hillmaxwell

Q: I have a imac g3

I have a imac g3 tray loading. It has no operating system and when it boots up it shows a folder with a mac face and question mark? What is the highest level operating system I can buy for it?

Posted on Jun 14, 2012 9:03 PM

Close

Q: I have a imac g3

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next
  • by hillmaxwell,

    hillmaxwell hillmaxwell Jun 14, 2012 9:08 PM in response to hillmaxwell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2012 9:08 PM in response to hillmaxwell

    The exact specs are: Power PC G3- 233 MHz -512k Cache -32MB- 4GB HD- 24x Cd-Rom/ modem

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jun 14, 2012 9:15 PM in response to hillmaxwell
    Level 8 (38,389 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2012 9:15 PM in response to hillmaxwell

    Officially, it can run up to Mac OS X 10.3.9 (Panther).  You can get any release of 10.3 and update it to 10.3.9 using a free "combo" update download from Apple.  Make sure you find a retail package, which were installation discs sold separately in box and NOT gray-colored discs that came with a specificl Mac mode.  The retail package for Panther should come on three CDs (not a DVD).

     

    The iMac needs to have at least 128mb of RAM (more is better); you should be able to install up to 512mb max (256mb per slot).

     

    Tray-loader G3 iMacs have relatively small stock hard drives.  If it has something like a 6GB hard drive, a standard installation of Panther can take up half of that available space.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jun 14, 2012 9:18 PM in response to hillmaxwell
    Level 8 (38,389 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2012 9:18 PM in response to hillmaxwell

    That's an original "Bondi Blue" iMac.  Maybe you should install Mac OS 9 on it, and make it a "conversation piece"... 

  • by hillmaxwell,

    hillmaxwell hillmaxwell Jun 14, 2012 9:21 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2012 9:21 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Im just looking to have the operating system running...Im not going to save anything on their. What software can I install without doing any hardware work?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jun 14, 2012 11:22 PM in response to hillmaxwell
    Level 8 (38,389 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2012 11:22 PM in response to hillmaxwell

    With only 32mb of RAM, it will not run Mac OS X.  I think it originally came with Mac OS 8.1 (or 8.5).  It can run Mac OS 9 (barely) if you set virtual memory to something like 64mb.  The latest version of Mac OS 9 is 9.2.2, which it can run. 

     

    You'll need to find a Mac OS 9 installation disc.  Any version (including the initial "9 dot nothing" release) will work, but if possible, find one that is 9.2.1 or 9.1.  And it should be a retail full-installation disc (white with a big orange 9), which was sold separately in a box, NOT a disc that came with a particular Mac model.

     

    Any version of Mac OS 9 can be updated to 9.2.2.  Unfortunately, the Apple web page with the updates

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1387

     

    does not currently link to the actual downloads (it's been that way for a while).  That's why I recommended 9.1 or 9.2.1, because those were solid versions (even if you don't update it further).  You may be able to find the update downloads elsewhere.

     

    Alternately, if you are "just looking to have the operating system running," you can look for a Mac OS 8.5 installation disc.  Once 8.5 is installed, you can update it to 8.6 using this download (which seems to be working unlike the updates for Mac OS 9).  8.6 was a solid version.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1259

     

    Plus, Mac OS 8.6 would be better with only 32mb of RAM.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jun 15, 2012 1:14 PM in response to hillmaxwell
    Level 8 (38,389 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 15, 2012 1:14 PM in response to hillmaxwell

    Based on the item's decription, I think that would work, since it looks like those are the original discs that came with that iMac model.  And you'll get the additional bundled software, which would not be on a regular retail Mac OS installation disc.

  • by hillmaxwell,

    hillmaxwell hillmaxwell Jun 18, 2012 3:04 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 18, 2012 3:04 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Got the software...I put it in the iMac and turned it off. I start it up while holding the c key and instead of it going to the folder question mark it goes to a blank grey screen....help?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jun 18, 2012 7:28 PM in response to hillmaxwell
    Level 8 (38,389 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 18, 2012 7:28 PM in response to hillmaxwell

    Try doing this to reset PRAM

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

     

    When I do it, I hold the four keys down until I hear the startup sound for the third time.  The startup disk setting is stored in PRAM.  Then, try doing the startup while holding down the C key again. 

     

    If it still does not work, try waiting to press C until just after hearing the startup sound.  You should hear the optical drive spin up and make a lot of noise.  Once you hear continue noise from the optical drive, you can let go of the C key.

     

    I seem to recall multiple discs in that package.  If they are numbered, make sure it's Disc 1 (the one with the OS installation).

  • by hillmaxwell,

    hillmaxwell hillmaxwell Jun 18, 2012 7:39 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 18, 2012 7:39 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    None of those seemed to work.... It just goes to the grey screen with lots of noise from the optical drive. I am using the software install disc. There is also a software restore disc too...

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jun 18, 2012 7:57 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 8 (38,389 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 18, 2012 7:57 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    What happens if you don't hold down any key (with disc in optical drive)?  If there is no system on the hard drive, it may poll the available drives until it finds a bootable system (which would be in the optical drive).

     

    Did you try it with the Restore disc?  I think that one would be bootable too.

     

    It's possible that the PRAM battery is dead, if it has never been changed or that iMac has been sitting on a shelf (disconnected from power) for a long period.  The PRAM battery holds certain settings while the iMac is powered off, and a dead (or weak) PRAM battery can cause odd startup problems.  It looks like this

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/BAA36VPRAM/

     

    and is a "user level" fix, but I know you didn't want to do any disassembly.

  • by hillmaxwell,

    hillmaxwell hillmaxwell Jun 22, 2012 5:19 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 22, 2012 5:19 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    I bought the battery....I have another imac g3 also, i have all the organial stuff with it (no cds) but it doesnt turn on...Any ideas?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jun 22, 2012 8:06 PM in response to hillmaxwell
    Level 8 (38,389 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 22, 2012 8:06 PM in response to hillmaxwell

    Did the new PRAM battery make it (the first one) work properly?

     

    Same type of iMac (for the second one), with the tray-loading (not slot-loading) optical drive?  When you say "it doesn't turn on," does that means it has no power when you press the power button?  Or is it like the first one... power comes on, but it doesn't want to start up for some reason?

     

    If there is no power at all when you press the power button, you can try resetting the PMU, also called "CUDA" (it's a small button on the motherboard).  The location is shown in this image.  IMPORTANT:  Press it just ONE time.  Press and release.

     

    http://mrjcd.com/junk/CUDA.jpg

     

    If there is power, but it does not boot, then it is probably not a PMU problem.

  • by hillmaxwell,

    hillmaxwell hillmaxwell Jun 22, 2012 8:29 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 22, 2012 8:29 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    It is a slot loading 400mhz, 512k, l2/64mb, 10gb, dvd, 56k/bb imac g3 blondi blue...where is the motherboard?

Page 1 Next