Need help with iMac G4/700 (Flat Panel) 700 MHz PowerPC 7441 (G4) M6498 (EMC 1873)

[joeventura]

Hello,
I just recently aquired this unit:

iMac G4/700 (Flat Panel)

700 MHz PowerPC 7441 (G4)

M6498 (EMC 1873)

Besides some pixel cancer it is on very good shape.

Several questions,

Safari is totally useless on this unit in 2024

I've tried downloading other browsers put the code on a USB stick, tried mounting, loading, installing to no success.

Can someone provide a link to either an ISO or other code set that I can download and install a version of OS X that is stable and bootable?

I can burn a DVD, more ideally load from USB, or I'll buy original discs off Ebay if I need to.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[joeventura]

Ok how about this,
Are replacement screens available for this unit?

 

[Forrest]

I have this computer with a bad logic board, but good screen. Let me investigate how to remove the screen. If I remove it, you can have it for shipping.

 

[joeventura]

You are a fine gentlemen thank you!

There are like 6 screws around the screen as I recall,

 

[joeventura]

Its 12 screws, three on each side

 

[Mk.558]

It takes machine-specific OS 9 install discs with I believe can restore some version of OS X 10.2.7 Jaguar. They're readily available to download and burn.

The machine doesn't need a physical screen to operate. You can make a button to plug the hole on the top and get a Mini-VGA to VGA adapter to pipe the screen output to a modern display -- it doesn't support extended display, only mirrored.

Even if you get a replacement screen the bushings in the neck wear out and it sags. There may or may not be replacement bushings available on ebay. The power supply sits above the HDD/DVD drive stack and tends to get rather warm, contributing to eventual failure. Fortunately, you can stick GND and +12V to a few specific pins and it can boot no questions asked because all the level converters are already on the motherboard. Recommend max memory on this model for best performance.

You won't find a modern browser that will work unless it's something like TenFourFox, which has halted active development to my understanding. You need a browser that supports at least TLS 1.2 these days, which old Safari will not handle unless it's an unencrypted page.

 

[joeventura]

It takes machine-specific OS 9 install discs with I believe can restore some version of OS X 10.2.7 Jaguar. They're readily available to download and burn.

The machine doesn't need a physical screen to operate. You can make a button to plug the hole on the top and get a Mini-VGA to VGA adapter to pipe the screen output to a modern display -- it doesn't support extended display, only mirrored.

Even if you get a replacement screen the bushings in the neck wear out and it sags. There may or may not be replacement bushings available on ebay. The power supply sits above the HDD/DVD drive stack and tends to get rather warm, contributing to eventual failure. Fortunately, you can stick GND and +12V to a few specific pins and it can boot no questions asked because all the level converters are already on the motherboard. Recommend max memory on this model for best performance.

You won't find a modern browser that will work unless it's something like TenFourFox, which has halted active development to my understanding. You need a browser that supports at least TLS 1.2 these days, which old Safari will not handle unless it's an unencrypted page.

VERY Helpful thanks so much!!!

 

[Forrest]

I can burn the install CD set (3) for OSX 10.3 if you need it, and send it with the screen. This will get you up and running. The optimum OS for this machine is the last version of OSX 10.4.x, but that’s a DVD and I have no way to burn a DVD.

 

[joeventura]

Wow that would be wonderful thanks!