I've been assembling a G3 MT from spare parts. Currently it consists of the following items:
G3 275 running at 266 (for now)
512MB RAM (1x256, 2x128)
ATI Nexus128 PCI video card
20GB Seagate HD set to Master
Yamaha 16x CD-RW set to Master
The hard disk had MacOS 9.0 and 10.2 installed on another Beige G3.
I'm trying to erase the drive by booting from a 9.0 CD or a 10.2 CD to clear out the partitions. However I can't get the @$#^$## thing to boot from CD by pressing C. Command-Option-P-R does not want to work. It only wants to boot 10.2 from the hard disk.
So far I have pressed the CUDA switch a few times, with no success.
Any suggestions?
With the OS 9.0 CD in the drive, pressing C goes to a gray background and does nothing else.
Resolution:
1) Connect the HD to a PC and erase it.
2) Swap the Yamaha CD-RW for an Apple-ROMed Panasonic 24x CD-ROM.
Now 9.2.1 and 10.2 are installed. I have the 10.2.8 updated on a burned CD, but the Panasonic won't read it.
Are the CD and HD on the4 same cable. If they are then make the one in the second bay as a slave.
The drives were on separate cables. So far all seems to work well. I still need to connect my external CD-RW drive to it to read the 10.2.8 update I burned to CD a while back.
Next: Adding USB and a 10/100 card.
Another possibility - A local used computer dealer has a Blue & White G3/450 with 256MB RAM, 6GB HD, and 24x16x40 CD-RW for $100. It works - I just upgraded it to 10.2 today! I'll problably get it.
That's a good price for the B&W 450. I would get it and forget the flaky beigie G3 and your Mac'n experience will be improved alot.
I went back yesterday and it had been sold. Rats!