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Mastrap · May 17, 2003, 11:23 AM

12" PB, running 10.2.6.

This is truly bizarre. When I apply any pressure onto the left palmrest next to the trackpad I get a kernal panic and have to restart. I first noticed this when I picked the PB up there to carry it from the sofa to the table. All I have to do is put my thumb there and press, not too hard - restart.

Bizarre or what? A case of calling Apple methinks.

icruise · May 17, 2003, 11:26 AM

I've heard of similar things, and not only with the 12" powerbook. It's not normal, though, so it might be worth calling Apple.

Mastrap · May 17, 2003, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by Icruise:
I've heard of similar things, and not only with the 12" powerbook. It's not normal, though, so it might be worth calling Apple.

That actually does make me feel better. I thought it was just me. ::sigh::

If it is a known fault they probably have a fix for it. Thanks for letting me know.

mrtew · May 17, 2003, 08:02 PM

There were TiGigs that froze when you pressed on the bottom of the case. I had one and Apple fixed it by replacing the MLB.

SSharon · May 18, 2003, 12:11 AM

I don't know if this has anything to do with it but if you search the forum someone was trying to find a way to trick the PB into thinking it was closed and the answer was to lightly rub a magnet over the spot you mention, apparently thats were the PB's magnet is that matches one in the lid, not sure how this would affect anything (push magnet against something else in there??), just a coincidence I noticed.

Mastrap · May 18, 2003, 02:21 AM

I've posted this at Apple and there does seem to be a solution for this - it involves resetting the airport card. Thankfully it appears that it is the card that causes the kernal panick, not the drive as I had feared.

Here's a link to the apple discussion board:

http://discussions.info.apple.com/We....4@.3bc2e7b6/2

vmarks · May 18, 2003, 09:12 AM

interestingly, the airport card is under the RIGHT palmrest, nearly directly under the trackpad.

Why picking it up by the left palmrest would be related to the airport card under the right side is interesting, and only seems possible if there's more flex and give in the laptop than it appears on casual observation.

tungtied07 · May 18, 2003, 10:10 AM

Hey,
I read about this problem in one of the apple forums... Do you have an Apple Airport Card Installed?
If so, take the card out and reseat the card. Sometimes its dislodged a little which puts pressure on the hard disk, which causes the kenal panic.

So, take the airport card and put it back in and make sure its properly seated. Then connect the antenna....

Post back here to tell us if it works!

Thanks-Paul

MacNStein · May 18, 2003, 10:20 AM

The Airport slides in directly under the trackpad. The circuitry for controlling the miniPCI slot is under the palmrest a half inch to the left of the trackpad. Flexing this area too much can cause this type of behavior in all the 12s (but you really have to "flex" it to a point that would be considered abuse).

In your case, the MiniPCI connector may have a bad solder joint and the logic board may have to be replaced. Try pulling out the Airport card and reseating it and see if this behavior persists. If it does, then you'll probably have to have it repaired under warranty.