iMac G3...how to open cd tray?

Question

Level 1

8 points

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

Reply

Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

726,665 points

Feb 23, 2012 9:49 AM in response to happyluck1

That's referring to the hard disk, not the disk in the DVD drive(if any). If there's a CD or DVD icon on the desktop, drag that to the Trash. If not, insert the Mac OS X 10.4 DVD.

(64329)

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 23, 2012 2:27 PM in response to happyluck1

If the G3 has a CD tray, it won't read a DVD at all, and the highest OS it can run is 10.3.9 (Panther). To open the tray when empty, push it in slightly with a finger and it should pop open so can pull it out to put the CD in.

If it's a slot loader, you don't open it, you just feed the CD or DVD into the slot and it will be 'eaten' by the drive.

In either case, to remove it

a) press the ⏏ button on the keyboard (top right)

or

b) Drag the disc icon on the desktop to the Trash - the Trash will turn into the eject symbol (⏏)

or

c) press ⌘ and E together

or

d) ctrl-click on the disc icon and choose 'eject' from the menu

If it's a slot loader, 350MHz or slower processer can only run Panther, 400MHz or faster can run Tiger 10.4.11 and they should have a DVD ROM drive at least.

Reply

Answer 3

happyluck1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 24, 2012 12:38 PM in response to noondaywitch

It's a slot loader and 400Mhz. So hopefully will run Tiger, however, I still can't eject whatever is in there. There is a iMac Install disk icon on the desktop but when i drag it to the trash it says:

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

And i tried command E, which doesn't work. Also I tried to use the Special menu but the command E on there is greyed out. And also the keyboard does not have an eject button..also tried the ctrl-click option which doesn;t work either...So any suggestions a,b,c,and d don't work...what to do?

Reply

Answer 4

happyluck1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 24, 2012 12:38 PM in response to noondaywitch

ps thanks fo ryour help thus far :-)

Reply

Answer 5

Niel

Level 10

726,665 points

Feb 24, 2012 12:42 PM in response to happyluck1

Choose Restart from the Special menu and press the mouse button immediately after hearing the chime. If that doesn't work, press the Option, Command, O, and F keys, and run the following:

eject cd

mac-boot

(64355)

Reply

Answer 6

Feb 24, 2012 1:51 PM in response to happyluck1

This sounds like there's no operating system on the HD or the HD is damaged in some way, causing the computer to boot from the disc.

To see if that's the case, open Disk First Aid and see what's listed.

Ref loading Tiger - you need to make sure the iMac has had firmware update 4.1.9 applied, and that can only be done from OS 9.1 or above (not OS X).

If the HD is shown in the Disk First Aid window, there should be a Macintosh HD volume listed. If there isn't, then you'll need to use DFA to partition the HD and format it. (I think that model uses HFS+, but some early ones used HFS, so I'm not sure without further checking - but if HFS+ is an option, it's the one you should use).

You'll then need to run the installer from that disc before you can restart and eject it.

Reply

Answer 7

Feb 24, 2012 2:00 PM in response to happyluck1

You can download a ,pdf manual from here

If you don't have an eject key, you may not have the original keyboard -

Reply

Answer 8

Feb 24, 2012 2:05 PM in response to happyluck1

I think if you erase the disk it might eject it. But I think you will no longer be able to download Tiger on a Mac so becarefull⚠

Reply

Answer 9

happyluck1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 25, 2012 5:38 AM in response to noondaywitch

In DFA, the volumes listed are: Internal RAM disk and the iMac Install CD,ATAPI DVD-ROM,bus 2,(write Protected)

Also first i couldn't find the DFA so i typed it in the help center and a message came up that said ' A search file coulf not be created because the startup disk is locked'

maybe i need to get a code from the previous owner???

Reply

Answer 10

happyluck1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 25, 2012 5:43 AM in response to happyluck1

If i click on the Internal RAM disk i get the options: 'verify' or 'repair'

Reply

Answer 11

happyluck1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 25, 2012 5:56 AM in response to noondaywitch

It says in the paperwork that came with the iMac that it has 13GB plus 128MB....

When the iMac Install CD window loads up it says directly underneath, 11items 134.6MB available...

