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Q: Upgrading OS 9.0.4 to Mac OS X 10.3 on iMac G3 350MHz

Hi. I have an iMac G3 PowerPC 350MHz and it is a slot loading model. I have recently purchased the retail discs for OS X 10.3 in the hope of upgrading it, but when I insert the discs and attempt to run the installer, it asks me to restart the machine to begin the instaler. However nothing happens and it just boots back into OS 9.0.4.

 

I have attempted to search for the reason for this, but have come across many possible solutions;

- Need to update to OS 9.2

- Need to run an iMac Firmware Update

- Need to use an Apple Keyboard and the command key (I'm currently using a Microsoft USB Keyboard)

- Need to use something called a 'programers button'

 

It'd be much apreciated if someone could clarify exactly how I can get 10.3 on my iMac.

 

Thanks in advance guys!

 

P.S: It isn't conected to the internet (as I'm not sure how to do this) and has no airport card, so if an update is needed, please could you explain to me how to do it!! Thanks again!

iMac, Mac OS 9.0.x, PowerPC G3 350MHz (Blueberry)

Posted on May 25, 2013 5:33 AM

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Q: Upgrading OS 9.0.4 to Mac OS X 10.3 on iMac G3 350MHz

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jeff,Helpful

    Jeff Jeff May 25, 2013 9:23 AM in response to tomdav10
    Level 6 (11,559 points)
    May 25, 2013 9:23 AM in response to tomdav10

    Although this article was written over 8 years ago, it will give you some good information - especially the recommendations regarding hard drive capacity and installed memory.  Unfortunately, the posted links to Apple's tech articles and/or downloads contained within it are outdated/obsolete, much to the frustration of users who come to the Forums looking for these downloads.  You can check the BootROM version using the Apple System Profiler.  If it indicates anything other than 4.1.9, you should run the update.  You can find the iMac 4.1.9 Firmware Update here.  To run it, the iMac must be booted from the internal hard drive running OS 9.1 (not 9.2.1 or 9.2.2).  It's getting harder to find a download source for the Mac OS 9.1 Update, but it can be found here.  Unfortunately, this site has the 15-part segmented download.  An alternate, segmented download was made available by Apple years ago, to accommodate users without high-speed internet, who experienced dropped connections with dial-up during large-file downloads.  After downloading the 15 segments, copy them to a designated folder on the iMac's hard drive.  I assume that you're using a newer computer to access the internet, so if you can burn the downloaded segments to a CD, it would make the transfer to the iMac a lot easier.  When you double-click on the 1st file (a self-mounting image), a disk image of the Mac OS 9.1 Update will appear on the desktop.  I usually drag it to the hard drive, and then open the folder and follow the directions contained in a SimpleText document.

     

    After you successfully install the version of Panther contained on your installation disks, you should run the OS 10.3.9 Combined Update, to bring it fully up-to-date.  High-speed internet configuration can be discussed when you get to that point.  Incidentally, a Windows keyboard can be used instead of an Apple keyboard.  Just keep in mind that the Windows logo key is the Apple "Command" key and the Windows "Alt" key is the Apple "alt/option" key.  In relation to the space bar, these two keys are juxtaposed on a PC keyboard, when compared to an Apple keyboard.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM May 25, 2013 11:34 AM in response to Jeff
    Level 6 (13,769 points)
    iPad
    May 25, 2013 11:34 AM in response to Jeff

    Jeff,

    You can't run the firmware updater from 9.2.2?

    There,s another OP thread that I advised running the firmware updater( if it hasn't been updated already) for a Bondi Blue iMac and he has installed OS 9.2.2 on this iMac.

    It's a later version of OS 9, it shouldn't matter?

  • by Jeff,

    Jeff Jeff May 25, 2013 3:05 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 6 (11,559 points)
    May 25, 2013 3:05 PM in response to MichelPM

    The last slot-loading iMacs I ran the 4.1.9 Firmware Update on were running OS 8.6, 9.0.x, or 9.1.  Obviously, the two pre-9.1 versions had to be updated to 9.1.  In this Topic, the O.P. intends to install Panther, so I wanted to save him the time of updating beyond OS 9.1, just to run the Firmware Update.  That's why I wrote "running OS 9.1 (not 9.2.1 or 9.2.2)."

