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Hello!
I have an original iMac G3 from 1998 and the CD drive is broken. It starts reading a disc then after a short while it stops. I have tried everything to try to make it work but it still doesn't work. So is there any other way to install Mac OS 8.1 other than using the CD drive (Also the iMac can connect to the internet).
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
You have posted in the iMac 2012+ community. I have asked the hosts to relocate this post.
You might need a cd drive replacement, which is hazardous. The are high voltage components in the machine that are so high even when powered off.
A 1998 iMac does not boot from USB, and does not have FireWire, so starting up from an external drive would have to be ruled out. You could perhaps try to clean the existing CD-ROM drive. If not successful, the only practical solution may be to continue looking for an appropriate replacement drive.
If you're trying to read burned disks and not commerical/retail disks, your drive may not be bad. Manufacturers of third-party optical drives often posted firmware updates to ensure compatibility with newer (faster recording speed) blank media. That Apple OEM drive didn't receive firmware updates over the years. Here's a compatible tray-loading CD-ROM drive listed at ebay. There is noticeable rust and corrosion on the underside, which shouldn't affect functionality — but it is a used part, pulled from a 20+ year-old iMac. You can swap the faceplate from your iMac's bad drive with the one on this drive to match color.
Some of the older sites still offer some hints at where to begin long-sought replacement parts;
while those may have non-working secondary links ~ where content has now vanished!
https://lowendmac.com/1998/original-imac-rev-a/
rev-a/rev-b tray-load optical drives: 1998
May you have good luck with attempting to clean this antique optical drive.
This company used to sell an upgrade optical drive.
upgrade -to slot load G3 optical drive- from tray load:
• MCE Internal CD-RW Drive for Tray-Loading iMac
Theirs was an OK idea. Could maybe find one in hibernation?!☃️🌻
And their pages seem live; but stop before 'crucial page' loads.
My newer G3 iMac 1999 400DV was a great music player; also DVD movies.
Was given 'first-edition' G3 iMac -once- & passed that on to eager tinkerer.
iMac G3 Model M4984 tray-type Optical Drive Replacement
[..Takeapart steps: how to take out optical drive and put another in.
No links to parts: only hints on re-use of optical drive, once found..]
"This company used to sell an upgrade optical drive. Upgrade to slot-load G3 optical drive from tray-load:
• MCE Internal CD-RW Drive for Tray-Loading iMac"
Like the Sonnet processor upgrades that were the rage 15 years ago, when the overall value of the computer becomes a fraction of the price of the upgrade, the demand for the upgrades tends to drop. That DVD±RW replacement drive for iMacs sold for $149.99, but seems to have been discontinued. Both Apple and PC laptops often have no optical drive now, since backing up to flash media or the cloud seems easier than burning DVDs. Perhaps some of the people who bought that drive for their iMacs 5-10 years ago have since e-cycled them and removed the drive to sell on ebay? You might want to check.
Hello,
It sounds like your iMac needs its optical drive replaced.
Hi!
Yes I know that but I can't find one on ebay so that was why I asked if there is any other way.
Hello!
Well I tried lubricating the drive and cleaning the read head but it didn't help.
Hi!
Thank you for the link. Guess my only option is to continue searching for replacement drives.
iMac G3 1998 Mac OS 8.1 Install Without CD Drive
