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Powerbook Generally dying? (Overall Reliability gone)

lieb39

lieb39

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 17, 2005
284
0
Melbourne, Australia
Hello everyone,

I have a Powerbook G4, the last revision of the Powerbook before the Macbook Pro came out (Higher res screen, dual-layer burner, DDR2 Ram, etc.)

I've had it for about half a year now, haven't formatted it or anything from day one. Now I'm having a few issues with this thing. Appears that the general reliability of the machine is going down, not sure what to do. I haven't done any hardware changes from day one really (Installed 3rd Party RAM from crucial.com, about 4 days after initial purchase) My problems are listed below:

Overall Unstable (Application freezes often)
Complete System freezes (Especially in the morning after just sitting there all night, doing nothing)
Hard disk is fairly loud
Spotlight can take up to 1 minute BEFORE returning results, but it's showing that it's searching
Can not start-up OS X 10.3 installation (I can't boot setup from my DVDs that came with my Powerbook.. it just freezes.)
Passes all hardware test from the included DVD (Extended Test)
Passes Hard drive test from Disk Utility (And ran Permissions)

In Attempts to fix my issues, I've tried the following:

Repair Permissions
Checked the Disk (Pass)
Removed my 3rd Party RAM module, left the default 512 in, issues persisted. Swapped, and ran my 3rd Party 1GB exclusively, issues still persisted.
Tried to re-install OS X (Couldn't boot Setup)

I have no idea what the issue is really. I'm going to take it for service after my exams if issues continue (and most likely will) as I have Applecare still.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

lieb39
 
Resetting the PRAM could be worth a try if you haven't done so already

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

Apple Support said:
The Power Manager is an integrated circuit (computer chip) that is usually on the logic board of the PowerBook and iBook. As the name implies, it is responsible for power management of the computer. It controls backlighting, hard disk spin down, sleep and wake, some charging aspects, trackpad control, and some input/output as it relates to the computer sleeping.

Over time, the settings in the Power Manager may become unusable, which can result in operational anomalies with the computer. Examples include not turning on, not waking from sleep, not charging the battery, or not seeing the AC Adapter, among others.
Click to expand...

Another thing you could try is to re-install the Combo Updater for OSX.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303410

Hope this helps.
 
Regarding ...

... those temporary freezes it really could be a harddisc related problem.

If you have the chance to do a fresh install of OSX, start from the installer disc, choose the disc utility and format your harddrive with the "zero overwrite" option. What could have happened is that your drive has some bad sectors where OSX blatantly put some files onto. Defect sectors are not discovered through writing onto them, but reading the specific harmed sectors. In that case OSX will start to have serious malfunctions/slow downs as you experience them.

The "zero overwrite" option for formatting does take quite some time (around 2 hours), but what happens is, that each sector is formatted and immediately read check is done to garantee that it is not damaged.

It´s not uncommon thate even factory fresh harddrive might experience bad sectors - the dead pixels of harddrives, so to speak - so at any occation you want to do a fresh install on any computer, choose the "zero overwrite" option. Because then, if disc utility find a bad sector, it maps them for future reference in the harddrives database, so that the system won´t write any files onto them. They are kind of nihilated from usage.

Try it.
 
giffut,

I've used the 'Erase' function of the #1 Install disk utility to remove an older OS version but, I have never seen the zero overwrite option that you speek of. Can you be more specific?:)
 
As I said before, the Installation can't even start.

Here is the biggest issue, that I thought was related to a application (Shakespeer, a DC++ Client) but it when the application wasn't open.

When I leave my computer on for a while the entire system goes into the weirdest state. Basically, all applications that are open such as iTunes and whatnot, I can use without issues. The entire system freezes than when I try to either open a new application or attempt to click the Apple logo on the menu bar. The mouse can be moved, but no other input (clicks, typing) work, and I am forced to do a hard- reset.

Anyone have any idea? This is the weirdest thing...

-lieb39
 
Well, I got this from the console.log file finally right before it does the weird crash thing.. any ideas?

colsole.log:
006-05-26 01:56:51.857 SystemUIServer[232] lang is:en
2006-05-26 01:57:15.792 System Events[285] .scriptSuite warning for attribute 'currentUser' of class 'NSApplication' in suite 'SystemEvents': 'Accounts.User' is not a valid type name.
2006-05-26 01:57:15.820 System Events[285] .scriptSuite warning for to-many relationship 'loginItems' of class 'NSApplication' in suite 'SystemEvents': 'logi' is not the Apple event code of any known scriptable class.
2006-05-26 01:57:15.820 System Events[285] .scriptSuite warning for to-many relationship 'localUsers' of class 'NSApplication' in suite 'SystemEvents': 'uacc' is not the Apple event code of any known scriptable class.

system.log
May 26 01:49:26 0039 kernel[0]: nfs send error 55 for server automount -nsl [148]
May 26 01:49:26 0039 /Applications/Microsoft Office 2004/Microsoft Word: write() failed: No buffer space available
May 26 01:49:26 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:49:57 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:50:28 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:50:59 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:51:30 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:52:01 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:52:32 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:53:03 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:53:34 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:54:05 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:54:36 0039 kernel[0]: nfs server automount -nsl [148]: not responding
May 26 01:55:56 localhost kernel[0]: standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
May 26 01:55:56 localhost memberd[41]: memberd starting up
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: vm_page_bootstrap: 381384 free pages
May 26 01:55:56 localhost mDNSResponder-107.4 (Jan 30 2006 22: 07:48)[34]: starting
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: mig_table_max_displ = 70
May 26 01:55:56 localhost lookupd[44]: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Fri May 26 01:55:56 2006
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: 103 prelinked modules
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
May 26 01:55:56 localhost DirectoryService[52]: Launched version 2.1 (v353.2)
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: using 3932 buffer headers and 3932 cluster IO buffer headers
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: IOPCCard info: Intel PCIC probe: TI 1510 rev 00
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 6a built-in now active, GUID 001451ff fe19b23c; max speed s800.
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: CSRHIDTransitionDriver::probe:
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: CSRHIDTransitionDriver::start before command
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Security auditing service present
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: BSM auditing present
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: disabled
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: A74D6DD0-56F6-3814-BB21-878C802CA031
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/MacRISC2PE/pci@f4000000/AppleMacRiscPCI/ata-6@D/AppleKauaiATA/ATADeviceNub@0/IOATABlockStorageDriver/IOATABlockStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDriver/ST9808211A Media/IOApplePartitionScheme/Untitled 3@3
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk0s3, major 14, minor 2
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: jnl: replay_journal: from: 2890240 to: 1808384 (joffset 0xa701000)
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: CSRHIDTransitionDriver::stop
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: IOBluetoothHCIController::start Idle Timer Stopped
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: HFS: Removed 5 orphaned unlinked files
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Jettisoning kernel linker.
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Resetting IOCatalogue.
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 0
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 1
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 1
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 1
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 1
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 1
May 26 01:55:57 localhost kernel[0]: IPv6 packet filtering initialized, default to accept, logging disabled
May 26 01:55:58 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet: Ethernet address 00:14:51:19:b2:3c
May 26 01:55:58 localhost kernel[0]: AirPortPCI_MM: Ethernet address 00:11:24:c7:d6:04
May 26 01:55:58 localhost diskarbitrationd[40]: disk1s1 hfs 6D867E51-C0E5-36B0-9E91-1D419BFDBD49 EXTERNAL 2 [not mounted]
May 26 01:55:58 localhost diskarbitrationd[40]: disk0s3 hfs A74D6DD0-56F6-3814-BB21-878C802CA031 INTERNAL /
May 26 01:55:59 localhost launchd: Server 3907 in bootstrap 1103 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd"[44]: exited abnormally: Hangup
May 26 01:56:00 localhost kernel[0]: [HCIController][setupHardware] AFH Is Supported
May 26 01:56:01 localhost kernel[0]: ATY,Jasper_A: vram [b8000000:08000000]
May 26 01:56:02 localhost kernel[0]: ATY,Jasper_B: vram [b8000000:08000000]
May 26 01:56:02 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet::monitorLinkStatus - Link is up at 100 Mbps - Full Duplex
May 26 01:56:02 localhost lookupd[71]: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Fri May 26 01:56:02 2006
May 26 01:56:02 localhost mDNSResponder: Adding browse domain local.
May 26 01:56:02 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow: Login Window Application Started
May 26 01:56:02 0039 configd[38]: setting hostname to "0039.local"
May 26 01:56:03 0039 loginwindow[72]: Login Window Started Security Agent
aped[57]: Not affecting system service user (uid 92). This is just an informative message. It is not causing your problem.
May 26 01:56:05 0039 diskarbitrationd[40]: disk2s1 msdos 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 EXTERNAL [not mounted]
May 26 01:56:06 0039 launchd: Server 0 in bootstrap 1103 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd"[71]: exited abnormally: Hangup
May 26 01:56:06 0039 configd[38]: executing /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/Kicker.bundle/Contents/Resources/enable-network
May 26 01:56:06 0039 configd[38]: posting notification com.apple.system.config.network_change
May 26 01:56:06 0039 lookupd[85]: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Fri May 26 01:56:06 2006
May 26 01:56:06 0039 configd[38]: setting hostname to "dyn-172-19-194-153.mrs.monash.edu.au"
May 26 01:56:07 0039 crashdump[125]: PrismStarterD crashed
May 26 01:56:07 0039 crashdump[125]: crash report written to: /Library/Logs/CrashReporter/PrismStarterD.crash.log
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: tun: ready for operation.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: tap: ready for operation.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : attempting to attach to all available ethernet interfaces.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: tap0
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : no, not yet attached to interface: tap0
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : interface: tap0, filter attached.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : current MTU for tap0 is 1500, saving it.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en1
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : no, not yet attached to interface: en1
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : interface: en1, filter attached.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : current MTU for en1 is 1500, saving it.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : checking if we are already attached to interface: en0
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : no, not yet attached to interface: en0
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : interface: en0, filter attached.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : current MTU for en0 is 1500, saving it.
May 26 01:56:09 0039 kernel[0]: CiscoVPN : loading cisco ipsec kernel module.
May 26 01:56:10 0039 ntpdate[97]: no server suitable for synchronization found
May 26 01:56:10 0039 configd[38]: target=enable-network: disabled
aped[57]: Not affecting super-user process mcxd[78]. This is just an informative message. It is not causing your problem.
May 26 01:56:43 0039 diskarbitrationd[40]: SystemUIServer [232]:24579 not responding.
May 26 01:56:45 0039 kernel[0]: jnl: replay_journal: from: 9416192 to: 9499136 (joffset 0x381000)
May 26 01:56:45 0039 KernelEventAgent[33]: tid 00000000 received unknown event (12)
May 26 01:56:45 0039 KernelEventAgent[33]: tid 00000000 type 'hfs', mounted on '/Volumes/EXTERNAL 2 2', from '/dev/disk1s1', low disk
May 26 01:56:45 0039 diskarbitrationd[40]: disk1s1 hfs 6D867E51-C0E5-36B0-9E91-1D419BFDBD49 EXTERNAL 2 /Volumes/EXTERNAL 2 2
May 26 01:56:50 0039 KernelEventAgent[33]: tid 00000000 type 'hfs', mounted on '/Volumes/EXTERNAL 2 2', from '/dev/disk1s1', low disk
May 26 01:56:50 0039 diskarbitrationd[40]: disk2s1 msdos 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 EXTERNAL /Volumes/EXTERNAL
aped[57]: Not affecting super-user process RsyncX[288]. This is just an informative message. It is not causing your problem.
Click to expand...

-lieb39
 
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