     

    If you're referring to the O.P. in Australia with his 1998 iMac, he would be running an older Firmware Update (Version 1.2) for the tray-loading iMacs 233/266/333 MHz models).  In his case, the Firmware Updater may or may not run on version 9.2.x, because the installer program checks for OS 8.0.  I seem to remember users who had to downgrade from OS 9.x, just to run the firmware update on those first-generation iMacs.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM May 25, 2013 3:19 PM in response to Jeff
    Level 6 (13,769 points)
    iPad
    May 25, 2013 3:19 PM in response to Jeff

    The mind boggles.

  • by britny,

    britny britny May 26, 2013 5:18 AM in response to tomdav10
    Level 1 (125 points)
    May 26, 2013 5:18 AM in response to tomdav10

    this may sound stupid but why do you want to run 10.3?

  • by tomdav10,

    tomdav10 tomdav10 May 26, 2013 5:34 AM in response to britny
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 26, 2013 5:34 AM in response to britny

    Hi Britny, I intend to upgrade to 10.3 so I use the iMac to play all of music files off a hard drive as I don't have any speakers and the ones built into it are good quality.

     

    I assume this would work? Hope it does!

  • by tomdav10,

    tomdav10 tomdav10 May 26, 2013 5:36 AM in response to Jeff
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 26, 2013 5:36 AM in response to Jeff

    Hi Jeff, thank you very much for the quick reply. That was one of the articles I had come accross, but like you said the download links are out of date, so you providing the updated ones is a god send!

     

    I have downloaded both the firmware update and the 15 parts of the OS9.1 update, but I don't have any CDs (yet!) to transfer them over to my iMac. I wil try this as soon as possible.

     

    Thanks again for all your help!

  • by britny,

    britny britny May 26, 2013 5:44 AM in response to tomdav10
    Level 1 (125 points)
    May 26, 2013 5:44 AM in response to tomdav10

    i have used an external firewire hard drive to play music files off itunes in os 9. don't remember which version of os 9 i had. itunes 2. will play mp3 and aiff files. will not play aac files.

  • by tomdav10,

    tomdav10 tomdav10 May 26, 2013 6:47 AM in response to britny
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 26, 2013 6:47 AM in response to britny

    I don't have any version of iTunes currently installed on my OS9.0.4. Also I don't have a fireware port either, so would use a USB hard drive.

     

    A majority of my files aren't AAC, they are mp3, so I don't it would be too much of an issue. Is there no known way to play AAC files on OS X 10.3?

  • by britny,Helpful

    britny britny May 26, 2013 7:00 AM in response to tomdav10
    Level 1 (125 points)
    May 26, 2013 7:00 AM in response to tomdav10

    i looked it up. you need at least 9.2.1 to install itunes 2 in os 9. i have no idea where you would get it from. and a compatible version of itunes WILL play aac tunes with 10.3.

  • by tomdav10,

    tomdav10 tomdav10 May 26, 2013 7:05 AM in response to britny
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 26, 2013 7:05 AM in response to britny

    Okay thanks!

  • by tomdav10,

    tomdav10 tomdav10 May 26, 2013 7:09 AM in response to Jeff
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 26, 2013 7:09 AM in response to Jeff

    Jeff,

     

    With regards to my earlier reply, I have copied the 15 parts to a disc, and it works as you descibed, however, it tells me, 'This version of Mac OS 9.1 may only be installed over the US English Version Mac OS'

     

    I assume this means I have a UK version of Mac OS 9.0.4 and therefore the 15 part update to 9.1 is a US version? If this is trure, do you know a source for the UK 9.1 update?

     

    Thanks

  • by Jeff,Solvedanswer

    Jeff Jeff May 26, 2013 9:27 AM in response to tomdav10
    Level 6 (11,559 points)
    May 26, 2013 9:27 AM in response to tomdav10

    The International-English version of the Mac OS 9.1 Update can be found here.  I tested the first download link, and it's good.  As far as iTunes goes, one of the earliest versions (1.1) was compatible with OS 9.0.4/9.1.  You can check the web for a download link, but finding an English version still available may be next to impossible.  Apple doesn't let third-party sites post downloads of their programs (current or past).  Years ago, there was a downloadable patch for iTunes 1.1, that enabled it to run on Mac OS 8.6.  I used it back then on my pre-OS 9 Macs.  On Macs running OS 9.1, 9.2.1, and 9.2.2, iTunes 2.0.4 should run without problems.

  • by tomdav10,

    tomdav10 tomdav10 May 26, 2013 1:33 PM in response to Jeff
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 26, 2013 1:33 PM in response to Jeff

    Thanks ever so much for your help Jeff!