Sawtooth G4 hard crashes on 10.3.8

T

trex

Registered
Hello all,

I'm running 10.3.8 on a Sawtooth G4 with a Sonnect 1.2 Ghz upgrade card.

I also replaced the original AGP ATI card with a Nvidia GeForce2 32MB Vram. And I have a Rage ATI card in one of the PCI cards for dual monitor support.

I also have an Audiowerk2 card installed in another PCI slot.

I started having occasional hard crashes on 10.3.8. So I did a clean install of the OS on another partition. Just recently I had a hard crash with the clean system. No Kernel Panic messages appeared - the system just froze up. I rebooted and took a look at the system log. This is the system log right before the crash

Mar 2 16:18:14 localhost ntpdate[232]: step time server 17.254.0.31 offset 0.182985 sec
Mar 2 16:18:14 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting printing services
Mar 2 16:18:14 localhost ntpd[261]: ntpd 4.1.1@1.786 Fri Sep 12 18:30:03 PDT 2003 (1)
Mar 2 16:18:14 localhost ntpd[261]: precision = 6 usec
Mar 2 16:18:14 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting network file system
Mar 2 16:18:15 localhost automount[288]: automount version 57
Mar 2 16:18:15 localhost automount[291]: automount version 57
Mar 2 16:18:15 localhost ConsoleMessage: Loading IP Firewall extension
Mar 2 16:18:16 localhost kernel: IP packet filtering initialized, divert enabled, rule-based forwarding enabled, default to accept, logging disabled
Mar 2 16:18:16 localhost kernel: IPv6 packet filtering initialized, default to accept, logging disabled
Mar 2 16:18:16 localhost kernel: IP firewall loaded
Mar 2 16:18:16 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting internet services
Mar 2 16:18:16 localhost xinetd[303]: xinetd Version 2.3.11 started with libwrap options compiled in.
Mar 2 16:18:16 localhost xinetd[303]: Started working: 4 available services
Mar 2 16:19:23 localhost diskarbitrationd[92]: disk0s5 hfs F8A59EC3-80DA-323D-ABC9-C2E6A41E1383 MacOSX /
Mar 2 16:19:23 localhost diskarbitrationd[92]: disk0s3 hfs A6A3F782-95A1-35AB-9732-B52EF2D64AC5 Storage1 /Volumes/Storage1
Mar 2 16:21:41 localhost diskarbitrationd[92]: disk1s9 hfs C1A687A7-3F94-3C2C-9C7A-01B976CB4156 Storage2 /Volumes/Storage2
Mar 2 16:21:41 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting Apple File Service
Mar 2 16:21:42 localhost syslogd: /dev/console: Input/output error
Mar 2 16:21:42 localhost init: kernel security level changed from 0 to 1
Mar 2 16:21:42 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting Apache web server
Mar 2 16:21:42 localhost /usr/sbin/AppleFileServer: Sent launch request message to DirectoryService mach_init port
Mar 2 16:21:42 localhost DirectoryService[339]: Launched version 1.8.2 (v257.1)
Mar 2 16:21:43 localhost /usr/sbin/httpd: Sent launch request message to DirectoryService mach_init port
Mar 2 16:21:46 localhost automount[291]: logout notification received.
Mar 2 16:21:46 localhost automount[291]: requesting logout processing.
Mar 2 16:21:46 localhost automount[288]: logout notification received.
Mar 2 16:21:46 localhost automount[288]: requesting logout processing.
Mar 2 16:21:46 localhost automount[291]: handle_deferred_requests: user logged out.
Mar 2 16:21:46 localhost automount[288]: handle_deferred_requests: user logged out.
Mar 2 16:29:34 localhost mach_init[2]: Server 0 in bootstrap d03 uid 0: "/usr/libexec/fix_prebinding": exited with non-zero status 1 [pid 393]
Mar 2 16:30:11 localhost loginwindow[333]: halting


Is there anyway to check my hardware to make sure memory chips or other devices are working properly? I open my Mac up and re-seated all the pci cards and checked the memory chip slots. I also checked the hard drive connections

Any suggestions appreciated
 
I had another hard crash today. I booted up the system and left it at the login prompt for about 30 minutes. When I tried to login the system was frozen. I checked the console and system log and found nothing that can track down the crash.

here's system.log right before the crash.

