I was given a Imac from a friend and need help setting it up.

[funboy6942]

It powers up but all I get on the screen is a folder right in the middle flashing a ? and a happy face. He told me that he was told that it needs a OS installed. Is this true, and if so do they make like a lenux or ? free OS for it?

PLEASE lmk, I want to get it working, its my first Mac computer, and its very space age looking and would be fun to fool with when I can.

Thank for the help in advance and hope I can get some help or pointers soon

J

BTW is a Apple G4 Imac I just found out, if this will help out. Maybe someone has the os dick collecting dust they can part with??

 

[Loop2kil]

Ubuntu should work on your imac.

 

[funboy6942]

Ubuntu should work on your imac.

I just tried that and it just spat the disc out after about a minute. I even shut it down, in hopes it may start reading the disc, but it didnt work.

 

[bruceb]

Look here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Intel_iMac

Also see this link, as it deals with how to fix a Blinking Folder problem.
The Apple OS may still be on there, just broken.

http://forums.macworld.com/index.php?/topic/85523-blinking-folder-at-startup/

 

[mpilchfamily]

The G4s where out before Apple started useing intel CPUs. Those systems used an IBM CPU so you'll have to find a copy of OS9 somewhere. I don't know of any distro of Linux or other free OS that worked with the pre Intel imacs.

 

[notposting]

The G4s where out before Apple started useing intel CPUs. Those systems used an IBM CPU so you'll have to find a copy of OS9 somewhere. I don't know of any distro of Linux or other free OS that worked with the pre Intel imacs.

I have Xubuntu running on my 15" iMac G4. Xubuntu PPC version :sneaky:

Also OS9 and Tiger in a tri-boot. Hang on will look for some info on this.
here ya go: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ

It worked for me, note the hold down 'C' to get it to boot from the CD.