I have an iMac G3 that isn't really accepting OSX. For some reason, the cd won't install with my iMac. So my friend takes it, and messes around with it. The problem is that he takes a long time. I would like to just do it myself, but I think what he does is install this HDD into his Mac, then formats & installs OSX. But I don't know what exactly he does, but, it just doesn't work. I seem to be having more trouble with Macs then I do with PCs. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? I need to format the first 8 gigs with the OS because it's a G3 tray loading iMac. I've told him this, and he says he knows but after the install many of the programs won't run and for some reason there are the same files on both partitions. Old stuff that still works, somewhat....

http://discussions.apple.com/thread... I believe you need to have OS9.x as per original configuration installed undertake all firmware updates, then update to OSX10.x

It use to be the other way around back in the system 7, 8 and 9 days. OSX is a cheap BSD Unix knock off. The OS must be installed on the machine that it will be used on, as with most any Unix box. As far as formating for the 8gb issue, patch the firmware on the imac if you already have not done it yet. I have run into this before, just let the installer install where it wants too, you dont have to partition the drive with an 8gb partition. As far as "cloning a mac HD with winblows, or linux" I dont know. Windows is a No, it does not support HFS, or HFS+ without 3rd party utilities. Linux is a b---tard retard brother/child of unix, so it might support HFS as Unix does(I think). So just get your mac back, and install OS X directly on it.

Actually, I'm typing this on my iMac right now. (WOW!! it's slow!) Anyways, everything that I've read says that the tray loading macs need the 8gig first partition. The reason I did this is because it wouldn't run with the entire Hdd partitioned as one. The problem that I'm having right now is programs won't run, saying that there isn't enough space to run programs. I'm wondering if I can transfer some stuff to the second partition. How could I go about this? what do I need to have on the first partition? According to the "get info" the 1st partition shows 5.88 gigs. On the 2cnd drive there is 49.78 gigs. What can I keep on the second drive? How small can I make the capacity of the 1st drive? Old stuff that still works, somewhat....