IMac + headless G4

Can anyone give me some advice. I'm about to get a new 24inch iMac at work but I'm planning to keep my G4 so I still have access to OS 9.2.2. I'd like to get rid of the 21 inch CRT I currently use with the G4 as it's 8 years old and seen better days. I know I can't connect the G4 directly to the iMac and use the iMac as a monitor but is there a way I can 'see' the G4's desktop on the iMac? I'll use a seperate keyboard and mouse to control the G4. If anyone has any advice please be gentle, I don't know much about the technical side of Macs! Thanks in advance.
G4 (Mirrored drive doors) running OS X 10.4.8 & OS 9.2.2 24inch iMac   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

Without a separate display, whenever you need to access 9.2.2 you could put the MDD into Target Disc Mode (as the target, but not as the host), connect to your iMac, which would give you the ability to see (on your iMac display) whatever is on the MDD's HDD, manipulate and make changes, and then save your work back to the MDD, as well as save it to the iMac's HDD prior to leaving Target Disc Mode.
Since there are (or soon will be) equivalent applications for most everything you're probably using in 9.2.2, hopefully it wouldn't be too long until you're able to find new applications that handle everything you've got on the MDD, so that you can get everything relocated to your new iMac:))
Since you'd have to do that every day (you just can't leave it connected that way), there'd be enough of a nuisance factor that you'll soon find a way to have everything working from the iMac so that you can dispose of both the MDD and its display.
How to use FireWire target disk mode
edit-
If you don't have one now, the only thing you'll need to be able to do this is a firewire cable. For purpose of location of your two computers, you'll need to check what length firewire cable can be used, as I think there might be a maximum (for use of firewire cable, not for use of Target mode).
Message was edited by: myhighway

Similar Messages

  • Headless g4, ibook and intel imac (2.33ghz) issue

    Ok so I have a small network hooked up through an ethernet switch. I have my iMac running ARD 3.2 and it works perfectly with my ibook both through ethernet and airport. When I plug my headless g4 quicksilver into the ethernet swtich I get nothing. Even using a fixed IP address and searching for it on ARD wont allow me to connect and control it. I've tried attaching a VGA cable and the VGA to mini DV adapter to my ibook and using that as the G4's "monitor" and nothing still. When i boot from the g4 disk on my ibook, I cant see any of the SATA drives hooked up to the SATA card inside and i am at a complete loss of what to do. I really need to be able to access those hard drives and do not have a monitor with which to set up the g4 tower. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    I've tried attaching a VGA cable and the VGA to mini DV adapter to my ibook and using that as the G4's "monitor" and nothing still.
    That won't work. The video port on your iBook is output only, for using an external monitor with the iBook. You cannot use that port to use the iBook's screen with another computer.
    When i boot from the g4 disk on my ibook, I cant see any of the SATA drives hooked up to the SATA card inside
    I presume you mean via Firewire Target Disk Mode? If so, that won't work with drives connected to an any PCI card. Target Disk Mode on a G4 will only show the primary ATA hard drive connected to the motherboard's ATA bus.
    As to ARD, I presume that you are certain that the ARD client on the G4 is active and appropriately set up? If so, I've read reports of difficulties observing and controlling some systems when they don't have a monitor connected, at least to get things set up and working. So it's quite possible that you'll need to borrow a monitor for the G4, at least temporarily, to get everything set up and working, particularly if you haven't or aren't certain you have set up the ARD client.
    Regards.

  • Is it possible to "turn off" iMac display (ie. run "headless")?

    Hello.
    I've replaced my old late-model 2006 iMac (Core2Duo) with a new Mac mini. I'm going to be using the iMac to run Lion server (replacing an old G4 running Leopard server). Since I'm going to be placing the iMac in a server closet and managing it remote (via ARD), I don't need/want the display to be on. Aside from physically disconnecting the iMac display (which I'd rather not do), does anyone know of a way to "turn off" an iMac display?
    I know I can do things like run a screen saver of a black image, etc. but that means the iMac is still using the backlight, etc. to display the black image. I know there's no official Apple-supported way to do this, but I'm hoping someone might know of a third-party hack that might work?
    Thanks,
    Kristin.

    Yea, as stated in my question — since I'll be remote managing the box, sleeping the display won't work (as when I remote in, it's considered a mouse movement and the display turns on).
    And by disconnecting the monitor, I literally meant disconnecting — in the case of that model iMac, it's simply disconnecting the inverter that powers the backlight. That's what I meant by literally disconnecting the display (and probably what I'll end up doing).
    Thanks,
    k.

