im g3 hard drive upgrade

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I recently received an iMac g3 with 400mhz and OS 9.2.2. I wanted to upgrade the hard drive. Can some one please tell me what to look for when searching for a hard drive?
 
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The ATA controller in the G3 is limited to 127 GB of storage, so don't waste money on anything much bigger. Unless you're doing seriously drive-intensive work (not likely on a G3!), you'll never notice the differences in performance between the various makes and models -- I suggest hitting eBay for an IDE drive in the 120-140 GB range. They're cheap enough, so go for a new one if you can find one (a used drive could be years from failing, or only days away.)
 
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Besides it being IDE and less than 127 gb's is there anything else specific (rpm, cache, brand) that I should be looking for?
 
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In G3 days installed 7200 RPM Seagates, and did not notice any problems with heat. All leading brands of 3.5" IDE or PATA drives are good. Cache will not be so important with the slower G3 processors.

Replace the Hard Drive on a G3 iMac (iMac G3 DV)

Follow the arrowed next screen after each step.
 

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I recently received an iMac g3 with 400mhz and OS 9.2.2. I wanted to upgrade the hard drive. Can some one please tell me what to look for when searching for a hard drive?

Not sure how comfortable you are with taking computers apart. The G3 iMac All-In-One isn't super hard to do a hard drive upgrade...but it's not super easy either.

If you haven't done it before...read up on it first. If you have done it before...then ignore my post!;D

Good luck,

- Nick
 
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iMac g3 hard drive upgrade

Well I've already taken the g3 apart and was able to easily put it back together. Just wanted to make sure I purchase the right hard drive. Thanks for the feedback.

Also is EIDE and IDE the same? And will both work with the iMac G3?
 
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Good work and yes the drives are the same. Western Digital, as a marketing ploy, used the term Enhanced IDE, and it stuck as EIDE.
 
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iMac g3 hard drive upgrade

Thats what i needed to know. Thanks a lot. This is a great forum.
 
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Dont forget about installing the right firmware for your imac on a clean HD.
If you do not have the orange system disc that came with the imac. You need to download the firmware for it. If you plan to put OS 10 on it this is super important. For OS 10 the firmware boot rom is 4.1.9 on a slot load imac.
 
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Oh thats great that you mentioned that cause I am planning on installing OS X. So what do I have to do to get the new hard drive ready and able to install OS X?
 
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You will need to format the drive using the 9.2.2 install disc, Mac OS Extended (Journalled) is the go. Then install 9.2.2. Go to the link below to see how to up[grade the firmware. Read the instructions, and do the download and run the program.

iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9: Information and Download

After restarting using the programmer's button, then install OS X. You then have the option of running both Classic and OS X, or OS X solely. OS X.4 Tiger will run very nicely if you max out the RAM.
 
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So I have to install the old OS (9.2.2) on the new hard drive and then install the new OS X? Also my iMac has no internet browser and the internet and software update in the control panel are disabled. So how would I download and install the firmware on the iMac?
 
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You need the firmware update in place before you install OS10. If you have to download it on a PC and put the update on a jump drive or burn it to a cd. Run the Imac with 9.2.2 and open the update, its self exstracting. Follow the instructions. You will have to push the programers key next to the bottom of the USB jack. Then the boot rom will be 4.1.9. The update keeps the Unix code in OS10 from burning up the video chip. Otherwise is called death by 10. The installer in OS10 will not stop if the boot rom is not right. Check it in Apple system profiler.
 
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iMac G3 hard drive upgrade

What if I don't have the original 9.2.2 OS boot disks? The computer was a hand me down so all I got was the computer with it's current hardware.
 
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Looks like you have to go into the market place for OS 9 install CDs. You will need at least 9.1. Also do you actually have the OS X install discs? Do not use silver grey discs as these are strictly model specific.
 
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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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Nah that is it unless you want to spend big bucks on a processor upgrade and now you would have to look for a used unit, but personally would save my pennies and wait until you can afford a G5 or even an Intel machine.
 
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When you install the OS9 disc do a universal install. Look under options in the installer to make shure you get the right firmware for OS9. There may also be a folder in the installer window that says Imac firmware update. The last one I fix I used the orange machine specific disc then upgaded to OS9 then to ten.
 
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iMac G3 hard drive upgrade

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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