G4 Applications not responding/hanging

S

SmoothWaterMan

Registered
I browsed through the topics but didn't see anything specific to this, and I'm in dire need to fix it.

I have a G4 which just recently started slowing down dramatically, and as of this morning will not open simple applications like a browser (firefox, Safari) or email (Entourage). The first sign of trouble a few days ago was attempting to open an xls. file, and it would hang terribly attempting to open.

Unit:
CPU : PPC G4 (2.9)
Model : PowerMac 3,3
CPU : 400 mhz
L2 Cache : 1 MB
Memory : 704 MB
Bus speed : 100 mhz

System is on a 1 1/2 yr old HD, in a partitioned volume of 45 GB, with 25 GB available.
Other partitions on same HD are 21 GB and 10 GB.
Original HD has 3.85 GB available on a 19 GB disk.

System is OSX 10.4.7, which I updated from 10.3 in an attempt to resolve the slow down issues.

I have started the computer from the OSX disk and run disk repair, and everything checks out fine with no repairs.
I have run fsck -y on a friends reccomendation with the same results.

What's the next step? Do I archive the existing system and reinstall OSX? Would this be a hard drive or a software issue? Booting in safe mode doesn't seem to help.

Thanks in advance!!!
Peter
 
Have you tried repairing disk permissions using disk utility on your OS X disk or just repair disk? You could also try deleting the cache folder in Library.

Mac HD/Library/Caches
 
If I didn't know better, I'd swear that a program was running the background that was taking up all the memory. As far as I can tell there is none.
 
Have you opened up Activity Monitor during slow times to see if something is dominating the CPU or taking up loads of RAM?
 
Lol....slow times, that's constant now. Spotlight is basically dead, for example. What would explain that? It opens, you can enter text, but does not search.

Where is the activity monitor? I have not used it.
 
Activity Monitor is located in /Applications/Utilities. You can sort the columns by CPU usage or memory usage for optimal observation. Let me know what you find out.

Also, you might need to use a stronger repair utility on your hard drive like Alsoft's Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro. Make sure you're using the latest version of each. DO NOT use Norton Disk Utility! If you have used Norton DU, you might have created file system damage that will have to be cleaned up with DW or TTP.
 
man this is terrible

i'm having similar problems

first i noticed a couple widgets looked like they weren't functioning
then i opened mail and it closed itself
next i tried to open dashboard and it crashes (or does nothing)
now safari is totally dead

i've now done the activity monitor and it won't come up and i deleted the cache file

any other ideas, if i can't get this fixed i'm actually gonna have to do some work
 
Now there's the coolest window I've seen yet. Turns out a "fax server", "fax assistant", and other fax items had been initiated somehow, and completely maxed out the cpu around 94% system use. With that off, system cpu use dropped to 4%. Spotlight works again. :) :) Browsers work, websites load, applications run. Amazing. Thanks Chrisopher!
 
disk utility seems to have an issue with my mac too
"invalid extent entry"??? what's that? "volume needs repair" why is this giving me flashbacks to the "blue screen" days?
 
It's a CD or DVD that came with your computer. It depends on the model you have, but it might be contained on the software restore disks that came with the computer. If you find the disks, the one with the hardware test on it should say something about it on the printed side of the disk.

To use it, insert the disk then reboot the computer with the OPTION key held down. You'll be presented with the various disks/partitions that you could boot from. There should be one for the hardware test that shows up. Note that will take the computer up to a full minute before it will let you select one and continue (this is normal). Once you've booted into the hardware test, chose the "Extended Test" and see what happens.
 
ok i did that twice and got an error

Error Code
mem_/2/5 DIMM1/J12
mem_/2/3 DIMM1/J12 <<<the second run and now same on thrid

apparently some kind of memory error?

suggestions?
 
Take any added memory out of the machine and run it again.

Looks like you may have a bad memory stick.
 
hmmm thats odd

ok i took out the ram and ran the extended scan again

no errors

BUT

when i turn on mail/dashboard etc they still "unexpectedly close"
thanks for your help...i'm lost
 
i then ran disk utility and got errors on "verify disk" and got the message "the volume macintosh HD needs to be repaired" which sounds to me like a "bad" thing
 
It's likely that the RAM has caused some file system or preference damage. It would be ideal if you could secure a copy of the most recent Disk Warrior and repair any damage to your drive.

You could also try removing preferences for Mail and Dashboard, but with Mail, you may loose your account(s).
 
Did you Repair the Disk?

No need to use the Verify button, just use the Repair Disk button. You have to be booted off the OS X disc to do this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top