Window animation and random lockups 10.3.9

[mark_a_loper]

If this has been answered, feel free to point me to the proper thread, I couldn't find it.

I have an 2YO eMac with 1GRAM running OSX at version 10.3.9. Everything was running fine, until I updated to 10.3.8. Then I got strange random lockups. Sometimes with iTunes, then with quicktime, then firefox, then finder etc. I couldn't figure out a pattern, but it is pretty consistent with window animation. to the Dock, from the Dock, Open file, print, anything that causes the animation routine to run. This is a solid lockup, sometimes the mouse still moves around, but usually it just stuck. I didn't worry much, as I was hoping 10.3.9 would make it better, but I think it's worse.

Last night, I removed all my periferials (HDs, printers, iPod), and still had the same problem. It took me 5 restarts to attach a file to gmail.

I have not run the disk utility yet, nor have I run the permissions utility. (I've set up shared iTunes, and iPhoto libraries which I did at the Unix level, I couldn't figure out if permissions was going to mess that up.)

On some other sites, they have pointed out that the Combo update doesn't have this problem, and that I should backup, wipe clean, and reinstall the original OSX. Then get the combo-update. I've done the backup, but I'm not thrilled about starting from scratch. You guys usually have better advice, and thus I ask. What should I do?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[mark_a_loper]

Still doing research, found this link, I hope this isn't my problem. I already have one of the new lap-tops, but I was hoping the emac would run for a couple more years. Anyway, interesting capacitor problem.

http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/emac/topic4116.html

 

[eric2006]

You may want to see if you qualify for this program:
http://www.apple.com/support/emac/repairextensionprogram/

The symptoms in the program are different than what you describe, but you could be in early stages. I'd advise a re-install to isolate this as a hardware issue.

 

[mark_a_loper]

Thanks, I actually found the same program soon after my last posting yesterday. Checked my SN#, and sure enough, I'm in the range. I'm actually going to drop it off tonight at the MAC store, and hope for the best. I'll post up the results here when I get it back.

 

[Mikuro]

If you want to go the Combo updater route, it might be worth running it on top of your current system. That can sometimes fix problems caused by the delta or Software Update updaters (or so I've heard).