Q: I have some old pagemaker files that I need to open so I have bought a G3 on ebay. It turns on OK but all that comes uo on the screen is an envelope with alternating question mark and apple logo. Any ideas?

It apparently can't find a system to open up with.  So perhaps the drive has been wiped and needs a system install, or the system has been corrupted or the HD is on the way out.

Best to boot up from a utilities disk to find out what's going on, or just install a new system.

This looks like a good bet as a non specific installation disk: (you will of course need to download the free 10.3.9 combo update from Apple Support)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/APPLE-MAC-OS-X-10-3-PANTHER-FULL-RETAIL-/160620986600?pt=U K_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item2565c1c0e8#ht_500wt_1156

HTH?...Bill

Also assume you have OS 9.1 or 9.2 install disk to load as 'Classic Environment' with OSX, in order to run your PageMaker files?   As I remember, even the last upgrade - PageMaker 7 was not compatible with any version of OSX....Bill

This would do you if all you need to do is install Pagemaker - (assuming you have the PageMaker install disk, as you obviously can't run Pagemaker files without installing the programme first) :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Apple-Mac-OS-9-Boxed-unused-and-shrink-wrapped-/2208153921 19?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item33699f7d77#ht_500wt_1156

I suggest you get 9.2.  You need to install the same or later version of the OS.  One some computer the shipped version has extra drivers.  The drivers will not be in the official release in this case 9.1.  They would be in 9.2.

Mac OS 9.1 (Mac OS ROM 7.5.1) and Mac OS X 10.0.4 (4P13)

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*blinking question mark*

The blinking question mark means that your mac firmware could not find a valid operating system

on one of your disk volumes.

Somethings to do to resolve the blinking question mark.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042

Try holding down the option key then power on.  This brings up the startup manager.  Click on your hd. Click on right arrow key.

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You need to figure out the level of your firmware before installing 10.2 or greater. ( The PC name for firmware is BIOS. ) Installing 10.2 with a down level firmware will most likely make your iMac unusable and difficult to fix.

What is firmware?

The firmware software receives control when you poweron your machine.  It does some hardware testing and some hardware configuration then passes control to your version of Mac OS.   It reside on a PROM ( program read only memory ) chip on the logic board.

Figuring out what level of firmware you have?

Open Firmware, boot into Open Firmware.

Power on your iMac while holding down command+option+o+f

The first output line contains the firmware level. Mine reads:

Apple PowerMac4,1 4.1.9f1 BootRom built on 09/14/01 at 13.18.04

Copyright 1994-2001 Apple Computer Inc.

On my machine, I have 4.1.9f1.

What firmware do you need?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117

For a slot loading iMac, this article indicates that you need to be running 9.1 or later version of Mac OS Classic.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75130

"The iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9 will only run on iMac computers with lot-loading CD or DVD drives running Mac OS 9.1 or later from a local drive. If you are using Mac OS X you must boot from a local Mac OS 9.1 or later writeable partition (not a CD, or network disk) prior to following the update instructions."

You can download the Mac OS 9 updates from the Apple site.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1387?viewlocale=en_US

If you're still there Peter and not suffering indigestion from surfeit of info - I might be able to help with Pagemaker if you contact me via my home page (Just click on Bill Carter in blue on the left to find it)...Bill

OK Peter, no problem.  Interested to hear Indesign will open Pagemaker files...Bill

We too have a ton of old PM files from 1996-2002.  They all show up as Unix Executable File.  The file names had no suffix.

All I had to do is add    .pm   to the file name and they all opened up in TextEdit.  Save as a .txt file and your done.

I also added   .txt   and it worked as well.

I am on Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks.

Hope this helps someone.

Welcome Star Studio.

Did you notice that this thread has been inactive for over four years? I also noticed the other threads to which you responded since joining were no newer that three years.

The current iteration of the forum software seems incapable of locking, archiving, or otherwise marking dead threads, so we all must use care when answering to check the date of the thread's last activity first. This avoids mining up old threads whose author has either gone away or the computer is question has been replaced.

Thanks!

Of course I noticed it was an old thread, but a thread that did not contain the answer/solution that worked for me.  After spending some time and coming up with my own solution, I thought I would share that solution to help others.

You do realize that Google is how people search for most solutions, and not an Apple Support search.  Google will bring up results from many years past.  Seems wise to have answers/solutions available and even updated and more relevant and not "locked down" or "archived".

Please advise if this is not Apples intention.