[Mkuchuk]

Well, here's the story.

My uncle gave me his older (not sure how old exactly) Powerbook G4, I think he may have purchased it back in early 2003.

Now, for my problem.

On the Desktop it reads "Desktop (MAC OS 9)"

Now, he gave me all the software including MAC OS X Panther version 10.3.

I tried installing this, and I believe it went smoothly as for all 3 discs but the desktop still reads "(mac os 9)"..

Now, the reason why I want to upgrad is I have a linksys wireless router (WRT54G) and when I turn the airport on it reads that the router is there but I cannot connect to it for the life of me, I've tried EVERY password and I get nothing.

I installed the Panter software, and instead of it now saying "invalid password" it says "there was an error joining the selected AirPort network"

I was told that Linksys' routers will not work with the powerbook unless i have OS 10.3 or higher, well wouldnt my installing of the panther software have fixed that? but if that did install why does it still read "MAC OS 9" on the desktop?

Basically, any help would be GREATLY appreciated as for seeing i am rather new to the world of MACs. I do know that the router is workign because my PC laptop is working with it.

So what do i have to do to get this Powerbook G4 to work with my router?

thanks in advance.

[BigBadBiologist]

That link on the desktop is to the stuff that was on the desktop when the system had OS9. If you go to the apple menu to about this computer, it will tell you the os that is actually running.

Are you sure you don't have WEP enabled on the linksys router?

[Nai no Kami]

Do you see the dock on the bottom of the screen?. Is your menubar white and with the fonts beautifully antialiased?. Are your scroll thumbs blue?. Then you have Mac OS X installed.

Does the Mac OS 9 Desktop folder have a flipping arrow over it's icon?. Then it is a shortchut, an alias(in Mac terminology) for the Desktop Folder on Mac OS 9. Your computer probably has both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 installed (the latter for Classic compatibility).

At root level... do you have a "System" and a "System Folder" folders?. If so, "System Folder" belongs to Mac OS 9.

Mac OS 9 is needed if you have to run legacy apps (which should be located in the "Applications (Mac OS 9)" folder. They may be not there though; there may even be no such folder.

If you don't need to run legacy apps (the ones that, when opened turns the Classic on and wear the platinum interface, you may well trash Mac OS 9 (or burn it to a CD, if it fits; you never know if you will need it, although you may... never) along with the shortcut to the Mac OS 9 Desktop folder.

This was a lame try to explain what you may see. To know what system are you running, simply drop down the Apple Menu (the one with the, doh, Apple) and select "About this Mac...". The dialog you will be presented should be self explanatory.

Regarding to the router, you should try to reset it. Linksys should provide a way to set it up.

[Nai no Kami]

Oh, I almost forgot: our beloved computer's nickname is "Mac", not "MAC", since it is not an acronym. Almost everyone says it whenever they can; I wanted to have my chance also. Thanks for that.

[Mkuchuk]

I apologize for the "MAC" comment.

I was told taht I need to run my system on WEP for the router to work? how exactly do i do this w/o ruining the connect that my PC laptop has with the router.

anyone?

[BigBadBiologist]

Does, your PC use WEP? If so, figure out what the WEP key is and put in in your PB's wireless setup control panel.

If it isn't using WEP, your PB should just be able to connect to the wireless network without entering a password.

[Mkuchuk]

anytime I try to connect on the power book it says "airport had an error trying to connect to the internet".

[Nai no Kami]

Originally Posted by Matthew_love84

I apologize for the "MAC" comment.

Please... this is nothing to apologize for. But it is also nice (i believe, at least) that someone (kindly and respectfully) point it out so it can be said the correct way. It's like being more Mac user now.

[Mkuchuk]

well, i headed over to my mom's today and she has a netgear router and it worked just fine.. so i guess my linksys router here is on WEP?

i'm very un-keen when it comes to routers.. how do i go about fixing this whole delima so that my PC laptop and Mac Powerbook both work on my linksys router?

[BigBadBiologist]

You just need to figure out what your wep key is.

From your PC in internet explorer, use type in as the the web address: 192.168.1.0
(or possibly 192.168.1.1)

It will connect you to the router's config utility (normally the password and user name are both "admin"). It will show you the WEP settings in there.

[Mkuchuk]

bigbadbiologist,

I looked at my router's settings and it's security mode is "WPA personal" not WEP..