Need to switch hard drives on a Mac, don't have discs!

[Joe750]

I just got a cheap mac that I'd like to convert to a Divx box. Right now it has a 4gb hard drive, and I want to switch it out. The problem is, I got this machine at a Thrift store, so there is not OS 9 disc(s). Is there a way to get the OS off the machine (maybe over a network) onto another computer (a PC) and then switch the hard drives? I don't think it supports two HDDs. This may not be possible at all, and I may be stuck, but I figured I'd ask.

PS, this is an iMac G3, 233mhz, 512mb ram, OS 9.xx Thanks!

 

[SLCentral]

There is a image program for Mac OS X (though the name fails me now), but I'm not sure about OS 9. Just search around VersionTracker.

 

[nsafreak]

The system will support two hard drives it's just a standard IDE interface. The real problem will be getting a pair of hard drives to fit inside of the iMac case. I sure hope you plan on upgrading the processor because I kindof doubt that a G3 233Mhz CPU will handle Divx all that well.

 

[Joe750]

One more question, is it possible to switch OS's like that? If I hook up 2 hard drives, can I just copy everything from one to the other and pull the original? Surely not, right?

I'm glad you mentioned that, I just checked the Divx specs and you need at least 500mhz. Thanks for saving me the trouble!

What else can I do with a working iMac? I thought about painting it up like an NES and running a USB NES controller to it. Other than that, it's just another internet-only computer.

 

[nsafreak]

Off the top of my head I'm not sure what else you can do with a working iMac. You should be able to image the OS from one hard drive to another. I would just search through VersionTracker and see if they have anything. You could also turn it into a server of some kind, what would be up to you. But if you decide to do any server stuff with it I would install Linux on it and drop OS 9.

 

[Ecgtheow]

Originally posted by: Joe750
One more question, is it possible to switch OS's like that? If I hook up 2 hard drives, can I just copy everything from one to the other and pull the original? Surely not, right?

Sure you can. I've done it before.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: Joe750
I just got a cheap mac that I'd like to convert to a Divx box. Right now it has a 4gb hard drive, and I want to switch it out. The problem is, I got this machine at a Thrift store, so there is not OS 9 disc(s). Is there a way to get the OS off the machine (maybe over a network) onto another computer (a PC) and then switch the hard drives? I don't think it supports two HDDs. This may not be possible at all, and I may be stuck, but I figured I'd ask.

PS, this is an iMac G3, 233mhz, 512mb ram, OS 9.xx Thanks!

I might have the OS 9 disc from an old G4 lying around. I'll check on that tonight.

If the software solutions don't work, is adding another harddrive an option?

 

[chcarnage]

I'm not sure if just copying the entire harddisk content by hand to a Windows PC will work: The iMac uses another file system than FAT or NTSC: HFS+. But it could work with this software, p.e. if you have a case with USB for an external harddisk...

The CDs purchased together with a G4 won't let you install OS 9 on a G3 iMac, only the stand-alone retail version will.

You can use the iMac as internet / jukebox computer (no surround though, just mini)... or tinker around with Linux... use it for console emulation or old mac game/software classics which are partially available for free... run it 24/7 (webcam?), it has just an 80W PSU after all...

 

[thirdlegstump]

MacOS 9 actually works unlike Windows. Just copy the files over and it'll boot up like nothing happened. The 233MHz G3 should be able to playback DIVX as it is the equivalent of a 700MHz P3 which is more than enough to play DIVX smoothly.

 

[Joe750]

Originally posted by: deathkoba
MacOS 9 actually works unlike Windows. Just copy the files over and it'll boot up like nothing happened. The 233MHz G3 should be able to playback DIVX as it is the equivalent of a 700MHz P3 which is more than enough to play DIVX smoothly.

You think? That could make my day! I guess it's worth a shot. I'll dump another HDD in there when I get a chance. Any other thoughts?

Another question, how do I strip down the OS without the disc? I want to get rid of anything I don't need to play Divx, but I remember from the old days what throwing stuff away on a Mac can do! Any ideas on how to get it running lean?

 

[thirdlegstump]

Originally posted by: Joe750

Originally posted by: deathkoba
MacOS 9 actually works unlike Windows. Just copy the files over and it'll boot up like nothing happened. The 233MHz G3 should be able to playback DIVX as it is the equivalent of a 700MHz P3 which is more than enough to play DIVX smoothly.

You think? That could make my day! I guess it's worth a shot. I'll dump another HDD in there when I get a chance. Any other thoughts?

Another question, how do I strip down the OS without the disc? I want to get rid of anything I don't need to play Divx, but I remember from the old days what throwing stuff away on a Mac can do! Any ideas on how to get it running lean?

Use extension manager to run the base OS 9 extension set and any necessary extensions for divx playback capability. That should be pretty lean in itself.

 

[Joe750]

One more question. Say I get the divx working on here, how can I use the IR port with some kind of remote control?

 

[thirdlegstump]

Somehow I kind of doubt you can do that but hardware-wise, it IS possible so I'm sure someone had programmed something for it....

 

[chcarnage]

I doubt the iMac's ability to play DivX movies... I would burn a CD with one and try to play it with the DivX codec for OS 9 and a movie player program (Quicktime standard will do it for a test).

Only one generation of iMacs had infrared, I don't know if there's a product in this niche market. If you know where to buy infrared remote controls for PCs, you may check if they have a driver for OS 9, too.