CarolynInTheWoods
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Getting my antique iMac more speed

I have an old iMac that runs on OSX 10.4.11.  It's the one with the spherical harddrive and speakers.  I love it and want to keep it going as long as I can, but it is so slow that even email is painful.  I haven't rebuilt the desktop in years.  What are the keystrokes to accomplish this?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 5:58 PM

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CarolynInTheWoods

Q: Getting my antique iMac more speed

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  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Oct 22, 2013 6:11 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods
    Level 8 (35,331 points)
    iPad
    Oct 22, 2013 6:11 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods

    Rebuilding the desktop was a pre-OSX thing. Not doe with OSX.

     

    You can repair permissions using Disk Utility which, by default, is in the Utilities fold in the Applicaitons folder.

     

    Slowness can come from a nearly full hard drive. How much free space do you have?

     

    Unfortunately the probelm you can't fix is the G4 processor. Anything that involves going to the internet is horribly sluggish in the G-series Macs. Few web pages are optimized for the older processors any more.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Oct 22, 2013 7:03 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods
    Level 6 (14,299 points)
    iPad
    Oct 22, 2013 7:03 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods

    To find out info about your system, click on the Apple symbol in the upper left of the OS X main menu bar. A drop down menu appears. Click About this Mac. A smaller popup window appears. This gives you basic info like what version of OS X your iMac is running, the speed of your iMac's CPU and how much RAM is installed.   Click on the button that says More Info. A larger window appears giving you a complete overview of your iMac's hardware specs. Highlight all of this info and copy/paste all of this into another reply to this post, editing out your iMac's serial number before actually posting the reply. This will tell us everything about your iMac so we may begin to help with your iMac issues.

     

    Locate your iMac's hard drive icon on the OS X desktop. Click the icon once, then use the keyboard key combination Command-I. This will give you additonal info about your iMac's internal hard drive.  

     

    Your iMac maybe able to take more RAM, but this is the only upgrade.

    If your issues are with the Internet, you can try a newer web browser.

    Try a web browser called TenFourFox.

    There are two versions of this browser. Download and install the G4 optimized version.

     

    This is about all you can do.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Oct 23, 2013 11:41 AM in response to CarolynInTheWoods
    Level 6 (8,522 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 23, 2013 11:41 AM in response to CarolynInTheWoods

    but it is so slow that even email is painful

     

    Email should not be too slow. 

     

    How are you getting your email? 

     

    do you get it inside a web browser? 

    -- use tenfourfox

    -- switch to the mail app

  • by CarolynInTheWoods,

    CarolynInTheWoods CarolynInTheWoods Oct 23, 2013 6:18 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2013 6:18 PM in response to Allan Jones

    Thanks Allan for the info.

     

    I did run the Utilities.  That seemed to be OK.  The computer's capacity is 38.2 GB of which 25 is available.  I think it might be a Yahoo Mail issue.

     

    I'm still working on it.

  • by CarolynInTheWoods,

    CarolynInTheWoods CarolynInTheWoods Oct 23, 2013 6:22 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2013 6:22 PM in response to MichelPM

    Hi Michel,

     

    Thank you for all of that input.  Here are the computer's stats:

    Hardware Overview:

     

      Machine Name:          iMac

      Machine Model:          PowerMac4,2

      CPU Type:          PowerPC G4  (2.1)

      Number Of CPUs:          1

      CPU Speed:          700 MHz

      L2 Cache (per CPU):          256 KB

      Memory:          512 MB

      Bus Speed:          100 MHz

      Boot ROM Version:          4.4.0f1

     

    I will check the Command I prompt as well.

     

    I use Safari now.  I will try the TenFourFox.

     

    Fingers crossed.  It does seem to be a Yahoo problem.

  • by CarolynInTheWoods,

    CarolynInTheWoods CarolynInTheWoods Oct 23, 2013 6:24 PM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2013 6:24 PM in response to rccharles

    Thank you RC.

     

    I am definitely going to try the TenFourFox.  I am hoping it is a Safari/Yahoo/Old Mac issue.

     

    I really appreciate everyone reaching out to  help me since my computer is no longer supported.  You all are the best support!!

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Oct 23, 2013 6:47 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods
    Level 6 (8,522 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 23, 2013 6:47 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods

    You may consider signing up for a paid upgrade for the yahoo account.  It's $20 per year.  It will let you use the apple mail app on your computer.  This will be a lot faster than accessing yahoo from your web browser.

     

    You could switch your account to gmail.  Google lets you access your mail from the mail app.

     

    Robert

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Oct 23, 2013 7:19 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods
    Level 6 (14,299 points)
    iPad
    Oct 23, 2013 7:19 PM in response to CarolynInTheWoods

    You have the orignal, first generation 15 inch screen G4 iMac.

    These can be upgraded with another 512 MB RAM module for a total of 1 GB of RAM.

    Correct and reliable Mac RAM can be purchased from online Mac RAM sources Crucial memory or OWC (macsales.com).

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac/G4_700MHz_800MHz

     

    Here's some links to installing the RAM whether it be in the user installable slot or the slot inside the base of your iMac G4.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2989


    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FR1PcVYkFyU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFR1PcVYkFyU

     

    Good Luck!