I've got an iMac G3 that predates firewire and has a bad disc drive, I'd like to install OS X on it but not sure how to do it without having access to either of these. Anyone know of a way to do this via USB? I know that I could take the HDD out but I'd have to buy some adapters to get it working.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Install OS X on iMac without CD drive or firewire
- Thread starter retta283
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you have a USB stick, use Disk Utility on another Mac to format it as APM then restore the OS X disk image you want to use to the stick.
I'm not sure if G3s can boot from USB using the boot picker (OPTN key at startup). If not, you'll need to go the Open Firmware command route. Once you're there though I would suggest formatting your HD in two partitions. The first being 6GB. The reason being that older iMacs tend to see only the first 6GB of a drive as bootable so you want your system in that first 6GB. Install OS X there.
I remember hearing something about that 6GB problem, but not any specifics. Currently I have OS 9.2 on it and I was planning to split the 10GB hard drive in half, but maybe that won't work. On USB installs I think my problem was I wasn't using APM formatting.
It's also worth noting that the Disc drive did work, but the disc that was in it did not eject properly and I can't get it to read or eject anymore. I have tried without luck to get the disc out with an old credit card, not sure if this model has an emergency eject or not.
Edit: found the emergency eject just after posting, lol. It just whines and does nothing. Tried tilting it slightly and it still just whines. Assume it's took weak these days to eject.
Edit: found the emergency eject just after posting, lol. It just whines and does nothing. Tried tilting it slightly and it still just whines. Assume it's took weak these days to eject.
You can sometimes get a stuck disk to eject by powering up, then apply pressure to the edge of the stuck disk. Another CD works nicely for this. Don't try to insert the 2nd disk, just gently push it further in to the slot, if possible. If it works, the "stuck" disk should start spinning. Now, try the eject. I first try shutting power off, then power on while holding the left mouse button down. If you get a brief eject, but the eject is too weak, you may be able to grab the edge of the disk with a tool, and "urge" the disk out.
The 6GB (actually 8GB, but the concept is the same) issue does not exist on the slot-loading, only on the older tray-loading G3 iMacs.
Hopefully, you can get an external USB device with an OS X installer to boot. You will need the Open Firmware command that makes that happen.
The 6GB (actually 8GB, but the concept is the same) issue does not exist on the slot-loading, only on the older tray-loading G3 iMacs.
Hopefully, you can get an external USB device with an OS X installer to boot. You will need the Open Firmware command that makes that happen.
At a certain point I just declare the disk 'dead' and go in with tweezers.
Being NewWorld machines, this issue strikes me as odd. I thought it's justOldWorld machines that can only boot OS X from the first 8 GB of the disk.
They can.
My iMac G3 and 500Mhz and 800Mhz G3 iBooks can detect a USB based OS X installer at the boot menu.
Check out my thread where I set up Tiger on the iMac and the USB installer was recognised with OPTN at startup.
Again, imho we really need a sticky so that this information is available and members can contribute with the details of machines where this is possible.
Maybe it could be added to the FAQ thread? If anyone even looks at it anyway.