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i'm actually thinking of going for a clean install, to eliminate a software problem...
i have all the apps i need ready and i'm almost done backing up my files.
any drawbacks with doing that?
i think i'll go for it tomorrow and hopefully all will be well and i will be able to post again tomorrow night (fingers crossed)

Pain in the ass to set everything back to how it was previously. Some backups may be corrupted. Some things may not install.

I'd get a firewire external if I were you...
 
i've got a firewire external but it's in a different format than what can be used and i can't really format it because it's got like 400gb of stuff on it... :)

as far as the re-setting everything back to what it was before, i've got all the apps i need and after that it's a matter of populating my keychain again and downloading all the updates for the OS, which shouldn't take more than a few days...

JJ Reilly, dude, i really respect your opinion and i'm not really sure if i wanna risk an erase and install...
but isn't that the only way to eliminate a software problem?
then again, if it's a hardware problem...
i could end up with a non-usable computer as you previously said
but even if i do an archive and install, won't that still happen if the hardware is faulty?
 
Depends on what you mean by a software problem. If the issue is OS related, then the archive and install method method should take care of it, since it recreates all of your system files but doesn't destroy the old ones, just in case. In short, if you're going to insist on attempting a reinstall (still against my better judgement), then there's far less risk trying this method first.
 
i don't really want to re-install, but it seems that we've run out of options as to what may be causing the kernel panic, and this seems like a last resort to me... is it or is it not? :)
so, say i do an archive and install and there is a hardware problem, will it be able to boot from the old system that it will back up?
if not, it sounds the same as an erase and install, i'd just have to re-install my apps and configure the system all over again, which i don't mind doing if it's gonna help solve this problem and "clean up" my OS and computer a little bit...
i mean,back when i was using a PC, i'd have to format it say once every couple of months cause it'd start crashing for no reason (or for a specific reason, windows :) ). if i have to do the same with my mac but once a year, i can live with it :)
 
I suppose there is some risk in the archive and install method, but certainly less than the erase and install method (which is kind of like shooting yourself out of a cannon and hoping you put the net in the right place). Frankly, probably neither one is going to help you, but that's your choice.

Unlike Windows, OSX should never have to be reinstalled, if you maintain it properly.
 
that's what i thought too, but given also the fact that i now can't minimize any windows, mail is not showing new emails on its dock icon and the trash icon is permanently full (either there's something in it or not),
i'd have to say there's a software problem somewhere... :)
i don't see why an "erase and install" is that risky though, care to elaborate?
i mean, if there's a hardware problem, either method will fail, right?
 
right, just done the clean install and am just about done with all the re-installing
i'll see if it fixed the problem or not
what i do have to say is that there should be no reason to worry about such an operation because it was amazingly fast and easy, i was just sitting there, mouth open, like : that's it?
f***ing rocks!!!
 
everything seems in order, haven't put it to sleep yet cause i've been installing stuff, but one question:
i had two links on my favourites bar on safari, one for posting to delicious and one for seeing my delicious favourites, any idea where i can get them?
thanks

EDIT: got it, ok
 
(crossing my fingers)
all seems fine, so my advice after all this to any with the same problem is this:
run every hardware test you can run, namely:
verify and repair permissions
verify and repair your hard drive
run the Apple Hardware Test
run RAM testing software from within the OS and from single-user mode
test your hard drive from single-user mode
flash your PRAM and your NVRAM
reset your PMU

and if all this fails, back up your files somewhere and do an "erase and install", it's the simplest thing you could ever do.
i hope this will help others with the same issue in the future.
i also hope my advice won't come back to bite me in the a$s if my problem
appears again after a couple of days :D:D:D:D:D
 
:(
i had to open my big mouth...
crashed again...
seriously, i give up
it's passed all hardware tests, i've reinstalled the OS
i don't know what the fu*k it could be...
:confused:
 
I don't know either for certain, but I did say that an erase and install was very unlikely to help, did I not? As suspected, you have a hardware problem of some type. If you want to keep this Mac, you'll need to have it serviced.
 