  • Should I create a new iTunes Library on my new iMac?

    I have been using a MacPro with multiple hard drives. One such 2TB drive has been the location of my MacPro iTunes library and media files. It takes up about 1.5TB of space with all the music, video and books. I use EyeTV from Elgato to record TV shows/movies, then convert them and transfer to iTunes. I also backup my iPhone and iPad to this iTunes library. I don't use iCloud for this backup.
    I then purchased a new iMac with a 3TB Fusion drive. I plan to hang on to the MacPro to use on my home network as a file server, running "headless" perhaps.I plan to continue to use it for recording TV shows/movies in EyeTV and converting the output to iTunes videos.
    Now I don't know what I should do about an iTunes library on my new iMac. When I got my iMac I migrated my User over to it. However, when I open iTunes, it is asking for me to either create a new iTunes library or open an existing one.
    In my mind I have these options:
    1. Create a new library. Setup up iTunes Sharing. This could work for me to access my large library of music and videos. However if I start backing up my iPhone i will then have backups on both computers. I suppose I could dump or ignore the MacPro iPhone/iPad backups and just create new backups on the iMac iTunes? What about new content I want to add? EyeTV will still be adding new content to the MacPro library. My iMac has no optical drive so if I want to rip a CD/DVD I would still need to use the MacPro for this. So from that perspective, this option may work out the best. What am I missing?
    2. Open the iTunes library on the MacPro and make it my iMac's iTunes library. This seems problematic. If I understand correctly, I can't open this library on both Macs at the same time as this would likley cause issues. So I'd have to make sure I close out of one Mac's iTunes before the other Mac can open iTunes. This would be a pain given that EyeTV opens it up automatically when it is converting video recordings to iTunes video. For iPhone/ipad backups, I'm not sure what would happen here. Would it still backup to the MacPro iTunes library? I suppose it would. Another concern is the the MacPro would always have to be mounted on the iMac before I could access and use the iTunes library. So this options seems potentially frought with issues? On the plus I think this would retain the star ratings and other meta data, right?
    3. What about creating a new library on the iMac but then go into preferences > Advanced and selecting the iTunes media folder that is on the MacPro. This is similar to option 2 above but retains access to the existing library I have on the MacPro. However, I'd lose all my star ratings, and other meta data.
    Is there another option? Which way should I go? I am guessing option 1 is the best option. If you agree, please list caveats and downsides of it. If you disagree, please let me know the best strategy I should use and why.
    Thanks.

    Yes. Just copy all your music to a folder on your external. Then delete the music on your computers hard drive.
    It is not quite that simple. If you do that you will end up with many broken links and will have to re-create your library from scratch .  iTunes does not like it when you move or rename files or folders and doing so between drives is guaranteed to result in exclamation marks indicating you have broken the links to all your media files.
    If you are content with moving the whole library to an external drive (usually the best thing for most people), try:
    iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings:  Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive.  Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the library.

  • I have just bought a new Imac and it will not load my copy of FCE 3.5 as it says "PowerPC applications are no longer supported". So how do I get to use the version of FCE I am used to and have paid for ?

    I have just bought a new Imac and it will not load my copy of FCE 3.5 as it says "PowerPC applications are no longer supported". So how do I get to use the version of FCE I am used to and have paid for ?

    I do not have any experience with Final Cut, but if you have existing projects that you MUST access; then you are in need of a solution on your new iMac in Mountain Lion!
    Unfortunately you got caught up in the minor miracle of Rosetta.  Originally licensed by Apple when it migrated from the PowerPC CPU platform that it had used from the mid-1990's until the Intel CPU platform in 2006, Rosetta allowed Mac users to continue to use their library of PPC software transparently in emulation.
    However, Apple's license to continue to use this technology expired with new releases of OS X commencing with Lion (and now Mountain Lion).  While educational efforts have been made over the last 6 years, the fact is that Rosetta was SO successful that many users were caught unaware UNTIL they upgraded to Lion or Mountain Lion.
    Workarounds:
    1.  Purchase a used Mac that will run Snow Leopard (with the optional Rosetta installed) and continue to run FCE on that Mac (you can actually use Screen Sharing with a "headless" used Snow Leopard Mac Mini and use the 27" screen from your iMac to view and work FCE in the Mac Mini environment);
    2.  Upgrade to an Intel compatible version of FCE and hope it converts your existing projects to its newer format correctly.  There is much debate that the newer version of Final Cut are eliminating many needed features; for example Final Cut Pro X vs. Final Cut Pro 6 -- many users are staying with version 6;
    3.  Install Snow Leopard (with Rosetta) into Parallels and then install FCE in the Snow Leopard environment:
                                  [click on image to enlarge]
    Full Snow Leopard installation instructions here:
    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1365439
    NOTE: STEP ONE of the instructions must currently be completed on a Snow Leopard or Lion Mac and the resulting modified Snow Leopard.cdr install file can then be moved over to your Mountain Lion Mac for completion of the remaining steps.
    NOTE 2:  Computer games with complex, 3D or fast motion graphics make not work well or at all in virtualization.

