kernel panics and other such fun

A

a2knee

Registered
Help,
First I apologize if I am in the wrong forum. I will also apologize for not searching first for the answer to my questions - not sure where the search function is. Hard to focus when my beloved mac is having troubles.

I have a Ti g4/667 power book with 512 mb ram. Running 10.4.x

Have never had any troubles until a week ago.
My very first kernel panic (had to search the apple site to even figure out what it was). Since then I have had several 'panics' and complete operating system freezes.

I have repaired disk permissions.
I have done safe boots.
I have discovered OnyX and have ran this.
I have checked the memory in the system profiler and it appears ok.
I have shut down and made sure everything that can unseat itself is seated tightly.

It happens at no regular interval.
It happens with several apps open or only 1
It happens with no regard to power supply (using battery or being plugged in).

I have backed as much as I can up to an external HD.

I was (and still am) hoping to wait until an intellmac for a new laptop, am I doomed?

I am considering an archive and install of Tiger - but not sure what that will solve.

Help!
 
Sorry to hear this - as you say... all 'good fun' :rolleyes:
FYI - I have a Dual 800 G4 with a similar challenge. I know that that problem is; the firewire connectors on the MB are broken somehow - it panics the OS occasionally... So I'm gonna take a stab and say it's hardware - but do you're best to check the install first... Oh. Get your data off soonish JIC.

Anyways... Primary: any software changes in the near past (prior to the panics?). If so remove them...
Repair permissions - good
Safe boots - for fsck I assume? Or other stuff?
Onyx - OK, as you wish.
Check RAM through System Profiler - no good. Use the Hardware test CD from Apple, that will actually run various tests through the RAM as opposed to merely telling you what you have.
Two RAM chips installed? If so take one out if you can. One may be giving you a challenge. Swop 'em around - see what happens...
Failing that have a peek at Techtool Pro. I does some pretty extensive hardware and OS structure tests - it may well through up a challenge.

ATB.
 
Clivey said:
Sorry to hear this - as you say... all 'good fun' :rolleyes:
FYI - I have a Dual 800 G4 with a similar challenge. I know that that problem is; the firewire connectors on the MB are broken somehow - it panics the OS occasionally... So I'm gonna take a stab and say it's hardware - but do you're best to check the install first... Oh. Get your data off soonish JIC.

Anyways... Primary: any software changes in the near past (prior to the panics?). If so remove them...
Repair permissions - good
Safe boots - for fsck I assume? Or other stuff?
Onyx - OK, as you wish.
Check RAM through System Profiler - no good. Use the Hardware test CD from Apple, that will actually run various tests through the RAM as opposed to merely telling you what you have.
Two RAM chips installed? If so take one out if you can. One may be giving you a challenge. Swop 'em around - see what happens...
Failing that have a peek at Techtool Pro. I does some pretty extensive hardware and OS structure tests - it may well through up a challenge.

ATB.
Click to expand...

Good ideas all. I put in the Tiger DVD and tried to boot up from that and run some utilities, but it just mounted on my desk top. The Hardware test you speak of, where on the DVD is it and can it run the tests if not booted from it? (I hope that makes sense).

I do have two memory chips installed, and I have thought about removing one to see what would happen - but does memory just go bad? If so, why am I not get panics all the time? So much doesn't make sense! Perhaps that is the real issue - I need to stop attempting to make sense out of it!

Techtool Pro - I have been thinking about investing.....

Thanks
 
Kernel panics are mostly hardware issues (for the most part). If you can launch /Applications/Utilities/Console and look at the system log. You might be have some RAM or something worse failing. Sorry to be a deliver of bad news.
 
Re: the hardware test... is it not marked on the DVD? Disk 1 probably... (To state the obvious hold " c" key after the startup chime). Could always check if the DVD is bootable in System Preferences>Startup Disk.
Removing a RAM chip will not make it 'go bad' - it just may not boot at all (you'll hear solid beeps on startup) - some macs run the RAM in pairs, but not yours I think. <afterthought> if the Mac asks for RAM and that sector is suspect - then the instruction is knackered - and so it'll crash - that's why it's Random access memory :).
Well worth having TechTool around - it's highly rated.
ATB
 
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