IMac OS 9.2 hangs up in the "starting up" mode and

To factory reset an iMac without a login or keyboard, you can try the following steps:

1. Boot the iMac in Target Disk Mode: Connect the iMac to another Mac using a Thunderbolt cable. Power on the iMac while holding down the T key. The iMac should appear as an external disk on the other Mac.
2. Reinstall macOS: Open the Disk Utility app on the other Mac and select the iMac disk. Choose "Erase" and follow the on-screen instructions to erase the iMac's drive. After erasing, quit Disk Utility and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS.
3. Restore from Time Machine Backup: If you have a Time Machine backup of the iMac, you can restore the backup to the iMac after reinstalling macOS.

If these steps don't work, you may need to seek assistance from an Apple Store or a professional repair service.

There are several reasons that this might happen.

The most obvious is that the videos are encoded with a later codec or container format that was never available under OS 9. You might still be able to find transcoding software that can translate the files into a format that can be read under OS 9, but that becomes more difficult as time passes and support for older, less secure codecs is dropped.

Less obvious is if the OS 9 install has been designated as a Classic environment or so-called "Blue Box". While such System folders can remain bootable, there are fundamental changes made to the OpenTransport extensions such that they are no longer fully functional in stand-alone mode. OpenTransport was not just for networking, but was also very much involved with multi-media functions under OS 9 and QuickTime.

An excellent resource for vintage and obsolete Apple systems and software is Low End Mac . Not only does it include archived material dating back to 1997, but also has an active community and sponsors several mailing lists on particular models and OS versions.

The issue you are having is one in Intel, the other is G3.
This is how to do it. 1. put the cd/dvd into the laptop and restart the laptop in Target mode.
2. connect the laptop to the iMac with a Firewire cable.
3. Start the imac and immediatle hold down the alt/option key.
4. after a moment you will be offered a choice of start-up discs - one of which will be the CD/dvd in the laptop.
5. Start from the CD and then when asked, select the iMac drive as the destination. This ensures that the imac loads the correct version of the OS for its processor. Should work without a hitch.

Try hitting F8 just after your bios splash screen, before it would show the windows logo.
Select, boot in safe mode with networking.
Once you are in windows 7 safe mode, you can install any required drivers. This might prevent it from hanging on the next normal boot.

You can type in the run dialog CMD. This will open a command terminal. Type "SFC /scannow" without the quotes. This will tell windows to verify it's files. Let it complete, then reboot normally. Hopefully the problem will be resolved!

there is the single user start-up, which you were thinking of. There is also a safe-boot for macs.

To start up into Safe Mode (to Safe Boot), do this:

1. Be sure the computer is shut down.
2. Press the power button.
3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone but not before.
4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

During startup in Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you will see "Safe Boot" on the login window, which appears even if you normally log in automatically.

During startup in Mac OS X 10.2 through 10.3.9, you will see "Safe Boot" on the Mac OS X startup screen.

To leave Safe Mode in any version of Mac OS X, restart the computer normally, without holding any keys during startup.

do you have the original disk, you can reinstall the software.
or you can do an upgrade to a more recent version of mac OS like 10.5
will your mac handle the upgrade?
give me some specs i will find something you can upgrade to.
might as well

download Gassan-Mac-9-MR2RC2.sit from dell site (printer site, drivers, mac os) and unpack it with stuffit expander.
it contains drivers for mac os 9 and mac os x.
then just install it and select driver from the list when adding modifying printer

OSX isn't compatible with the older G3's.

I don't think the installer will work over a network. I think you need an actual CD of 8.5/8.6 or an external drive with the OS on it.