Random Freezes

Sam6

Sam6

Registered
I have been experiencing random freezes for a little while now, but it got to the point where it would freeze every few minutes. And I could not get any work done. The freeze is total: the computer becomes totally unresponsive and I have to hold down the power button to reset.
The freeze seems to come on at the oddest times. Usually while typing or tracking the mouse. And there is nothing processor heavy going on. Mail may be open, Word also, and perhpas a web browser.

Here is what I have done so far. I have reisntalled the OS numerous times. This didn't help. In fact, just after one of these reinstallations, I was updating the OS to 10.4.7 via Software Update and the update failed. This somehow killed one of my RAM sticks. After testing all of the RAM, I am running with one stick less. I thought that this would solve the problem. NO.

After the RAM incident I had to wipe everything and do a full reinstall of everything. This seemed to help. There weren't any freezes for a few hours. I slowly reinstalled everything, and at some point it started again and now I am once again lost.

I can't figure if this is a hardware or software problem. I have run the hardware test multiple times and there is nothing wrong. But I have nt introduced any new software into the mix, except perhaps the latest set of updates via Software Update.

HELP.

__________________
G4 Dual 867Mhz, 1Gig RAM, 2x60Gig HDrives (Mirrored), Running OSX 10.4.7, etc.
 
I started up in Safe Boot and when the computer froze it told me this (the second line was repeated over and over down the screen):

System Failure: cpu=1; code 00000001 (Corrupt stack)
Unresolved kernel trap (cpu 1):0x700 -Program DAR= 0x00000000DFD1C680 PC=0x000000000000229C
 
Run the hardware test CD that came with your Mac. It will most likely find any eventual hardware issues.

It's most likely another bad RAM stick or a defective motherboard or CPU.
 
I have run the test so many times. And it hasn't found anything. I am currently running memtest. we shall see.

I really hope that it isn't the CPU or motherboard. I really like my computer...
 
Okay.
The RAM currently in the machine has passed. Am I looking at CPU and mobo failure here? If so, why can't my Hardware test CD pick it up?
 
That's weird. If I remember correctly, there is a "long" and a "quick" test. Have you tried the long one?

Also, when you reinstalled the OS, did you allow the installer to test the installation media? It does automatically if you don't click "skip".
 
I have run both the long and the quick. Although I only ran the long test once. And I was under the impression that the long test just spent more time on the RAM.

I did "skip" on the last few installations. And unless the media became corrupt, it has always worked fine for me.

A shiny new MacBook might be in my future...
 
Run the Apple Hardware Test test in loop mode - control+L and hten select the extended test.
That will run the test until you stop it, or until it finds an error.
So it's best if you can let it run in looped mode e.g. overnight - if it's a small RAM issue, it will be detected after running the AHT for a lot longer time.
 
Why not completely change the entire RAM (regardless of HD tests)?

If that makes no difference, you'll probably be looking at a motherboard problem, or a new Mac depending on on your size of your wallet.

BTW, is the S.M.A.R.T. status of your HD 'Verified' (in Disc Utility)?
 
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