Help Rehabing a old iMac with a bad HDD

I inherited an original, tray loading, iMac, built in 9/98. We used it here around the house for dial up web surfing till about 5 years ago when the HDD went bad. I don't remember the specific errors it gave, but as I recall from my research at the time it was clear it needed a new drive.
At this point, I'm trying to rehab the machine for an elderly relative. She's recently moved from a home where they provided computers for the residents to one where they do not. She'll be dialing up and using the machine for email and very light surfing.
I have an old 60gig Western Digital Enhanced IDE hard drive that I'm given to understand is compatible with the iMac. Is this true?
The problem is I've long since lost the software for the machine if I even had it to begin with.
What I need help with is identifying and obtaining a start up disk that will allow me to format and build the HDD far enough that I can take it online to download any other software I need through my network here at home.
Can I download and burn such a disc from PC? Will I have to buy an OS and software or is this sufficiently old that it can be had for free?
Dell Windows XP Q re: iMac Rev A. HDD

The Hard drive will work, but in the installation process, make sure you format the drive with one partition smaller than 8GB and put your system on that volume.
There is information here on swapping drives.
You should really buy an OS9 disk available here. They aren't free, and I recommend OS9 'cause 9 is about as ancient as you can go for net connection these days. You can check eBay for a grey machine-specific disk for your iMac, but beware. A lot of folks don't know what they are selling. Personally, ... I'd buy a universal OS9.2.1 disk.
David

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