Ticket Options
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Applications Crash When Not Connected to Power Supply
boylanjp - May 11, 2005 - 7:35 am
When my G4 power book is not connected to the power supply, applications crash (unexpectedly quit) after initially starting up and running. I have the following system parameters:
Machine Model: PowerBook G4 15"
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1.25 GB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.7.1f1
System Version: Mac OS X 10.3.8 (7U16)
Kernel Version: Darwin 7.8.0
Boot Volume: Macintosh HD
Machine Model: PowerBook G4 15"
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1.25 GB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.7.1f1
System Version: Mac OS X 10.3.8 (7U16)
Kernel Version: Darwin 7.8.0
Boot Volume: Macintosh HD
Cheryl - May 11, 2005 - 5:27 pm
Jim,
My name is Cheryl and I will be assisting you. Is it just the applications that quit or does the entire powerbook go into a sleep mode or shut down? Are you set as the Admin/owner - user of the powerbook?
Go to the Applications>Utility folder and start up Disk utility. When that opens, click on the second icon at the far left, then click on Repair Permissions. Repair Disk will be grayed out. You can not repair the disk with Disk Utility unless you start up the Powerbook with the OS X CD and use Disk utility on the CD.
How old is the battery in your powerbook? Is it taking a charge? Have you reset the battery lately? You should perform this procedure when you first use your computer and then every few months thereafter.
Plug the power adapter in and fully charge your computer's battery until the battery indicator lights turn off and the adapter plug ring goes from amber to green, which indicates that the battery is fully charged.
Disconnect the power adapter and use your iBook or PowerBook. When your battery gets low, you will see the low battery warning dialog on the screen. Continue to use your computer until it goes to sleep. At that point the battery has been sufficiently drained for calibration.
Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again.
You have to fully charge and then discharge your battery only once to calibrate it. After that, you can connect and disconnect the power adapter when the battery is at any charge level.
Have you installed Battery Update?
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...eryupdate.html
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
My name is Cheryl and I will be assisting you. Is it just the applications that quit or does the entire powerbook go into a sleep mode or shut down? Are you set as the Admin/owner - user of the powerbook?
Go to the Applications>Utility folder and start up Disk utility. When that opens, click on the second icon at the far left, then click on Repair Permissions. Repair Disk will be grayed out. You can not repair the disk with Disk Utility unless you start up the Powerbook with the OS X CD and use Disk utility on the CD.
How old is the battery in your powerbook? Is it taking a charge? Have you reset the battery lately? You should perform this procedure when you first use your computer and then every few months thereafter.
Plug the power adapter in and fully charge your computer's battery until the battery indicator lights turn off and the adapter plug ring goes from amber to green, which indicates that the battery is fully charged.
Disconnect the power adapter and use your iBook or PowerBook. When your battery gets low, you will see the low battery warning dialog on the screen. Continue to use your computer until it goes to sleep. At that point the battery has been sufficiently drained for calibration.
Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again.
You have to fully charge and then discharge your battery only once to calibrate it. After that, you can connect and disconnect the power adapter when the battery is at any charge level.
Have you installed Battery Update?
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...eryupdate.html
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
boylanjp - May 20, 2005 - 8:30 am
Cheryl,
Sorry I have been away and unable to reply until now. Responses to your questions / suggestions are listed below.
1. Is it just the applications that quit or does the entire powerbook go into a sleep mode or shut down?
It h=just applications. Applications (apple or microsoft) repeatedly quit even if you restart them multiple times. Once you have the AC connected, they work fine. Sleep mode appears to work according to the preference settings, so its not that the PB goes to sleep when ever the AC is removed.
2. Are you set as the Admin/owner - user of the powerbook?
Yes.
3. Perform Repair Permissions.
Completed. No effect.
