Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

tonyibook · Apr 5, 2003, 04:27 AM

I have an iMac G4, the 700MHz CD-RW version. Since I have had the machine it would freeze at what I thought were random times, normally whilst running a game. Every time that it froze all I had to do was put it to sleep by pressing the power button and then waking it back up again and carrying on from where it froze.

I have tried different memory, re-installing OS X multiple times, unplugging all devices, a different keyboard and mouse, and anything else I could think off, but still the problem remains.

Then I noticed something. Every time my Mac froze I had a CD in the internal drive. The iMac didn't have to be using the CD, it just had to be in the drive for a freeze to occur. Since then I have used an external firewire drive and the problem has gone away.

I have noticed on the Apple discussion site that a few other people have the same problem. They all seem to have the same iMac model as mine. Does anyone else on these forums have the same problem?

Mac Zealot · Apr 5, 2003, 06:35 AM

sounds like a drive problem alright

Jerommeke · Apr 5, 2003, 12:03 PM

Is it the fact with all CD's or with just some CD's, some type of CD's (for instance, audio CD's), etc?

I would call Apple Support in such occasions, seems like something isn't really totally in order.

xyber233 · Apr 5, 2003, 01:59 PM

Yup, I have that problem too and same computer. Try turning off "put the hard disk to sleep when possible" and "use seperate time to put the display to sleep" under Energy Saver in system preferences before playing a game. I think one of those is causing the problems. It worked for me so far. No more freezes but it is really annoying to turn it on a and off. Let me know if that works.

tonyibook · Apr 5, 2003, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by Jerommeke:
Is it the fact with all CD's or with just some CD's, some type of CD's (for instance, audio CD's), etc?

I would call Apple Support in such occasions, seems like something isn't really totally in order.

It appears to be with all types of CD, music, data or even blank. It usually happens to me when playing games, but it has happened on other occassions. I phone Apple Support and they just ran through all the standard stuff such as zapping PRAM, re-installing OS X etc.

I am worried that getting Apple to change the drive may not solve the problem, so I am trying to get an idea as to how many other people are effected and if/how they solved the problem.