Just thought I'd post what I sent to max1zzz in PM so it'll be around for future reference...
I didn't actually write a new program, I just modified the B&W G3's firmware updater. As long as we can find an older iMac firmware updater for the same model (which includes a firmware version before the floppy was disabled), it should be possible. I had to do a similar thing to the blue and white G3 firmware updater. If it's anything like the B&W G3 updater, it has a "whitelist" of known firmware versions it's allowed to update. I think if we find out the current firmware version, we can add it to the whitelist and then the older firmware updater will think it is allowed to "update" the newer firmware, thus replacing it with the older version.
It's worth a shot!
I didn't actually write a new program, I just modified the B&W G3's firmware updater. As long as we can find an older iMac firmware updater for the same model (which includes a firmware version before the floppy was disabled), it should be possible. I had to do a similar thing to the blue and white G3 firmware updater. If it's anything like the B&W G3 updater, it has a "whitelist" of known firmware versions it's allowed to update. I think if we find out the current firmware version, we can add it to the whitelist and then the older firmware updater will think it is allowed to "update" the newer firmware, thus replacing it with the older version.
It's worth a shot!