OS install for PowerMac G3?

[Ican'tcode]

Hey guys,
pretty new here, just got a PowerMac G3 All-in-One from my high school. As the drive had student data on it, it had to be destroyed. I got a laptop SATA (500gb) and an IDE-to-SATA adapter, and the little caddy that converts a 2.5-inch to a 3.5-inch HDD. How do I install a bootable OS (PREFERRABLY macOS 8.1) using a Windows 11 computer? I already installed TransMac, but couldn't figure it out. (also, the CRT is tinted red, any idea why?)
Thanks a bunch,
Dom

TLDR: I basically want to install a factory-fresh version of macOS 8.1 using a laptop SATA and a windows computer to install onto the SATA.

 

[theMarble]

You can download the 8.1 install disc for the G3 AIO here. It is download link #24 - "PMG3AIO_81.ZIP".

You will need to use a CD to install it. There is no way to boot from USB on the beige G3s, as that functionality (i.e. a multi-boot menu) didn't exist yet.

So no need for TransMac (which is good thing as it is a trainwreck), only an optical drive capable of burning a CD. Doesn't need to be a Windows or Mac.

 

[Ican'tcode]

You can download the 8.1 install disc for the G3 AIO here. It is download link #24 - "PMG3AIO_81.ZIP".

You will need to use a CD to install it. There is no way to boot from USB on the beige G3s, as that functionality (i.e. a multi-boot menu) didn't exist yet.

So no need for TransMac (which is good thing as it is a trainwreck), only an optical drive capable of burning a CD. Doesn't need to be a Windows or Mac.

can I put it on a DVD-R? I have a 2000s Sony DVD drive (with IDE pins). Also, do I just put the zip file directly on the disc? Or do i unzip it to the disc?
Thanks a bunch for your reply though,
Dom

 

[theMarble]

can I put it on a DVD-R? I have a 2000s Sony DVD drive (with IDE pins). Also, do I just put the zip file directly on the disc? Or do i unzip it to the disc?
Thanks a bunch for your reply though,
Dom

Is your Sony DVD drive an internal DVD drive (i.e. 5.25" IDE that goes in the computer), or an external DVD drive (uses FireWire and/or USB to connect to a computer)? There was no FireWire or USB yet, so you won't be able to use an external optical drive.

To answer your second question, neither of those will work. Simply putting either the compressed zip file or the unzipped folders on the disc will not work. You need to burn the disc image to the DVD. This can be done using either the Burn function in Windows/macOS depending on what your modern machine is, or using a third-party tool like Burn for macOS.

 

[Ican'tcode]

The DVD drive plugs directly into the computer's motherboard, not through USB/Firewire.

Okay... Do I use the www.se, ftp.se, mirror.se, or the www.de file link? just want to be sure so I don't waste DVD-Rs.
Thanks again,
Dom

 

[theMarble]

The DVD drive plugs directly into the computer's motherboard, not through USB/Firewire.

Then, yes you can use a DVD.

Do I use the www.se, ftp.se, mirror.se, or the www.de file link? just want to be sure so I don't waste DVD-Rs.

They are "mirror" links for the exact same file. ".se" is the primary download sever, "ftp.se" is the primary FTP server, "mirror.de" is the mirror and "ftp.de" is the mirror FTP server.

For me, I always use the German mirror on Macintosh Garden (mirror.de) as in my region it is by far the fastest to download. I would suggest trying each and work out which is fastest where you live. You will be able to tell pretty much as soon as the download starts.

In my case, the "www.se" link took ~10-12 minutes to download, while the "mirror.de" took ~20 seconds.