Old iMac G3 Problems

[DalekSec]

Firstly my Mac knowledge is lacking. I brought a old iMac G3 for £25, because £35 and it does look nice, 1st problem, the CD drive doesnt work so i have stuck in a USB cd drive and works fine. But not when it boots as i want to install OSX 10.4 on it but i cant boot from it and i don't know how to boot from it. i tried the command+alt? +shift+ delete and it doesnt do anything! 2nd problem i want to install Diablo 2 on it because why not? but me knowing nothing about macs didnt know it needed 'Classic mode' which basicly i have to have a version of OS 9 along side 10.3(i think). Will i have to get a OS9 disc to do this or is there a work around?

 

Thanks

[Arthur]

I want to install OS X 10.4 on it but I can't boot from it

Have you tried the following (or held down the 'c' key when you hear the startup sound)...

 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204417

 

Do you have the grey OS X restore discs or the black Tiger retail DVDs?

 

the CD drive doesnt work so I have stuck in a USB CD drive and works fine.

Is it definitely a CD drive? You won't be able to boot from any OS X DVDs if it is.

 

Will I have to get a OS 9 disc to do this or is there a work around?

 

To use the Classic environment in Mac OS X, you must have a Mac OS 9 System Folder installed on your computer.

 

To install a Mac OS 9 System Folder:

1. Your computer came with either a Mac OS 9 installation CD or Mac OS X installation discs. Select the appropriate disc for your computer.
   
   • If you are installing from a Mac OS 9 installation CD, start up from the disc by holding down the C key as the computer restarts. You can release of the C key when the Mac OS logo appears. Double-click the Installer icon.
     
   • If you are installing from the Mac OS X installation discs, insert the "Additional Software & Apple Hardware Test" disc that came with your computer. Double-click "Install Additional Software".
     

[*]Follow the onscreen instructions.

 

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20070520203932/http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh763.html

Edited June 8, 2015 by Arthur

[DalekSec]

I have tried booting while holding C but it just loads up normally, and yea the CD drive doesn't spin at all it makes a few noises then does nothing I have tried audio CD's and they wont read either. I currently don't have the OS 9 disc but my friend has a copy he is giving me, the only over OS I have Is OSX 10.4, and I have 10.3 installed

[Arthur]

the only over OS I have Is OSX 10.4, and I have 10.3 installed

Have you tried launching the 10.4 installer from within 10.3 (assuming the disc is readable in the drive that works)?

[3s-gtech]

You'll need a DVD drive, as @Arthur mentioned. Can't remember how hard it is to swap out the existing drive - I have an old G3 here with slot loading DVD. Earlier non-slot loading models only have CD drives.

 

The Wikipedia entry is good for checking the specs for each model. iMac G3 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[DalekSec]

I can launch it from the USB CD drive when in 10.3, I click install and says it will now restart to start installing and it just loads up 10.3 again as I think its looking in the built in CD drive not the USB one...

[DalekSec]

You'll need a DVD drive, as @Arthur mentioned. Can't remember how hard it is to swap out the existing drive - I have an old G3 here with slot loading DVD. Earlier non-slot loading models only have CD drives.

 

The Wikipedia entry is good for checking the specs for each model. iMac G3 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

I replaced the HDD a few months ago, and I have to get to it via the CD drive, so as long as I get the right cd drive I think I be fine