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DVD Player Crashes SR MB (4GB RAM)

Same exact problem here, macbook 2.2 with 4 gigs of ram.

would this be a reasonable basis to have my macbook replaced with a new one? I bought the macbook because of the software. I like DVD player, the interface, features...everything. If i can't use it, then whats the freaking point?
 
gothamm said:
Same exact problem here, macbook 2.2 with 4 gigs of ram.

would this be a reasonable basis to have my macbook replaced with a new one? I bought the macbook because of the software. I like DVD player, the interface, features...everything. If i can't use it, then whats the freaking point?
Click to expand...

There's probably not much point.

It's just a bug with either Mac OS X, the computer models (firmware) or DVD Player.

Apple can only fix it be releasing a software update.

If Apple accepts your computer back, the problem will likely happen again. I'd only consider doing it if there was something else wrong with the computer as well (potentially quite small).
 
Daveoc64 said:
There's probably not much point.

It's just a bug with either Mac OS X, the computer models (firmware) or DVD Player.

Apple can only fix it be releasing a software update.

If Apple accepts your computer back, the problem will likely happen again. I'd only consider doing it if there was something else wrong with the computer as well (potentially quite small).
Click to expand...

true. I am hoping that the penryn macbooks won't have this issue. plus, it would give me a good excuse to upgrade to a mbp.
 
Fix?

I applied the firmware upgrades from Apple and have tried inserting a DVD again with automatic selection of DVD Player turned off, then turned on DVD player, and then ejected the DVD and tried again with DVD Player autostart turned on. Both times, no sign of a kernel panic. I had been running my machine since yesterday (since the application of upgrades through software update), though I hadn't really pushed it with loads of applications. I didn't download the updates individually, I used software update, though it said that it was downloading the firmware update for MacBook Air. Has anyone else tried this, and tried putting a serious load on their machine? I have a 2.2GHz MacBook with 4GB RAM.
 
oceanic said:
I applied the firmware upgrades from Apple and have tried inserting a DVD again with automatic selection of DVD Player turned off, then turned on DVD player, and then ejected the DVD and tried again with DVD Player autostart turned on. Both times, no sign of a kernel panic. I had been running my machine since yesterday (since the application of upgrades through software update), though I hadn't really pushed it with loads of applications. I didn't download the updates individually, I used software update, though it said that it was downloading the firmware update for MacBook Air. Has anyone else tried this, and tried putting a serious load on their machine? I have a 2.2GHz MacBook with 4GB RAM.
Click to expand...
The key thing with this issue is that it will only happen when you have 4GB of RAM in your computer AND you have less than 2GB of RAM marked as "Free" in Activity Monitor.

Mine just did another when I had 1.6GB of RAM free in Activity Monitor.
 
I had mine in to Apple for diagnostic testing and they were able to duplicate it both on my system and with my Macbook hooked up to their diagnostic testing system..

They wanted me to leave it with them for further testing because they feel it's hardware related.. The last thing I want is my computer tied up again since I got it back from a logicboard replacement less than a week before I brought it in for this..

Basically they said they want to try it with 2 "known good" 2GB sticks of RAM.. Not sure why I'd have to leave it for that- get me the RAM and I'll crash it in a minute- but whatever.. I'm sorry to say it but I've lost faith as a result of all of these hardware issues.. It seems crazy because I was always the person that would help people make the switch when they finally grew tired of Windows, but now I'm considering alternatives for Apple.. I hate to even think like that but I really can't deal with this any longer.. I just don't have the time or energy for it..
 
jemeinc said:
I had mine in to Apple for diagnostic testing and they were able to duplicate it both on my system and with my Macbook hooked up to their diagnostic testing system..

They wanted me to leave it with them for further testing because they feel it's hardware related.. The last thing I want is my computer tied up again since I got it back from a logicboard replacement less than a week before I brought it in for this..

Basically they said they want to try it with 2 "known good" 2GB sticks of RAM.. Not sure why I'd have to leave it for that- get me the RAM and I'll crash it in a minute- but whatever.. I'm sorry to say it but I've lost faith as a result of all of these hardware issues.. It seems crazy because I was always the person that would help people make the switch when they finally grew tired of Windows, but now I'm considering alternatives for Apple.. I hate to even think like that but I really can't deal with this any longer.. I just don't have the time or energy for it..
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They will find that the computer will still crash, obviously. I wonder what they'll do next though. I mean, isn't it bad practice to give the system back to you in a non-working condition? If Apple knows about this issue, would it not be resolved in a later OS distribution?

It's not like it's a terribly difficult issue to resolve. I wonder the system level from which this issue stems. OS? Logic Board (northbridge, etc...)? It really is a "good" thing for Apple that 4GB RAM isn't all that common, especially in the MacBook. It's really bad for us though, because the less people complaining and submitting error reports, the lower on the priority list it goes. Not only that, but generally MacBooks aren't viewed as DVD-watching machines, what with the 13" screen and all.

I'm waiting for 10.5.3 to come out... hopefully during the summer when the MacBook isn't in dire need. If it isn't resolved, I'm going to send it in to them to replace my extremely uneven backlight, and "try" to resolve this issue, which it obviously won't be. Unfortunately, the lack of an Apple store around here makes it that much more difficult to have the computer looked at.

Good luck to everyone.
 
jemeinc said:
I had mine in to Apple for diagnostic testing and they were able to duplicate it both on my system and with my Macbook hooked up to their diagnostic testing system..

They wanted me to leave it with them for further testing because they feel it's hardware related.. The last thing I want is my computer tied up again since I got it back from a logicboard replacement less than a week before I brought it in for this..

