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photog53

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Mandrake 9.0 PPC on iMac G3

I tried to load Mandrake Linux onto an old iMac G3 (Summer 2001 Indigo).   I got Linux loaded, but the only way I can get in to Mandrake is to hold down the CMD-OPTION-O-F and get to an open firmware prompt.   I can't get the Linux bootloader to work.  
I think I messed up during the "partitoning" portion of the Mandrake Installation...because Mandrake keeps telling me that it can't find the "Apple BootStrap" partition.   I've tried to reinstall Linux several times...with no better results.   I finally decided that I would go back to Square #1...reinstall Mac OS 9...and walk through the whole process again.  
(Here is the real problem)...When I insert the Mac Reinstall CD (while holding down the "C") I successfully boot from the CD and get to the opening MAC reload screen.   Unfortunately the RELOAD button is "grayed out".    The only button on the screen that works is the QUIT button.   Somehow I really messed this thing up so that I can't reinstall Mac OS9.  
How do I reset the Mac so that I can relaod Mac OS 9....and then repartition the drive and start over with the Linux Mandrake load???    (I have no idea how difficult this is...so I assigned 125 points...if this probem is harder than that..let me know).
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davidis99

When you boot from CD, do you have the option to open the disk utilities from the menus at top, before trying to do an OS install?  If so, go into the disk utility, delete the partition(s), create a new partition, and enable the option to write zeroes to the drive.
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ASKER

No...unfortunately not.   I get big gray box with three active buttons.  In the center it allows me to EJECT DISK  and  SWITCH DISK  and in the lower left hand corner iit allows me to QUIT.   The RESTORE button is still grayed out.   In the upeer left hand corner I have a box labled CONFIGURATION....and in it a highlighted line with the words...."iMac HD Disk 1.dmg  
In the center it says "Restore Image".   I don't see an option to open a disk utilitiy.  
Wait !!!!    I found another CD in the pack.   This one lets me see Apple folders and a Utilities Folder.....Give me a few minutes to play with this and see what trouble I can get into...
I "initialized the Disk"...and now it is giving me the option to partition.    
I redid everything....the bootstrap now seems to work, but only the "m" option going to Mac OS works.   The "l" option for Linux takes through several boot screens...before flashing a coupe of times and taking me right back to the beginning of the boot choices.  
I'm going to close this question.    No one seems to have a good...and another 'Linux newbie"  who encountered the smae problems with Mandrake that I have....changed to Yellow Dog Linux (which worked).   Since this Mac G3 using Linux is an experimental box anyway...I will simply switch to yellow Dog.  
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PAQ_Man
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