Hi guys
i have been given an imac g4 W8******QB3 (think its the first one) and I am wanting to get it going to let the kids play with
when it starts up i get the grey screen with ? finder folder
so i got a os x 10.5 and tried to install by powering on and holding down c button
but I keep getting this screen
any help would be greatly received 
<Edited by Host>
iMac
That's a kernel panic.
Either you're trying to boot from the wrong disc (i.e. not a retail one), or your model doesn't support 10.5 (possible if it's an early one), or there may be a hardware problem.
More information on the model would help to begin with - any numbers on the base plate?
The ? means that the firmware can't find a viable start up volume. I suppose there is a hard drive in there? It's not unusual for people to remove the HD before disposing of a computer.
Hi i am using the grey 10.4.8 Install Discs
the system is a
imac g4(usb 2.0)
15-inch 1GHz
Combo Drive
seriel number is W.8.*****Q.B.3
2gb ram
200hb hd
hope that helps
<Edited By Host>
Here is what I got from
http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php
| Model: | - iMac (USB 2.0) |
| Codename: | - ? |
| Build Country: | - Your Mac was built in Changhai, China. |
| Build Year: | - Your Mac was built in 2004. |
| Build Week | - Your Mac was built in week 16 of that year (April). |
| Production Nr.: | - Your Mac was number 907 to be built that week. |
| Processor | Memory | Storage and Media | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
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Your machine will run 10.5 Leopard.
Where did you get the 10.5/10.4 dvd? You need to have a black X on the dvd. The grey dvd are machine specific. No grey dvds should be available for you machine. You machine went out of productione before 10.4 & 10.5 came out.
| Original OS: | - 10.2.7 Jaguar - 10.3.1 Panther |
| Maximum OS: | - Mac OS 10.5.8 |
Don't post serial numbers!
It doesn't help us out here anyway.
No iMac G4 ever shipped with 10.4.x, so those discs do not belong to and will not boot that computer.
Your model originally shipped with 10.2.7, with some of the last ones having 10.3.1.
It will run 10.4.x or up to 10.5.8 if you can obtain the Retail disc for one of those. Unfortunately, either is likely to prove expensive.
These are the boxes for Leopard (10.5) and Tiger (10.4). The design on the disc is identical.
Amazon marketplace usually have a few available, but expect prices upwards of $150 for Leopard. Tiger seems to vary a great deal from vendor to vendor but won't be far off the same on average.
imac g4 help
