FS/FA Mac mini G4 Upgraded with SSD & Pre-installed Mac OS 9

[davecom]

Thanks to everyone here who has worked on the Mac OS 9 install for previously unsupported hardware. I've gotten into upgrading Mac mini G4s and installing Mac OS 9 on them. I am in the process of upgrading several of them and I will post further links to their sale on this thread. Here is the one I am currently selling/auctioning:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126422495394

This is a 1.25 Ghz Mac mini G4 being sold with the power adapter. I have done the following to the machine:
- Thoroughly cleaned it to the best of my ability
- Added a 1 GB OWC stick of RAM
- Installed a 120 GB Kingston SSD with an IDE to mSATA adapter
- Installed a new clock battery
- Installed Mac OS 9.2.2 via the unsupported image on this forum (v9)

[davecom]

Another mini pre-installed with Mac OS 9 is now available:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126433161881

This is a 1.42 Ghz model in excellent cosmetic condition. I put in a 128 GB SSD via an IDE to mSATA adapter. The combo drive works well too.

[Bolkonskij]

Machines looking very nice, seems like a great package for those not into hardware tinkering. Can you refer the buyers to OS 9 Lives as the place to hang out with their new OS9 Mini ?

[davecom]

Yes I mention it in the descriptions. I wouldn't be selling these without it! I ended up buying lots of non-workingG4 Minis and really getting into this now...

[Bolkonskij]

Very cool!

Wish more knowledgable folks would do this - buying up broken machines, fixing them up and releasing them out into the wild again. Thumbs up!

[Jubadub]

Very cool!

Wish more knowledgable folks would do this - buying up broken machines, fixing them up and releasing them out into the wild again. Thumbs up!

Agreed!

Or rather... (wait for it...)

"Like"

[ssp3]

Very cool!

Wish more knowledgable folks would do this - buying up broken machines, fixing them up and releasing them out into the wild again. Thumbs up!

I hope that the OP will become a major donor when it comes to covering Knezzen's expenses to run this place.

[davecom]

I'm happy to donate some money. So far I'm just breaking even doing this (actually lost money on the last one). It's more for fun. It's not like this is some kind of big business. But now that I'm buying parts in bulk I hope to do a bit better. You can read my whole thread about how I fell into it here:
https://twitter.com/davekopec/status/1780032912768770448

[davecom]

I've got another upgraded Mac mini G4 w/ power adapter for auction. This one is a 1.25 Ghz machine with the following upgrades:
- 128 GB Toshiba SSD via ATA to mSATA adapter
- New OWC 1 GB stick of RAM
- New Clock Battery
- Pre-installed Mac OS 9.2.2 distribution from MacOS9Lives.com

See the description for detailed condition notes:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126442275453

[davecom]

I've got a new Mac mini G4 for auction. This one is a 1.42 Ghz/1 GB with the following enhancements:
- 128 GB SSD via IDE to mSATA adapter
- New Clock Battery
- Pre-Installed the v9 image of Mac OS 9.2.2 from this forum

In addition I am now doing the auctions with more accessories:
- Power Adapter
- Period appropriate Apple mouse
- New Logitech USB Speakers since the audio on the hacked Mac OS 9 image only works well with USB speakers

Here is that auction:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126452787422

[aBc]

Hey @davecom, something has been nagging @me in the back of my mind about your G4 Mac minis. While you’ve touted “upgrades” and “enhancements” and cleaning them to the “best of your ability”... it finally occurred to me that there’s been no mention of removing their CPU heatsinks, removing the old heatsink paste (and/or removing the foil pad) from these now near twenty year-old machines… AND then renewing the heatsink paste before reassembly and sale.

Do you perform this now long overdue task on each of them and have simply failed to mention it? If you have not done this, perhaps it is best that you do offer them all “as is”.

Caveat emptor?

Conversely, if you have renewed the paste… you should definitely mention that.

[davecom]

I do list them all as-is (multiple times both in the description and in the condition) on eBay. No, I have not been putting new thermal paste in. Certainly something for me to think about.