How to recover an iMac G3 Tray-Loading model stuck in Mac OS 9 (read all of it.)

[MaxSolar0713]

Hello, people.

I am trying to recover my iMac G3's (tray-loading) system. I had gotten it off eBay and installed Mac OS 9 so I could dual boot it using this image: http://mirror.macintosharchive.org/macintoshgarden.org/files/apps/Quicksilver_0.sit [copied file to Hard Drive and Blessed it.] I became stuck as I eventually made an error in locking the account and am now stuck at the logon screen. ( I had attempted to change the name of the owner's account, and made a seperate account so I don't run into errors. I found that my seperate account did not have admin access, but twas too late, as I could not login to Admin account. For some reason the account had made it so previously you wouldn't have to log in, but now I do.

Now, my CD drive will not boot my OS 9 cd, BUT, the system also runs Mac OS 10.3.9. I cannot get into it (for I cannot bless it, because the gates of hell Mac OS 9 will not let me switch to the system folder, due to the inability to login.

Would it be possible if I could try to boot to the Mac OS X folder from Open Firmware, if possible, or could one find the password from the disk image?

Thank you.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

Are the system folders on different partitions or the same?

 

[bunnspecial]

Do you have/can you burn an OS X 10.3 disk? You can use the startup disk utility from the installer.

If, as above, they're on separate partitions, there's actually a back-door way to do it. You can boot into open firmware and type Multi-boot . This brings up a text-based boot picker with the same functionality as the graphical one found on later PPC Macs, and you can select the OS X partition.

 

[MaxSolar0713]

Are the system folders on different partitions or the same?

I believe they are one the same partition (as I said, I copied it directly on the disk).
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Do you have/can you burn an OS X 10.3 disk? You can use the startup disk utility from the installer.

If, as above, they're on separate partitions, there's actually a back-door way to do it. You can boot into open firmware and type Multi-boot . This brings up a text-based boot picker with the same functionality as the graphical one found on later PPC Macs, and you can select the OS X partition.

Same partition based.

Although in theory I could burn an OS X 10.3 disc, I highly doubt it would boot, since I once tried to install StarCraft by CD-R via burning a .toast image. The disk was said to be unrecognizable by Mac OS 9, and I didn't have much come up in terms of Mac OS X (sheesh, it wouldn't read the Music CDs that did work on Mac OS 9.) I'll attempt that, however, as the differing compatibility may make it possible to use a CD-R. I do have a CD-R versions of OS 9 and also a CD-ROM version. I'll try both and tell what the results are in open firmware.

I believe I have the Blue Tray-Loading rev. B Model, to specify.
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Do you have/can you burn an OS X 10.3 disk? You can use the startup disk utility from the installer.

If, as above, they're on separate partitions, there's actually a back-door way to do it. You can boot into open firmware and type Multi-boot . This brings up a text-based boot picker with the same functionality as the graphical one found on later PPC Macs, and you can select the OS X partition.

I tried using both kinds of discs, open firmware returned the same for both:

DISK-Label: read of block0 failed

While I try the OS X 10.3 option, please post any alternatives.

 

[DearthnVader]

Did you try to startup hold "X" to boot OS X?

Otherwise boot into Open Firmware and:

boot hd:,\System\Library\CoreServices\BootX

 

[MaxSolar0713]

Did you try to startup hold "X" to boot OS X?

Otherwise boot into Open Firmware and:

boot hd:,\System\Library\CoreServices\BootX

Holding X did nothing. I booted into Open Firmware and attempted that command, it showed the apple logo for 5 seconds before showing a prohibitory icon (circle with line.)

I attempted the CD-R with OS X 10.3, but no luck. If all else fails, I may consider getting a PATA-USB adapter to copy a clean version of OS 9, and then mount the OS X disk image and install.

 

[DearthnVader]

Holding X did nothing. I booted into Open Firmware and attempted that command, it showed the apple logo for 5 seconds before showing a prohibitory icon (circle with line.)

I attempted the CD-R with OS X 10.3, but no luck. If all else fails, I may consider getting a PATA-USB adapter to copy a clean version of OS 9, and then mount the OS X disk image and install.

setenv boot-args -v
boot hd:,\System\Library\CoreServices\BootX

Is there something wrong with your CD drive?

Did the tray-loader iMac support >10.2.8?

EDIT: Looks like the tray-loaders support up to 10.3.9, you may want to try the CD images from WinWorldPC.

 

[MaxSolar0713]

setenv boot-args -v
boot hd:,\System\Library\CoreServices\BootX

Is there something wrong with your CD drive?

Did the tray-loader iMac support >10.2.8?

EDIT: Looks like the tray-loaders support up to 10.3.9, you may want to try the CD images from WinWorldPC.

I might assume that the CD drive has the problem. I continue to have the error:

DISK-LABEL: read of block0 failed.

I tried the code you provided. Same icon.

If you happen to be an expert on Mac OS 9, is there some way to find the password in the system files? That would solve everything.

 

[DearthnVader]

I might assume that the CD drive has the problem. I continue to have the error:

DISK-LABEL: read of block0 failed.

I tried the code you provided. Same icon.

If you happen to be an expert on Mac OS 9, is there some way to find the password in the system files? That would solve everything.

Sounds like a failed CD drive, what are your options?

Any other Mac's to aid in the process?

Making a bootable USB key or using another Firewire Mac could work.

 

[swamprock]

Sounds like a failed CD drive, what are your options?

Any other Mac's to aid in the process?

Making a bootable USB key or using another Firewire Mac could work.

Unfortunately, the Bondi doesn't have Firewire or is able to boot from USB.
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I might assume that the CD drive has the problem. I continue to have the error:

DISK-LABEL: read of block0 failed.

I tried the code you provided. Same icon.

If you happen to be an expert on Mac OS 9, is there some way to find the password in the system files? That would solve everything.

The one way you can remove the password from OS 9 is to remove the file "Multi-User Prefs" from System Folder/Preferences. It'll boot to the desktop after doing that.

 

[MaxSolar0713]

Unfortunately, the Bondi doesn't have Firewire or is able to boot from USB.
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The one way you can remove the password from OS 9 is to remove the file "Multi-User Prefs" from System Folder/Preferences. It'll boot to the desktop after doing that.

Is it possible to do that in Open Firmware?