Installing Linux on a G3

Ubuntu has a Apple section but with a G3 I hope you enjoy watching grass grow.

http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=328

Did you download the PPC version of Ubuntu?
the new version does not work on well G3. 6.06 is the last officially supported version. I got 7.04 to work on mine, 7.10 is available here http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/7.10/release/

It is a little hidden on the ubuntu site.

Do you have access to a mac os disk? so you can wipe the drive before you try to install Ubuntu? work better that way.

I installed it on my bondi blue imac and it ran for two more years as an awesome machine.

If I recall what I did last time
I ust put the live disk in after system booted into OS 9 and then double clicked on the ubuntu disk installed from there.


It did not want to boot from disk until I burned the CD in toast on my G5 imac, did not like the disk from the MBP.

The bondi blue imac finally gave out about three months back so I cannot test it now.
You might have better luck on the ubuntu forums

Bakin said:

I just picked up an imac G3 system, its kind of a bluish green. has os8.6 and i would like to install Linux on it, can anyone help me with this? im certain if i can get the system to boot from the disc i can handle the rest myself, i have tried holding down C when starting and had no luck.
Thanks

Click to expand...

quite honestly, i dont know if you could even do that...

Um you can hit option when starting up and click the Linux disk to boot

I know its possible. But I think you are stuck with an older distribution. Yellow Dog Linux dropped support for that cpu, I think a few others did too. Google YDL, they still have the older version you need + instructions to get you going.

Are you dead set on linux??? Reason I ask is that I had a G3 iMac that I gave to my friend, it has Mac OS X 10.3 and that iMac works great, and it runs 10.3 without any problems. You can pick 10.3 on eBay for a vary reasonable price now and days.

-iGrant

I have an Rev B iMac running Ubuntu, and it works well enough for a home webserver and some light browsing and OpenOffice duties. If I were you I wouldn't attempt to install anything newer than 7.10.
If you're having trouble booting from the install CD holding down 'C', you might want to re-burn the CD at a slower speed. The G3 iMac's CD ROM is a bit finicky. Also, the install will take a while and will require a few "tweaks" to get everything working. There are a few helpful threads in the Ubuntu forums about installing on that model iMac. Google is your friend.
I wouldn't try any version of OS X on a G3 iMac. It's really painful.