Basically they said they want to try it with 2 "known good" 2GB sticks of RAM.. Not sure why I'd have to leave it for that- get me the RAM and I'll crash it in a minute- but whatever.. I'm sorry to say it but I've lost faith as a result of all of these hardware issues.. It seems crazy because I was always the person that would help people make the switch when they finally grew tired of Windows, but now I'm considering alternatives for Apple.. I hate to even think like that but I really can't deal with this any longer.. I just don't have the time or energy for it..
Click to expand...

What I don't get is that they said that this was a known issue already and that they were working on fixing it. That was a long time ago.
 
Well in a way I'm both sad and glad to see this thread - this happened to me a couple of times yesterday on my macbook and I finally got around to checking what could have been the issue.

Glad it is a known problem and not just me, sad it hasn't been fixed yet...
 
It's not true that it only happens with less than 2gb RAM free. Once I had 2.5gb free and it crashed.
 
Gotcha, it will almost certainly crash if you're using over 2gb, but sometimes if you're using less.
 
I also have a 2.2 SR Blackbook with 4gb installed. I got the kernel panic today for the umpteenth time, and restarted. I inserted a DVD and nothing. It wouldn't play or it wouldn't eject, made some weird noises, and the fan went nuts. I shut down, and tried to restart, and got the blue screen. No sounds, no apple logo, or the winding gear, just a light blue screen. I Called Applecare and was told to start the Macbook with the clickpad pressed, and the DVD will eject. No go. I made an appointment, and went to see a Mac Genius. After 30 minutes I was told the Logic Board and Optical Drive needed to be replaced. One in stock, one had to be ordered. I am sure it is not going to fix the DVD problem, I just want my Mac up and running again.
 
Add me to the list. 2.2 Santa rosa 4 gigs of ram.
Nothing else to do but wait for the fix to arrive..

I use VLC but sometimes forget and do things like use front row to play video_ts files..:( also previewing a burn in toast causes it.

just an annoyance really. I keep sending error reports in the hope that it will speed things along.:eek:
 
My 2.2 SR Blackbook 4gb ram, bought 11/07, was doing the same thing. I went to Apple, they replaced my Optical drive. The same day I had the same problem. I went back to Apple, showed them the log, showed them the link on their own Apple site that I am not nuts and this is happening to others with 4gb and 2.2 SR. The Genius went to the manager and came back with these options.

#1 replace it with a new Macbook
#2 Full credit towards a Macbook Pro

I went with a new Macbook Pro., 2.4, 2 GB ram which will be replaced with my own 4gb, 200GB Hd, and its own Graphics card Nvidia 8600 with 256mb. I cannot be happier.

Go Apple, You ROCK
 
There's no way I'd be able to get a MBP from Apple.

They really need to fix this problem.

People shouldn't have to play Russian Roulette with their apps if they put a DVD in.
 
Daveoc64 said:
There's no way I'd be able to get a MBP from Apple.

They really need to fix this problem.

People shouldn't have to play Russian Roulette with their apps if they put a DVD in.
Click to expand...


I understand they need to fix this problem, but, mine was also a Nov. 07 Macbook, and they were more than happy to work with me.
 
jca488 said:
i am confused
are you guys saying that apple is giving out MCP to nov macbook owners because of this DVD issue?
Click to expand...

No, they are not giving out MBP's. For me they offered a new Macbook, or I could upgrade to the MBP for the price difference. So basically they gave me $1499 credit toward the $1999 MBP. I also use the DVD drive daily for my work, so getting the Kernel Panics and losing data when I had to constantly restart made the Macbook unusable for me. Thus the offer for the MPB upgrade.
 
I'm getting this problem too, and as my right wrist rest just cracked off yesterday, I will be visiting the Apple store in Regent Street as hopefully they should put a new chassis top on.

I want to be able to reproduce the DVD problem quickly and easily in the Store.

Can anyone tell me the best/quickest way to get my RAM low enough to make it come up? (I have a SR MB 4GB) Any other steps required to make it reliably reproducible?

To be honest, I'm kinda thinking of waiting till new MBs come out in maybe June in the hope that maybe they will offer me a cheap upgrade (no I don't want a MBP).
 
RedTomato said:
I'm getting this problem too, and as my right wrist rest just cracked off yesterday, I will be visiting the Apple store in Regent Street as hopefully they should put a new chassis top on.

I want to be able to reproduce the DVD problem quickly and easily in the Store.

Can anyone tell me the best/quickest way to get my RAM low enough to make it come up? (I have a SR MB 4GB) Any other steps required to make it reliably reproducible?

To be honest, I'm kinda thinking of waiting till new MBs come out in maybe June in the hope that maybe they will offer me a cheap upgrade (no I don't want a MBP).
Click to expand...

Mine is currently in the apple store getting the screen repaired + lots of other things and they said they will probably replace the dvd drive for me as well. I just copied the crash logs to the desktop so I could show them the error reports of it happening, also did this because I totally wipe my machine before sending it to keep my data away from prying eyes.
 
xUKHCx said:
Mine is currently in the apple store getting the screen repaired + lots of other things and they said they will probably replace the dvd drive for me as well. I just copied the crash logs to the desktop so I could show them the error reports of it happening, also did this because I totally wipe my machine before sending it to keep my data away from prying eyes.
Click to expand...

Good idea with the crash logs. I'd still like a quick way of reproducing the crash, just to have that as backup.
 
Bobioden, if you're still checking this thread, which Apple retail store did you go to? I had no luck with Aly at the Burlingame, California store. He and another Genius had "never heard of this problem". I even printed out all 17 pages from the Apple Forum thread and 10 pages from this MR thread. They still weren't convinced, and offered to charge me to take it for a few days and run some tests! I declined. What a circus! I'll just have to go down to 3GB RAM until Apple figures this out.:mad:
 
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