4. How old is the battery in your powerbook? Is it taking a charge? Have you reset the battery lately?
1 1/2 - 2 yrs old. I have two batteries and both take a charge. Calibrated both when new. Have not reset lately due to unable to operate w/ out AC. Suppose I could disable sleep and just let the PB run until the battery dies. If it was an issue with the batteries, I would suspect that I would get the warning that battery is low and to save my work...
5. Have you installed Battery Update?
Yes. No effect.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
-jim
Sorry I have been away and unable to reply until now. Responses to your questions / suggestions are listed below.
1. Is it just the applications that quit or does the entire powerbook go into a sleep mode or shut down?
It h=just applications. Applications (apple or microsoft) repeatedly quit even if you restart them multiple times. Once you have the AC connected, they work fine. Sleep mode appears to work according to the preference settings, so its not that the PB goes to sleep when ever the AC is removed.
2. Are you set as the Admin/owner - user of the powerbook?
Yes.
3. Perform Repair Permissions.
Completed. No effect.
4. How old is the battery in your powerbook? Is it taking a charge? Have you reset the battery lately?
1 1/2 - 2 yrs old. I have two batteries and both take a charge. Calibrated both when new. Have not reset lately due to unable to operate w/ out AC. Suppose I could disable sleep and just let the PB run until the battery dies. If it was an issue with the batteries, I would suspect that I would get the warning that battery is low and to save my work...
5. Have you installed Battery Update?
Yes. No effect.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
-jim
Cheryl - May 20, 2005 - 4:52 pm
Jim,
Did you check your batteries to see if they are part of the recall?
https://depot.info.apple.com/battery...x.html?lang=en
It could very well be that the battery is overheating and causing the problem.
Double check this first.
If this is not the case, then set Energy saver to never on everything... And let the battery go down. Then allow it to charge up.
After the charge up, give it a test run.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
Did you check your batteries to see if they are part of the recall?
https://depot.info.apple.com/battery...x.html?lang=en
It could very well be that the battery is overheating and causing the problem.
Double check this first.
If this is not the case, then set Energy saver to never on everything... And let the battery go down. Then allow it to charge up.
After the charge up, give it a test run.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
boylanjp - May 22, 2005 - 12:56 pm
I'll give it a try and get back to you (in about 1 week). Thanks for the help.
-jim
-jim
Cheryl - May 25, 2005 - 6:41 pm
Jim,
I am just sending you this so your question does not close.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
I am just sending you this so your question does not close.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
Cheryl - May 28, 2005 - 5:14 pm
Jim,
I am just sending you this so your question does not close.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
I am just sending you this so your question does not close.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
boylanjp - Jun 6, 2005 - 8:16 am
Hi Cheryl,
Just back from work travel. None of the batteries I have are affected by the recall. I changed my energy preferences to never and will drain the batteries down again and recharge. Thanks for the continuing support.
-jim
Just back from work travel. None of the batteries I have are affected by the recall. I changed my energy preferences to never and will drain the batteries down again and recharge. Thanks for the continuing support.
-jim
boylanjp - Jun 6, 2005 - 8:56 am
I unplugged the PA while working (after writing the earlier response), and any application I used would crash, not just once but multiple times. This included: Word, excel, safari, and outlook. With the PA still unplugged, I rebooted and had the same results, applications continued to crash. I just plugged back in so I can get my work done. AHHHH!
- jim
- jim
Cheryl - Jun 6, 2005 - 8:41 pm
Jim,
Did your PowerBook come with a Hardware Test CD? It should be in the packet of CDs that came with your computer. It may be listed on the Additional Software CD.
I suggest you run that (with and without the Power Adaptor). I think there is something seriously wrong hardware wise. Once you run the Hardware Test, we will know exactly what.
If you do not have the Hardware Test CD or can not locate it, I recommend you bring it in to an authorized Apple tech.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
Did your PowerBook come with a Hardware Test CD? It should be in the packet of CDs that came with your computer. It may be listed on the Additional Software CD.
I suggest you run that (with and without the Power Adaptor). I think there is something seriously wrong hardware wise. Once you run the Hardware Test, we will know exactly what.
