iMac G4 not connecting to wireless automatically when booting up

[s¡juandelarocha]

Hi!

So after some research in giving a rebirth to my fathers iMac G4, I decided to buy myself a pristine unit of a 17" iMac G4 (1GHz), this machines are really beautiful!

I managed to clean it externally and internally and now the 17" runs a nice 10.4.11 Mac OS X with 1Gb RAM and 70HD. I initially had some troubles accessing to the wireless network, but all I had to do was setting the wireless security at the router to none. At the end, it doesn't matter at all, the house is at the countryside and no one is coming here to steal my internet connection or data.

The point is, the 17" unit does not connect to the network right before booting up. It detects the network but never automatically connects. Actually, if I try to connect, it says something like "it couldn't connect" and only by activating the option "anti-interference" (sorry for the translation, maybe anti-jamming would be the option in English but I have the OS X configured in Spanish) I can manage to connect to the network. But then again, If I shut down or restart, the airport card is ready, it shows the network, but never connects automatically.

Any advice? I'm starting to think it could be something related with the keychain, the password of the user or something. Because when I access the menu to configure network preferences, the lock icon is always open (??)...

Thanks!

 

[CooperBox]

Hi!

So after some research in giving a rebirth to my fathers iMac G4, I decided to buy myself a pristine unit of a 17" iMac G4 (1GHz), this machines are really beautiful!

I managed to clean it externally and internally and now the 17" runs a nice 10.4.11 Mac OS X with 1Gb RAM and 70HD. I initially had some troubles accessing to the wireless network, but all I had to do was setting the wireless security at the router to none. At the end, it doesn't matter at all, the house is at the countryside and no one is coming here to steal my internet connection or data.

The point is, the 17" unit does not connect to the network right before booting up. It detects the network but never automatically connects. Actually, if I try to connect, it says something like "it couldn't connect" and only by activating the option "anti-interference" (sorry for the translation, maybe anti-jamming would be the option in English but I have the OS X configured in Spanish) I can manage to connect to the network. But then again, If I shut down or restart, the airport card is ready, it shows the network, but never connects automatically.

Any advice? I'm starting to think it could be something related with the keychain, the password of the user or something. Because when I access the menu to configure network preferences, the lock icon is always open (??)...

Thanks!

I may be wrong, but isn't this a feature of Tiger OS you have installed. I'd have to check but my 17" and 20" both running Leopard show wifi connected directly following boot.
[/QUOTE]

Another later thought. Do you have the USB 1 or USB 2 version of the 17" iMac? The latter was introduced in late 2003/2004.

Have just checked on a 17 & 20" running Leopard, and both do show wifi connected after boot - assuming it's been selected with appropriate network prior to booting.
I also note that the 17" 1GHz model supports Airport Extreme card, so with Leopard installed there should be no problem. Seem to recall though that this may not be the case under OS Tiger.

 

[s¡juandelarocha]

Solved!

I don't know why, but having the wireless network configured without security (nor WEP nor WPA) was causing the imac not to automatically connect when booting up. On the other hand, I tried configuring WPA and seem to fix the situation!

I was unsure of setting up the network with WPA/WEP 'cause in my previous iMac (15" model) I read I could only connect to clean or very basic versions of WEP encryption. However, it seems that 17" model with airport extreme DOES accept encrypted wlan.

Thanks!

 

[CooperBox]

Glad you found the solution.