Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

milew66

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 20, 2011
4
0
Okay, I had/have an old imac, one of the big boxy all in ones. Before I really knew anything about what to do and what not to do with computers, I deleted something that obviously was needed in order for the mac to run. Now, when I turn it on, the screen is blue. No codes, letters...nothing. I still have pictures/videos on there I would like to get off, but am unsure how to get to them without having to take it to a store. I tried to safe boot it (f8) but am not sure if that is how you do that with a mac.
 
Is it an iMac G3, G4 or G5?
IMac_history.png

Does that iMac have the FW400 6-pin port (, the one in the middle of the top row called ports)?
firewire4final.png

If that is the case, you could try Target Disk Mode with another Mac and Firewire or with a Windows or Linux PC and Firewire and MacDrive for Windows to be able to read the files.

If you also have any kind of grey Restore CD for that Mac, tell us what is written on it.
They look like this:
restore-disc-info.jpg
 
It is the 1st one G3, I bought it off of a friend years ago and I have no disk. I was just deleting stuff one day and must have deleted something relevant. I really do not want to take it to a store and pay anything, I just figured there was a way I could get to the pictures and whatnot. Any sequence of keys I could hit or anyting?
 
It is the 1st one G3, I bought it off of a friend years ago and I have no disk. I was just deleting stuff one day and must have deleted something relevant. I really do not want to take it to a store and pay anything, I just figured there was a way I could get to the pictures and whatnot. Any sequence of keys I could hit or anyting?

That is why I asked if you can find any Firewire port on that iMac. If you have, and have access to another computer with Firewire you can use the already mentioned Target Disk Mode.
Did the operating system on it look more like this (1) or that (2/3):
(1) clickable image
macos90-1-1.png
(2) clickable image
macosx100.png
(3) clickable image
Aqua_(Mac_OS_X)_screenshot.jpg

The below steps are for Macs with Mac OS X:
 
Unfortunatley I do not have any firewires. When I start it in safe boot, it will say prepareing in safe boot, or something like that, then that is when it just goes blue.
 
Again, what did your OS look like? And if it was Mac OS X, then have you tried any of these steps?

Honestly, I am not familiar with computers and apologize if I am annoying you. All I know is that it had safari, I have no clue about the operating system. Is there any type of free disk I can download to reinstall an operating system?
 
He posted some screenshots of the OS. He's just asking if you could take a look at the pictures and tell us which screenshot looks familiar.

I'm in a similar situation: i bought a G3 imac a few years ago, but it didn't come with any disks. I'd love to know if you find a way to get a system restore disk, because i'll do the same.

Good luck!!!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.