Here's a tricky one:
Just bought a 2006 MacBook Pro
2.16GHz, 2GB Ram, 120 GB HD (hard drive will be updated as soon as I solve this problem)
It came with an openly disclosed problem: a consistent "USB Over Current" error message popping onto screen. (yes, I've read relevant threads and tried resetting PRAM, etc, as did the guy from whom I purchased it). The guy from whom I purchased it was told by a friend in IT that it needs a new USB hub (and that might be correct).
According to the guy and from what I've so far experienced, the USB drives function -- the only problem is the error message. I have to mention that these error messages occur without anything connected externally.
I used the system disks to perform a hardware test, and also to re-install Tiger (a downgrade from Leopard).
FIRST CLUE -- the Hardware Test
When I perform the "Apple Hardware Test" (version 3A107) the short version shows "no errors" but the extended version gets stuck on "testing memory" (according to the progress bar)
The screen bounces (shimmies) but I believe the error code is:
0x80000009
And:
"ERROR: 0x80000009 requested size: 0xaf
and then another with 0xa4
and another with 0xa4 again
HOWEVER, when the test concludes (in a length of time much greater than its 10-minute estimate), the official word is that there is no hardware problem. (The two RAM modules are the ones specified, and resetting them and removing one did not alleviate the problem).
SECOND CLUE -- Almost no Problem in Tiger
The interesting thing is that with Tiger installed, I got the USB Over Current warning only upon the initial boot. I thought I had just about cured the problem.
THIRD CLUE -- Re-installing Leopard
I took my commercial copy of Leopard and reinstalled. It was interesting that according to what I was seeing onscreen, the installation stalled with 7 minutes to go. But when I rebooted from the start-up disk -- there was Leopard. (Could it have been only partially installed?)
Unfortunately, I didn't see how the computer was running before updating to 10.5.8.
FOURTH CLUE -- Software Updates
The "USB Over Current Warning" now come in cascades of five. And the barrages are frequent. Again, however, they don't seem to do anything except block screen view.
I'm wondering if something in the updates has exacerbated the problem? Here are the updates:
"Pages Update" (2.0.1v2)
"Keynote Update" (3.0.1v2)
"QuickTime" (7.6.9)
"GarageBand Update" (3.0.2)
"iDVD Update" (6.0.4)
"iWeb Update" (1.1.1)
"iTunes" (10.2)
"iMovie HD Combo Update" (6.0.2)
"iPhoto Update" (6.0.4)
"Mac OS X Update Combined" (10.5.8)
Okay, that's the relevant info. I would gladly replace the USB hub, if there's a video that shows how and I know what part to purchase.
Otherwise, what would you do?
Thanks to all who've taken time to analyze this situation.
Kind regards,
Terry D
Just bought a 2006 MacBook Pro
2.16GHz, 2GB Ram, 120 GB HD (hard drive will be updated as soon as I solve this problem)
It came with an openly disclosed problem: a consistent "USB Over Current" error message popping onto screen. (yes, I've read relevant threads and tried resetting PRAM, etc, as did the guy from whom I purchased it). The guy from whom I purchased it was told by a friend in IT that it needs a new USB hub (and that might be correct).
According to the guy and from what I've so far experienced, the USB drives function -- the only problem is the error message. I have to mention that these error messages occur without anything connected externally.
I used the system disks to perform a hardware test, and also to re-install Tiger (a downgrade from Leopard).
FIRST CLUE -- the Hardware Test
When I perform the "Apple Hardware Test" (version 3A107) the short version shows "no errors" but the extended version gets stuck on "testing memory" (according to the progress bar)
The screen bounces (shimmies) but I believe the error code is:
0x80000009
And:
"ERROR: 0x80000009 requested size: 0xaf
and then another with 0xa4
and another with 0xa4 again
HOWEVER, when the test concludes (in a length of time much greater than its 10-minute estimate), the official word is that there is no hardware problem. (The two RAM modules are the ones specified, and resetting them and removing one did not alleviate the problem).
SECOND CLUE -- Almost no Problem in Tiger
The interesting thing is that with Tiger installed, I got the USB Over Current warning only upon the initial boot. I thought I had just about cured the problem.
THIRD CLUE -- Re-installing Leopard
I took my commercial copy of Leopard and reinstalled. It was interesting that according to what I was seeing onscreen, the installation stalled with 7 minutes to go. But when I rebooted from the start-up disk -- there was Leopard. (Could it have been only partially installed?)
Unfortunately, I didn't see how the computer was running before updating to 10.5.8.
FOURTH CLUE -- Software Updates
The "USB Over Current Warning" now come in cascades of five. And the barrages are frequent. Again, however, they don't seem to do anything except block screen view.
I'm wondering if something in the updates has exacerbated the problem? Here are the updates:
"Pages Update" (2.0.1v2)
"Keynote Update" (3.0.1v2)
"QuickTime" (7.6.9)
"GarageBand Update" (3.0.2)
"iDVD Update" (6.0.4)
"iWeb Update" (1.1.1)
"iTunes" (10.2)
"iMovie HD Combo Update" (6.0.2)
"iPhoto Update" (6.0.4)
"Mac OS X Update Combined" (10.5.8)
Okay, that's the relevant info. I would gladly replace the USB hub, if there's a video that shows how and I know what part to purchase.
Otherwise, what would you do?
Thanks to all who've taken time to analyze this situation.
Kind regards,
Terry D