iMac G3 Doesn't boot up

[lakis.c]

I recently bought an old iMac G3 from ebay, it was working fine, until one day it wanted to do some updates. I then allowed them, and now my iMac doesn't boot up, but just shows a screen with an Apple logo, and a turning circle. Can anything be done to fix this?

 

[BlueRevolution]

Reinstall the OS? Nothing you've mentioned immediately suggests a hardware problem.

 

[lakis.c]

I don't have a copy of the OS to reinstall, is there anywhere i can buy or find a copy, I've had a look, but as im new to macs, i dont really know what im looking for.

 

[-tWv-]

You are probably looking for OS 10.3 Panther. Just search around for that and see what you come up with

 

[BlueRevolution]

Oh, I didn't realize you'd bought the computer without disks.

My iBook G3 came with a paper pouch containing 10 CDs. Happily, most of them are unnecessary. A retail copy of 10.3 Panther will do all of the same technical stuff as the computer's restore disks.

If your iMac has a CD burner, I suggest burning a copy of its Apple Hardware Test disk once it's operational again, just in case.