How can I get OS 9 installed on an iMac G3 (Rev. D, tray-load) with a Sonnet Harmoni G3 processor already installed (and with a trashed hard drive)?
When I got this iMac, it had the Harmoni processor installed and was running 10.3.5. I don’t have the original processor or CDs. The Harmoni manual describes these steps for installation:
1. Run the Harmoni installation (requires Mac OS 8.1 through 9.x)
2. Install the processor
At this point, if you wanted to upgrade from 8.1 to 9.x, the manual states to use the original OS 9 disks and do Mac OS 9 Install/Perform Clean Installation.
I was able to boot from the MacOS9Lives 9.2.2 Universal Install - ISO CD Image, run Drive Setup, and start Apple Software Restore. In ASR, I selected the option to erase the hard drive before restoring. About half way through the restore process, however, I got this message:
Restoring the software configuration “MacOS9Lives.img” to volume “MacOS9Lives” failed.
I tried to boot from the CD a few more times, but the process froze before Drive Setup started. The CD drive on this computer has been somewhat flakey, e.g., sometimes it would take several attempts to read a disk.
Now when I power on the machine, I see the floppy disk icon with a blinking question mark and hear a loud clicking sound. I tried Command-Option-Shift-Power button, same result.
My concern is that in the process of erasing the hard drive, I erased the file(s) installed as part of the Harmoni installation process. The Perform Clean Installation, as recommended by Sonnet, and as I understand it, would create a new System Folder but not erase the entire hard disk.
To recover, can I do this?
1. Remove the hard drive from the iMac and install it in my Quicksilver 733.
2. Use the OS 9.2.2 Universal Install - ISO CD Image to boot the Quicksilver and install 9.2.2 on the hard drive.
3. Run the Harmoni G3 Installer (to get the necessary files on the hard drive). Very nice of Sonnet to still make this available on their website!
4. Remove the hard drive from the Quicksilver and reinstall in the iMac.
Any other options? I have another G3 iMac with 9.2.2, but it’s a slot loader, G3/500 DV SE Summer 2000. I don’t have an external FW drive, but I’d get one if that provides a better solution. I’m really mad at myself. I knew this was an issue with the Harmoni drivers, but was too eager to get OS 9 running.
Thanks for reading all the way through this sad tale.
Marty