Help: step by step install on iBook G3

Hi, and welcome!

What -should- happen, is:

* Start the iBook, and insert the OS DVD
* hold down the C key (this tells the iBook to boot from the optical media)
* the iBook boots off the DVD, the installer starts

The flashing folder/question mark means it's not seeing any valid OS on any media.
Do you know for sure the optical drive is a DVD drive? It may be stock for that model, but buying used you never know.
It's possible the previous user wiped the hard drive, but with the eject problems you're having, the inability to read any media may mean you've got more problems than the blank screen issue.

If unsure if it is a DVD or CD-ROM you can check under the keyboard. There are two clips at the top of the keyboard that hold it on. There is also a small lock/latch in the center than may or may not be engaged. To disengage it turn it so the slot is pointing "up" at the screen and not left&right. Under the keyboard should be a barcode label with the shipping config listed on it, including what optical drive it had.

I've taken the whole comp apart, the drive stickers say it's a DVD rom.

Just to confirm, is the panel supposed to act as the eject button? or is it only FN-Eject? will FN-Eject work without an OS??

Are there any known fixes for drives that refuse to open?

Will a DVD drive from a 14" G3 work with a 12" G3?

Thanks.

The door to the optical drive is *not* the eject button. Look at the upper right corner of the keyboard, there's an eject key there. The key will work without an OS installed.

I was using FN-Eject, not just Eject, and it opened like it should.

I have a feeling the DVD was not burned as bootable, and that's why it won't start the install.

Thanks for all the help you guys.

Hi, Try installing from cd-roms the OSX 10.3.9.
I did it with a PPC G3 (but not a laptop) after I did a bios upgrade; MacOsx 10.4's dvd didn't work; plus maybe one would need more ram after that...I don't know what OS is installed..maybe it could work out for 10.4 too (installing the OS from cdrom).

10.4 dropped support for everything without FireWire, which is every pre-G4 PB except the Pismo and every desktop until the B&W. It also need a DVD drive (unless the CD set was special ordered) which was optional on most pre-G4 PBs except the Pismo and the 400Mhz Lombard.

I will try 10.3.9
Right now it refuses to boot from the 10.4 DVD. But I know the DVD is good because it booted on another computer.

I am pretty sure the iBook G3 (White) came with a FireWire port.
Is there a big "Y" symbol next to the USB port, there should be.

An alternative install I did for iMac G3's(circa 2000-2001-600 MHz with Firewire) was using an external DVD drive attached with FireWire, restarting the computer and holding down the option key, selecting start from CD, or DVD, and selecting the forward arrow and let it boot from DVD, or CD.
Another alternative, as mentioned, is purchasing the Mac OS X Panther CD from anywhere, even eBay, any verion, even 10.3, as updates are freely available.
I've found an external DVD Drive indispensible.
When I've encountered a question mark and grey screen I personally had two problems-1)Lost system file, just need a OS reinstall.
Or 2)A bad Hard Drive. Hope this helps.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88039