Upgrading iMac G3 400 DVD slot-loader to Tiger

My iMac's hard drive is dying and have purchased a brand new Seagate Barracuda 7200 8MB cache 120GB ATA IDE hard drive on eBay to replace it (haven't received it yet). Also am going to replace the PRAM battery and add 256MB of RAM. The Mac currently only has 64MB of RAM in it!! Will add more RAM when I can afford to...
I have checked the System Profile before the hard drive gives up the ghost and the firmware will need updated. The Mac has OS 9.0 on it. Had to buy a OS 9.0 full version disk on eBay (to install on the new drive) and happened to find the 9.2.1 update CD at a garage sale last year! Have downloaded the 9.2.2 update from the Apple website.
After I replace the hard drive and install OS 9.0, the 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 updates and the firmware update, here is my question:
Can Tiger be installed after the above installations, or would I have to install Jaguar (that's the other version of OS X I have on hand) before Tiger can be installed?
I want to use the iMac as an "all-in-one" DVD player for the most part. Tried playing a DVD on it before the factory hard drive started messing up again, but it couldn't find the video card or something. Am sure the hard drive is losing files as it's slowly dying...
Thanks.
Strawberry iMac G3, 400 Mhz, 64MB RAM, 10GB HD, DVD-ROM (slot loading) Mac OS 9.0.x
Strawberry iMac G3, 400 Mhz, 64MB RAM, 10GB HD, DVD-ROM (slot loading) Mac OS 9.0.x
Strawberry iMac G3, 400 Mhz, 64MB RAM, 10GB HD, DVD-ROM (slot loading) Mac OS 9.0.x

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.
It's far better to start your own thread then resurrect one from the end of last year - if you do you'll get several opinions.
10.2.8 is a useable OS and if you have no legacy OS9 applications then you don't need to keep the OS 9 System Folder or Applications (the former of which allows OS X to run Classic mode). Just delete them. Before you delete OS 9 boot in to it ( Apple Menu > System Preferences... > Startup Disk ) and ensure that you have installed this firmware update (link). Technically it is required prior to OS X but will cause serious harm if you go above 10.2.8 without it. After that you can delete OS 9.
This iMac is going to be a pretty lean and not so mean iMovie machine. You might wish to consider giving her the full 1Gb of RAM and 128Gb Hard Drive.
regards
mrtotes

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Perhaps the article meant to indicate that those Apple USB keyboards having a power button and the Apple Pro keyboard having the media Eject key must be plugged directly into the computer's USB port and not into a hub, for functionality of those keys. If the Eject key served the same purpose as a Power button, I'd expect to get a prompt asking if I'd like to shut down the computer, every time I ejected a disk. I just connected a Pro keyboard to my iMac DV, and pressing the Eject key didn't power ON the computer.

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Welcome To Discussions Rebecomp!
See if this iMac: Installing Memory (1 of 2), has the info you need.
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Guys,
Please help me.
Tried to insert a DVD but slot-loading failed to suck in the disc. I was worried that the disc might clog or be stuck up inside. Its a good thing a portion(very tiny) of the disc is protruding from the slot. I carefully(using pliers) to extract the disc and I did. Now, I don't want to insert any disc inside. Hence, I can't watch any DVD on my MacBook.
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Hi there, I would recommend scheduling a visit, provided that you have access to an Apple store and don't mind waiting for a little while for help.
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No, that 10.6.3 DVD is system specific to the MacBook Pro.
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How fast does the 4x dvd slot loader play cd's?

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I believe the 4x refers to DVDs. For example, look at the full specs. for this drive:
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How To Use PowerMac (DVD) to Load OS Tiger 10.4 to I-Book (CD) ?

Bought retail "family pack" version of Tiger 10.4 last August, but forgot my wife's I-Book is CD only. Waited too long to get exchange CD disks from Apple, confirmed last week they're no longer available thru Apple.
Apple Support advised I could use my PowerMac G4 to upgrade the I-Book, but would not provide specifics since the 90 day period of support on my OS Tiger purchase had already lapsed. If I bought another copy of Tiger they'd be able to walk me through the procedure, but that doesn't seem reasonable to me. They also mentioned purchasing an external DVD and specified a particular Lacie model for $189- but that's more expensive another softeware purchase, and reviews for the exteral DVD were very mixed.
Lastly, they suggested this discussion forum. I searched and found similar inquiries, but they all seem to have too many other variables for me to risk attempting a self repair. Sorry if this terribly redundant for listening experts out there, but would greatly appreciate any help.
My G4 is an older (2000) 400 MHz version with DVD, running OS 10.4.9, my wife's newer (2002) I-Book G3 600 MHz with CD -ROM drive is runing 10.3.9.
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"Scrappy"

