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Espen Isaksen · Nov 13, 2005, 12:15 PM

Hi!

I am posting this in this forum since I believe my problem is related to hardware and not software.

I have Dual 1.25 GHz PowerMac. It has been running very stable in more than a year. However, the last couple of months has been a pain. I started of with applications failing to run, or even having the entire GUI freeze(no kernel panics). Later I have had problems with getting the computer to start at all. When I finally get it to start, it will freeze my mouse after anything from two minutes to several hours. A lot of the time I also get applications which stop running. However, I can still use my keyboard to switch between applications and so forth. A lot of the time iTunes starts playing strange sounds, but I can play another song and it starts fine. And sometimes the entire GUI freeze.

Most of the time I get to log in by SSH, but sometimes even that breaks down. My problem is that I am not able to find a pattern for all this.

I have tried the following to figure out what the problem is:
1. I removed all unecessary hardware connected to my Mac. So only a keyboard and a mouse connected.
2. I tried reinstalling OSX on another hardisk, but the installation stopped before it hit the end of it.
3. I tried to install Ubuntu Linux on another harddisk, but same things happen here.
4. I tried putting the harddisk on another IDE-cable.
5. I tried deleting PRAM by command+control+r+p
6. I tried resetting NVRAM by "reset-nvram" in the Open Firmware console.
7. I tried removing memory one by one. It fails on all configurations.

I figure it might be a problem with my motherboard. In such a case I suppose I might as well buy a new computer. However, I am hoping that somebody might have some good suggestions of things to check for before I call the Apple store.

Espen

jamil5454 · Nov 13, 2005, 02:15 PM

My first guess would be your RAM. Perhaps all your RAM is bad, and you need to try a fresh stick from somewhere else.

What happens when you run the Apple Hardware test?

Espen Isaksen · Nov 13, 2005, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by jamil5454

My first guess would be your RAM. Perhaps all your RAM is bad, and you need to try a fresh stick from somewhere else.

I have three different sticks, but the same thing happend for any of them. For that reason I have a hard time believing they are all broken. But you never now, I suppose. Could some power failure break all memory stick at the same time?

Originally Posted by jamil5454

What happens when you run the Apple Hardware test?

I forgot about Apple Hardware Test in my original post. My Powermac did not come with the AHT CD. I remember my iBook had one of those, but that one cannot be used since it is too old. How can I get a hold of such a CD?

SpaceMonkey · Nov 13, 2005, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Espen Isaksen

I have three different sticks, but the same thing happend for any of them. For that reason I have a hard time believing they are all broken. But you never now, I suppose. Could some power failure break all memory stick at the same time?

I forgot about Apple Hardware Test in my original post. My Powermac did not come with the AHT CD. I remember my iBook had one of those, but that one cannot be used since it is too old. How can I get a hold of such a CD?

It's not a separate CD, if that is your confusion. It should be on the software restore discs that came with your PowerMac. If you look at your discs, one of them should have instructions to insert that disc and restart while holding down the option key to access the hardware test.

Espen Isaksen · Nov 14, 2005, 03:11 AM

Ok I will try to find the correct CD when I get back from work today. Thanks!

chefpastry · Nov 14, 2005, 10:13 PM

I've been going through the exact same problem with one of my MDDs. I'm awaiting delivery of a replacement CPU module. Hopefully, that will solve my problems. It should arrive on Thursday. I'll report back with my results.

By the way, in the past, I've found the hardware test CDs to be fairly useless.

Espen Isaksen · Nov 15, 2005, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by chefpastry

I've been going through the exact same problem with one of my MDDs. I'm awaiting delivery of a replacement CPU module. Hopefully, that will solve my problems. It should arrive on Thursday. I'll report back with my results.

By the way, in the past, I've found the hardware test CDs to be fairly useless.

Ok I am still trying to find the CD. Hopefully it will give me some idea of what is wrong. Although I doubt it.

I would be nice to hear you report.

chefpastry · Nov 16, 2005, 10:32 AM

The replacement I got today was DOA... I'm going to send it back and wait for another...

jamil5454 · Nov 16, 2005, 10:47 AM

On the Tiger DVDs, the hardware test is on DVD 1. Hold down the option key while booting to get to it.

seanc · Nov 17, 2005, 09:50 AM

On the Tiger DVDs, the hardware test is on DVD 1. Hold down the option key while booting to get to it.

I've only got one Tiger DVD in my set and there's no AHT on there.

