Can you help on IMAC G3 error message blocking the use of the computer

Wow that brings back some old memories.

I sold my G3 with upgrade disc's and a bunch of game disc's back in 2011.

What model is your G3...?

What size is the Hard Drive...?

How much RAM does this G3 have...?

Did you updated the Firmware to version 4.1.9...?

Are you using official Apple Upgrade Disc's or something else...?

https://lowendmac.com/2008/getting-the-most-from-your-g3-mac/

https://www.applefritter.com/node/23414

imac g3 upgrade to os x

The AI response is:

Upgrading an iMac G3 to Mac OS X requires meeting strict firmware and hardware requirements before running the installation. [1, 2]

1. Critical Safety Warning: Update Firmware First

• Never install OS X 10.2 or higher without first updating the iMac G3's firmware to version 4.1.9 while running Mac OS 9.
• Skipping this step can permanently brick the logic board.
• If your iMac has a programmer's button, hold it with a paperclip while pressing the power button once to trigger the firmware update utility. [1, 2]

2. Check Hardware Requirements

• RAM: You need a minimum of 128 MB to run Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, and at least 256 MB (ideally 512 MB) for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.
• 8GB Partition Limit: Early iMac G3 models have an 8GB boot limitation. When partitioning the hard drive or SSD using Apple Partition Map, ensure the first partition (where OS X will live) is under 8GB(around 7.5GB).
• Supported OS Versions: Most slot-loading iMac G3 models support up to Mac OS X 10.3 Panther natively, or Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger on FireWire-equipped models. Older tray-loading models cap out around Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, or require third-party tools like

Good info. Thanks!

I do not recall the slot-loading iMac G3s requiring the <8GB boot partition for OSX. The tray-loaders probably did.

No sure of the exact issue but yours seem to parallel the startup problems I mentioned above. We hade no issues starting in OS9; no joy with 10.3 or maybe it was 10.4.

...even the CRT broke as all the plastic due to the extensive heat and use...

I see you appreciate the iMac G3 heat issues. 🔥🚒🥵

I attributed our issues to heat. The iMac DV SE (Summer 2000) 400mhz was my wife's. We had retired in working order. One of the kids needed a computer fast when her ex got theirs. I pulled out the G3, installed a larger hard drive, more RAM (from 64MB to 256MB), and either Panther or Tiger—can't remember now—that was 20ish years ago.Both OS versions worked in our house which has year-round conditioned air.

It worked for my daughter as well at first, but she lives in Portland, OR. There, few rentals have air-conditioning and their summers were getting hotter. During one heat wave, the iMac shut down when temps exceeded 90°F in her living room. After cool-down, it would only restart in OS9. Now it's back here in the drier eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains and still won't start in an air-conditioned house.

There was a lot of chat here back then about bigger, faster aftermarket drives causing more heat issues than did the G3 factory drives. Some people "enhanced the G3's convection-only cooling because the PAV (power-analog-video) board got cooked by the bits below it. Air needs to go from bottom to top.

Some set their iMacs on one of those fan-equipped "chill pads" for laptops. The pads needed to be a single-fan design to focus as much air as possible directly into the vent holes on the bottom of the iMac case.

The most effective solution for cooling was to screw or glue a 120mm computer fan from a big desktop computer over the iMac handle area where the hot air exhaust is. The fan had to be oriented so it pulled air up and out. "Pull" moved more air that "push.

The latter had two big issues. The fan mounting permanently damaged the case, and one has to get power to it without the danger of exposed wiring.

Just a bit of history that might trigger some ideas for you.

Cheers!

Does the iMac boot into macOS 9? If so that could offer a clue.

Has the hard drive been upgraded with a larger aftermarket version? That has caused heat issues.

We still have our slot-load G3 iMac and it had some startup issues with macOS 10. Trying to reminder exactly what the issues were! It’s been a while.

Hello and thank you for your answer;

My beloved iMac G3 DVSE I bought in 98 I used to the max died and I ended up taking it all apart as even the CRT broke as all the plastic due to the extensive heat and use, the drive didn't last I changed it yet I kept the motherboard and what was underneath I have used as spare parts.

In 2006 I've been given a 2000 blue iMac...

I recently saw one that looked like mine and bought it. That graphite DVse was so great I couldn't resist. It's a 700mhz so higher than the one I bought back then which was 450 I guess.. the hard drive had a trouble so I changed it with a higher capacity.

The cd drive didn't work so I changed it too with an old one from my dead iMac...

I installed OS9.2.1 as I got at the CD and three CDs from OS 10.3.9 it was working fine, then I installed OS9.2.2 from an update I have on back CDs I used to do back then (got tons of old software and updates...

It probably is the issue, I don't know, as crazy as it is I saw people using the net so I tried but without success. So I thought the firmware was 4.1.9 as I used to have it one my iMacs and got the updater too.

As I tried to see the firmware that says 4.1.7 I tried to update, but no success as it is written powermac so I guess one of the install might not be for the iMac?!

Mac OS 9 starts and I used tech tool pro to check and it's ok. Seems like the Panthers 's side has a trouble..

I never went into those issues back then, if you don't use the terminal it shouldn't start up like it asking you to type a command right, it happens when I try to restart via the start up disk utility.

cheers

Thank you for your feedback, I don't know anything either about that 8gb thing.

As a Mac collector I like to own several Macs that work. When I saw that Graphite one it reminded mine but back then OS10 X did a damage to my hard drive, OS 10.1 was supposed to fix this but I was more confortable with OS9 and the hard drive died and so I bought another one with more capacity and reinstalled os 9.

I had a Tower G4 double processor with disks one in OS 9 other in OS 10.3.9 it was working much better than the iMac.

As I saw people installing OS X on later iMacs I thought I'd give it a go. Obviously something did trigger the HD which is indeed a high capacity one that the original one that couldn't start.

I can say it heats a lot! tried tech tool pro and even after two tries in two days it's still not finished and it's really hot. Back then the 400mhz was speeding much faster than this 700mhz that's weird.

Since OS9 is working fine I may try to reinstall OS X with only two cds as the third one may be for languages which I don't need.

My first intention was to use my old back CDs I made with installers etc it's so cool to be using those old software :)

I bet I won't use it much, don't know if it is the HD but probably thx for the info

take care