Resolved I just can't get my iMac G4 to work.

[awshucks]

I have an iMac G4 700mhz 256mb 40gb CD-RW (January 2002)

It had Mac OS Jaguar 10.2 and Mac OS 9.2 dual boot. While I was rummaging through the previous user's files (I just got it from ebay), I opened something that made it open a black screen with a window about locating something, and would give me an error when trying to close it. So I force shut down the computer, and when restarting it, it flashed between a Finder folder and a question mark folder.

I restarted the computer holding down X to hopefully boot into OS X. Same result.
I reset PRAM by holding Cmd + Option + P + R. Same result.
I held down Option during startup. It showed no drives.


So I downloaded this copy of Mac OS Jaguar from internet archive:

Mac OS X Jaguar Install CD : Ardenkablam : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

This works for my iBook G3 M6497. It might not be compatible for you device, but just to let you know this is only for PowerPC computers. Search your model on...

archive.org

From the iso I downloaded, I burned the CD-R in Disk Utility on my PowerBook G4 at 8x speed.

I held down Cmd + Option + O + F to launch Open Firmware. There I could get my cd drive open and insert the CD-R. I gave it the command boot cd:,\\:tbxi and after trial and error it showed the Apple logo for 10 minutes straight, and then it showed these lines.

USPS took it across the US twice in a very beat up and open box. So I hope the CD drive is not damaged, since the arm was.

Anyone new to collecting, learn from me and wipe the HDD first thing when you get your old Mac.

But if anyone knows answers that would help, I would appreciate it!

 

[iBookmaster]

With the computer off, start up and after the tada chime hold the keys Command Option P R. Worth a try.

 

[awshucks]

With the computer off, start up and after the tada chime hold the keys Command Option P R. Worth a try.

Tried that, and still the same result

 

[Raging Dufus]

Firewire can be your best friend with these old Macs. You mentioned having a Powerbook G4, do you have a Firewire 400 cable? If not, get one; they're plentiful and cheap on eBay, Amazon, etc. Connect one end to your iMac, the other to your Powerbook, then use Target Disk Mode to boot the iMac from the PowerBook. The iMac will be able to use all of the Powerbook's drives, including its optical drive. If your Powerbook isn't too new to boot from Jaguar, you can use that Jaguar install disk in your Powerbook's optical drive to install it via FireWire onto the iMac.

Regardless, there's plenty of troubleshooting you can do via Target Disk Mode, because it works both ways. You can hold down "T" on the iMac's keyboard to boot it into TDM, then use your Powerbook to run diagnostics such as using Disk Utility to repair the iMac's disk or to repair permissions, assuming the iMac's HDD isn't just toast already. You may be able to use this machine-specific install disc (download & burn to an actual disc) to run Apple Hardware Test on your iMac. If the iMac's optical drive is broken, you can try it via TDM from the Powerbook, which may not work since it's machine-specific, but it's worth a shot.

So, yeah - get Firewire. That's your quickest and easiest way to see what's going on with the iMac.

 

[awshucks]

Firewire can be your best friend with these old Macs. You mentioned having a Powerbook G4, do you have a Firewire 400 cable? If not, get one; they're plentiful and cheap on eBay, Amazon, etc. Connect one end to your iMac, the other to your Powerbook, then use Target Disk Mode to boot the iMac from the PowerBook. The iMac will be able to use all of the Powerbook's drives, including its optical drive. If your Powerbook isn't too new to boot from Jaguar, you can use that Jaguar install disk in your Powerbook's optical drive to install it via FireWire onto the iMac.

Regardless, there's plenty of troubleshooting you can do via Target Disk Mode, because it works both ways. You can hold down "T" on the iMac's keyboard to boot it into TDM, then use your Powerbook to run diagnostics such as using Disk Utility to repair the iMac's disk or to repair permissions, assuming the iMac's HDD isn't just toast already. You may be able to use this machine-specific install disc (download & burn to an actual disc) to run Apple Hardware Test on your iMac. If the iMac's optical drive is broken, you can try it via TDM from the Powerbook, which may not work since it's machine-specific, but it's worth a shot.

So, yeah - get Firewire. That's your quickest and easiest way to see what's going on with the iMac.

Looks like I’m about to shop for a FireWire cable. My PowerBook is a 2005 1.5ghz 12” model, so it’s too new for jaguar. I do have a homemade 10.4 Tiger install DVD, which I could restore the iMac to. Thanks!

 

[awshucks]

The firewire cable came today.
I booted the iMac into TDM. After a few failed attempts to erase the iMac's HDD due to an unmount fail, I left to pick up a pizza and somehow when I was gone it actually showed up correctly. So, I proceed to erase the HDD.

I saw on a video where the guy partitioned the erased HDD to put OS X on a 3GB partition in order for the nonworking Mac to boot from there, in which the other partition was what OS X was installed on.

Still, I was not getting anywhere.

Then, I reversed it by putting the PowerBook into TDM and started the iMac while holding the option key. So, I booted the iMac on the PowerBook's HDD. So, I partitioned it and all went well.

I unplugged the PowerBook and restarted the iMac to see the Tiger install screen. First installation attempt failed, but the second one worked!


Thanks for the help @Raging Dufus !