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AdvocateUK · Sep 19, 2003, 03:34 AM

Sorry to post about this issue again but having got up this morning I am havingthe exact same problem that I had yesterday.

As you may know I recently bought this system and have upgraded it by putting 1gig of Corsair PC3200 ram, and a Sony DRU500A DVD Writer in it.

When it has been switched off overnight I have problems booting it.

1st boot = freezes at login screen
2nd boot = freezes as soon as I login
3rd boot = freezes as soon as I launch an app
4th boot = freezes about 2 minutes after launching an app
5th boot = no freezes (yet)

On the 3rd boot today it booted into open firmware mode and I had to shut it down before booting again.

I ran the hardware test cd yesterday, both short and extended tests, and it passed those fine. I'm a bit stuck as to what could be the cause of these freezes, anyone have any ideas?

TIA

Advocate

iCol · Sep 20, 2003, 10:06 AM

Bad RAM?

Bad motherboard?

Bad CPU?

... Have you spoken to Apple... sounds like a hardware problem to me.

Not sure if this matters under OS X, but have you tried resetting the PRAM?

Other than that, a clean install?

version · Sep 20, 2003, 12:12 PM

I think it could be the ram.

AdvocateUK · Sep 20, 2003, 05:39 PM

Thanks for your input on this problem guys.

The problem seemed to start after I had installed either the 1gig of Corsair mem and the sony dvd writer so this morning I removed both of these and put the machine back to its standard config.

I had the same problems.

I'm wondering now if its something I've installed in OSX (either an update or an app) so my next course of action is to reinstall OSX (probably in a moment).

If this doesn't fix the problem I'll be ringing Cancomuk (the place where I bought the Mac, a refurb I might add) and asking them to take it back for a full refund.

If this is the case I'll be considering carefully my next purchase. This has kinda tainted my perception of the Mac experience which I SO wanted to be cool.

Wondering now whether to buy a new DP G4 from Apple or a new G5 1.6.

Thanks again, I'll let you know how the reformat goes.

Back-to-Mac · Sep 20, 2003, 05:42 PM

Which 1.25 G4 do you have?

Is it the dual OS9/ OSX boot machine and is a 2 or 1 processor configuration?

AdvocateUK · Sep 20, 2003, 06:36 PM

It's a Dual G5 1.25 which will only boot into OSX....or not....as the case may be :s

AdvocateUK · Sep 20, 2003, 08:01 PM

Update: Have installed Panther 7B68, will shut the Mac down and try it before work in the morning...if I get no crashes then WOOHOO but I really think it'll go tits up again :s

I'll try and post b4 work

AdvocateUK · Sep 21, 2003, 01:08 AM

Just to let anyone that is following this thread know, I am still having the same cold-boot problems that I was having yesterday. I now feel like I have exhausted every available avenue.

I'll be ringing Cancomuk tomorrow to sort something out.

idyll · Sep 21, 2003, 02:16 AM

Hope all goes well and you get your Mac fixed.

Is this your first Mac? Looks like you're one of the unlucky few who got a lemon.

I replied in one of your earlier posts where you asked for advice as to which Mac you should buy.. if it's not too late, I'd try to return the G4 and get a G5.

Good luck.

AdvocateUK · Sep 21, 2003, 09:40 AM

I have thought about that but the G5 is so much more expensive and I really wonder whether the 1.6 would be any faster than the dual 1.25....

idyll · Sep 21, 2003, 11:40 AM

In the near future it will.

iCol · Sep 21, 2003, 11:51 AM

Yesh, the 1.6 G5 will be comparable, if not faster than the dual 1.25 (which I also have)...

When apps become 64 bit optimised we will see the biggest speed improvements. Also take into consideratin that a G5 will be far more futureproof than the G4.

Col

AdvocateUK · Sep 21, 2003, 12:53 PM

Thanks for that quick reply, as you may know I agonised over which Mac to get before plumping for this Dual G4 and saving �500 gave me a nice warm feeling inside while also putting a smile on my missus' face

Having said that, this experience with the G4 has somewhat tarnished our view of "refurb bargains"....

Thanks again mate, will update this thread once I have spoken to Cancomuk tomorrow

AdvocateUK · Sep 21, 2003, 01:04 PM

Am going to try one last thing before giving up on this G4. I have a "spare" 80Gb HDD here that I was going to add to the G4. I'm going to try replacing the stock drive with this one and see if that cures the problem. If so at least I know what it is and can ask Cancom to ship me a new HDD

idyll · Sep 21, 2003, 02:11 PM

Have you tried replacing your new memory with the one that came with your Mac?

AdvocateUK · Sep 21, 2003, 04:57 PM

Yeah I've tried using the original memory to no avail. The other HDD didn't make any difference either which only leaves the CPU(s) or motherboard.

Wish me luck in my phone call to Cancomuk tomorrow

AdvocateUK · Sep 22, 2003, 04:35 AM

OK Cancom have agreed to exchange the G4 dp for a 1.6 G5, should all be sorted by Wednesday. I'll let you know how I get on with the G5

Big Mac · Sep 22, 2003, 07:33 AM

Originally posted by iCol:
Yesh, the 1.6 G5 will be comparable, if not faster than the dual 1.25 (which I also have)...

When apps become 64 bit optimised we will see the biggest speed improvements. [SNIP]
Col

No, that's not quite true. Most applications wouldn't benefit from 64bit optimization, simply because they have the resources they need with 32bits. Since 64bit data is twice as large as 32bit data, 64bit applications are more memory intense. Making a 32bit application 64bit for no reason may well make it slower. The G5s will become faster as 32bit software is recompiled specially for the G5, but that's different from saying a ton of software is going 64bit.