kernel panic. please help me!

Whitsr · #1 April 5th, 2008, 03:25 PM

I have a powerbook g4 1.5 ghz. and having been getting consistant kernel panics this past weekend. I've already repaired disk utitlities and permissions... booted into safe mode.. checked my ram. I can't notice a certain time these are happening but I always get the message that mac osx has quit unexpectedly. Pleaseeee help me. I'm scared to reinstall mac osx because i'm afraid something will go wrong... if that is the route i have to take do i also have to reinstall all my other programs?

macworks · #2 April 5th, 2008, 03:33 PM

Yikes!

Have you tried replacing the RAM? Do you have two RAM chips in there? If so, are they both recognized by System Profiler?

What operating system are you running? Are you fully up-to-date with Apple Software Update?

What other devices are connected to your computer, printers, firewire, bluetooth, etc?

Whitsr · #3 April 5th, 2008, 04:46 PM

I didn't try replacing the RAM, but i did check and both ram is recognized I have a total of 1.5 gigs. Two chips total. I'm fully up-to-date with apple software.. The only thing I have connected externally which was first connected a long time ago was a hp printer... bluetooth, yes, but i never use it.. i do have an external harddrive also (lacie). I am OSX tiger. I also ran something "Rember" it's suppose to check my Ram and the test passed.

macworks · #4 April 5th, 2008, 10:59 PM

K. Well, try running for a while without the Lacie and makes sure you have the latest software for the HP. HP's software on the Mac sucks, so you might also try running without the printer connected for a bit and see if you notice a difference.

Have you booted from your Hardware Test (included with your Mac)? Do that when you don't need the computer for a couple hours and run the EXTENDED test.

And note that just because a hardware test passed doesn't mean that the hardware is good. I've seen this a number of times.

Also, if you can use Carbon Copy Cloner (3.1 is best), you could make a solid backup of your internal HD, then try doing a reinstall of Mac OS X.

Whitsr · #5 April 6th, 2008, 12:37 AM

Okay, thank you so much for the quick replies.

Whitsr · #6 April 7th, 2008, 10:57 PM

I ended up reinstalling osx... Everything was fine for awhile... and then I had a single kernel panic today (which is much less than i have been having) but my computer has froze a few times.. once everything has froze and again once when i could move my mouse but click on nothing.. Any other suggestions..?

macworks · #7 April 8th, 2008, 01:55 AM

Have you run the extended hardware test?

Whitsr · #8 April 8th, 2008, 10:31 AM

Doesn't the hardware test automatically run when you reinstall osx? I just assumed it did...