I can't agree that reports of problems means it is iffy -- as long as one takes into account the stipulations I mentioned about the installer disk supporting the target PPC Mac model.
The installation will install the complete set of drivers & other OS components the disk contains, regardless of the model the installation is running under. Only when the targeted Mac boots does the OS check the hardware & load the drivers that support it. Obviously, if the installer disk doesn't have some component the target Mac requires, it won't be there & the process will fail, but AFAIK this only can occur if the targeted Mac was released after the version of the installer disk & the Mac had some new bit of hardware.
What can be slightly problematic is the installer will create various preference files with default values based on the model it is running under rather than the target one. This is generally no more than a minor annoyance with an easy workaround. I don't know of anything like this that would prevent the target Mac from booting -- even if something did, resetting PRAM and/or NVRAM should allow the Mac to boot up in a functional enough state that the offending preference file can be discarded.
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Please help, need to upgrade from 9.2.2 to osx 10.4 Tiger on imac g3 400 dv

Hello, I would greatly appreciate assistance to upgrade my operating system from 9.2.2 to osx 10.4.10. I have gotten the firmware upgrade installed to 4.1.9. Can anyone tell me what else I need to upgrade to have this computer able to install Tiger 10.4, on an imac g3 400 dv slot loading.....
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Hi, thank u for responding, my harddrive is 10 gigs, and my memory ram is only 64 megs, I ordered 2 512 mg from 18004memory.com and it didnt work , the computer said there was a memory issue. So I returned the memory back to 18004 memory.com...... I will neve ruse them again , because on their website they stated its guranteed to work and is compliant with imac 400 dv. They stated they will send me another set from another manufacturer, but to return the memory first.....
I know I meet all the requirements for tiger , except for the ram which apple says I need 256 mg,
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Apple told me that I can installl tiger 10.4.10 on this computer.
The install discs I bought on ebay state imac MAC osx install disc one and there is and install disc 2, it says AHT VERSION 3A127, and dated as produced in the year 2007. it colored grey , but doesnt have the black X like someone else posted it should have
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many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Safari problems on iMac G3 slot-loading CRT

I'm posting here because I haven't been able to get a satisfactory solution to the problem on the Safari discussion board. Here goes.
I recently upgraded my son's iMac DV (A G3 processor) to OS X 10.3.9. Was having trouble launching Safari 1.3. It would start to launch and then quit. Here's the chain of events of fixes I've tried:
1) Machine -- iMac DV (G3) w/ slot loading drive -- was running OS 9.2.2 I tried to upgrade it to 10.3 with Panther discs. It told me I needed a firmware update, which I installed, then upgraded from the disc. Firmnware is now listed at 4.1.9f1 (Anybody know if this is as it should be?)
2) I then upgraded further with a 10.3.9 Combo download, which installed Safari 1.3. However, when I double-click the Safari icon, it won't open. Nor will it allow me to upgrade to 1.3.1 or 1.3.2.
3) I then downloaded Safari 1.2 again and re-installed that. That seemed to work and at least allowed me to get on the Web. But now, I'm back at version 1.2.
4) I tried repairing permissions. No go.
5) In desparation, I performed an Erase and Install of the system software from the Panther discs and got it back to 10.3.9 via the combo download. It then allowed me to update Safari to 1.3.1 and then 1.3.2, but it still won't launch.
I did the same thing to my daughter's iMac G3 and it all went fine. Only difference was, I was upgrading her from OS 10.2.8 and when I did, it did not ask me for a firmware update.
Any suggestions anyone?

Jamie,
Not being sure of what was suggested in the Safari forums....a few questions.....
* When you were able to get Safari to 1.3.1 did this open ok and just not 1.3.2?
* Not sure if it will help much but did you try trashing the Safari .plist file after downloading 1.3.2 (found @ ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist) to see if that would help?
* Have you checked out Dr. Smoke's X-Lab FAQ for Multiple applications quit unexpectedly or fail to launch?
Personally, I doubt the firmware update (and yes that is the correct version you are showing) is to blame for the Safari failure but someone else may see it differently.
littleshoulders [:-)

Maximum hard drive size for 350 MHz slot loading?