I guess that means there must be a lot of stuff on the hard drive?

Also i thought maybe i should try to install the OS 9 from the install disk and then maybe i could eject it after. I clicked through till i got to a page that said , select destination....unserneath it says ' A destination volume can't be found. To continue the installation process, mount a valid volume for software installation.

Underneath i have two choices, either 'Options' or 'Go back'.

Clicking options i get ..Perform clean installation, then cancel or OK.

Reply

Answer 12

happyluck1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 25, 2012 5:59 AM in response to noondaywitch

The keyboard in the picture shown is not the same keyboard i have. I have only the main block of keys plus a four wide block with numerical keypad and math buttons

Reply

Answer 13

happyluck1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 25, 2012 6:32 AM in response to happyluck1

Opened the Apple system profiler.In applications,non apple programs are as follows:

Name,version,memory size,file size

Address book Export 1.0 850K 430K

Address book shortcut, not av. 200K 31K

AFP! Engage! 2.0.1,2.0.1 1MB 903K

Appleworks 5.0.4 updater 5.5.2 1.97MB 588K

ATM 4.5.2 installer 1.0f7 2MB 2.35MB

Bugdom (OEM) 1.0.1 6.83MB 441K

Dropstuff 5.1.2 512k 168k

Eric's Solitare Sample 1.0.2 1.46MB 630k

FAXstf installer 6.0.1 1MB 2.34 MB

Install Appleworks UK 5.5.2 2MB 14.15MB

Install iDO script sheduler 5.5.2 1MB 672K

Internet Explorer 4.5, 4.5 7.90MB 3MB

LogDoor PPC 2.2, 2.2 2MB 651K

Make configuration sample, Not av. 200K 21K

Make Sets Not av. 200k 21k

Messenger Inbox shortcut, Not av. 200k 31k

Microsoft iNternet first run 6.0 1.56 MB 4.47MB

MultiMail conduit 1_2 demo 3.6 1000k 283k

Nanosaur 1.16 installer 2.0 512k 15.46MB

Navigator Shortcut, Not avaiable, 200k 31k

Netscape communicator 4.6.1 11.90MB 10.39MB

Netscape Import 1.0.2f2 1MB 346K

OSA menu installer 5.0 1.95MB 199K

Outlook express 4.5 3.90MB 2.60MB

Palm conect install tool, Not av. 200k 21k

Palm connect PRC/PDB typer not av. 200k 21k

Palm Desktop Installer 6.0 4.39MB 6.72MB

Powerbook palm assistant, Not av. 200k 31k

Reader installer 4.0 4MB 4MB

Register stuffit Expander 1.0 100k 31k

Remove shareway IP 3.0 Not av. 200k 10k

Scripts Installer not av. not av. 200k 10k

Shareway IP personal 3.0.1 750k 168k

Shareway IP personal Backgr 3.0.1 759k 136k

Shockwave download 7.0f1 1.95MB 168k

Stuffit Expander 5.1.4 512k 1MB

Switch active network set, Not Av.200k 10k

Switch Apple talk on/off, Not Av.200k 10k

Upgrade to shareway IP 3.0, Not av. 200k 10k

User Profile Manager 1.1 512k 21k

Reply

Answer 14

Feb 25, 2012 6:40 AM in response to happyluck1

happyluck1 wrote:

In DFA, the volumes listed are: Internal RAM disk and the iMac Install CD,ATAPI DVD-ROM,bus 2,(write Protected)

That sounds ominous - no entry for a "13GB WD WDX etc.…" or something similar (not necessarily WD, but a HD manufacturer"s name or abbreviation)?

If that line's not present, you may not have a Hard Drive fitted at all.

Reply

Answer 15

Feb 25, 2012 6:46 AM in response to happyluck1

happyluck1 wrote:

The keyboard in the picture shown is not the same keyboard i have. I have only the main block of keys plus a four wide block with numerical keypad and math buttons

I don't remember any keyboard of that description. The early iMacs (rev. A,B and C) had a compact keyboard more like a laptop keyboard - no numeric pad and no centre block. All the others I've come across are the full extended keyboard as shown.

Is it the same colour and shape? Logitech made Mac keyboards, I'm wondering if it's one of those.

Reply