Alm1ghty55

Q: I have a iMac G3 RN*****LFD.

I'm looking for the original restore software. There's a number below the Version number. This number matches my Mac I've just spoken with Apple and they're uselless.

 

Machine Model 4,1

700 Mhz

 

<Personal Information Edited by Host>

iMac, Mac OS X (10.0.x), Pre-Installed Mac OS 9.1 X 10.0.4

Posted on May 8, 2014 11:33 AM

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Q: I have a iMac G3 RN*****LFD.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 May 8, 2014 11:33 AM in response to Alm1ghty55
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    May 8, 2014 11:33 AM in response to Alm1ghty55

    If you are in the US call Apple Customer Support 1-800-767-2775, provide the Serial Number and specifications of the Mac, and for a reasonable fee, they will supply a replacement set of system discs (if available).

     

    The discs will be for the original version of the OS that was pre-installed when the Mac was manufactured.

     

    If you are in another country:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

  • by Alm1ghty55,

    Alm1ghty55 Alm1ghty55 May 8, 2014 12:01 PM in response to Alm1ghty55
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 8, 2014 12:01 PM in response to Alm1ghty55

    They told me an OS9 disc and a Tiger disc and that's all I need. I told them I totally disagree. I ask them then why are there so many people selling restore disc on eBay? They had no answer. He couldn't give me the part number of the disc! Like I said earlier, Apple Support is useless. I need a better source.

  • by rccharles,Solvedanswer

    rccharles rccharles May 8, 2014 7:30 PM in response to Alm1ghty55
    Level 6 (8,471 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    May 8, 2014 7:30 PM in response to Alm1ghty55

     

    I'm looking for the original restore software. There's a number below the Version number. This number matches my Mac I've just spoken with Apple and they're uselless.

     

    Machine Model 4,1

    700 Mhz

    Why do you need the orginal discs?  Do you have some special software that only works with this software?

     

    I have a iMac g3 600. 

    Here is what open firmware claims. 

    Apple PowerMac4,1 4.1.9f1 BootRom built on 09/14/01 at 13.18.04

     

    from the mactracker app.

     

    mactracker.png

     

    before installing 10.2, 10.3 or 10.4, make sure the firmware is up to date.

     

    603-0739 mac media

     

    mac os 10.2 upgrade

    2z691- 3458-a

    2z691 - 4222-a

     

    mac os 10.2 install

    2z691 -4221-a

    2z691 - 3705-a

     

    9.2.2

    cd version 1.1

    691-3638-a

     

    x install 10.1.3

    cd 1.1

    2z691-3646-a

     

    developer cd for 10.2

    july 2002

    691-3744-a

     

    apps

    cd 1.4.0
    691-3657-a

     

    restore with 10.1.3 & 9.2.2

    691-3634-a   1 of 4

    691-3635-a   2 of 4

    691-3636-a   3 of 4

    691-3637-a   4 of 4

     

    hardware test

    cd 1.2

    691-3317-a

     

    Worldbook

    6.0.2

     

    Two blank cds.

  • by Alm1ghty55,

    Alm1ghty55 Alm1ghty55 May 11, 2014 9:53 PM in response to Alm1ghty55
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2014 9:53 PM in response to Alm1ghty55

    I was able find the restore software off of eBay. The software worked perfectly and I was able to install OS 10.0.1.

    I was also able to upgrade to Jaguar 10.2. I have copies of Panther and Tiger, but there is a problem. Tiger is on a DVD. The computer's internal drive is a CD player. I have an external DVD-RW hooked up to the Firewire 400 port. I can't restart off the DVD even if I hold down the C key it still won't see the drive. I want Tiger. What is the solution?

  • by Jeff,

    Jeff Jeff May 11, 2014 10:27 PM in response to Alm1ghty55
    Level 6 (11,559 points)
    May 11, 2014 10:27 PM in response to Alm1ghty55

    Third party DVD±RW drives may not respond to the "C" key command at startup.  What happens when you're booted from the internal hard drive and insert the Tiger installer disk in the FireWire drive?  Does the disk mount on the desktop?  If so, have you tried selecting it as the Startup Disk via the control panel?  Keep in mind that another Mac's "Tiger" Restore disk may not boot your iMac.  You should be using the retail/universal installer disk (black with a large "X" across it).  Also, be sure the firmware is updated with the final revision (4.1.9), before you attempt to install Tiger.  If you don't, you'll have more problems ahead.

  • by rccharles,Helpful

    rccharles rccharles May 12, 2014 1:40 PM in response to Jeff
    Level 6 (8,471 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    May 12, 2014 1:40 PM in response to Jeff

    I think the c key only boot the internal drive.  Use startup manager.

     

    The startup manager will list all of your bootable partitions then give you a choice of which to boot.  Hold down the option key then power on. Continue holding down the option key until you see the startup manager. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your hd or disc. Click on right arrow key.

     

    Not all external DVD readers will be bootable. Take apart an external firewire hd.  Hope it used the right internal interface.  Attach dvd drive.  etc.

     

    You could buy an external DVD drive. It needs to be firewire and bootable by Mac OS. If you have another PPC with firewire, you could try target Disk mode and installed tiger that way.

     

    You need to figure out the level of your  firmware before installing 10.2 or greater. ( The PC name for firmware is BIOS. ) Installing 10.2 with a down level firmware will most likely make your iMac unusable and difficult to fix.

     

    What is Open Firmware?

    The firmware on a PPC is called Open Firmware. Open Firmware software receives control when you poweron your machine.  It does some hardware testing and some hardware configuration then passes control to your version of Mac OS.   It reside on a PROM ( program read only memory ) chip on the logic board.

     

    Figuring out what level of Open Firmware you have?

    1) Mac OS 9.x or 8.x, you need to use the Apple System Profiler.

    Apple -> Apple System Profiler

     

    2) Mac OS X, use the System Profiler.

    Apple -> About This Mac

    click on the More Info... tab

    click on Hardware

    read the Boot ROM Version

     

    3) Open Firmware, boot into Open Firmware.

    Power on your iMac while holding down command+option+o+f

    The first output line contains the firmware level. Mine reads:

    Apple PowerMac4,1 4.1.9f1 BootRom built on 09/14/01 at 13.18.04

    Copyright 1994-2001 Apple Computer Inc.

     

    On my machine, I have 4.1.9f1.

     

    What firmware do you need?

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1395

     

    You can download the firmware from this page:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1283

    filename: N-iMac_FWUpdate_4.1.9.smi.bin

                    avoid   expanding the file on the download computer.

     

    For a slot loading iMac, this article indicates that you need to be running 9.1 or later version of Mac OS Classic.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1283

     

    "The iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9 will only run on iMac computers with slot-loading CD or DVD drives running Mac OS 9.1 or later from a local drive. If you are using Mac OS X you must boot from a local Mac OS 9.1 or later writeable partition (not a CD, or network disk) prior to following the update instructions."

     

    You can download the Mac OS 9 updates from the Apple site.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1387?viewlocale=en_US

    For tiger, you need 256meg of memory.  A slot loader will take 1gig of memory.

     

    You may need to get more memory.

    get the 512meg card(s)

    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac/G3_450MHz_500MHz_600MHz_700MHz

     

     

    Mac OS X 10.4: System requirements

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1514

     

    PPC 10.4.11 combo update.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/dl170