iMac G3...how to open cd tray?

I use a macbookpro and an old user has given me his old IMac G3..trying to get it up and running for a friend who has not got a computer. I have started it up and it is running OS 9. I want to put Tiger on it as i have the install disk. Unfortunately when i tried to eject the disk it says that:

'The startup disk cannot be removed from the desktop ,because it contains the active system software'.

In the special menu the eject apple E menu choice is also greyed out.

I checked the support site on Apple for old G3's but it suggests there is a eject button..this imac came from 2000 and has no such button.

Also i have seen the option 'Erase disk' in the special menu. I wonder if I erased that then installed my Tiger disk whether that would work and then let me eject the startup disk too.

Posted on Feb 23, 2012 9:35 AM

Feb 26, 2012 8:46 AM in response to happyluck1

happyluck1 wrote:

So now as it seems i don't have a HD in there..is the best idea to use an external hard drive throught the USB or Firewire to install Tiger on?

It won't boot from a USB drive, and I'm not at all certain those early models could from a firewire drive, but if you have a FW drive it may be worth a go.

Partitioning will need to be Apple Partition Map (APM) and HFS+ (aka Mac OS Extended) file system. (Can be done from Disk First Aid on the Installer DVD or from another Mac, but in the latter case don't enable journalling.

happyluck1 wrote:

And i have an old airport card i never used for the powerbook i had, so if there is not one in this IMac maybe i could install that and then can use the iMac off wifi? which would be totally cool.Get Tiger on there first eh.

WiFi is only 802.11b - woefully slow. Whether the card from a PowerBook will fit I don't know - if they're approximately the same age (late 2000 to late 2001, maybe early 2002) it may be possible. check the slot first as the later 802.11g cards are physically different.

happyluck1 wrote:

Ps thanks for all your help noondaywitch...if i am ever up preston way i would offer to buy you a drink or whatever.

You have really helped me out,so a big thank you.

More than welcome - that's what we come here for.

Afraid pints are a bit much - a half is about all I can safely manage these days.

(pulmonary fibrosis; getting about isn't too easy anymore 😟 )

But thanks for the offer 😎