Easy way to transfer files to and from iMac G3?

[bryanambition]

Wow, my first post! So I have an iMac G3 from 2001 running OS 9 which I'd like to start using for writing. I just need a way to transfer files to and from (ultimately to my MacBook Air M1). I do have an ethernet connection and both Classilla and Microsoft IE, which work to some extent, but so far I haven't found a way to use it to transfer files. Is there an email client that works with such an old system or a Dropbox-type site compatible with OS 9 I could use? I've considered getting an SD card reader and connecting it via adapters to my MacBook Air, but wasn't sure if this was even an option. Is there even an SD card reader that would work with such an old USB 1.1 port?
I also have an external hard drive (not SSD) that connects via USB, but the G3 doesn't seem to be able to power it and it goes off soon after I plug it in. Besides, even if that did work I wouldn't be able to get it onto my MacBook Air.
I'd even consider using a thumb drive, but will it work with the old version of USB? And would I have to format it first?

Sorry for all the questions at once, but I'm ambitious here and learning fast.
Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks for reading! ;-)

 

[rjkucia]

Any old USB drive should work. USB 1.1 is slow, but perfectly functional. It probably doesn't have enough power for your HDD, especially if it's expecting USB 3, which provides more power. A USB SD card adapter should also work.

You can format the drive as HFS+ (aka Mac OS Extended). Both sides can read and write to that.

 

[bryanambition]

Any old USB drive should work. USB 1.1 is slow, but perfectly functional. It probably doesn't have enough power for your HDD, especially if it's expecting USB 3, which provides more power. A USB SD card adapter should also work.

You can format the drive as HFS+ (aka Mac OS Extended). Both sides can read and write to that.

Ah, this makes total sense! Thanks man ;-)

 

[Patrick]

another option would be to setup a ftp server on your Air, then you can ftp files back and forth that way. (or setup the ftp server on your iMac and ftp from your Air.....)

It would be more work to setup than just use a USB drive. ....

 

[retr01]

Hi @bryanambition!

I use both approaches, as mentioned by @rjkucia and @Patrick.

Using a USB floppy disk drive is probably more straightforward. For the FTP approach, I use this program on my modern Mac and an older 10/100 Netgear FS105 (metal blue box) ethernet switch hooked up to a router, which works well between my G4 and modern Mac. I could even do that between my SE/30 with an ethernet card and a modern Mac.

‎FTP Server

‎FTP Server provides a simple way to share/exchange files between your computers and other devices. * Ports below 1024 are supported now (including port 21). FTP(File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used to transfer computer files from one host to another host over a...

apps.apple.com

 

[retr01]

If you are going the FTP approach for your local area network (LAN), the older Mac running OS 9 (or older) will need some type of FTP client. I have found that using Internet Explorer for OS 9 works best. There are FTP clients for OS 9 that may work well such as Fetch or Transit that can be found on the Macintosh Garden.

Internet Explorer 5.x - Macintosh Garden

Microsoft Internet Explorer was part of the standard installation of Apple operating systems from Mac OS 8.1 up to Mac OS X 10.3. Microsoft discontinued its browser software for Mac OS and Mac OS X at the end of 2005. The first three downloads contain the last release for the classic Mac OS...

macintoshgarden.org

Fetch - Macintosh Garden

This is a pretty good FTP client for early Macs. Works even on a 68000 with System 6. It also works on more modern Macs up to OS X.

macintoshgarden.org

Transmit - Macintosh Garden

NOW FREE ! Congratulations for grabbing Transmit, the best thing that's ever happened to MacOS™ FTP. We think you'll be quite happy to use it, and we at Panic are very proud of what we've created. Double-click the Transmit icon, fill in all your connection information, hit the "Connect" button...

macintoshgarden.org

 

[bryanambition]

If you are going the FTP approach for your local area network (LAN), the older Mac running OS 9 (or older) will need some type of FTP client. I have found that using Internet Explorer for OS 9 works best. There are FTP clients for OS 9 that may work well such as Fetch or Transit that can be found on the Macintosh Garden.

Internet Explorer 5.x - Macintosh Garden

Microsoft Internet Explorer was part of the standard installation of Apple operating systems from Mac OS 8.1 up to Mac OS X 10.3. Microsoft discontinued its browser software for Mac OS and Mac OS X at the end of 2005. The first three downloads contain the last release for the classic Mac OS...

macintoshgarden.org

Fetch - Macintosh Garden

This is a pretty good FTP client for early Macs. Works even on a 68000 with System 6. It also works on more modern Macs up to OS X.

macintoshgarden.org

Transmit - Macintosh Garden

NOW FREE ! Congratulations for grabbing Transmit, the best thing that's ever happened to MacOS™ FTP. We think you'll be quite happy to use it, and we at Panic are very proud of what we've created. Double-click the Transmit icon, fill in all your connection information, hit the "Connect" button...

macintoshgarden.org

You're a lifesaver! Thanks so much! ;-)

 

[dronecatcher]

I have a free SwissDisk online drive that's accessible via WebDAV protocol - on OS9 I connect with Goliath and on OSX Mac can connect via Finder - it's essentially Dropbox that works on old hardware too.

 

[skate323k137]

I have a free SwissDisk online drive that's accessible via WebDAV protocol - on OS9 I connect with Goliath and on OSX Mac can connect via Finder - it's essentially Dropbox that works on old hardware too.

That looks really cool.

Perhaps not the easiest way but I found my phone has tethering through USB-C to Ethernet, so I use it as a Wifi card basically if I'm not near a LAN port. For my files themselves, I just use an HTTP or FTP server generally, and just browse the folder index with internet explorer or what not.

 

[Patrick]

for awhile i used to use a2server. which was linux image + scripts + patches to get apple talk working. Basically you would setup a linux server (maybe in a VM on your computer) and any old mac could talk appleshare too it. and any modern computer can use modern file sharing with it.
the webste seems to be down.....

BUT somebody on this forum as started a new project to update netatalk here
So if you want to get nerdy and set that up its an option. its prolly not the turn key solution. But it has some advantages.

 

[Byte Knight]

If your iMac G3 has internet access you can use my remote file server (running A2SERVER) at afp://classicmac.ddns.net. Your modern MacBook Air should be able to connect to it too so you can move files back and forth.

 

[adamgracrrgv]

By the way, I used several programs, such as Transit and CyberDak, to transfer files through FTP, but for some reason it started to malfunction, so I found a good alternative.
https://ftp-mac.com/webdav-alternatives/