  • Using imac's monitor with a pc?

    hey is this possible?
    and any way i can use the imac's internet aswell on a pc?

    Michael... Do yourself a favor and keep the beautiful iMac on your desk. Install VNC Server on your Windows machine and Chicken of the VNC on the Mac. Then you can remote the Windows box when you need it. It is better and much faster (and free!) than Virtual PC I've heard. I have done this and it works great! In fact, my Windows XP machine is now headless (i.e. no monitor at all). I turn it on, then launch VNC from the iMac when I need the PC (I still need a PC to log into work). All of this is assuming you have a router of course. Regards, Chris

  • Mac Mini and IMac intergration

    I'm preparing a presentation for my bosses who dislike having to basically halt production on other projects when exporting the print ready files of one in Indesign. (you can't package one file in indesign and work on another)
    A idea i had was to find a way to take a mac mini backup and interface it so i could use my Dell XPS m1210 laptop or 17 In Imac as just the monitor.
    any way i can link another computer with the Mini and just use the monitor?

    NekoLLX wrote:
    Does that make sense?
    Not really
    But I think I know what you're getting at...I just answered a similar question in another post...If you're just doing this occasionally you could use Apple Remote Desktop (or a free VNC client) to control your mini's "screen". Basically on your mini go to the Sharing control panel and turn on the Apple Remote Desktop service. Then click Access Privileges button and turn on "VNC viewers may control screen with password" and assign a non-trivial password.
    now on your PC or another Mac download a free VNC client. (I use the Apple Remote Desktop app ($500) so am not familiar with free clients but I hear "Chicken Of The VNC" mentioned alot) and use client to connect to mini...
    If it works then you should be able to start up the mini w/out a monitor (headless) and then connect to it using VNC. you may have issues with finding mini, however, if your network/subnet changes. Maybe Bonjour will help?!?

  • New iMac to replace older mini, want to use mini as a print server

    I am waiting for the delivery of a new iMac 2.9 GHz. I have a '11 vintage mini. I want to leave the mini connected to the router and printers but without a keyboard and monitor. The mini is set to share files and printers. The new iMac will be added to the wireless network along with the MacBook Pro. I think this setup will allow the mini to continue to be a node for the printers. Is there a problem keeping the mini on and not have a monitor or keyboard attached? I can always reattach a monitor and keyboard periodically if needed.

    Shouldn't be. Here is how to simulate a monitor if need be.
    Video - Mac Mini – Headless – Build a dummy dongle

  • How to share iMac monitor

    I have a G3 B/W with a CRT monitor OS 10.3.
    I also have a iMac 20” OS 10.4
    How can connect both the G3 and imac so that I share the iMac monitor with the G3 CPU? I would like to get rid of the CRT.
    If this is possible would I use only one keyboard, or would I still have to use 2 keyboards?
    Thanks
    Happy 2009

    These machines cannot share a display. No iMac—which is a completely integrated computer and display system—can be used in place of the display with another computer.
    What you can do is run a 'headless' configuration: one in which your Power Macintosh G4 does not have a display, but is otherwise operable. Using a product like Apple Remote Desktop, you can control that machine from your iMac remotely.
    There is a discussion are for ARD located here.

  • Headless macPro screen resolution

    So of this info maybe useful to some, but I'm hoping others maybe able to improve on it.
    On this headless system I connect via screen sharing. The problem is the resolution is I think limited to 800 x 600 or similar without any screen plugged in.
    Now I did find a very useful app called CSCREEN using terminal you can set it up to have a resolution that matches the screen I am working from (27" imac).
    So the above is useful, but there is a lot of lagging, from what I know is the computer is rendering the screen rather than the graphics card.
    Does anyone know any work arounds for this?
    Is it possible to make a DVI plug trick the computer to being plugged into a screen without it being there?
    Edit...
    As I decided to look further I also found this.
    Dongle
    This works well and takes it to 1600 x 1200

    An even better solution (on the same site):
    http://blog.macminicolo.net/post/72706369716/an-hdmi-adapter-for-a-headless-mac- mini

  • Use imac as pc screen??

