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macfreshman · 03:23 PM

Just noticed this afternoon that since installing the 10.3.4 update my Rev A 17inch PowerBook has been having the fan come on way more than normal. I checked my activity monitor and it is maxed out ALL the time. Before it would drop down and fluctuate, but now the user (green) part fills it up to the max constantly. The activity monitor looks like I am running VPC all the time. (but I'm not...)

I tried changing the energy settings from automatic to highest to longest battery life and there was no change. Restarted a couple of times and even tried logging in as different users and still no change.

The computer doesn't feel super-slow, but things are a bit longer than what I expect after a fresh restart. The only annoying thing is the fan coming on and off (like the Dell notebooks I had before switching).

I'm gonna call AppleCare sometime this weekend to talk to them, but wanted to check here first...

So, is anyone else experiencing this on their 17incher after the update?

angelmb · May 29, 2004, 04:47 AM

10.4 yet? those previous builds are hot as hell...

Well, not here with 10.3.4 on external firewire hard disk.

Cadaver · May 29, 2004, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by macfreshman:
Just noticed this afternoon that since installing the 10.4 update my Rev A 17inch PowerBook has been having the fan come on way more than normal. I checked my activity monitor and it is maxed out ALL the time. Before it would drop down and fluctuate, but now the user (green) part fills it up to the max constantly. The activity monitor looks like I am running VPC all the time. (but I'm not...)

I tried changing the energy settings from automatic to highest to longest battery life and there was no change. Restarted a couple of times and even tried logging in as different users and still no change.

The computer doesn't feel super-slow, but things are a bit longer than what I expect after a fresh restart. The only annoying thing is the fan coming on and off (like the Dell notebooks I had before switching).

I'm gonna call AppleCare sometime this weekend to talk to them, but wanted to check here first...

So, is anyone else experiencing this on their 17incher after the update?

This is not normal. Sounds like some application is chewing up all your CPU cycles, heating up the processor and making the fan come on.

Open Activity Viewer (or 'top' in the terminal if you're comfortable) and see what process is using all the CPU cycles, then report back.

You can try reinstalling the 10.3.4 combo update and see if this helps, too.

hldan · May 29, 2004, 09:34 AM

Generally with a large update like 10.3.4 it can affect the settings of your notebook dramatically. The best way to get the fans back under control and have the programs running properly without overheating the processor is to reset the PMU. (Power Management Unit). I had to reset the PMU on the last 2 updates that Apple released. My PB's fans were coming on while just surfing the web in reduced processor performance so resetting the PMU fixed it right away.
Here's the link to Apple's websight with the instructions for the iBook's and Aluminum Powerbooks. Hope this helps. Also make sure and repair permissions and if you use the Cocktail program the clean the cache and run the cron scripts.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.h...um=14449#faq10

macfreshman · May 29, 2004, 03:25 PM

lol...it was late last night!

Thanks for the tips - I'll try 'em out and report back.

macfreshman · May 29, 2004, 04:53 PM

Ok, I tried the PMU reset - still no change. The computer is starting to feel slower now....

I've looked in activity monitor and nothing seems to be using the CPU. Here is a screenshot. Note that the Grab program is normally not there but all the other numbers are still in the same range.

I'm downloading the 10.3.4 update now and I'll try reinstalling that. I really hope that works....

rag on a muffin · May 29, 2004, 05:03 PM

the 10.3.4 update just sucks. everyone i know has been having major performance issues with powerbooks, im not sure bout other macs..

The Placid Casual · May 29, 2004, 05:12 PM

Originally posted by macfreshman:
Ok, I tried the PMU reset - still no change. The computer is starting to feel slower now....

I've looked in activity monitor and nothing seems to be using the CPU. Here is a screenshot. Note that the Grab program is normally not there but all the other numbers are still in the same range.

I'm downloading the 10.3.4 update now and I'll try reinstalling that. I really hope that works....

I would open terminal and run the 'top' command, you get much better detail.... might reveal more.

Also, I would be tempted to do an archive install and run the machine in a 'vanilla' state before looking at hardware. Updates can sometimes really chew things in the OS up...

macfreshman · May 29, 2004, 05:29 PM

ahhh, top worked...

i think i've found the culprit

318 PrintJobMg 81.9% 4:51.54 3 25 99 1.06M 1.83M 7.23M 31.2M

It is always between 40-80% of my processor, but i'm not printing anything - even after a fresh restart.

How do i stop it?

macfreshman · May 29, 2004, 05:37 PM

FIXED!!
I just turned on my printer and there was a print job waiting to be printed. It printed and now everything is back to normal. Wow, I can't believe the print survived the reinstall, PMU reset, and about 10 resets...

Anyways, so glad to have it fixed now.

Thanks The Placid Casual, Cadaver, & hldan for all your help!

hldan · May 30, 2004, 12:45 AM

Originally posted by macfreshman:
FIXED!!
I just turned on my printer and there was a print job waiting to be printed. It printed and now everything is back to normal. Wow, I can't believe the print survived the reinstall, PMU reset, and about 10 resets...

Anyways, so glad to have it fixed now.

Thanks The Placid Casual, Cadaver, & hldan for all your help!

No Prob, happy to hear things worked out for you and it was nothing serious. Have fun. If this is worth anything I have had success with the 10.3.4 update. I have really noticed that all my apps open faster. Looks like Apple's processors are faster than most people think. The OS just has to be tweeked for faster performance through these updates.
Have fun.