[PixelPete17]

Hey all,

I posted awhile back about some memory problems I was having with Ti667 DVI (512MB and 256 MB DIMMs), and the trouble was a defective 512MB DIMM that went bad after a year of use... (it happens..)

I bought the RAM from OWC a year ago with a lifetime warranty, so thankfully I was able to get it swapped out for a new one...(no help from OWC though -- they are a NIGHTMARE to deal with on this issue...never had worse service from anyone ever...and I'm 34 years old)

Anyway, now the replacement is not working either...

Powerbook runs fine with the stock 256 in either slot..

Powerbook doesn't run well at all with the new 512 in the bottom slot, so I tried the slot closest to the keyboard...that one worked better for a day...but now the computer hangs at all times of random choosing...restart...photoshop crashes..finder quits...you name it.

Is there a program that can test my RAM slots for a hardware glitch? Apple Hardware thingy tests my computer out to be fine, but maybe it's wrong? Or is it simply RAM that is out of spec from OWC? They have not exactly been helpful thus far, so I'm not trusting them too much..they think it must be my powerbook but it's been perfect since I bought it new a year ago, and has done little else but sit on a desk. It's never been bumped, dropped or anything, and I'm the only owner and user.

Any thoughts?

Last question..OWC is saying to remove the PRAM battery, do a motherboard reset, and zap the NVRAM...

I've zapped the PRAM on startup, have pressed the PMU reset for over ten seconds twice, and have done the reset NVRAM reset all command from the open firmware dialog prompt...will all this do the same thing...or do I have to disassemble my Tibook to remove the PRAM battery? Also, is the PMU the same thing as a motherboard reset switch? I assume the PMU is also the CUDA switch?

All help is welcome and appreciated...

Pixel Pete
(soon to be Bald Bob..from pulling all my hair out over this one... )

Thanks guys..over and out.

[PixelPete17]

Anyone?....

Bueller...

Bueller...

Bueller...

[jwblase]

I just got a gig of RAM from OWC, and am having the exact same problem with my B/W G3 400. The old 64s and the 128 I had in there work great, but when I put in all 4 256s they sent me, I get the random hang problem.

I am certain I've narrowed it down to two chips, and am having them throughly tested by a techie friend for RAM glitches. If that's the prob, I'll replace them. If not, then I dont know what to do...

I am in the same boat, and have not found an app that will test the motherboard hardware and ram slots to tell you where the problem is. The best I've found so far is Techtool 3, which will only tell you that there's a RAM problem, but not which DIMM is causing it.

JB

[PixelPete17]

Thanks for your post.

I can't tell you how BAD OWC has been in their customer service department. I'm doing tons of legwork and researching to troubleshoot this thing...and it ALL points to bad RAM once again from OWC. And now they AGAIN want me to send the DIMM in first so they can then test it, then test their replacement chip before shipping it, and mail that THIRD chip to me after all of this nonsense. They've already admitted though that they don't have any diagnostic testing equipment...they just stick a RAM chip into a close approximation of the computer the client has (in their warehouse) and see if it works in that machine for a little while. What a near-pointless test. Computers differ, RAM combinations differ, and some RAM addresses aren't even accessed unless a program like Photoshop is clogging every address of RAM with some information.

I left a message again today with the manager of customer service (or is it tech support - her name is Jennifer), and will wait for her callback and proposed solution in getting me a replacement DIMM asap.

I hope your situation gets resolved, and post here if you would if you find anything out that's potentially usefull.

My best to your situation,

PixelPete

[Adham]

I just posted a thread of my own on this very topic - bought a 512MB chip for my 12" PB, and have been experiencing random quits that point to faulty memory. I also checked it out with the Hardware Test CD, which reports back that things are okay. Worst of all perhaps, I also bought the chip from OWC!! Haven't started the process of trying to get the chip replaced yet though; wanted to see if there were any alternatives to Apple's Hardware Test that could diagnose faulty RAM.

Adham