on this option here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

Josh

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Answer 3

Arucard

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2008 6:17 PM in response to Josh Scott

I just recently did this with a G4 Lampshade:

1) Put the G5 in target disk mode with the disc in
2) Turn on the G3
3) Plug in the Firewire cable, the DVD drive should show up
4) Follow the rest of the procedure as if you have a native DVD drive.

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Answer 4

Oct 28, 2008 8:03 PM in response to Josh Scott

i did this with an imac g3 and an ibook g4, only it will be faster this way:
put g3 in target disk mode, install using the g5 on the g3's harddrive. (the g5 will be a lot faster to install with and will boot and run on the g3 fine.

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Answer 5

Josh Scott Author

Level 2

295 points

Oct 28, 2008 11:09 PM in response to darthrevan945

That worked. Thanks!

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