Hello,
What is the maximum hard drive size for a 350 MHz slot loading imac?
I am aware of a 128 GB limit on imacs. Does the 128 GB hard drive limit apply to all imac CRTs or just the earlier models?
Here are the specs of my imac:
Blueberry 350 MHz
Slot loading CD-ROM drive,
6 GB hard drive
Is the maximum hard drive size limit of 127GB apply to this particular model?
Thanks

Yes, the last CRT iMac was in 2001. The first machines with built-in greater than 127 GB support were released in June 2002, as this article explains:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86178
So all CRT iMacs have that limiation.
http://support.apple.com/specs/imac/
The 8 GB limit is explained here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106235

IMac G3 DV Slot Loaded DVD 400 Mhz. 384RAM 10GB HD - Tiger Install?

iMac G3 DV Slot Loaded DVD 400Mhz.384RAM 10GB Hard Drive OS 9.2.2 - Tiger Install
Ok, I am getting Tiger Disks this week. I want to know the procedure for installing it, from beginning to end. I'm currently running OS 9.2.2 (latest updates) & I have the latest 4.1 Firmware Update. On this model, will I have to first Partition the Drive as suggested with the Tray Loaders ? Also, I read somewhere that I can upgrade to 1GB Ram on this model. Is this correct ? Help!!

Bringing G3 iMacs and Other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age
http://lowendmac.com/macdan/md07/1207.html
There are some CD versions of tiger.
http://store.fastmac.com/productinfo.php?productsid=111
You could buy an external DVD drive. It needs to be firewire and bootable by Mac OS. If you have another PPC with firewire, you could try target Disk mode and installed tiger that way.
You need to figure out the level of your firmware before installing 10.2 or greater. ( The PC name for firmware is BIOS. ) Installing 10.2 with a down level firmware will most likely make your iMac unusable and difficult to fix.
Figuring out what level of firmware you have?
1) Mac OS 9.x or 8.x, you need to use the Apple System Profiler.
Apple -> Apple System Profiler
2) Mac OS X, use the System Profiler.
Apple -> About This Mac
click on the More Info... tab
click on Hardware
read the Boot ROM Version
3) Open Firmware, boot into Open Firmware.
Power on your iMac while holding down commandoption+of
The first output line contains the firmware level. Mine reads:
Apple PowerMac4,1 4.1.9f1 BootRom built on 09/14/01 at 13.18.04
Copyright 1994-2001 Apple Computer Inc.
Some machine may not contain the firmware level but some other number which can be translated to the firmware level.
On my machine, I have 4.1.9f1.
What firmware do you need?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117
For a slot loading iMac, this article indicates that you need to be running 9.1.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75130
"The iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9 will only run on iMac computers with lot-loading CD or DVD drives running Mac OS 9.1 or later from a local drive. If you are using Mac OS X you must boot from a local Mac OS 9.1 or later writeable partition (not a CD, or network disk) prior to following the update instructions."
You can download the updates from the Apple site.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1387?viewlocale=en_US
For tiger, you need 256meg of memory. For panther, you need 128 meg of memory.
Also, I read somewhere that I can upgrade to 1GB Ram on this model. Is this correct ? Help!!
Yes.
Message was edited by: rccharles

Can't install OS 8.6 on iMac "DV" (400) Slot Loading?

I have an iMac "DV" (400) Slot Loading that I am trying to install the original system on (8.6, if I'm not mistaken). It has 128 mbs of RAM, a 10 gb HD, and currently no system installed on the hard drive. I have updated the firmware to 4.1.9.
The problem is that the iMac won't boot from the install CD for me to do the installation. The iMac used to have OS 9 installed on it, and when I tried to run the installer with the computer booted from 9, it told me it couldn't run on this machine. I believe I have the correct installation CD. I have also tried a couple of other installation CDs, and neither 8.5 or 8.6 will boot this computer.
Is there a way I can get 8.6 installed on this machine with the 8.6 CD, or is it just not possible for me to install 8.6 any more?

Hi Jon
Load the install CD into the Mac then power off (with the CD still inserted), on rebooting but before the chime, hold down letter C on the keyboard, that will boot from the install CD to let you do a system install.
You did not note whether you had other programs/files on the iMac that you want to keep, but if not, I would suggest that you do a complete "clean install" by re-formating/initializing the HD, then install the OS.
I would also suggest that you partition the HD into 3 (or more) partitions, 1 for the main system, 1 (or more) for your other programs/files and 1 for a "back up system", the logic being the main system is your default "boot-up" while the "back-up" system is what you boot to do maintenance/de-frag etc on the main system with a utility such as Norton's Utilities or similar.
I would also suggest that you have a copy of Norton's (or similar) on both systems, that way you can "chop and change" systems to do the maintenance. Proper maintenance/de-fraging cannot be done to the "boot-up" system that you boot from.
Hope this is of some help.

Upgrading iMac G3 400 DVD slot-loader to Tiger

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