iMac G4 stuck on Mac OS X Load Screen

[JNYWN]

Ladies / Gents I'm trying to re-awaken a dinosaur...

I'm trying to fix a friends old iMac G4.

The current issue is that the OS won't load and is effectively stuck on the load screen indefinitely. Looking online it appears that the OS is likely to be Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar.

Is there any way to determine if this is a software or hardware issue?

Thanks in advance,
JNYWN

 

[redheeler]

Do you hava any Restore disks for the Mac, or OS X install disks which it can boot from?

Try booting into Safe Mode (hold down the Shift key) and see if that makes any difference. You also might get more help with a post in the PowerPC Macs section.

 

[JNYWN]

Do you hava any Restore disks for the Mac, or OS X install disks which it can boot from?

Try booting into Safe Mode (hold down the Shift key) and see if that makes any difference. You also might get more help with a post in the PowerPC Macs section.

I've got install discs but nothing happens when I hold C down from startup. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[redheeler]

I've got install discs but nothing happens when I hold C down from startup. Any suggestions? Thanks

What OS X version is on the install disks, and do they appear in the boot menu (hold down Option to get to that).