How to copy data from an iMac Bondi Blue to CD ?

An original Bondi Blue iMac (233 or 266 MHz G3 processor) has a CD-ROM drive, so when you write "Trying to read the inserted new CD" (which I assume is a blank CD-R/RW disk), is the disk in the iMac's internal optical drive or in a USB-connected CD burner? If the former, a new/blank CD would likely generate that error message. If the latter is the case, what type/brand burner is it? If you need to copy data from the iMac's hard drive, have you considered using a USB flash drive or is there too much data to transfer, to tolerate the very slow USB 1.0 data transfer speed? A USB-connected CD burner will only burn at 4x maximum speed. Removal of the iMac's hard drive and connection to another Mac, using a USB-to-IDE adapter with its included power supply would be an inexpensive way to temporarily connect for one-time data tranfer.

I'm also trying to copy from my original Bondi Blue a flash drive, When I connect the device I get this error message, "The software needed to the the 'USB Flash Disk' cannot be found. Please refer to the device documentation to install the necessary software. Same thing happens when I try to connect an external hard drive. Does anyone know what software I need and how to get it? I have looked at the iMac (1998) version to see if it has the Migration Assistant on it but I don't see it anywhere. I have also tried to copy files to a CD but the message I get when I try to initialize the disk is: Disk initialization failed because the disk is locked!

Any help would be greatly appreciated

"'The software needed (for) the 'USB Flash Disk' cannot be found. Please refer to the device documentation to install the necessary software.' Same thing happens when I try to connect an external hard drive."

The compatibility of USB-connected peripherals depends on the OS version that your iMac is running, because this determines the version of the USB Mass Storage Support files installed with the OS. For a flash drive to be recognized and function properly, you need to be running at least OS 9.1, because the database of supported devices was much broader than with previous versions.

"I have also tried to copy files to a CD but the message I get when I try to initialize the disk is: Disk initialization failed because the disk is locked!"

Were you attempting to write to a blank disk in a USB-connected CD-R/RW drive, and if so, what manufacturer's name is on the drive? Unsupported brands/models won't be recognized by an iMac running a pre-OS X version of the Mac OS, because the "Authoring Support" files were written for burners in existence at that time. I always preferred using "Roxio's Toast 5.x" for disk burning, rather than Apple's native DiskBurner program.

Because the solution to your problem may take several more posts from you, as you provide additional information and specific feedback for suggestions made, it's better to not have your topic buried within someone else's year-old, "Solved" topic.

Hi Jeff - thanks for replying.

I am running OS 8.6 so that's one solution gone.

The blank CD-R was not in a USB drive but the build in drive in the iMac. I didn't launch a CD burning program though. I just now searched the iMac for Roxio's Toast application but it isn't loaded.

While waiting for a reply I tried to connect the 2 computers via an ethernet cable, however, I can't open file sharing because, 'FileSharingLib' could not be found.

Re: posting under solved topic: Would it be better to start a new topic even though this is related to the other user's problem? I just thought that because it was a similar problem it would be nice for subsequent users to have their answer contained within one thread, but then again this is only my 2nd post and 2nd day on the forum...

Does the built-in optical drive have a tray that pops out or do you insert the CDs into a slot? If it's a tray-loading iMac, then it has a CD-ROM drive and not a CD-R/RW drive. If it has a slot-loading optical drive, then you don't have an original Bondi Blue iMac. Roxio's "Toast" is third-party software and wasn't included as part of the Mac OS or included programs on your iMac.

"I tried to connect the 2 computers via an ethernet cable, however, I can't open file sharing because, 'FileSharingLib' could not be found."

What model is the other computer and what OS version is it running?

"Would it be better to start a new topic even though this is related to the other user's problem?"

I think so, because then it's your topic. Your screen name and the computer hardware that you're using become familiar to the Forum regulars. This familiarity makes it easier to provide troubleshooting suggestions when you post future topics, by having the benefit of remembering previous problems that you've dealt with and (hopefully) solved.

Okay - new topic it is! Stay tuned!

Just one problem... when I clicked on new message I was directed to pick a community. Is this an iMac discussion, an Legacy Networking discussion or something else?