Mar 5 11:52:09 localhost ntpd[295]: ntpd 4.1.1@1.786 Fri Sep 12 18:30:03 PDT 2003 (1)
Mar 5 11:52:09 localhost ntpd[295]: precision = 6 usec
Mar 5 11:52:09 localhost /usr/sbin/AppleFileServer: Sent launch request message to DirectoryService mach_init port
Mar 5 11:52:09 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting printing services
Mar 5 11:52:10 localhost set-hostname[309]: setting hostname to sonic.local
Mar 5 11:52:10 localhost automount[324]: automount version 57
Mar 5 11:52:10 localhost ConsoleMessage: Loading IP Firewall extension
Mar 5 11:52:11 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting Apache web server
Mar 5 11:52:11 localhost kernel: IP packet filtering initialized, divert enabled, rule-based forwarding enabled, default to accept, logging disabled
Mar 5 11:52:11 localhost kernel: IPv6 packet filtering initialized, default to accept, logging disabled
Mar 5 11:52:11 localhost kernel: IP firewall loaded
Mar 5 11:52:11 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting internet services
Mar 5 11:52:11 localhost xinetd[342]: xinetd Version 2.3.11 started with libwrap options compiled in.
Mar 5 11:52:11 localhost xinetd[342]: Started working: 4 available services

I'm thinking this is a problem with 10.3.8 - I never had any problems like this with earlier 10.3.x releases. Any info is greatly appreciated
 
One other think to note. I'm using a Western Digital Drive which is not the original drive that came with my G4. Could that be the source of the problem?
 
You know, I'm not a big fan of these 3rd party processor upgrades. I heard of people having serious problems with them. However, happening all of a sudden is a wacky story. I don't know. What i would do: Start swapping parts for their originals until you get a stable machine. I'm convinced its hardware.
 
Yes I think it is hardware. I ran TechTool Pro on the system and it found no problems with the hardware.

but it is mostly likely a hardware issue of some kind.

I'm hoping it's one of the Video cards. I guess I'll have to start swapping out hardware.
 
here's a kernel panic message from today. I pulled all firewire and usb devices. I'm going to pull all third party RAM now....

Tue Mar 8 11:52:51 2005




Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x300 - Data access DAR=0x00000000FFFFF64C PC=0x000000000029C10C
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x26671000)
PC=0x0029C10C; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0xFFFFF64C; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x0028DF58; R1=0x138ABBC0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x02894FD8 0x0027C364 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
backtrace continues...
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x26671000)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Exception state (sv=0x3742D280)
PC=0x900074C8; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x015BA000; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x90007018; R1=0xBFFFE960; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 7.8.0:
Wed Dec 22 14:26:17 PST 2004; root:xnu/xnu-517.11.1.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC


panic(cpu 0): copyin/out has no recovery point
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000835F8 0x00083ADC 0x0001EDA4 0x00090BD8 0x00093FCC
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x26671000)
PC=0x0029C10C; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0xFFFFF64C; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x0028DF58; R1=0x138ABBC0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x02894FD8 0x0027C364 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000
backtrace continues...
Exception state (sv=0x3742D280)
PC=0x900074C8; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x015BA000; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x90007018; R1=0xBFFFE960; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 7.8.0:
Wed Dec 22 14:26:17 PST 2004; root:xnu/xnu-517.11.1.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC
 
Ok,

I pulled the upgraded Nvidia card from the G4 and installed the Original ATI Rage AGP card. I also pulled (2) 128 MB DIMM Memory chips from the system. I left the 64 MB factory chip in and a 512 MB 3rd party DIMM. Well my system didn't crash for a day. Then today is crashed about 5 minutes after login.

Now I really can't get rid of the last 3rd party DIMM chip. If I did I would have only 64 MB of Memory to run OS X? So I'm going to get rid of the the default 64 MB and leave the 512MB chip. Probably not the best thing to do but I'm desperate and slowly but surely going insane... here's to insanity.