    Hey ive recently got a imac which is GREAT! but still want to use my PC for gaming and other odds and ends. is it possible to hook my PC up to the imac and use it as the screen instead of havin two screens on my desktop!!!!

    You could use VNC to display your PC screen on your Mac's screen. It's not really using the Mac's screen directly but it lets you access your PC via the Mac's screen.
    You'll need a monitor on the PC to install VNC and get things configured but once the PC boots and starts the VNC server, you can connect to it and display the screen in a window on your Mac. I run a 'headless' PC this way for times when I need real PC hardware (I too prefer Parallels).
    If you're not familiar with VNC, I'll give you more info. Or look to:
    http://www.realvnc.com/
    http://sourceforge.net/projects/cotvnc/
    Keep in mind that you're still dependent on the MacOS to see your PC. There's really no way to use the Mac's monitor by itself but VNC has served me well when all I wanted to do was use my PC from within my Mac desktop.

  • Screen Sharing on "headless" Mac Mini

    Does anyone know how to change the screen size and keymap for a "headless" Mac Mini (no keyboard and monitor), accessed via Screen Sharing?
    Currently:
    - The screen size is limited to 800x600 or 1024x768. I'd like bigger.
    - On the Mac Mini, I have to use the "U.S. Extended" keyboard layout to get the right key mapping from Screen Sharing. But the Login Screen doesn't seem to use this mapping. Also, I live in Switzerland, and I'd like to use international keyboard layouts.
    Info:
    - Mac Mini: OS X 10.4.11
    - Screen Sharing host (iMac): OS X 10.6.8
    - Desired keyboard layout: Swiss French and Swiss German
    Thanks!

    Thanks for the ideas. As suggested, I tried swapping out both the VNC client as well as server, but unfortunately no luck.
    I should have mentioned that if I plug a large monitor into the Mac Mini, I see the bigger screen via Screen Sharing. If I unplug the monitor, the larger size is maintained until I log out; then I'm back to 1024x768. This indicates that its not the VNC (client and/or server) that's limiting the screen size, it's the OS that only provides two choices if no monitor is connected. I don't see why that has to be; it's just the size of the allocated graphics buffer that changes.
    Concerning the keyboard, I found that you can set the Login screen to use the US Extended keyboard layout by selecting System Preferences -> Accounts -> Login Options -> Show input menu in login window. That allows you to select the keyboard layout you want to use for the Login prompt, and fortunately that selection is then saved. That significantly defuses the keyboard problem – although ideally, I'd still like to use international keyboard layouts. Logically, this should be something the VNC software controls, but I did not see any options to that effect, in any of the VNC clients and servers suggested above.

  • Remote log into iMac with dead screen

    I have inherited an iMac G5 run Tiger 10.4 that suffers from a graphics card failure. I've given up any attempts to repair the machine as a functional unit, but I am trying to repurpose the machine into a headless server for media and Time machine.
    I would like to get some sort of VNC/Screen sharing setup working so I can remotely connect to the machine's UI. However, I don't know what any of the settings on the machine are now (i'm not even sure it will connect to my wireless network). Assuming I can get a network connection to the machine, what is the best way to log in and change the settings? Can I terminal log-in/SSH and make changes so that screen sharing will be enabled? I don't have much experience connecting to a machine without a graphical UI.
    I assume the worst case I can pull the HD and connect it to another machine to change settings, then replace it in the iMac.
    Any thoughts on the this matter? Thanks in advance

    Duane,
    Please note it may be possible. I'm working on the issue, see this thread:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2318773&tstart=0

  • IMac shuts down...overheating?  Fan not working?

