[zanian]

Hey guys,
I never owned a mac before. i have run PCs for a long time and run Linux on my laptop. Anyway, I found a G4 in the dump where I work and it seems to be fully in tact(I work for a pretty rich town, it would be no surprise if it actually worked) and I wanted to format the thing. Anyway, I've been searching around and after getting a hold of some OSX 10.4 disks, I tried to start the disk utility by holding "c" when starting up. However, when I do so, the computer hangs for a while, spits it out and then starts normally. I tried inserting a Linux LIve Cd to see if it would run and the same thing happens. I was suspicious it was some authentic disk crap or something, but after the LInux disk, I am not sure. I would mess around with the thing, but I do not know the password so, I ask:
1) Is there a reason why the Disk Utility won't start?
2) Can I format some other way?
3) Anyway I can SSH into it or so without logging on?
4) Any password crackers or something?

Thanks in advance.

[patrix]

Make sure the OS X (either Generic OS X or the OS X disks for the model you have) and Linux disks you have are PPC , not INtel.. And the OS X installation disk (which contain Disk Utility among other things ) have a password reset utility

[CharlesS]

Try starting with the Option key instead of the "C" key to boot from the disc. If even this doesn't work, well, that might be the reason the machine was in the dump.

[zanian]

yeah thanks guys. I'm guessing it's the cdrom drive. The laptop was actually found by a friend that I work with, I was just helping him out. He says he's going to take it into apple (I don't know if that's the best move, but anyway, he wants to). Thanks for the help guys.