Old Pentium hdd

[MicrosoftApple]

Ive got this old 40 Gig Hardrive out from a Pentium 3 or 4 PC tower that was running Windows XP of those old times
So I just wanted to ask that is it possible to use it on my iMac G3 just to install OS 10.4

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Depends on its connector.

 

[Intell]

As long as it is a PATA/IDE drive and the iMac is a slot loading model, there shouldn't be any problem in using that drive. Just make sure you set the jumpers on the Pentium drive to be the same as the iMac's drive.

 

[gavinstubbs09]

Be sure however that when you do format, it's APM (Apple Partition Map) and not MBR in order to make it bootable.

 

[Altemose]

Be sure however that when you do format, it's APM (Apple Partition Map) and not MBR in order to make it bootable.

If OP uses "Erase" in Disk Utility, it will automatically format in APM.

 

[jrsx]

If OP uses "Erase" in Disk Utility, it will automatically format in APM.

When I was installing Leopard on my SSD, it wouldn't! 😱 I had to manually select APM.

 

[Altemose]

When I was installing Leopard on my SSD, it wouldn't! 😱 I had to manually select APM.

Interesting...

 

[gavinstubbs09]

Interesting...

Same with me, told me to make sure it was APM.

I find it funny that it's similar in Windows XP's installer, it will automatically format any APM/GUID to MBR, but using the Windows Vista/7 installer it refused to install and wouldn't format it to MBR.

 

[MicrosoftApple]

Here are the pictures of the HDD
Its quite old but its in prestine condition

 

[128keaton]

Here are the pictures of the HDD
Its quite old but its in prestine condition

Its a 'blank' hard drive hahaha. Also, why Isn't your username Micple? Or MicroApple?

 

[MicrosoftApple]

Also, why Isn't your username Micple? Or MicroApple?

Thats because thats just my temporary name i'll change it to the name of my email
Also how can you say its a blank drive?

 

[Intell]

That drive will work in a G3 iMac. Just make sure you properly set the jumpers.

 

[MicrosoftApple]

That drive will work in a G3 iMac. Just make sure you properly set the jumpers.

What are jumpers? The screws or the connectors?
PS:****** I cant change my username

 

[Intell]

It's the little white thing on the pins on that drive. I suggest doing a quick read on IDE jumpers.

 

[jrsx]

What are jumpers? The screws or the connectors?
PS:****** I cant change my username

These are jumpers: The little brick that covers/bridges two of the pins on the HDD.

 

[MicrosoftApple]

Well this means I have a Master or a Single Drive

 

[128keaton]

Thats because thats just my temporary name i'll change it to the name of my email
Also how can you say its a blank drive?

The photos weren't there. It was a joke.

 

[Intell]

Well this means I have a Master or a Single Drive

Not all drives are the same. Look at the label on your drive for what is what. Make sure you set the new drive to be the same as the imac's current drive.

 

[MicrosoftApple]

A Maxtor 3.5 Series ATA/133 HDD 40GB

 

[Intell]

That's too broad of a model. There are pictures on the drive label that tell you what jumper is what.

 

[MicrosoftApple]

I found something saying this

 

[gavinstubbs09]

I found something saying this

CS - Cable Select

Your IDE cable may have 2 connectors, the top one is automatically the master and the one underneath that is a slave. So if it's enabled to CS it doesn't matter which connector it's in.

 

[MicrosoftApple]

I think this is a master drive cause it has only 1 jumpers and thats on the left

 

[Intell]

What is on the iMac's drive and its jumpers?

 

[128keaton]

I think this is a master drive cause it has only 1 jumpers and thats on the left

Correct terminology is "I think it is configured as a master drive"
Also, that should work if it is formatted correctly. If it isn't formatted, boot to an Apple Install CD/DVD and use Disk Utility.
The Maxtor that I installed in my iMac was set to master and it was detected.