[atomico37]

hello all

ever since i bought this old mac off ebay i've been getting freezes every time i am on the internet. this is where the problem really comes out, is when i'm downloading multiple large files(mpg,avi). i always have to restart. i'm trying to figure out what is the problem. specifically. is there a program that could diagnose possible problems with the hardware. i have osx installed (panther) 512 megs of ram (noname brand)

i'd like to say it only freezes while using safari, but a few minutes ago, after doing a fresh reinstall of panther, the mac froze while setting my wallpaper preference, damn.

any ideas on software would be greatly appreciated

[reader50]

Boot from the OSX Install CD. Open Disk Utility and select the HD in question. The SMART status at the bottom should indicate everything is normal, anything else can mean a dying HD. If SMART is ok, run First Aid on the disk, for directory damage.

Directory damage will not be corrected by an OS reinstall unless you chose to format the disk during the install.

A permissions repair might be useful for the heck of it, but this sounds more like HD damage of one sort or another. A SMART problem requires a new HD, but other HD problems can usually be corrected.

RAM is another favorite suspect for causing freezes. TechTool Pro can test RAM as can a few other utilities, try reseating them first, along with your modem cable.

[Detrius]

Originally posted by reader50:
Boot from the OSX Install CD. Open Disk Utility and select the HD in question. The SMART status at the bottom should indicate everything is normal, anything else can mean a dying HD. If SMART is ok, run First Aid on the disk, for directory damage.

Directory damage will not be corrected by an OS reinstall unless you chose to format the disk during the install.

A permissions repair might be useful for the heck of it, but this sounds more like HD damage of one sort or another. A SMART problem requires a new HD, but other HD problems can usually be corrected.

RAM is another favorite suspect for causing freezes. TechTool Pro can test RAM as can a few other utilities, try reseating them first, along with your modem cable.

Processor or logic board can cause hard freezes just as easily. A bad hard drive will cause kernel panics--not hard freezes. Run the Apple Hardware test. Tech Tool Pro is far from reliable in checking RAM. If you didn't get the Apple Hardware test with the machine, take it to your local service center. RAM is a likely cause, but the logic board and processor are also possible.

[reader50]

Originally posted by Detrius:
Processor or logic board can cause hard freezes just as easily. A bad hard drive will cause kernel panics--not hard freezes. Run the Apple Hardware test. Tech Tool Pro is far from reliable in checking RAM. If you didn't get the Apple Hardware test with the machine, take it to your local service center. RAM is a likely cause, but the logic board and processor are also possible.

The Hardware Test CDs did not start getting included until after the Sawtooth models, this is a Blue & White, so TechTool Pro is about the only utility available short of taking it into a shop.

I've personally had a system get "stuck" on a marginal HD rather than throw a kernel panic. It was trying to background-flush cache to disk, and the disk would intermittently stop functioning correctly. This however, was under 10.0.4

Logic board or CPU are all expensive matters, and out of warranty for a Blue & White G3. Please do not take offense, we need service centers, but they do cost money. I try to help people first with solutions that are free, or relatively inexpensive repairs that they can do themselves, before recommending a service call.