im g3 hard drive upgrade

cablett_ndv said:

I got the iMac software restore disc today. I installed the new hard drive and loaded the first disc and I'm getting a little folder in the middle of the screen with a alternating happy face and question mark. I'm doing something wrong?

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That's sort of a "weird" combination. The "happy" face is a good thing...meaning everything should be fine...but the question mark means that you do not have a "useable" system folder.

My guess is those 9.2.2 disks may not be compatible with your iMac. What do the 9.2.2 disks look like (color)...and what do they say on them. A picture would be really great if can post one.

- Nick

Did you boot from disc one by inserting, restarting and holding down 'C' immediately after the chimes? Then go to utilities > Disk Utility and format the HDD.

Keep us posted?

iMac G3 hard drive upgrade

I just tried what you said about holding down C but nothing happened. It went to the same screen that I explained before. How do I get the cd to eject from that screen I just explained?

Make shure the HD jumper is set to master and hold down the C key before the chime. The restore disc for DV models is orange and has 9.0 on it. Key stroke Apple-control-power button. That will restart the machine and the cd should come out. If not,theres a little hole in the right corner of the CD slot push it litley with a paper clip theres a button back there that will eject the CD.

cablett_ndv said:

Okay I just purchased some original iMac OS 9.2.2 disks. Once I receive them I will use all the information I've received. Also besides the ram, hard drive, and operating system is there anything else that can be upgraded or improved the iMac G3?

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Do you REALLY need OS 9.2.2? Why not just install a version of OS 10. I actually have OS 10.4.11 on a couple of my G3 iMac's.

As far as upgrades besides the ram & hard drive...once you install OS 10...you can install an Airport wireless card so you can surf the internet wirelessly...assuming you have a wireless router.

- Nick

They have to install OS 9 first on the new hard drive to upgrade the firmware to 4.1.9 before the os 10 install. After that they can skip classic and just install 10.

Mac SK said:

They have to install OS 9 first on the new hard drive to upgrade the firmware to 4.1.9 before the os 10 install. After that they can skip classic and just install 10.

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Oh yeah...forgot about that. This thread is getting confusing!;D

- Nick

Just wait until they get to the installer window and need to format the drive.

The discs I got are gray with white trim and the say,"iMac software restore 1 of 5." And it came with five discs.

cablett_ndv said:

The discs I got are gray with white trim and the say,"iMac software restore 1 of 5." And it came with five discs.

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Thanks for that info...it would seem that these disks should work with an iMac.

Do the disks have any more info on them? Because I guess that there is always the possibility that these grey/silver CD disks could be for a G4 iMac...instead of a G3 iMac like you have.

For example...here's a link to an e-Bay auction for a set of G4 iMac disks...these may look like yours:

Apple iMac G4 Original OS X 9.2.2 Restore Discs & Docs - eBay (item 250495139267 end time Oct-07-09 17:16:06 PDT)

- Nick

All the G3 Imac disc I have are Orange and white. And say iMac DV models SSW version OS9. Even the ones with 8.1 on them are orange.

Mac SK said:

All the G3 Imac disc I have are Orange and white. And say iMac DV models SSW version OS9. Even the ones with 8.1 on them are orange.

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Exactly! That's why we need to get to the bottom of this problem...cause if "cablett_ndv" is using the wrong discs...we will just be chasing our tails on this one...and getting nowhere fast!;D ;D ;D

- Nick

We posted at the same time and ..Ka..pow. My OS 9 .2.1 disc for the iMac are white with an orange 9 on them.

Mac SK said:

All the Imac disc I have are Orange and white and say Imac DV models and SSW version OS9. Even the OS8.1 disc are orange.

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"OP" says his disks are grey...so that might be a problem for a G3 iMac.

- Nick

All of my OS 9 disks look similar to this (retail disks, not model specific):



- Nick

Yeah I think I do have the wrong disc's. But can I put the original hard drive back in which already has the OS 9.2.2 installed and upgrade that one then clone this hard drive to the new one?

pigoo3 said:

"OP" says his disks are grey...so that might be a problem for a G3 iMac.

- Nick

Click to expand...

Someone in the market for some G4 disc's?

cablett_ndv said:

Yeah I think I do have the wrong disc's. But can I put the original hard drive back in which already has the OS 9.2.2 installed and upgrade that one then clone this hard drive to the new one?

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10-4. Put the drive back and upgrade it to OS 10. You still need to check that the boot rom is 4.1.9 before you install 10. Then put the new drive in an external firewire or USB box and be done.

cablett_ndv said:

Yeah I think I do have the wrong disc's. But can I put the original hard drive back in which already has the OS 9.2.2 installed and upgrade that one then clone this hard drive to the new one?

Click to expand...

This is what you want:

Mac OS 9.2 Install Discs Retail 2001 Apple Classic - eBay (item 150370761701 end time Oct-04-09 17:30:43 PDT)

This is a single Mac OS 9.2.1 retail install disk. You would use this to:

- install Mac OS 9.2.1 onto your hard drive
- then download the free update to 9.2.2 if you want
- then install the firmware update for your G3 iMac.
- then install OS 10 if you desire

Hope this helps,

- Nick

iMac G3 hard drive upgrade

Here's a pic of the disc's I got