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OS X keeps crashing on me!(?)

sk3pt1c

sk3pt1c

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 29, 2005
918
6
a simulacrum
right, i've put my powerbook to sleep having both dreamweaver and fireworks cs3 open, as well as my usual apps like safari itunes and mail.
when i opened up the lid to wake it and continue my work i got a message saying that i need to restart my computer.
no key combo worked to get around it and when i did it said that my computer was restarted after OS X quit unexpectedly.
after it happened the first time i verified and repaired permissions and then ran the hardware test using the OS X dvd and everything was fine.
my question is:
WHAT THE FU@K???
 
The two most likely problems are a bad RAM module or a glitch in the PRAM. So, first, flash the PRAM. (I can't tell you how to do this cuz you didn't say what type of PowerBook you have, but you should be able to find it in Apple's support index). If the problems persist, remove any third-party RAM modules you have installed.
 
it's the last revision of the Powerbook, the last before the switch to intel.
the help viewer said to restart and hold command-option-p-r
am doing it now...
i haven't installed any extra or third party ram, it is as it was when i bought it, 2x1gb

ok, done. looks like it works now
thanks a lot

right, it just did it again
i flashed it again but haven't put it to sleep since
i'm scared
this time i didn't have DW or FW open
just the usual simple stuff
i don't get it
i haven't tampered with the ram at all, it is as it was when i got it
flashed the PRAM, ran hardware test, verified and repaired everything
and still it crashes!

any ideas?
i'm actually scared here! :( :confused:
 
When you close your lid, are you verifying that it is properly going to sleep? (you can look in the crack between the top and the bottom and make sure theres no light coming from the screen). Check it, but I doubt that's the problem, given the message you're getting.

Apple's RAM is generally reliable, but I do believe it is possible that one of your RAM modules has gone bad since being installed. I don't suppose you still have AppleCare?
 
well, the thing is i'm in greece and applecare does not apply here, so i didn't buy it when i got the powerbook last year in the uk where i was doing my masters.

i don't really understand what it could be, since the hardware test went fine.

any ideas?

should i try resetting the PMU as well?
 
I'm no expert here - but if you suspect the RAM, the best thing is to try both removing and reseating it, and/or running with just one stick installed - it's very unlikely that both have gone bad for example. (Try both slots too, if that is possible.)
 
i'll do that and reset the PMU as well just to be on the safe side.
(i don't know that it's a RAM issue 100%)
do i just remove the sticks and put them back in?
maybe swap them around?
 
right, i've swapped the RAM sticks around (OMG it was SO easy!),
flashed the PRAM
and i think i've reset the PMU as well.
i'm putting it to sleep now with nothing but :apple: applications running
let's see what happens...

by the way, can you fit a new 2gb ram stick in g4 powerbooks?
if this persists and does turn out to be a RAM issue, i might as well
go get two 2gb sticks and swap my old 2x1gb ones out, get a bit of upgrade going as well.
 
sk3pt1c said:
right, i've swapped the RAM sticks around (OMG it was SO easy!),
flashed the PRAM
and i think i've reset the PMU as well.
i'm putting it to sleep now with nothing but :apple: applications running
let's see what happens...

by the way, can you fit a new 2gb ram stick in g4 powerbooks?
if this persists and does turn out to be a RAM issue, i might as well
go get two 2gb sticks and swap my old 2x1gb ones out, get a bit of upgrade going as well.
Click to expand...

Nope, 2GB is the max for these Powerbooks.
 
Computing 101 - Never trust putting ANY computer to sleep. Yes, I know you are suppose to be able to and some do successfully. But, I have never found this to be reliable; Macs, PCs, Sun, they will all let you down at a critical time. I realize this post does not provide you a solution - sorry about that. :rolleyes:
 
sk3pt1c said:
do i just remove the sticks and put them back in?
maybe swap them around?
Click to expand...

Well, see what happens (simply reseating them may have been enough) - but if you still get the crash after swapping around, then I suggest running with only one installed (try out each slot too), then try with the other RAM stick. This will test both the individual RAM modules and the slots. Just see at which point your system becomes unstable.
(Hopefully just reseating the sticks will have solved your problem.)
 
it looks ok now, but i put it to sleep with no apps running other than the finder and dashboard of course.

is it possible that an app caused this?

itunes and mail are standard, but i've installed some extentions into safari, any chance they might have f*ed things up?

i will try it just with safari open and see what happens...

i understand that sleep may not always work fine, but it's worked like a charm for me for the past year and a half...
 
i still don't get why this happened
the hardware test went fine and that's supposed to check the rams as well,right?
in the end, if all it takes is just reseating the sticks and/or flashing the pram,
that kind of adds to the hassle free problem solution that we know apple for.

time will tell though, i hope that'll be the last of it
 
SMM said:
Computing 101 - Never trust putting ANY computer to sleep. Yes, I know you are suppose to be able to and some do successfully. But, I have never found this to be reliable; Macs, PCs, Sun, they will all let you down at a critical time. I realize this post does not provide you a solution - sorry about that. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
I'm putting my windows-PC to sleep all the time, in factI rarely shut it down :D
And I NEVER, and I repeat NEVER, had any problems with that, even though it's windows:p
 
sk3pt1c said:
i still don't get why this happened
the hardware test went fine and that's supposed to check the rams as well,right?
in the end, if all it takes is just reseating the sticks and/or flashing the pram,
that kind of adds to the hassle free problem solution that we know apple for.

time will tell though, i hope that'll be the last of it
Click to expand...

Even RAM that's been working for years can suddenly go bad. It just happens. The Hardware Test is worth running but it doesn't catch everything, or even very much really.
 
Do you have a USB modem? This is the thing that most often makes mine crash as you describe. Pulling out the modem at the wrong time or closing the lid when it is online sometimes.
 
nah, i connect via airport
it just happened again though
i tried it with different apps open (incrementally) and now that
i had my usual ones open it crashed like the last time...

is it possible for an app to cause this?
if so, i'm leaning towards Adium...
****...

any ideas?

should i just do that hack thingy that makes it go to safe sleep everytime
just to make sure everything's fine?
 
have made it go into safe(or deep) sleep whenever i close the lid and it seems to have worked thus far...
you think i shouldn't have?
 
and yet again, after a temporary fix, the problem re-surfaces... :mad: :(
i've taken one ram stick out, to see if one of them is causing the problem or it's another issue all together, in which case i'll have to take to our local apple store and pay hopefully not a whole heap of money to have it repaired...

anyone here more tech savvy got any suggestions?
 
i've now removed one of the two RAM sticks and am gonna wait a few days and see if the problem creeps up again...
then i'm gonna put the other one in and see what happens...
and then switch positions in case the slot has problems..
is that the best i can do?
 
right, just finished running memtest with both sticks in.
i did it in single user mode, restarted and held :apple: - S
did three passes and came up with no problems
i'm gonna run rember now from within the OS to see what happens...
if these two report no problems, i'm guessing it's not the RAM or what?
can it just be a fluke and not happen ever again?
or something else that causes these kernel panics?
 
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