    Our daughter reported that her iMac G4, 1.25gHz, had randomly shut down on her a week or so ago. I got it up and going again with a PMU reset, but it needed another one the next day.
    Daughter's now moved onto a different machine so no worries about data loss, but I'd like to fix the iMac if possible.
    It checks out okay with the AHT, and Drive Genius successfully repaired some disk errors. However while continuing to run tests, it shut down on me again. I noticed though that the case was pretty warm, so I just unplugged it and left it, and when I came back a few hours later was able to restart it. And then I noticed that it was running very quiet...because the fan does not seem to be running.
    I have it going now to see if the fan kicks in, but so far nothing. Looking through the top, the fan blades are covered in dust. I can make them turn by poking a paperclip in.
    Unfortunately none of the utilities that would allow me to investigate this on a more recent machine (Temperature Monitor, smcfan) work on the iMac.
    I'll try blowing out the dust, and I know that the machine can be disassembled and cleaned, even the fan bearings oiled, but of course I wonder if there are any other options.
    The iMac is superfluous for us at this point and we'll probably be giving it away, so I'd like it to work.
    Thanks for any help!

    In the iMac G4, the fan runs constantly.
    From the initial startup in a healthy machine,
    the cooling fan is set to run; and as the heat
    increases, eventually the fan should run faster.
    Except for when the computer is asleep, off,
    or if there is an issue in the hardware inside.
    So, a loose wire, a failed sensor, a circuit;
    or the fan itself may have a bad motor. A
    wire inside the winding could be cracked.
    If you can find a computer with other defects
    for a low price or free, you could try another
    fan from a another similar computer. This
    would be much simpler if the computer were
    not an all-in-one with the display attached...
    A basic box with a fan, holes and ports.
    Some older iMac G3 owners made headless
    Macs several years ago, when their display
    went bad; the whole thing fit into a small box.
    And cooling fans, accessory peripherals, &
    other items were added to expand function.
    In my iMac G4 1.25 17" USB 2.0 computer,
    in use right now, the sensor overview for the
    Temperature Monitor shows as in the hard drive.
    The version of this Monitor is 4.3.
    In Temperature Monitor preferences, note the
    Sensors click-on icon, if you click on that, see
    what if anything appears. It should have a name
    of the computer in there. Click on the disclosure
    triangle to show more info. Look into the Temp
    Monitor's preferences: Window and if there is a
    name for a sensor there, click on it.
    It is possible in more modern computers with more
    sensors, to choose from those which may appear.
    Also, if the General preference panel is set to get
    a temperature sample to frequently, that may be
    not a good idea, mine is set at 20 minutes, but
    may be OK to sample more often.
    In the preference item labeled Menu Bar in T.M.
    you can choose to have the main Temperature
    Monitor quit and also have TM Lite, launch.
    Since I launch TM Lite version, and then use it
    to see the main application if needed, I don't
    need to look into the main one directly.
    I am not sure what kinds of drive sensors each
    brand of hard disk drive uses, but among my
    Macs, this software works and I see the HDD
    sensor primarily. These are basic, so the CPU
    temperatures would be a guess, not sampled.
    There is a widget iStat, which shows temp info
    from the same sensor, apparently. I have the
    widget's readout turned off on this point, so I
    can have the menubar in Finder showing info
    and not have to launch a widget to know it.
    The rest of the iStat pro's applicable info shows.
    The opposite of having a vacuum pull air out
    of the top vents in an iMac G4, when the fan
    has gone bad, would be to set the computer
    on a semi-recessed base with air pushing up.
    The air intake slotted holes around the base
    can be slightly pressured into from below &
    a furnace filter can be used to keep debris out.
    Have you looked in a local craigslist for a failed
    iMac G4 (near the vintage of yours) to see if
    you can get one for next to nothing, for parts?
    Sometimes, you can get lucky. Some get tossed
    and are full of great parts...
    Good luck & happy computing!

  • Networking G4 tower to my imac

    I just got an old G4 tower and I would like to be able to use it as an external drive (storage, back up and maybe run some software?) through the monitor of my imac. I don't have a keyboard or monitor for the G4. But I'd like be able to use it without a lot of fuss. I know about FireWire target disk mode, but would I be able to use USB or ethernet cables without having to hold down the "T" everytime I boot up? Thanks!

    Hi,
    You can control the G4 from your iMac, access the desktop, run applications, etc. It should run headless (no monitor) but if not there's an adapter (~$20) that will allow it to do so. You will need a keyboard though to startup and login. You'll also need to connect your current monitor to install the software.
    Install vine server (freeware) on the server.
    http://www.redstonesoftware.com/products/vine/server/vineosx/index.html
    Install Chicken of the VNC (freeware) on the iMac.
    http://sourceforge.net/projects/cotvnc/
    You can either connect the two directly with an ethernet cable or through a router. By launching both applications you can control the G4 as though you were sitting at the keyboard in front of it.
    John

Maybe you are looking for