Hello guys! As the title says, I've got an old iMac G3 and I've been thinking about updating it from Mac OS 9 to OS X, and I've read a lot of posts online about it. I know that in order to install OS X I have to update the firmware to version 4.1.9 before, but I have a problem with that: I downloaded the firmware from the Apple website and followed the instructions, but when I clic shut down when prompted, the iMac does not do it, but instead everything on the screen disappears except for the wallpaper. Hope you can help me cause this is driving me insane.
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Help with an iMac G3
- Thread starter Iotonan99
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Hello Iotonan99, welcome to the forums.
How long have you waited after clicking shut down? Firmware updates typically take some time to complete, and what you're describing doesn't sound all that unusual. On the other hand, if it just hung like that for a couple hours, that might be an issue.
How long have you waited after clicking shut down? Firmware updates typically take some time to complete, and what you're describing doesn't sound all that unusual. On the other hand, if it just hung like that for a couple hours, that might be an issue.
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When you restarted, did you try holding in the programmer's button on the side, per the instructions? If so, what result?
Ok. Forgive me for being so elemental, but after booting into Mac OS, you've checked and the firmware version hasn't changed?
Ok, I once had a similar problem with a Power Mac G4, completely different beast from your iMac but the firmware update process is virtually identical. IIRC, I had to just let the thing sit there for a while; and even upon reboot I had to try a couple times to get Open Firmware to finish the update.
So, here's what I recommend: start the whole process over again. After you click shut down, just leave it be, even for a few hours if necessary. Your iMac has a low-spec G3 and not a lot of memory, so it's going to take a long time doing anything, much less a firmware upgrade. Come back after a couple hours and see if it's still going; if it is, then go ahead and shut it down again, you've already seen that manually shutting it down doesn't have an ill effect. Make sure you follow the instructions closely - pressing programmer button and all - on startup, and maybe you'll have some success this time. If not, then you might try starting over and leaving the thing going overnight.
So, here's what I recommend: start the whole process over again. After you click shut down, just leave it be, even for a few hours if necessary. Your iMac has a low-spec G3 and not a lot of memory, so it's going to take a long time doing anything, much less a firmware upgrade. Come back after a couple hours and see if it's still going; if it is, then go ahead and shut it down again, you've already seen that manually shutting it down doesn't have an ill effect. Make sure you follow the instructions closely - pressing programmer button and all - on startup, and maybe you'll have some success this time. If not, then you might try starting over and leaving the thing going overnight.
@Iotonan99 any updates? Did you get it to work? Others trying to solve the same problem may find your info useful.
Yes! I got it to work by reinstalling Mac OS 9 completely. No idea what caused the issue in the first place