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hksunshine · Jul 15, 2008, 09:14 AM

I have an old Power Macintosh G3 300 Desktop (M7105LL/A) currently running OS 9.1. I want to upgrade to OS 10.3 or 10.4 (I have both disk sets).
I tried starting up from either of the disk but the PM won't recognize the 10.4 or start up from the 10.3. I get error messages offering to erase the 10.4. The 10.3 starts up on my mac in OS 9.1 even with "C" held down.
I somehow did this once b4 but do not remember the trick I used.
Unfotunately as my printer and internet did not work went back to OS 9.1 but now I am willing to work on those isses but cannot even get to that point.
Many internet sites won't work with OS 9.1 so I do need to up grade.
Note that when I start these disks from my mac laptop running OS 10 they are recognized? I'm stumped and need help.

Dr. Wahnsinn · Jul 15, 2008, 05:50 PM

Here are just a couple of possibilities from my fading memories. Perhaps others can be more specific.

If these install discs are DVDs, and you G3 has only a CD-ROM drive, you'll have to change something.

Also, the highest officially supported OS on those G3s is 10.2. I think 10.3 works with a patch.

What model of laptop are you using?

As for the printing issue, I think OS X doesn't even cares about the old Mac printer port. (I think it was something about OS X making AppleTalk only available over ethernet.) I had to get a Farallon serial to ethernet adaptor to be able to print using my G3.

Anyone else?

anthology123 · Jul 15, 2008, 06:20 PM

I've made attempts to upgrade a Beige G3 DT to 10.3, but it would not work. I have installed 10.2, but could not go higher, there must be some sort of patch because it will not work on its own.

angelmb · Jul 16, 2008, 01:19 AM

You can use XPostFacto to install 10.3 on it, it is free.

http://eshop.macsales.com/OSXCenter/...ostFacto3.html

Andrew Stephens · Jul 16, 2008, 04:37 AM

I believe you need to be running 9.2 to upgrade to OS X. The 9.1 to 9.2 update is still available online. There may be a couple of firmware updates you need to apply too.

I think the partition you install OS X on needs to be less than 8GB in size on these early Macs so if you've upped the drive in yours you will need to repartition it.