I need help installing mac OS 9.0.4

Question

I got an Imac from ebay
no software whats so ever. I turned it on and the system had an administrator password which I didn't know. It has mac OS 9.2 Installed on it I was told by a freind to buy the OS cd and to boot form it so I ordered mac os 9.0.4 from ebay. The cd says to press and hold the letter C Down in the boothing process but nothing happens. I tried starting without the extensions but that didn't help much the computer is usless if I cant use it. Could somebody please help. and sorry for my spelling.

Answer 1

Hi, Yeddie -
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
All Mac models have a minimum OS to which they can boot, typically the original OS version that come with them. Many models came with a model-specific version of the OS. This means that an OS 9 Install CD of a too-old version won't work on a machine; and usually an OS 9 Install CD that is a model-specific one, such as one that originally shipped with a machine, won't work on a different model.
The original CDs that shipped with a machine are usually labelled as Software Install (or possibly Software Restore), and usually include the name of the model on the CD. Unfortunately all iMacs are not the same - even if the CD you got is labelled for an iMac, if it was not intended specifically for your model it probably can not be made to work.
The solution is to get a retail OS 9 Install CD of adequate version. The retail OS 9 Install CDs have a white label with a large gold 9 on them, and contain a universal installer - they can boot and install to any Mac model supported by Apple for that OS version.
You haven't given enough information to determine which model iMac you have - there have been many G3 models of iMacs, each with its own minimum OS requirement. However, a retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD will work on all of them.
I suggest you look for an obtain a retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD. Here's some possible sources -
http://store.yahoo.com/hardcoremac/index.html - Apple Reseller
http://www.applerescue.com/
With regard to the administrator password - that's probably a Multiple Users password. It can be removed fairly easily, provided you have a CD the machine can boot to.
Boot to the CD - it need not be an OS 9 Install CD, just one to which the machine can be booted.
Then open the System Folder on the hard drive, go into the Preferences folder and locate the file named "Multi-User Prefs" - throw away that file, empty the Trash, then restart normally.
Note - do not use a CD which boots to OSX until you know for sure whether the firmware on that machine is current. It is dangerous for early iMacs especially to even attempt to boot the machine to OSX before the firmware has been updated.