Espen Isaksen · Nov 17, 2005, 01:59 PM

I still can't find my CD with AHT on. I have got a CD set with Panther on and a DVD with Tiger which I got through Apple Student Developer.

I am now trying run a memory test with this tool:
http://www.memtestosx.org/

UnixWarrior · 11:04 PM

Espen I have the same problem as you can read here. http://forums.macnn.com/65/mac-desktops/275291/g4-mdd-kernel-panic-at-startup/. My mac (MDD) freezes too. And nothing in the logtests. I am going to do a memtest and try the AHT. Even though I don't have one either I try it with my Tiger disks. I'll Update my status here too, if u don't mind!

Edit: I found the AHT cd it;s on cd one as told above! (is it legal to share the AHT disc? If so I will! ) [1:57 AM I'll keep all of u posted]

Edit 2: in MacOS X (Darwin) running in multiuser mode I did the memtest, and It said "All tests passed." SO now I am going to try the AHT!

Edit 3: AHT showed up some result, it says my Harddisk is the one causing it here but the AHT didn't test ram. The HD's I have worked in the past very well, but since I replaced my burner and bought me a new ram, my mac is passing out on regular basis (damn). So I guess I go back to the store and tell them I want new Ram because this one is killing me. If that is not working, I guess I replace all my harddisks and try again.
the failing code I have is 2STF <1/4 I am going to look at some documents what it means.

Edit 4: googling around http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...mp;btnG=Search came up with soem bad results of people with data loss. So maybe it is the HD. Well I'm waiting what u (Espen Isaksen) get out of the AHT.

Edit 5: Replaced with new HD, still nothing solved. So Monday ram is going back to store! I'll keep all of u posted!

Espen Isaksen · Nov 20, 2005, 07:59 AM

Ok I still haven't found my CD with AHT on(considering I have been moving to new places four times lately I might have lost it on the way somewhere....). I don't know if it is legal to share the AHT disk either. Anybody know?

I ran memtest is singe-user mode. No problems found.

The funny thing however is that as of now I have been running the computer for a couple of days with no problems at all. Sleep and everything works fine. I suppose it is just teasing me....

UnixWarrior · Nov 22, 2005, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Espen Isaksen

(considering I have been moving to new places four times lately I might have lost it on the way somewhere....)

I guess it's not stealing since it cannot be used on any other macs so I'll PM you.

Originally Posted by Espen Isaksen

I ran memtest is singe-user mode. No problems found.

well I did that too, but after I removed my newly ram NO More freezings for a week. And it did run very nice. My record was 5 days without a crash! But without the ram NO more crashes for a week and I did the most extreme things in that week to test my ram, u know just do a lot compiling while having a lot of apps open (so it used like all of my ram) And no crashes. I went back to the store and got me a new ram. I am testing it right now SO I'll let u know! (my uptime right now: 4:28 so we'll see! )

Originally Posted by Espen Isaksen

The funny thing however is that as of now I have been running the computer for a couple of days with no problems at all. Sleep and everything works fine. I suppose it is just teasing me....

As I told u above, my record was like 5 days!

chris v · Nov 22, 2005, 05:51 PM

DiskWarrior can check the SMART (not sure what the acronym stands for) status of a hard drive, which will warn you of impending drive failure. Can't hurt to repair the directory either, if you can get your hands on DiskWarrior.

P · Nov 23, 2005, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by chris v

DiskWarrior can check the SMART (not sure what the acronym stands for) status of a hard drive, which will warn you of impending drive failure. Can't hurt to repair the directory either, if you can get your hands on DiskWarrior.

So can Disk Utility these days, but only for the boot drive.

chefpastry · Nov 28, 2005, 04:30 PM

I received my replacement CPU module today and immediately installed it. Well, the same things that consistently caused freezes and panics now seem to be running fine. Of course, it has only been about 6.5 hours since the new module has been in there... I'll leave it running with CPU usage at 100% for a while and report again if anything goes wrong.

CIA · Nov 28, 2005, 06:07 PM

S.M.A.R.T. = Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology

Espen Isaksen · Dec 17, 2005, 06:18 AM

After having a lot of the problems as described above, I have now been running my PowerMac for two-three weeks without a hitch.

I never figured out what the problem was. However, I am wondering if it had something to do with the RAM. I don't think there is any problem with the RAM(as I have checked that thoroughly), but I think that the nearest slot to the processors might get to hot. It is quite warm down there, and the last couple of weeks I stopped using this slot.