Best/suitable/shipped iMac G4 OS

Mainframeguy

Debiant by way of Ubuntu
Joined
29 Aug 2002
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OK anyone that know me will know I am a Mac neophyte. I have no bias either way though and recently I took my daughter back from a sleepover and at her friends house were a Dell XPS 1210 (not bad kit for a ten year old!) and an iMac G4. I was told both were borken. Being hard up and out of work I offered to fix 'em up for a few bob.

The XPS is virtually a done deal with a new HD in place.

The G4 presented other issues - a Tork tool and some fiddling later and it seems to boot fine. I can only access Guest account (could talk to them to get admin, they seemed to suspect viral or porn infection - I'll be surprised, probably just been used by a teenage boy is my guess). It's loaded with Mac OS 9.2 and has no airport or SoDimm (so just the 512MB).

My questions - what is the current and/or best Apple OS to have on this kit?

And then comes the follow up - How would I go about the equivalent of a reformat (I have NO discs)?

Thought I'd ask here before googling - cause you are all such wonderful helpful and knowledgeable folks... :smoker:
 
could try popping os x on it though they'd have to buy it first.
 
Depends on the specs of the iMac G4. Unlike Windows, newer releases of OS X tend to run faster than prior releases, so you'll want to install the highest version that supports the hardware. This is mentioned in this review of 10.4
Every single major revision of Mac OS X has been faster than its predecessors when running on identical hardware. Jumping several major revisions is practically like getting a new machine. It's impressive, and unprecedented.

10.3 requirements - can definitely install this on the iMac G4
10.4 requirements - can install this if the iMac has Built-in Firewire
10.5 requirements - can install this if the G4 is 867MHz or faster.

I'm not familiar with OS 9.2, I ran OS/2 before switching to OS X, so I don't know how you'd go about checking the speed of the G4.

A clean format can be done via Disk Utility when you've booted from the installation CD/DVD. This page shows how to access Disk Utility during the installation of versions 10.2 thru 10.5.
 
nice post spice! Yes - it just sneaks in on the specs... I had already looked into that as I was forced to google the price (not sure if they'll spring £85, though it is tempting for me to buy it and keep the iMac hostage unless they fork up! That is not very ethical though!)....

So - given a borked (alledgedly) 9.2 on which I have no admin access (and the teenager will not reveal it, little bugger!) there is really no scope to move forward without OS X and OS X is a worthy investment if they want to keep the kit?

I'd offer them an airport and SoDimm upgrade too if they want to go mad (I've got the fancy screwdriver now!), but i doubt they'll spend more than the very necessary £85.
 
Mainframeguy: Since OS 9.2 is installed on it, you have a license for it, I will be able to provide you with the media to re-install the OS. Give me until later today and I will get it to you!
 
Mainframeguy: Since OS 9.2 is installed on it, you have a license for it, I will be able to provide you with the media to re-install the OS. Give me until later today and I will get it to you!

hey that's above and beyond the call of duty! I'm kinda impressed...
 
w00t = reppage :cool: , happy election day also - Obama here you come?
 
I can't vote :p I am a foreigner. I saw your other post, that CD worked on my iMac G3, one of those green computers. So I am not sure what is up ...
 

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Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
Xie wrote on Electronic Punk's profile.
Impressed you have kept this alive this long EP! So many sites have come and gone. :(

Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
hello peeps... is been some time since i last came here.
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