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Blencathra · May 24, 2003, 05:42 PM

The story so far...

PowerBook Ti, running 10.2.1 - fine

Upgraded 10.2.2, .3 & .4 - fine

Upgraded 10.2.5 & .6 - problems (as many others have reported).

Software Restore back to 10.2.1 - doesn't fix kernel panic problem.

Erase disc, repair with DiskWarrior reload 10.2.1 - same problems - fuzzy screen, kernal panics, restart needed.

Wonder if it's hardware - run hardware test CD, no probs. Also run hardware test on DiskWarrior - all ok.

Erase and reinstall again (ok this is getting tedious now!) including updates to 10.2.4 (previously ok). Still freezing - sometimes during startup, sometimes after logging back in, sometimes just when it's been runnung for a while.

So can anybody shed any light on this - is it software or should I call Apple for a warranty repair?

Thanks in advance for your help.

alien · May 24, 2003, 05:55 PM

Did you take a look at the kernel panic logs? (Apple System Profiler). Sometimes they can give a hint.

Is it bad RAM? Try taking out any extra memory chip you've added.

Any external devices connected? Does it matter whether these are connected or not?

Blencathra · May 24, 2003, 06:14 PM

Doesn't seem to matter whether anything is attached or not.

The Apple hardware test CD checks the RAM and says it's ok (it has been installed since December and has always been ok.

Can only find a 'directoryservice.error.log' in the console, which doesn't give much meaningful info.

Spheric Harlot · May 25, 2003, 09:00 AM

Originally posted by Blencathra:
The Apple hardware test CD checks the RAM and says it's ok (it has been installed since December and has always been ok.

To repeat: Try removing any extra RAM and see if the problem persists.

Regardless of what the CD says.

-s*

Blencathra · May 25, 2003, 09:34 AM

Removed additional RAM and problem is still there.

I also ran fsck -y and this did some repairs, then restarted and crashed. Ran it again and same happens.

chabig · May 25, 2003, 10:01 AM

Erase disc, repair with DiskWarrior reload 10.2.1

This doesn't make sense. If you erase the disk it doesn't need Diskwarrior. Which leads me to think that maybe you didn't quite do it right. Try this:

1. Backup your data
2. Boot from the 10.2 CD
3. Run Disk Utility from the File menu
4. Reformat the drive
5. Install 10.2
6. Run the 10.2.6 combo updater
7. Restore your data

Chris

Spheric Harlot · May 25, 2003, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by Blencathra:
Removed additional RAM and problem is still there.

I also ran fsck -y and this did some repairs, then restarted and crashed. Ran it again and same happens.

If you restarted after it said "file system was modified", you're not helping.

You need to repeat fsck -y until it tells you that the volume "[...]" appears to be okay.

-s*

mike one · May 25, 2003, 02:45 PM

sounds similar, but not nearly as bad as the motherboard that $hit the bed in my ibook600.......
could be a bad mobo....

Blencathra · May 25, 2003, 04:55 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies,

I have again erased the disc and reinstalled 10.2.1 from the original PowerBook CD and repaired disk permissions

Still doing exactly the same, so I can only assume it is hardware related, unless anybody has any other inspiration?

Toyin · May 25, 2003, 09:58 PM

I'm assuming that when you say you erased the drive, you've zeroed the drive? If not zero the drive. I believe there's an option button when you choose to erase a drive.

Use your restore software CD and then use the 10.2.6 combo update.

Shaddim · May 25, 2003, 10:26 PM

Sounds like a bad logic board, or more precisely, a bad video controller. You'll have to send it in and get it replaced. Sorry.

Brass · May 25, 2003, 10:33 PM

You still haven't said what's in the kernel panic logs (not the console logs... that's different).

Blencathra · May 26, 2003, 01:13 PM

Ok, this is really stupid - I thought Kernel Panic Logs were found in the HD-Library-Logs. The only folder in my logs folder is DirectoryService.

Have I got it wrong, or is something missing?

chabig · May 26, 2003, 03:47 PM

You are right. The log should be in /Library/Logs/ however I have had panics where there was no log. Apparently, the computer crashed so hard it couldn't write the log.

Chris

lookmark · May 26, 2003, 08:03 PM

Ugh. Sure sounds like a hardware issue to me.

If this is under warranty, I'd back up, call Apple and have them figure this one out.

sniffer · May 27, 2003, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by Toyin:
I'm assuming that when you say you erased the drive, you've zeroed the drive? If not zero the drive. I believe there's an option button when you choose to erase a drive.

Use your restore software CD and then use the 10.2.6 combo update.

Perhaps someone can verfy this, but if you zero your drive it will update/reset your "firmware" (what's the name of it again, I always forgets..

) on the PB. So I agree to Toyin approach.

Appleman · May 27, 2003, 04:35 AM

Originally posted by sniffer:
Perhaps someone can verfy this, but if you zero your drive it will update/reset your "firmware" (what's the name of it again, I always forgets.. ) on the PB. So I agree to Toyin approach.

Incorrect. Zero data will not do anything to your firmware. Zero data is on your harddisk, firmware not.

Sounds like hardware problem. Once my logic board of my TiBook was dead. Apple Test CD found everything great, beautiful and ok.
Apple replaced the logic board

sniffer · May 27, 2003, 04:46 AM

Originally posted by Appleman:
Incorrect.

I dunno. I am just refering from what Apple tech told me to do when I got some wierd problems when I first got my iBook. I got kernal panics more and more often until I couldn't boot it. It got so bad at the end that I couldn't try out the suggestion about zeroing the drive, so I had to send it in. The Apple hardware check cd didn't find any problems either in my case. No one here at MacNN forums had similar experience it seemed. To bad Apple never tells what they've repaired. But at least the problem was gone when I got it back.

Perhaps the right word for what I was thinking about was "Open Firmware"?? Crap. The name never sticks with me. Sorry..

Appleman · May 27, 2003, 04:51 AM

Originally posted by sniffer:
The name never sticks with me.

Who the hell was Korsakov again

sniffer · May 27, 2003, 06:16 AM

Originally posted by Appleman:
Who the hell was Korsakov again

Sounds like someone from eastern Europe.

Toyin · May 28, 2003, 01:07 AM

Zeroing the drive doesn't reset the firmware. A quick erase of the hardrive doesn't really erase the disk. I agree that this sounds more like a hardware problem, but most of computer problems are software related. That's why I suggested zeroing the drive and trying a fresh install before sending your computer away for (possibly) weeks.

Blencathra · Jun 3, 2003, 03:46 PM

An update....

Rang Apple UK support, they said it was hardware related. I was told to expect upto 2 week turnaround. Computer was picked up in the UK last Thursday, arrived in Germany on Friday, was repaired, tested and dispatched Friday and was delivered back to me in the UK Monday morning.

How's that for service!

I am seriously impressed with Apple's warranty service - so far the machine works perfectly and it came back without any scratches or other damage to it (as you would expect). They even cleaned the case and screen for me.

Thanks to you all for your replies.

One very happy PowerBook owner.