Can't get to the installation window for Panther 10.3 upgrade

Question

Hello all, thanks for reading,
Here's the deal:
I have an iMac, 500 Mhz, G3, 128 RAM that originally has Mac OS 9 built into it. Recently (a day or two ago), I wanted to format my computer because it was giving me too much trouble (a message saying that there wasn't enough memory kept appearing and askign me to quit an application to free some up), so I introduced the Mac OS 9 restoration disk and initialized my HD.
Everything went well, I was able to re-install the OS 9 and the necessary upgrades (up to 9.2.2) so that I could re-install my Panther 10.3 OS. However, when I reboot the computer with the installation disk in (so as to get to the installation window) it hangs when it reaches the white screen with the grey apple in the middle and the spinning thing on the bottom. It does not freeze up, 'cause you can see that the spiral still goes round and round, but disk activity ceases and it does not progress further than that (I have left it up to an hour in that state and nothing happens).
What can be my problem? The disk is in good conditions, and it is not the driver because I can run any other cd and it even reads the Panther disks (all of the 3)..... please help!
Thank you.
iMac   Mac OS X (10.3)   128 RAM - 30 Gb HD - 500 Mghz - G3 PowerPC

Answer 1

Psike:
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
To install Panther your computer will need to meet the minimum system requirements for Panther. Your RAM seems to be very marginal and I recommend that you upgrade your RAM to at least 256 MB or better still max it out to 1 GB.
You will need to purchase the Full Retail version of Panther. Be aware that Computer specific or upgrade versions should be avoided since they are optimized for the computer to which they are specific and will therefore very likely cause problems during or after installation. On the legal side, it may be a violation of the Software License Agreement which statesThis License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single computer at a time. This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time...If you do not have a Full Retail Version you can purchase universal installer Panther disks, guaranteed to install, from applerescue.
In terms of your specific problem. Here's what I suggest:
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key.
Go to Installer menu and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
If DU reports errors it cannot repair you will need to use a utility like Tech Tool Pro or Disk Warrior
After disk has been repaired, with Disk Utility still launched and in the First Aid tab:
Click Repair Disk Permissions button.
Quit Disk Utility and open installer.
Select install option.
You may wish to Customize by deselecting Foreign Language Translations, unless you need it, and Additional Printer Drivers. This saves some disk space.
Proceed with installation.
After restart and set up:
Restart computer
Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility
Repair Disk Permissions (as before)
Go to Apple Menu > Software Update
Install all updates
Repair Disk Permissions again.
Please post back with questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius