powerbook G4 keeps freezing!

[discoforce]

thanks. it is still under the 1 year warranty. maybe i will take the ram out, even though it just passed the Memtest. it seems like if it passes all of these tests, then it must be the logic board. if take the ram out, and then the problems goes away, it's like i can't put any ram in that slot, and i paid for 2 slots

As others have said, the ram can STILL be the problem even if it passed the Memtest. Sure, it COULD be the logic board but you can't tell unless you remove the ram.

I don't understand your point that if you take the ram out and your computer stops freezing that means you can only use one slot.

If I were you (and I've had to do this myself), I'd try several ram configurations (1G only, 1G + 512MB, 512MB only...) placing them in both the upper and lower ram slots.

You might find:
a) that the Corsair ram is the problem - if so, call Fry's and get your $ back
b) that the older 1G ram you added is the problem - if so, call whomever and get your money back
c) that one of your ram slots no longer works no matter what ram you put into it - if so, put in your original ram configuration (512mb?) and take it to the Apple Store, probably for a logic board replacement.

In every one of those possible outcomes, you'll get a working computer with 2 Gigs of ram. Right now you have a non-working computer with 2 Gigs of ram. What's to lose?

 

[twoodcc]

As others have said, the ram can STILL be the problem even if it passed the Memtest. Sure, it COULD be the logic board but you can't tell unless you remove the ram.

I don't understand your point that if you take the ram out and your computer stops freezing that means you can only use one slot.

If I were you (and I've had to do this myself), I'd try several ram configurations (1G only, 1G + 512MB, 512MB only...) placing them in both the upper and lower ram slots.

You might find:
a) that the Corsair ram is the problem - if so, call Fry's and get your $ back
b) that the older 1G ram you added is the problem - if so, call whomever and get your money back
c) that one of your ram slots no longer works no matter what ram you put into it - if so, put in your original ram configuration (512mb?) and take it to the Apple Store, probably for a logic board replacement.

In every one of those possible outcomes, you'll get a working computer with 2 Gigs of ram. Right now you have a non-working computer with 2 Gigs of ram. What's to lose?

you do have a point. i guess i'll try it

Thanks, i'll post back with results

 

[twoodcc]

well i switched the last stick of ram that i had put in with the one that came with the laptop.

so now, what tests should i do to see if it's gonna crash?

before it didn't crash that often, just about every 2-3 days or so (of uptime)

any suggestions?

 

[discoforce]

well i switched the last stick of ram that i had put in with the one that came with the laptop.

so now, what tests should i do to see if it's gonna crash?

before it didn't crash that often, just about every 2-3 days or so (of uptime)

any suggestions?

I don't know of any tests you can try other than the ones that have already been recommended in this thread. From your original post it sounds like it would crash when you were using it heavily, so I'd start turning everything on and watch what it does.

 

[twoodcc]

I don't know of any tests you can try other than the ones that have already been recommended in this thread. From your original post it sounds like it would crash when you were using it heavily, so I'd start turning everything on and watch what it does.

alright, i'll try everything. i'll post back later i guess

 

[twoodcc]

after looking under system profiler, i see that for the apple stick of ram, it says SODIMM1/J23REVERSED

what does that mean? is reversed bad?

the other stick of ram says SODIMM0/J20STANDARD

 

[CanadaRAM]

after looking under system profiler, i see that for the apple stick of ram, it says SODIMM1/J23REVERSED

what does that mean? is reversed bad?

the other stick of ram says SODIMM0/J20STANDARD

That is standard. If you noticed when you installed the RAM, one module went label-side down and the other was label side up - that's all reversed and standard mean.

 

[Heb1228]

thanks for letting me know that, but i still wouldn't feel right just throwing away a gig of ram. if it passes the tests, i think it should work, and if it doesn't, then there's something wrong with my laptop.

I've told you like three times above that the memory i had passed the exact same test and was still bad. I really don't understand why you're having a hard time grasping that fact.

Has it crashed with just the original RAM in it yet? You said it would crash approx. every 2-3 days, so I'd say if you make it 4 or 5 days with no problems, you should be pretty satisfied bad memory really is the problem.

 

[twoodcc]

That is standard. If you noticed when you installed the RAM, one module went label-side down and the other was label side up - that's all reversed and standard mean.

oh ok, thanks i was just checking to make sure

 

[twoodcc]

I've told you like three times above that the memory i had passed the exact same test and was still bad. I really don't understand why you're having a hard time grasping that fact.

Has it crashed with just the original RAM in it yet? You said it would crash approx. every 2-3 days, so I'd say if you make it 4 or 5 days with no problems, you should be pretty satisfied bad memory really is the problem.

the reason is b/c i paid over $100 for that ram, and i want to get my money's worth.

it's still going so far with 1.5 gigs now. but only 23 hours uptime right now

 

[twoodcc]

well it's still going at just over 2 days now. now if it goes well over 3 days with no freezing, then i'll be convinced. if it freezes at 10 days, i think i'll take it in to the apple store

 

[discoforce]

well it's still going at just over 2 days now. now if it goes well over 3 days with no freezing, then i'll be convinced. if it freezes at 10 days, i think i'll take it in to the apple store

Great! And if it continues not to freeze, get your $$$ back on that ram and buy some that has a guarantee.

 

[twoodcc]

Great! And if it continues not to freeze, get your $$$ back on that ram and buy some that has a guarantee.

i'll try to get my money back if it doesn't freeze again. i've had the ram for a few months though

 

[Heb1228]

the reason is b/c i paid over $100 for that ram, and i want to get my money's worth.

Thats like driving around on a flat tire just because you 'want your moneys' worth. If its not working, then give it up!

 

[Tomaz]

Had the same problem

I had the same problem as you. My powerbook worked fine for 2 years, the suddenly random crashes. I reinstalled the system, still crashes. I wanted to uprade my RAM anyway (2x512 --> 1x512, 1x1GB), so I bought a 1GB RAM and replaced one of my 512MB RAMs, still crashes, I then put that 512MB RAMs back into the PB and replaced the other 512MB RAM, and suddenly no more crashes.

So, before you do anything else (like reinstalling the system), check your RAM.
I sure you can solve the problem like this. Good luck!!

 

[javajawa]

My Fix

I had the same thing happening on and off for no apparent reason as well. It was suggested that it might be the seating of the RAM. So, I simply shut down and removed and reinstalled the RAM. Sure enough, I haven't had a single freeze since. Granted it's only been about a week, but it's the longest I've gone in quite a while without a freeze. Something to try...

 

[twoodcc]

I had the same thing happening on and off for no apparent reason as well. It was suggested that it might be the seating of the RAM. So, I simply shut down and removed and reinstalled the RAM. Sure enough, I haven't had a single freeze since. Granted it's only been about a week, but it's the longest I've gone in quite a while without a freeze. Something to try...

thanks. sorry i didn't update this post.

i've just kept the 512 in there, and i haven't had a crash yet. over 7 days uptime right now. it could have been the seeding of it though.

after i get done with school this semester, i might try to put the 1 gb stick back in

 

[crowalita]

My mac freezes too.

Hi everyone. I have had my mac for about two years now. I had problems with it my first year, but when I took it to the repair store they said that the only problem was loose RAM and they fixed it within days. After that, all was fine, but now it freezes for no reason. I have discovered that I can trick my PB by:
1) Unplugging the charger. It will still freeze after a couple of hours but it does it less often.
2) Tilting the PB (front up, back on the desk) for a couple of seconds -- it stops "thinking" when I do that.
I think that part of the problem is iTunes because the PB freezes more often when I am using iTunes. I know this are just temporary fixes for the big problem, and for all I know, I might be making the problem worst, but I haven’t install any new RAM and last time my RAM was loose it didn’t freeze, it would just make a weird beeping noise. Could the problem be iTunes or a virus??

 

[IJ Reilly]

It's not iTunes, and not a virus. If the problem was RAM before, it's likely to be RAM again. The vast majority of kernel panics (aka, freezes) are related to hardware problems, and most of them are RAM. You're probably seeing it more often with iTunes because it's got a large RAM footprint. Another memory-hog application would probably have the same effect. I'd suggest you remove that RAM and run the Mac without for awhile. Also, if you've experienced several kernel panics you need to run fsck to check for and repair hard drive problems.