Installing DVD drive in a PowerMac G3

[KilGil27]

I want to install OS X on my PowerMac G3 B&W, but it doesn't have a DVD drive, so I need to install one. Does anyone know if the Samsung SH-W162Z would work in that computer, or if there is another way I can install OS X without the DVD drive?

 

[JDN]

You could also use an external DVD drive through FireWire or USB.

 

[Lee325]

Installed a PIONEER DVD-RW

I installed a PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-105 that I got off ebay for $35.00 in a B&W G3 400 and had no problems. No drivers needed as the computer thought it was a superdrive, just like it came from Apple.

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-105:

Firmware Revision: 1.33
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2000 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: No

 

[disconap]

Pretty much any drive will work for reading, and burn if you have Toast. I have a no name (reads as an NEC) in mine.

 

[KilGil27]

Like I said, I am trying to install OS X on there, and I installed a Samsung DVD burner I keep getting an error message that says the startup disk can't use the install CD to boot... could that be the drive?

 

[disconap]

Probably not. Did you update the firmware on the B/W?

 

[KilGil27]

Probably not. Did you update the firmware on the B/W?

no, how do I do that? 🙁

 

[disconap]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58374

Just follow the instructions. And check your ROM version in system profiler first, you may not need to run it.