I've got a G4 iMac CRT - anybody else out there running one?

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Level 2

175 points

I've got a G4 iMac CRT - anybody else out there running one?

Hello Everyone, At last, I have my heart's desire a G3 500MHz Snow that has been upgraded with a G4 processor. Specs below:

Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: PowerMac2,1
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (11.4)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 500 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.1.9f1
Serial Number: SG*

It's very nippy and boots into Tiger in just over 30 seconds. Only one problem - and it's quite serious - I have trouble installing a lot of software directly onto it. If I have it in firewire target disc mode I can install anything onto it from my other Macs..... but most direct installs seem to fail. Do you think it is having a identity crisis??

< Edited by Host >

iMac SE 600 Flower Power, Key Lime 466 Clam,Powerbook G4 1.5, Mac OS X (10.4.11), All maxed out, all running 10.4.11

Posted on May 15, 2009 6:55 AM

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Answer 1

May 15, 2009 1:54 PM in response to zeetog

Can you give more specific examples of what software fails? Are you installing from optical discs, or from downloaded disk images? In more detail, please explain how they fail to install.

A lot of Mac OS X software installation is a drag and drop to the Application folder, so I can't see those failing. The others use an installer program (usually Apple's Installer program), so it should give some type of error message if it fails to install.

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Answer 2

zeetog Author

Level 2

175 points

May 15, 2009 10:30 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

hello Kenichi, It came with Tiger loaded and when I went online for apple software update to download the latest updates for it the updates would start to download but I would get a message to say they had failed. I did the usual 'permissions repair' etc - booted from my Tiger DVD (retail) and used disk utility to check the HDD. I tried again several times with the updates but they failed. I then decided to do a clean install with Tiger but that would get so far along and then fail. I now had a 'super imac CRT' with no OS. I then decided to try installing Tiger with the iMac in target disc mode and everything went fine. I did all the updates in exactly the same way with no problem. Can you think of any explanation for this. By the way I tried the apple hardware test for iMac g3 but obviously since it's a 'Frankenmac' the disc wouldn't work!!

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Answer 3

May 15, 2009 11:12 PM in response to zeetog

I have an older tray-loader with a 466 MHz G4. It has Panther, not Tiger, but it never had a problem installing updates using Software Update. If it happens again, with the new Tiger installation, you may want to try using the stand-alone update, instead of going through Software Update, for that particular item. For example 10.4.11 Combo for PowerPC is here.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacOS_X_10_4_11_Combo_Update__PPC

I don't think there will be another dot-dot update for Tiger, but there may be more security updates, and they are also available as separate installers, for example, the one from a few days ago.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/SecurityUpdate_2009_002__Tiger_PPC

The problem may have been caused by some issue in your previous Tiger system, related to Software Update. I've read post here from people who could not get a particular update to install using Software Update, and they had stock Macs. It may work fine with the new system you just installed, going forward.

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Answer 4

zeetog Author

Level 2

175 points

May 15, 2009 11:40 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Hello Kenichi,
Thanks for the advice. I am hoping all is well with the fresh instaLL but I will wait and see. I won't find out until I have another update to do. Cheers.

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