vintage iMac will not connect to network

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Level 1

12 points

vintage iMac will not connect to network

My 24 year old Snowball iMac, with OS 10.4.11, still boots up and runs its programs, most importantly connects to a number of peripherals. I have a turntable and Epson scanner which still work and I can make copies of documents on the scanner. But I cannot get it to connect to the net, so that the copies can be emailed. Starting at System Pref's, I click on the network globe and a startup page comes up. But a dropdown comes in and says "Settings have been changed by another program." I try to get around this and sometimes do but setup eventually crashes. Anyone have similar issues?

bob.c

Posted on Aug 24, 2024 11:50 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 24, 2024 12:10 PM in response to bob.c

The old iMac has no ability to make secure connections on the modern Internet even if it is working properly. The old Mac OS X software is incompatible and the hardware is not upgradeable.

That iMac may be operational, but it can't be used beyond its own local network.

I'm sure it's a nice example of a vintage Apple computer, though! 🙂

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Answer 2

Aug 24, 2024 2:43 PM in response to bob.c

Look into file sharing from/with the old iMac for the LAN connected devices.

I don't recall the specifics of networking in the old Leopard 10.5 OS, but the potential is there with for a LAN connection via Ethernet cable. That connection wouldn't facilitate secure Internet access, though.

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Answer 3

bob.c Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 27, 2024 11:24 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks, BDAqua, for the link - an interesting product. In order to get it over to the Snowball, i guess I would download to my MBP, into a usb thumb drive and load it into the iMac. I was reading the blog for the TenFourFox users and they seem to be a VERY advanced bunch of computer nerds! I might get up the nerve to ask a question some day...... Tnx, bob.c

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

245,261 points

Aug 24, 2024 1:46 PM in response to bob.c

TenFourFox is the Browser to use...

https://sourceforge.net/projects/tenfourfox/

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

245,261 points

Aug 27, 2024 1:31 PM in response to bob.c

Best of luck my friend!:)

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Answer 6

bob.c Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 24, 2024 1:10 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

Thanks D.I., that was my fear when I tried to connect. I do have a sort-of local network: two MBP's, one more recent iMac, two iPads, three iPhones, all in my iCloud account. Is there a way to add the Snowball to the network, so that a scan on it can be accessed by the MBP? I haven't looked thru the Apple Support yet so I'll dive in there too.

Could the inability to connect to the internet have something to do with the lack of wi-fi capability? I have been trying to connect via an ethernet cable to the Nighthawk router's dedicated inputs......no joy.

Thanks again! bob.c

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Answer 7

bob.c Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 27, 2024 10:52 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

That's my new direction. i don't need an internet connection on the old machine, just a way to connect to the other Macs. Gotta read up on creating that network. Thanks!!

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