Thread
800 MHz iBook g3 Mac OS X 10.4.4
Hey guys, you'll never believe this one!
My friend found the machine listed in the title at our dump. Perfecct working condition, except for one thing. We don't have an admin password. He gave it to me to fix, and I'm either going to get someone to lend ma a 10.4 CD (no DVD drive) or stick OS 9 on this guy. I'm typing on it right now; it found our wireless and everything. I would do Linux, but I dunno how Ubuntu would handle the wireless card. Pretty much nothing has the sufficient access privelages except for the internet and the built in apps but not utilities. Anyone have a suggestion for this great conquest??
My friend found the machine listed in the title at our dump. Perfecct working condition, except for one thing. We don't have an admin password. He gave it to me to fix, and I'm either going to get someone to lend ma a 10.4 CD (no DVD drive) or stick OS 9 on this guy. I'm typing on it right now; it found our wireless and everything. I would do Linux, but I dunno how Ubuntu would handle the wireless card. Pretty much nothing has the sufficient access privelages except for the internet and the built in apps but not utilities. Anyone have a suggestion for this great conquest??
Ubuntu should work fine. I loaded it up on a Compaq laptop w/ a WaveLAN Gold (essentially the same card as the AirPort card). Assuming, of course, that the iBook G3 doesn't use AirPort Extreme...
Peace,
Drew
Peace,
Drew
Did you remove the battery and look under it for a password? The keyboard? I've found a couple Admin Passwords for old laptops there...
It's fairly easy to reset the admin password. Boot up the machine holding [Cmd] and . That will enter you into Single User Mode. Then type sh /etc/rc and press return. Now type passwd followed by the short username of the admin account and press return again. It should now prompt you for a new password twice -- so choose what you want to use. Finally type reboot to restart the machine.
Hope that helps [
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Hope that helps [
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yes, Ubuntu 7.04 likes the original AirPort cards just fine. just don't expect the same performance out of the machine as you would get with 10.3 or the like.
Actually, I saw this online, and the d@mnde&t thing is it won't boot into single user mode for me. It just loads OS X normally, but thanks for the tip.It's fairly easy to reset the admin password. Boot up the machine holding [Cmd] and . That will enter you into Single User Mode. Then type sh /etc/rc and press return. Now type passwd followed by the short username of the admin account and press return again. It should now prompt you for a new password twice -- so choose what you want to use. Finally type reboot to restart the machine.
Hope that helps [
How do I find out if it has an AirPort Extreme card? The system profiler requires more access privelages than I have.
It won't have an AirPort Extreme (Wireless G) card because those only fit iBook G4s. iBook G3s take the original AirPort (Wireless B) cards, and if it has one of those you're very very lucky, because those alone sell for around £50 on eBay UK. There will be instructions in the relevant service manual for seeing if there's a card in it - I think you just turn one screw and lift up the keyboard and you will be able to see if there's one in there or not.
I know it does have a wireless card, because I'm surfing at my friend's house on wireless DSL right now.
Very strange... has someone set a firmware password on it?Actually, I saw this online, and the d@mnde&t thing is it won't boot into single user mode for me. It just loads OS X normally, but thanks for the tip.It's fairly easy to reset the admin password. Boot up the machine holding [Cmd] and . That will enter you into Single User Mode. Then type sh /etc/rc and press return. Now type passwd followed by the short username of the admin account and press return again. It should now prompt you for a new password twice -- so choose what you want to use. Finally type reboot to restart the machine.
Hope that helps [
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482
I don't know how deep into the computer the CUDA button is, but I'd bet that would fix it. I don't suppose you can boot OS 9 can you?
Well it is a G3. . . my friend has an OS 9 cd. But will OS 9 recognize the wireless card? My friend might want to stay with OS 9. How would I press the button?
Yes, OS 9 will work with an AirPort card, if fitted, but won't let you connect to WPA-protected networks. They seem to say you can change the firmware password from OS 9, so it sounds as though your best bet is to boot from the OS 9 CD, then do the single user mode thing to reset the OS X password.
But he /can't/ boot from the OS 9 CD.
http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php#fwsucker
Use the app FWSucker to display the open firmware password.
Use the app FWSucker to display the open firmware password.
have you tried holding down the option key at boot with the OS9 disc in the machine? that will bring you to the OpenFirmware boot selector. you should be able to force the machine to boot from the disc.
Tried FWSucker, but can't open .sit files. Not enough access privelages. I'll try the OS 9 cd. . .
Try opening a .sit file on another computer, then burning a CD with the uncompressed file on it, and then put in in the iBook, drag it to the desktop, then try it.
If there is an OpenFirmware password set up, then that will not work since it stops the use of C-key CD booting and using the boot selector.
Other than bypassing single user mode, I haven't heard anything that would indicate an OF password is set. Still, you really ought to try to find out if one is.
Try this:
Boot up holding down Command-Option-O-F to go to the Open Firmware prompt. Type:
> reset-nvram
If it asks for a password, you've got an OF password you need to defeat. Otherwise, forget the OF password part.
If you aren't asked for a password, type:
> reset-all
Your Mac will reboot. Otherwise, just reboot it with the three finger salute and call it a day. Then follow Tom's suggestion with regard to clearing the OF password.
Peace,
Drew
Try this:
Boot up holding down Command-Option-O-F to go to the Open Firmware prompt. Type:
> reset-nvram
If it asks for a password, you've got an OF password you need to defeat. Otherwise, forget the OF password part.
If you aren't asked for a password, type:
> reset-all
Your Mac will reboot. Otherwise, just reboot it with the three finger salute and call it a day. Then follow Tom's suggestion with regard to clearing the OF password.
Peace,
Drew
Thanks, Alk, I'll check it. Also, I don't have access privelages to run FWSucker, so if it does have an OF password, I'll need to physically reset it.
I checked it, and there is an open firmware password installed. I guess this means I'm going in!
iBooks have DIMMS, right? I suppose I'll also have to take out a set number so it has 128MB, right?
Standard 100/133mhz SO-Dimms. It has 128mb soldered. The tray-loading iMacs use the same type. 10.4won't boot with less then 196, iirc, so you'll want to put another So-Dimm in there.
You don't need to boot 10.4, you only need to pass POST. If you strip it down to the motherboard RAM, you'll be fine. Just reset PRAM at that point (you'll never see the OS X desktop), then either shut it off or boot back to OF to set a different OF password.
After that, you can put the RAM back in. You can also try booting 10.4 before installing the RAM. I have no idea whether or not 10.4's requirement of 196 MB of RAM is artificial or not...
Peace,
Drew
In the interest of science, I'll try to boot 10.4. . . but it'll wait until tomorrow. I'll be sure to take pictures. Thanks so much to all who replied, you've done a G3 and my friend a great service!!!
I can't get the keyboard off!
In between Esc and F1 there is a tab, and another between F11 and Eject(F12) Slide them back and lift at the same time. They have little tabs in them that hold it in.
I'm trying that. Is the locked position like this | or like this — ?