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trebblekicked

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 30, 2002
896
4
Chicago, IL, USA
I've got a random old problem with an original iMac 233. If the machine runs Mail.app, Software Update, or tries to repair permissions, it crashes in a bizzarre way. The machine and display go to an unwakeable sleep, and the power button (keyboard or monitor) won't do anything.

Here's what i've done so far:
1. tried to verify/repair permissions. causes crash.
2. started up in single user, ran fsck -y. Says the volume is fine.
3. tried to archive/install Jag again, but the iMac's internal CD-ROM is broken, and i can't get the machine to boot from the USB CD-R drive that it uses. (i don't think you can boot from USB on these machines, right?)
4. delted a recomended preference file from the Mail program.

what else do you think i could do? is there a way to run disk utility or re-install across the network? the iMac is harwired into our LAN, which has a couple of healthy macs on it. i'm not afraid to go into root, single user or terminal with proper guidance. anyone feel like taking this on?
 
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