Hi,
I recently bought a second hand G3 iMac DV special edition (graphite) which I want to use just as a juke-box and dvd player. It didn't come with any install discs but I have a spare licence for OSX10.4. I need to update the firmware from 4.1.714 to 4.1.9 before I can get the new operating system going but I can't work out how to do it!

I've downloaded the firmware update (iMac_FWUpdate_4.1.9.smi.bin) and ported it over to the iMac ising an iPod Shuffle in disc mode. The iMac (under OS9 which Apple says it must be to update the firmware) doesn't know what to do with the .bin file.

I then tried unpacking the bin file on my MacBook to get a .smi file (iMac FWUpdate 4.1.9.smi) and again ported it over to the iMac via an iPod. This time the iMac doesn't know which program to use to open it- and none of the listed applications are appropriate.

Finally, I further unpacked the .smi file to get three files ("iMac firmware update" plus others), again ported them to the iMac but this time the three files literally appear as pages labeled with 'pc' and OS9 claims it can't deal with them!!

What am I missing!!!

Well I'd do the expanding from within OS9 by using stuffit expander which should be in the Alladin Folder, in the internet utilities folder, in your applications folder, (in os9).
See if that helps.

Edit: I may have that location wrong, but you can download it here> http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/exp-downloadv.html

That's sounds possible... I'll try it out and report back ASAP.

Nope, I downloaded stuffit from your link but OS9 doesn't like either the installer file (StuffItSTD703Classic.hqx - it doesn't know which program to use to open it) or the unpacked version (it thinks it's a pc file again).

This iMac isn't networked or online or anything so what else can I try?!?

Bugger.
Um, that's strange. Can't you just hook it up to the net, make sure you're up to date with version OS 9.2.2, and try again. I can't think of any other workaround except reinstalling Stuffit Expander, or OS9. Don't know why can't open .hqx.
Keep trying. Might be something simple.

You've probably solved this, but it sounds to me like the iPod is PC formatted. You should be able to move the .smi across on a mac formatted volume and it work, but on a PC formatted disk, the resource fork will be discarded unless it's a .bin or .hqx, which you generally use stuffit to decode.

Don't worry, the whole iMac was buggered and I've solved it by buying a new one and mixing a few parts-- the new frankenstein doens't have this problem!