Strange boot problems with my old iMac G3

Question

Hello! I just bought an old slot-loading iMac G3 about 2 or 3 months ago, with Mac OS 9.2.2 (just recently installed Mac OS 10.2 on it), a 6 GB hard disk, and 128 MB of RAM. After I installed OS 10.2 on it (the installation was rather slow, though it went smoothly), it started acting rather strange. I restarted the machine after the install of the new OS, it showed the gray Apple logo in the center of the screen, and then, a strip of white appeared across the screen horizontally, with many black lines appearing in the white strip vertically. After this incident, I called an Apple Store near me. I told them this, and they suggested that the video card was going bad. I told them that the screen worked perfectly when I booted from the CD, so they said that that wasn't it. I told them that the hard drive was making weird noises when I tried to boot, so they said I might have to get a new hard drive for it. Does anybody think that this is the problem? I do, primarily because it is an 11-year-old machine. If anybody thinks so, tell me. Oh, and if you know where I can get one cheap (an IDE one), please let me know that, too. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you do not have any OS 9.2 or earlier old Apple applications, you won't
need that OS installed into the computer; now that you have confirmed a
correct Firmware Update has been installed into the computer already.
Oh, by doing the 'erase & install' the previous OS 9 install would be wiped;
as would be the important (for OS 9 boot) OS 9 Drivers. The drivers are
usually available in install options from the OS X install disc, in initial setup.
Sorry, I no longer have an install disc for any full version of OS 9.2 anymore;
and mistakenly gave a nice one away with a complete computer deal to a
friend's buddy, for a fantastic price. Although they haven't used it, it is not
available to get it back either! Such is the luck of being nice to the clueless.
The older OS 9.2 full installer would allow new installs and then the last step
would probably be a download to make the final grade of 9.2.2. Somewhere
I have a special OS 8.6 full install tech disc; that's good for older beige Macs.
An 'erase and install' probably would be adequate to install another working
system; sometimes, it is best to use the disk utility on the booted OS X install
disc and see if there is an option there to secure-erase or overwrite the drive
with zeros. That may may not have been available in Jaguar 10.2. - I forget.
{The update steps for Jaguar 10.2 to 10.2.8 and whatever other updates are
there at the Support web site downloads page; or if you have an internet
access, the Software Update in the system should find them for you. There
may (or may not) be newer Flash player versions, and maybe a few OK
browsers still available for download which could work OK in Jaguar. Most
of those won't work well even in Panther 10.3.9. They do have older version
browsers in the browser home pages, and should list what they work with.}
If the hard disk drive is making odd noises, you probably should replace it with
a new ATA/IDE (PATA) type of drive; within specs to match what the iMac G3
supports; since a noise means something mechanical is wearing out. They can
also wear out and not make a clicking or grinding noise. A tiny whirl and a bit
of read/write noise, barely audible, would be the better sound. The iMac G3 has
no fans, so when it is correctly running and healthy, only the optical drive and
an occasional very slight to no noise, would be normal.
Other World Computing may have a replacement hard disk drive; they have a
fair degree of parts for a variety of Mac computer models, including RAM. To
get into the computer may require some take-apart skills, to replace parts or
upgrade a drive; or replace the clock battery.
Perhaps one of the techie users in this forum can suggest something else to
check or do with the computer, if they happen across this thread. I'm not sure
what else to suggest at this point. A newer OS X version would be better, too.
Good luck & happy computing!
{edited}