[Ham-Mac] Follow up about my Imac G3 and linux/MacOS

[Randy Charles Ford]

I'm not sure that your machine would require the hack to install OS X.  It's 
for the ones that have tray-loading CDs or no fire-wire.  References to it 
also seem to have disappeared with later versions of OS X.  Also, IIRC, 
Apple's caveat about early iMacs seem to have not been included in later 
versions of OS X.

I have two of the original "Bondi Blue" iMacs that are earlier than yours.  I 
intended to upgrade the one I had to OS X, but then found another at a thrift 
store for $10 that already had OS X 10.3 installed, so I bought it.  I still 
intend to install either OS X or Linux on the other, but haven't yet, so I 
don't know if I will have to use the hack.  The one I got from the thrift 
store isn't really being used because it runs out of memory, (I haven't look 
to see if I can fix that,) and the OS isn't new enough to sync my daughter's 
newer iPod with iTunes.

One of the first things generally recommended is to update the machines BIOS.  
You can download updates from Apple.  Linux may be expecting something that 
has been fixed by Apple.  Also, Apple had some diagnostics software available 
for download: you may want to try it to see if the new memory is working 
correctly: the G3 iMacs were pretty particular about what memory they would 
use.

Please let us know how you get it working.  It may help me when I get around 
to upgrading mine.

73,
kg4jix randy.


On Wednesday 18 February 2009 18:08:35 Jonathan Thawley wrote:
> ok a few more details about the imac and my issues.......
>
> it is a g3 333/256/80/CD ROM
>
> I have tried to install the following versions of linux:
>
> Ubuntu 6.10, and 8.10 (I did use the alternate cd for 6.10, but not 8.10)
>
> Slackintosh 12.1
>
> Debian 4.0_r7 I did this as a network install over the internet...
>
> After installing with no problems, I'm told to take the cd out and
> reboot... I do that... then it says
>
> Please wait, Loading Linux Kernel....
>
> and it just stops and sits there...
>
> I've tried everything i could think of... One forum thread on ubuntu forums
> even suggested changing the bios battery which i've done... I've almost got
> 100.00 wrapped up in this thing, from the original purchase, memory
> upgrade, and the battery...I'd really like to use it but i'm about bald
> from trying so many different things...
>
> Some have asked why not use OSX, I would except that I have read on various
> forums that you have to run some type of hack to make OSX think the
> processor is faster than it really is...  Hence why i asked for MacOS 9.2.1
> which I believe is the latest release before they went to OSX.... I can get
> OS 9.2.1 on ebay for about 50.00, but I really don't want to put that much
> more money into a computer that's so OLD! LOL
>
> Any further ideas or suggestions??
>
> Jonathan