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TICKET ARCHIVE -> iMac G3 found on NYC street

pduves - Oct 21, 2006 - 11:23 am

Hello. I recently found a green iMac G3 computer on the sidewalk coming home from work. The computer appears in good condition and powers up correctly, but after power is on, a folder with a face and question mark is displayed. Apparently this means there is no software operating system detected.
I do not know any specs on the computer and have yet to open it up and explore the hardware.
Being Mac users, do you think it is worth it to buy a new Apple software and build this computer back up from scratch? Also, are Mac's capable of adding additional hard-drives (external) and upgraded processors?
Thanks so much!

DeltaMac - Oct 21, 2006 - 12:02 pm

You're right - the flashing "?" means that no startup software is found. This could mean that the system software is corrupted, and just needs to be reinstalled, or the hard drive has been erased, or the hard drive has failed, or completely missing (removed from the computer. 'Found on the street' could mean anything.
It helps a lot for answers if you check on the front to see if there is a CD drawer/tray (with a button on the outside center of the tray), or the newer iMac with a simple slot for the CD, and no tray. The slot-loading models can be upgraded to more memory, and easily run the current OS X. Most have FireWire for better use with external drives. The older tray-loading iMacs are more of a struggle, and getting enough memory is a challenge.

Flip it upside-down, and take 2 screws out near the front, and two more under a small panel near the back. Lift up the bottom cover from the back, and snap it off (and it will 'snap', sounding like it's breaking apart from the lip underneath the CD slot), and you can check a little of the condition inside. You will see immediately if the hard drive exists.
Let me know what you find out, and I'll try to help you with whatever info you need.
- Dale

pduves - Oct 23, 2006 - 1:24 pm

Hey Dale... The G3 I found is the older model based on the button on the CD drawer. I opened the cover with much difficulty (almost too much if you ask me) and I have uncovered the CD drawer. It says CLASS 1 LAZER PRODUCT. But I do not know where the harddrive is.

pduves - Oct 23, 2006 - 1:33 pm

Hey Dale... The G3 I found is the older model based on the button on the CD drawer. I opened the cover with much difficulty (almost too much if you ask me) and I have uncovered the CD drawer. It says CLASS 1 LAZER PRODUCT. But I do not know where the harddrive is.

pduves - Oct 23, 2006 - 1:44 pm

I believe i've found the memory, looks like 64mb RAM

pduves - Oct 23, 2006 - 2:05 pm

6MB harddrive i believe

pduves - Oct 23, 2006 - 2:07 pm

ooops, 6GB not MB

pduves - Oct 23, 2006 - 2:39 pm

6GB hard drive, 64mb RAM, 2MB video memory. and thats about it. is it worth buying a new apple OS and trying to get this computer to work???

DeltaMac - Oct 23, 2006 - 4:09 pm

If the video seems to be working, then the choice is yours. You have a free computer, and if you can get some use out of it, just by installing the OS, then Why not? I can't really tell you how to proceed, but in NYC, you should be able to find several shops that can help you out.

You might have a dead hard drive, so if you replace that hard drive, watch out for the 8GB partition trap!
Ask me what that means if you need to do that
-Dale

pduves - Oct 24, 2006 - 3:41 am

Thanks so much for your insite. I was thinking about buying a used OS on ebay or somewhere for cheap and seeing if everything is in order before I try to upgrade the hardware or get the OS X. Or is it even worth it to get the OS X? I'd rather have a lower version OS that operates at a faster speed than a lagging up-to-date OS X. Also, I cannot seem to find the processor, but I'm going to assume it is a standard one.
I'll mainly use the computer just for surfing the internet and playing music. If you have any other ideas about improving the system, please let me know.
Thanks again for your insite and help with this project. It is much appreciated.
-Paul

DeltaMac - Oct 24, 2006 - 5:56 pm

If you found the memory chip, that IS the processor card that contains the memory slot, and removing the processor card, there is a second memory slot on the underneath side of that processor card.

pduves - Oct 29, 2006 - 8:24 am

So now i am thinking about installing a Linux system, based on a suggestion by one of my co-workers.
any opinions on that OS?
Also, i'm not extremely clear on the "partition trap", could someone explain?

Thanks.
-Paul

DeltaMac - Oct 29, 2006 - 8:55 am

I have no opinion about Linux, and good luck with that...
Except - be sure to get a Linux distro that comes with instructions for installing and booting to a Power PC (your Mac). Your co-worker should be able to help you there.
The 'partition trap' means that OS X, on your older iMac, will not boot properly on a partition that is larger than 8GB. So, if you replace your hard drive with a larger one, you must partition the drive into at least 2 partitions, and the first partition must be less than 8 GB. You must install OS X on that first partition. If you install in another partition, or ignore the 8GB limitation, you must erase the drive to get it to work - hence, my reference to the 8GB 'trap'. This only applies to OS X, AFAIK, and Linux would have whatever limitations apply to the distro that you get.
- Dale

pduves - Oct 30, 2006 - 1:23 pm

Ok. So i downloaded the latest version of linux for the mac from ubuntu.com. After inserting the disk in the iMac, the "Face and question mark folder" are the only thing appearing. The CD drive is making noise, sounding like it is trying over and over to load up the disk.
I'm pretty positive the disk is legit. I am guessing that this means there is a problem with the hard drive or the disk drive. I plugged a keyboard and mouse into the usb slots on the system. The keyboard lights did not light up, so I am guessing they are not being recognized.
Any ideas?
-Paul

DeltaMac - Oct 30, 2006 - 1:51 pm

no, no ideas. I'm clueless about installing Linux. I'll reopen this ticket. Maybe someone else can help you better.

pduves - Oct 30, 2006 - 5:37 pm

Thanks so much Dale. Your help has been much appreciated. Take care.

Paul