iMac software

[Apostrophe]

Hello everyone,

I have recently reinstalled Mac OS 9.2.1 on my iMac G3, and I am glad to say that I am now in full control of the computer. It works great, and it has enough software for me to get by on it.

But there are still a couple problems I need to ask about. The iMac itself is just fine, apart from an irreparable clock error. For one thing, it won't read blank CD-R's. If it's a CD-R with files on it, it accepts it; otherwise, it just spits it out. I know that CD-RW's would probably do the trick, but is there a way to configure it to accept blank CD-R's? Right now, the only way for me to transfer files from the iMac to other computers is by a Zip drive.

Also, for those of you who own iMac G3's, can anyone recommend an iMac-compatible Internet service apart from dial-up? I tried putting in an SBC Yahoo DSL software CD so that I could access the Web. It worked fine until I had to restart the computer, and when I did, it got stuck and I had to force the CD out.

Could anyone help me solve these problems?

Thanks,

-Apostrophe

 

[The Macster]

Does it have a writeable CD drive? A lot of Macs of this vintage would have had CD-ROM drives only, and so it would not make any sense of a blank CD - does it say something like "the disc you inserted is not readable by this computer"?

The iMac should be able to use any existing broadband connection without additional software - just plug in an ethernet cable going to your router/switch and it should just work (you may need to open Control Panel > TCP/IP and select DHCP, assuming you have a router with DHCP on your network).

If you're getting a clock error, you presumably have a dead battery? Does it complain on startup of an incorrect time, and then if you set the time correctly it has reverted to the incorrect time/date after it has been unplugged (as opposed to simply turned off)? Enabling Network Time will make it more accurate if you have a permanent broadband connection to the iMac.

Also note that the latest version of OS 9 is 9.2.2; you can download the 9.2.1 > 9.2.2 updater from Apple.

 

[Apostrophe]

No, it just spits out the CD without any sort of dialog box. I'm not sure if it can write CD's or not, but once I get ahold of a CD-RW, I'll soon find out.

As for the connection, the help menu told me the same thing, that I won't need software. It's probably just because I didn't do that TCP/IP thing. But one thing I was wondering about...I have a phone cord, but the iMac has two different ports that it could go into. One has the picture of a phone with dots on it, and the other is a double-sided arrow. Which one should I plug it into?

As for the clock, what you described is EXACTLY what happened. However, if it's a dead battery, I may not be able to replace it immediately. Is this battery easy to get into, or will I have to take apart the whole machine?

Thanks,

-Apostrophe

 

[Patrickool93]

First of all do you have dial up or broadband internet?

 

[Apostrophe]

Well, I don't know what the iMac originally had, but this PC's on Broadband. Does that mean that the iMac should also be on Broadband?

 

[The Macster]

If you have broadband then that's what you want to use on the iMac. How does your PC currently connect to the broadband ie what is in between the PC and the phone socket on the wall? Is this PC the only other machine that you use with the internet?

For replacing the battery, it's on the logic board - take a look at the relevant Apple Service Source manual (tray- or slot-loading) here for details on how to access it. You may be better off just using Network Time if you're not confident opening the machine up though.

 

[bluekatt]

hit the apple menu and click on system profiler to see what kind of optical drive you have

 

[Franklinstein]

You're a newb, but that's ok - we all started out that way, and the only way to learn is with some edjamakashun!

So, today's lessons:

When a slot-load optical drive spits out a disc without providing any notifications on the computer's screen, it generally means that the drive can't make any sense of the disc whatsoever, and since it can't do anything with it, the drive spits it back out. Tray-loading drives that can't figure out a disc will just sit there; they won't do anything until you manually open the drive. The slot-load ejects the disc instead of just sitting there, mostly because there's really no eject button to otherwise extract the unread disc.

If you're having issues with recorded CD-Rs, but normal CDs work fine, it may just be the fact that the drive doesn't like burned media. Some drives don't. If, on the other hand, some burned CD-Rs work and some don't then it may be a problem with your burning software or the brand of disc.

If it doesn't like to read CDs regardless of whether they're manufactured or burned (CD-R or RW), then it's probably an issue with your drive. You may want to try using one of those CD cleaner discs through it and see if that helps.

The two similar jacks on the side of the iMac may look the same, but they're very different. The smaller one is called RJ-11, and is used by the internal modem. There should be an icon of an old telephone handset with some kind of dot/line pattern coming out of it. Use this port if you're dialing up. Otherwise, ignore it.

The second port is called RJ-45, and this is your Ethernet port. It should have an icon that looks like this: <***> This port is for high-speed network connectivity, allowing you to join 10 or 100bT Ethernet networks, and to connect directly to devices such as cable or DSL (broadband) modems. Use this port if you've got a broadband ISP.

Word of caution: don't plug the phone line into the Ethernet port, or you may damage the Ethernet circuitry in the computer (and, with the iMac, you'd have to replace the logic board to fix it). Phone lines generally transmit higher voltages than Ethernet, especially with incoming calls.

As for the broadband modem, it may have two different connectors on it (three, if you count the incoming phone or cable jack): an Ethernet port, or a USB port. If it only has an Ethernet port, skip to the next paragraph.

If it has a USB port in addition to an Ethernet port, ignore the USB port - you'll most likely need special software to run your internet connection through USB, and Ethernet is faster besides (at least on your iMac it is).

To use Ethernet to connect your iMac directly to your broadband modem, you'll need a proper Ethernet cable. If you're using the one from your PC, you should be fine - from what I gathered from your post, your PC currently connects directly to the modem, so we're just going to mirror that setup.

After plugging in the modem to your iMac's Ethernet port (and ensuring that your modem is operational), since you're in OS 9, you'll go to the TCP/IP control panel. In there, you'll go to the "Connect Via" drop-down box and make sure that Ethernet is selected. Then in the "Configure" box, you'll chose "Using DHCP Server" (if you don't know what DHCP is, we can cover that later). Then, just close out of the control panel.

Try opening Internet Explorer (or whatever browser you've installed, OS 9 usually included IE and Netscape).

If it works, good. If not, let us know and we'll go from there. If it doesn't work, you might want to wait a few minutes or an hour and then try again, maybe restart the computer. It may work when you come back. Ya never know with some stuff.

 

[Apostrophe]

Well, I don't think that I have an Ethernet cable, but I'm sure I'd be able to get ahold of one easily. But once I get one I'll try what you said.

Thanks,

-Apostrophe

 

[madmax_2069]

i know my friends QS G4 will spit most disks back out cause the drive is either dirty or bad. it will try to read the disk but will give up.