So if I continue to crash after that I will remove the PCI ATI card and also reinstall the original 400 Mhz processor. Of course I won't be able to do this until I move from SF to NY - which I'll be doing in 2 days.

oh well ... thanks for listening

I found another user who had a similar system and problem as mine. here's the url:

http://www.macworld.com/forums/ubbt...220545&page=17&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

I'm starting to think this is a problem with Panther and not my hardware...
 
well I'm back to the original configuration for my Sawtooth with the exception of a 3rd party 512 MB DIMM.

so I'm poking along at 400 Mhz and with the lame ass ATI Rage video card with 16 MB of VRAM.

this system is so slow now that I experience extreme physical pain just trying to get anything done on it. apps take forever to launch, takes forever to boot up... takes an eternity when logging out with 'user switching', basically hell on earth.....

oh well... hopefully it won't crash... if it does I'm throwing it out the window and I will film it as it smashes into many pieces....

pray with me that it doesn't crash....

I'd like to thank enforce1 for being the only one who has replied to this thread. I have felt less lonely because of you...

well I'll have another report soon... hopefully with good news!
 
if it still crashes, pull your 512 ram and put the 2 128s back in, this way you can test the 512 ram and still have enouph to run 10.3
 
Trex, what software are you running? I just had a problem resolved by turning off Norton Antivirus AutoProtect. Quite some time ago I also had freezes and the "gray screen of death" ("You need to restart your computer…") which were due to a corrupt printer driver. Have you tried to do a 'safe reboot' by holding down the Shift key? You probably have, I'm not that savvy. It disables third party software similar to on OS9. I have a Sonnet 1.4G G4 card in my old G4/400 and Sonnet have software on their site to 'tune' it to avoid any conflicts. Check this link:
http://www.sonnettech.com/news/macosx_update.html
Good luck, and before throwing out your computer, look down on the street to make sure no one is passing by.
 
well if it does crash I'll swap in the 128 DIMM's.

it's been 6 hours without a crash. I'm on my ibook now and I'm monitoring the Sawtooth box with ssh and VNC...

I don't run Norton Antivirus so that can't be it. It's a clean install - I don't have any kind of 3rd party software running and just the monitor, keyboard and mouse are plugged in.

I haven't tried safe mode yet for a prolonged period of time. I will if the system crashes again.

Sonnet doesn't have any upgrades for my card... I already checked...

well I'll post tomorrow and hopefully the system will not have crashed.

if it turns out to be the processor that is causing the problems, then I hope my warranty is still good... hmmm.....

thanks for the tips...
 
Trex, I just thought of something else. How much free HD space do you have on the boot volume? You need at least as much free space as the amount of physical RAM you have installed. I had weird things happening to my machine some time after upgrading the RAM to 640Mb. It turned out to be insufficient space on the HD. I installed a second drive, shifted apps and docs to it, reformatted the old drive and re-installed a clean system. Good as gold. Again, you have most likely already ruled that out.
 
Frida said:
Trex, I just thought of something else. How much free HD space do you have on the boot volume? You need at least as much free space as the amount of physical RAM you have installed.
Click to expand...

I have 20 GB's of free space on the startup disk. so that's plenty.

system hasn't crashed yet.. hopefully I've isolated the problem to the Sonnet processor card.

we'll see.....
 
well it was the Sonnet Encore card that was causing the crashes... It was the last piece of hardware that I swapped out...

I haven't crashed OS X since removing the Encore card (I've been running the system pretty much non stop for 5 days).

Sonnet's support site states that any PCI cards (any kind of PCI card - especially video cards) should be updated to their latest firmare. Sometimes other PCI cards can cause conflicts with Upgrade cards... hmmmm.... I'm going to double check that my ATI Rage PCI card is updated.

Nonetheless I think the Encore card just went haywire. My system was very very stable up until about 5 weeks ago. and I didn't add any kind of hardware or software and I was running 10.3.8 for about 3 weeks without any problems.

I contacted Sonnet and I'm waiting to hear back from them. Hopefully the process of replacing the processor will go smothly.

thanks again to all for their suggestions
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top