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Upgrading an iMac G3's drives

Please? Anyone?

I'd like to just at least get the mice to work.

But as for the keyboard, the CAPS lock and all the other "locks" light up when I push them normally, but when I push a letter key I hear a "dink" sound [system sound] but I can't tell if I can fully use the keyboard.

Help appreciated! Thanks.
 
classof2011 said:
Well, now it's given me more problems.

So I inserted the Mac OS X 10.3 Panther disc, a window for it popped up [although it didn't show anything], then it closed but the disc image remained on the desktop.

Then I switched hard drives. I gave it the 40GB set to "Master" and got the iMac running. Even though the disc is in the drive, it's acting like it can't see it now. I get the "blinking folder/?" and every few minutes I hear the disc drive start going...then it stops, and the blinking resumes.


So I have no clue what went wrong. I think I'll see if I can trade the iMac + RAM + 3 hard drives for an iBook :eek:
Click to expand...

Could you boot with the cd and try disk utility? Then perhaps reformat the 40 gig and try the install again. These things are great puzzles. I spent 5 hours bringing back a 500 graphite back from linux hell. I had to install os9 through target disk mode. It would not even recognize my hard drive and boot until I upgraded to 9.1. Then through firmware updates and finally tiger. I got this machine for 40 bucks on ebay and now I can give away my 400 to my buddy for helping me move.

These are probably the quirkiest macs you will come across, and linux really screws them up. You just have to enjoy the process. They don't really have any monetary value to anyone, heck someone just dropped off a flower power with a bad down converter I am gonna fix next. Its a great hobby.

If you get tired with it, I could use some parts. Especially the analog board, downconverter, and the 40 gig. I could part with one of my wallstreets or something else I have.
 
classof2011 said:
I'd like to just at least get the mice to work.

But as for the keyboard, the CAPS lock and all the other "locks" light up when I push them normally, but when I push a letter key I hear a "dink" sound [system sound] but I can't tell if I can fully use the keyboard.

Help appreciated! Thanks.
Click to expand...

did you run through setup assistant where you push the buttons next to the shift keys on either side? It sounds like a bad install perhaps. Mice should all be plug and play.
 
Well the mouse we bought for it worked fine until yesterday morning, after I tried installing 10.2.8 through Software Update. Right before the status bar was full, like 98%, the iMac froze and had to be restarted, and since then, no mice [but keyboards] work.

But, the eBay seller who sold me this iMac is kind enough to send me a new motherboard of the same speed or higher, and a larger hard drive, most likely a 20GB 5400RPM with 10.2 on it!

So when I get those, I'll see how it goes.
 
It worked fine until it tried to install the .8 of 10.2.8 [originally had 10.2] . If it needed a firmware update, wouldn't it download it under Software Update for me? Or do you have to go to the site to get it?

Oh, and shu82, on the blank 40GB, I tried booting the 10.4 disk. It would read it and change from the blinking folder screen to the Apple screen, but would never begin booting to it. It would sit there on the Apple screen [no spinning wheel]. For the 10.3 disc, it could read it whenever it was in OS X, but if I boot with the 10.3 disc on the blank hard drive, it would show the blinking folder item...and never change.


The seller shipped a new motherboard to me today so it should arrive either this week or early next week..so I'll let you guys know how it goes.
 
That is wierd. The firmware update can only be done in OS 9, if you install OSX and you havent updated the firmware it will tell you before the install process. The new motherboard should solve your problems, no matter what they are. Did you ask if the guy updated the firmware on the new one. If he hasn't, I hope you have a copy of OS9
 
Well, as far as I know, it never had OS9. I bought it with OS X 10.2 . He said if the motherboard doesn't fix it, he'll send me a 20GB HD with 10.2 installed.

I noticed something. I let the iMac go to sleep...and I had an idea. After it went to sleep, I moved the mouse around and it woke up. Yet the cursor didn't move, it knows there's a mouse there.


Weird.
 
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