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ambush · Jan 21, 2003, 07:06 PM

Hi

First off, I have to say that I've had this type of crashes since OS 10.1 and today I've had 3 (THREEEEEEE) of them in a ROW. They require a FORCED REBOOT.

So I'm basically working on my computer ( surfing the net, nothing too "Hardcore" for my g3 600 w/384 MB ram ) and then the interface stops responding ( can't click ANYTHING) There is NO BEACHBALL, no nothing. I can move the mouse around but that's all. The mouse warps a bit... and I can't do nothing.... the UI just doesnt repond.. and all the tasks are frozen...

This **** is sooo annoying.
Can anyone help me?

someone_else · Jan 21, 2003, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by ambush:
Hi

First off, I have to say that I've had this type of crashes since OS 10.1 and today I've had 3 (THREEEEEEE) of them in a ROW. They require a FORCED REBOOT.

So I'm basically working on my computer ( surfing the net, nothing too "Hardcore" for my g3 600 w/384 MB ram ) and then the interface stops responding ( can't click ANYTHING) There is NO BEACHBALL, no nothing. I can move the mouse around but that's all. The mouse warps a bit... and I can't do nothing.... the UI just doesnt repond.. and all the tasks are frozen...

This **** is sooo annoying.
Can anyone help me?

I know this is a cliche answer, but it really sounds like you have some bad hardware. If the system is not freezing (ie a kernel panic), maybe it's your graphics card? The first thing I would do is open the computer (after powering it off of course) and make sure all of the memory and AGP/PCI cards are connected tightly. It may be that something has jarred loose and your problems are the result of a bad connection. Otherwise, take it into the shop and have someone look over the hardware.

People are very quick to blame software for these weird unexplained freezes. This may have been true on 9, but with X it is most likely bad hardware.

ambush · Jan 21, 2003, 07:22 PM

Originally posted by someone_else:
I know this is a cliche answer, but it really sounds like you have some bad hardware. If the system is not freezing (ie a kernel panic), maybe it's your graphics card? The first thing I would do is open the computer (after powering it off of course) and make sure all of the memory and AGP/PCI cards are connected tightly. It may be that something has jarred loose and your problems are the result of a bad connection. Otherwise, take it into the shop and have someone look over the hardware.

People are very quick to blame software for these weird unexplained freezes. This may have been true on 9, but with X it is most likely bad hardware.

Well I could end up doing that.. but I'm just waiting to see what other people will reply..

cpac · Jan 21, 2003, 09:33 PM

hp drivers? (and not 10.2.3?)

Spliff · Jan 21, 2003, 09:34 PM

Did you have any disk images mounted at the time? Or was AppleTalk enabled?

sniffer · Jan 21, 2003, 10:08 PM

Sounds like GUI crash to me. Such things have happend to me several times, but not regular.
The system might perhaps be reachable by some command line stuff if you are in a network.
While searching for possible hardware or software conflicts, I suggest you to enable journaling in the mean time. It protects your system some against corruption on your hd while hard re-boots.

Start:

Code:
sudo diskutil enableJournal /

Stopp:

Code:
sudo diskutil disableJournal /

Big Mac · Jan 22, 2003, 01:33 AM

This definitely shouldn't be happening. I've never experienced this with any of the OS X boxes of used/administered. Since you state that you experienced similar freezes under 10.1, it may indeed be a hardware issue. You may wish to verify your memory makes it through the paces -- it has been said OS X is much more sensitive to RAM malfunctions.

wataru · Jan 22, 2003, 02:09 AM

Both my girlfriend and I have gotten similar crashes, almost always immediately after disconnecting from a Remote Desktop control or observe session.

ambush · Jan 22, 2003, 05:47 AM

Originally posted by cpac:
hp drivers? (and not 10.2.3?)

No drivers, no appletalk.

It used to happen on my G4 400 *too*.

resImadA · Jan 22, 2003, 06:22 AM

If you have universal access enabled, try pressing option 5 times next time it happens.

Back when I used to use it, occasionally the mouse would stop being able to click, but the 'mouse keys' would still work and be able to interact with the UI. Pressing option 5 times turned off the keys and fixed the problem.

tonyibook · Jan 22, 2003, 06:48 AM

My iMac occasionally freezes which I have now decided is due to my internal CD-RW drive. The freezes only occur when a CD is in the drive, ussually whilst playing Wipeout 2097 or Alice.

When your Mac freezes trying pressing the power button for a second and see if it eventually goes to sleep. Then you might be able to wake it up and carry on.

sniffer · Jan 22, 2003, 12:19 PM

I managed to provoke a system freeze to day. I have seen the same thing before in my current 10.2.3 setup.
What I do is to use my iBook on and off the power cord, using sleep mode and ppp (analog dial up) a lot.The iBook isn't connected any special external devices.
What happens is after I wake it up from sleep, the trackpad acts a bit strange. I can move the pointer around, but it moves faster, slides, and gets to sensitive. The keyboards' special keys like e.g. volume and eject stops reacting.
It's very annoying. Other than that the system runs, but freezes instantly if I tries to enter the trackpad settings in System Preferences. Background apps keeps running in the background for a while, but I can't do nothing without any user access.

I believe the problem can be software related, and might be related to wake up from sleep.

Luckily I don't think hard boot give the system much pain, I hope, because I have activated journaling. But the situation nags me a bit.
X seem to be at its most stable in version 10.0.x, but terrible slow thought. 10.2.3 seems stable, but it need some core bug fixes I believe.

STH · Jan 22, 2003, 12:37 PM

I can reproduce those crashes easily on a Powerbook G4/867. All I need to do is to put it to sleep, unplug the power cord and wake it up again. The trackpad will be jumpy and the computer will definitely crash when accessing the mouse preferences.

I guess I will have to get used to not unplug the power cord while the Powerbook is sleeping...

sniffer · Jan 22, 2003, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by STH:
I can reproduce those crashes easily on a Powerbook G4/867. All I need to do is to put it to sleep, unplug the power cord and wake it up again. The trackpad will be jumpy and the computer will definitely crash when accessing the mouse preferences.

I guess I will have to get used to not unplug the power cord while the Powerbook is sleeping...

You hit the head on the nail. I think we are in the same boat, bro. Thanks!

STH · Jan 22, 2003, 01:23 PM

I'm glad others are having the same problem - first I thought it was a hardware defect... Now I can hope for 10.2.4

ambush · Jan 22, 2003, 06:01 PM

"[...] it doesn't crash [...]"

please, let me roll my eyes.