yeah, looks like i have no other option...
i just don't trust these guys here, they're not officially Apple, just a reseller..
and even if they are authorised to service macs, i've heard the worst about
their service...
so i guess i'll just take it over and not leave it out of my sight while it's being tested/repaired, no other option :D
i'm gonna have to save some money first though cause i'm certain whatever
they do is gonna cost me ****loads!

again, a big thank you to everyone for the advice and support!
 
right, bringing this back cause i've tried something else...
i got Techtool Pro 4 and did a full diagnostic test that took around 10 hours...
at the end of which what i got was a pass in almost everything but it said
that the Finder has some minor discrepancies and to run the test again with "repair on" selected...
after having done that, it looks to be able to sleep and wake properly (so far, again) ...
so if anyone has similar problems to mine, i'd suggest using techtool pro after or before everything else that's been suggested...
thanks again to everyone for their precious opinions!
 
I can't imagine what TechTool could have repaired since you only recently reinstalled OSX, so this is mysterious. I'll be very interested to know if this repair sticks. Keep us posted.
 
all i can say is try everything that's been suggested here and leave the format and re-install for last of course :)

IJ i will keep you posted of course, so far we're going strong...
 
UPDATE: so far so good, after about 5 more sleep/wake cycles, we're going strong...
this would be the point where things would start going wrong again...
so i'm really optimistic now...
maybe techtool pro is as good as it says it is! ;)
 
I don't know either for certain, but I did say that an erase and install was very unlikely to help, did I not? As suspected, you have a hardware problem of some type.


Don't be 'that guy' who craps on someone because you disagree with what you suggested. He did basically everything else you can possibly do before a wipe/reload and didn't mind losing his OS X install. And i'm sorry but 'os x should never have to be reinstalled if you maintain it right' is garbage. I've worked on and supported enough macs, and there are some times that at the very least, an archive/install is in order more often then you seem to think. I love OS X but it is not infallable.
 
Don't be 'that guy' who craps on someone because you disagree with what you suggested. He did basically everything else you can possibly do before a wipe/reload and didn't mind losing his OS X install. And i'm sorry but 'os x should never have to be reinstalled if you maintain it right' is garbage. I've worked on and supported enough macs, and there are some times that at the very least, an archive/install is in order more often then you seem to think. I love OS X but it is not infallable.

Reinstalls are hugely over-prescribed. You are not the only person who can speak from long experience.

As you should see from the thread, I've been working with this guy for months and have suggested a number of possible solutions including an archive and install, if all else fails. It looks like somebody else is jumping in at the end of a long thread and doing some crapping.
 
It looks like somebody else is jumping in at the end of a long thread and doing some crapping.

Great, you're passive aggressive too.

Reinstalls are over prescribed, yes. That doesn't mean it is not a legitimate option when all other feasible alternatives have been tried.
 
my mac pro has been crashing while in the screen saver. it just freezes. any ideas on why? i've got 2GB of ram in it (2.66 quad)

well i ended up reformatting (after backing up, of course). seems better now, but not perfect. i reset the PRAM, and that seemed to help also. i think i just need more RAM
 
Great, you're passive aggressive too.

Reinstalls are over prescribed, yes. That doesn't mean it is not a legitimate option when all other feasible alternatives have been tried.

Great you're a psychologist now too.

Try reading the thread. You can save everybody including yourself some time.
 
can't we all just get along?

guys, what's with the fighting? :)

anyway, it did it again, so i ran the same Finder test again from techtool pro and this time it had no errors... so it looks like we're back to square one as they say...

i'm running out of options again... :)
 
:(
i had to open my big mouth...
crashed again...
seriously, i give up
it's passed all hardware tests, i've reinstalled the OS
i don't know what the fu*k it could be...
:confused:

Hi,
do you use a Logitech mouse with LCC 2.2.2?
If yes it might be the LCC (Logitech Control Center). With me that was the case; I use the VX and as soon as I switched to usb overdrive the crashes stopped. Might be worth a try.

byakuya
 
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