The provided links to information, in previous posts, could help resolve this issue
and get your computer working again. Some of the steps are not difficult, and with
the use of the internet, some of the items are easily researched. However, these
facts are sometimes hard to concentrate on when you are not familiar with them.
If the Tiger disc you have, to upgrade the computer from Panther, is a retail or
full install disc, there is a way to start the computer from that installer disc and
run some optional tools in the header of the Installer. This would be ahead of
the actual installing section of that disc; where a menu bar that looks like a
Finder screen would appear, with click on menu items and drop-down lists.
With that, you could use the installer's Disk Utility (with computer booted up
from the Install disc, to then access the computer's hard disk drive via tools
on that install media disc) and choose to secure-erase the hard drive by
using the One-Pass erase option, then reformat (Apple Partition Map) to
HFS+ or Journaled, and then when the drive is ready for a new installation
and the contents are erased (your stuff would be totally gone at this point)
you could quit Disk Utility and use the Installer to proceed with a new Tiger
10.4 installation on the computer's hard disk drive.
Before erasing all the drive stuff and your items from the computer, the idea
to "Make the Setup Assistant Reappear" is about the best bet; it works with
no install discs, but requires the user to boot into Single user mode and do
the required input, on the page noted in the link above; which I restated here.
With a setup screen, you can restore use of the computer; but the account
you were using won't appear. You would have to create a new Admin identity
as well as a new Admin password. But maybe then, you could upgrade the OS.
Are there any Mac user groups in your area? Usually they are known through
local schools, trade groups, or business associates who use Mac computers;
and even some of the schools who use Macs in classrooms, would know of a
qualified person who could probably help set up your computer correctly.
If you have an option to return the computer to the seller, if it is defective or is
missing important parts (the software install disc for the OS X on the machine
is considered an official original part; and would be part of a sale) you could
try and contact the seller to ask about the bootable install disc for the OS the
computer has running in it now.
If the OS X Tiger disc you have is NOT a full install disc for Tiger 10.4, you
would need to have the Panther retail install disc set anyway; since the less
desirable Tiger Upgrade disc that can't boot a computer and relies on Panther
10.3 to be present in the computer, first, is not a preferred system. Especially
since you'd need the old Panther disc for all operations involving reinstall; and
for several involving repair and upkeep of the OS X patchwork using both discs.
*Does the Tiger disc you have, have a Black colored label with Silver X on it?*
+Does it say +Install DVD+ on the label along with copyright & version 10.4 number?
If your iBook G3 can use a DVD install disc (if it has Combo optical drive or a
SuperDrive, for both CD and DVD read/write disc media) and the Tiger install
disc is black with a silver X on the label, you may be able to do a completely
new install. I am not certain if a second option in this path is possible, but if
you had the Panther 10.3 install disc, you could Reset Admin Password from
the booted OS X install disc for the system already installed in the iBook.
By resetting the Admin Password, such as that access would allow, further
investigation into the possible use of that Tiger install disc could commence.
Or by +Making the Setup Assistant Re-appear+, you could create a new Admin
user and in so doing, create a new password; then look into a Tiger upgrade.
However, without that Panther install disc, you could try the suggestion in a
previous post above, to use Single User mode in OS X 10.2 or Later, to:
• *Making the Setup Assistant reappear*:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=607547
"Follow the directions in Niel's article +Making the Setup Assistant Reappear+ to create a new admin user
account. You can then log into your new account and reset the password in the old account. - cornelius"
This could allow you to re-personalize the computer as though it had not been
used by anyone. Like a new computer, where you'd have to input your name
and address, or any alias you'd want the main Admin account to be known as.
I've even set up a computer with the alias name, knowing the main Admin
account would have that name (and not mine, should I wish to give it away)
and then create a new lesser user account for daily use; and then keep both
of those account passwords and names where I could find them
Anyway, the method suggested in the earlier post, where this link I reposted above
is given, can allow you to gain access to the computer as though nobody had used it.
And you would have to re-personalize the new main user account.
That may help. You also may be able to search online for local Mac user groups, or
maybe some school that uses Macs and has an on-staff technician who helps keep
the computers running. Almost anyone who has owned more than a few Macs and
does more than just play around should know how to do the basic upkeep & reinstall.
And if you know of someone who has an older Mac and upgraded past Panther 10.3.9,
and if they still have the installer CD set, ask if you can have it. It is not worth much, but
as a tool, it can help you reset the Admin Password by just booting up from that disc
with the C key held down and the disc in the optical drive; on restart. In fact, if anyone
you know has done anything at all with a Mac more than just sit in front of it, they may
be of some help in restoring function to yours. You need to have Mac techie friends. Or
become well read and learn how to explore these avenues. I've had over 100 Macs.
+Ideally, the Tiger disc you say you have is a retail full install disc; or if not, and your+
+old iBook G3 does not have a DVD combo or superdrive, the Tiger disc set would+
+have to be on Four CDs. Those are rare. So, the Panther 10.3 disc, which is a CD+
+set, would be good to have to fix the issues you have in the computer in OS X 10.3+.
Hopefully this helps some.
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
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