If you do not have the Hardware Test CD or can not locate it, I recommend you bring it in to an authorized Apple tech.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
boylanjp - Jun 8, 2005 - 8:38 am
I will look for the s/w and give it a try.
thanks.
-jim
thanks.
-jim
boylanjp - Jun 8, 2005 - 8:38 am
I will look for the s/w and give it a try.
thanks.
-jim
thanks.
-jim
boylanjp - Jun 10, 2005 - 12:55 pm
Cheryl,
I ran the hardware test two times. The first time with the PA plugged in. All test passed. The second time, I unplugged the PA and ran off the battery. Again, all tests passed. Both tests were the extnded version, not the quick test. I'm thinking that i need to reload the OS. Thoughts?
Have a great weekend.!
-jim
I ran the hardware test two times. The first time with the PA plugged in. All test passed. The second time, I unplugged the PA and ran off the battery. Again, all tests passed. Both tests were the extnded version, not the quick test. I'm thinking that i need to reload the OS. Thoughts?
Have a great weekend.!
-jim
Cheryl - Jun 11, 2005 - 6:27 am
Jim,
One more thing to check. Under System Preferences>Energy Saver there is a setting in regards to Reduce processor performance. This option allows the software to change the microprocessor's clock speed and/or turn off the L3 cache, slowing down to conserve power or speeding up when more speed is needed. Check that setting and make sure it is set to highest.
It is worth a try to do an archive and preserve install if you still have problems. This will install a fresh OS but leave your applications and home folder untouched. There is a component within the system that monitors battery verse PA.
Start up from your Mac OS X 10.3 Panther Install Disc 1.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.
Once done, use Disk Utility in Utility folder to repair permissions.
Now go here to get the 10.3.8 combo update.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...1038combo.html
When done, repair permissions.
Next use the Software update to get the security updates. When done, repair permissions.
You will need to reinstall Stuffit Expander and your anti virus program. Let me know how you do.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
One more thing to check. Under System Preferences>Energy Saver there is a setting in regards to Reduce processor performance. This option allows the software to change the microprocessor's clock speed and/or turn off the L3 cache, slowing down to conserve power or speeding up when more speed is needed. Check that setting and make sure it is set to highest.
It is worth a try to do an archive and preserve install if you still have problems. This will install a fresh OS but leave your applications and home folder untouched. There is a component within the system that monitors battery verse PA.
Start up from your Mac OS X 10.3 Panther Install Disc 1.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.
Once done, use Disk Utility in Utility folder to repair permissions.
Now go here to get the 10.3.8 combo update.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...1038combo.html
When done, repair permissions.
Next use the Software update to get the security updates. When done, repair permissions.
You will need to reinstall Stuffit Expander and your anti virus program. Let me know how you do.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
boylanjp - Jun 14, 2005 - 1:22 pm
I'll give it a try. I want to back up some of my data first. Will take a week or so to get an additional HD to back up some files.
Thanks for the suggestions
-jim
Thanks for the suggestions
-jim
Cheryl - Jun 14, 2005 - 8:19 pm
Jim,
If you have a .mac account, you can use iDisk for the important documents. Do you have a CD burner? You can burn a copy of your important documents to a CD.
Remember that doing an archive install will not touch your applications, home folder or documents.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
If you have a .mac account, you can use iDisk for the important documents. Do you have a CD burner? You can burn a copy of your important documents to a CD.
Remember that doing an archive install will not touch your applications, home folder or documents.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
boylanjp - Mar 27, 2006 - 3:26 pm
(12/05) A complete (clean) install of the OS corrected the problem with running on battery power. An Archive install did not work and corrupted my machine. - jim
Cheryl - Mar 27, 2006 - 9:34 pm
Jim,
It sounds like you had a bad block on the hard drive.
Your hard drive is sectioned or formatted into blocks which helps it and the logic board to install programs and find it when needed. A clean install would have found the bad block and closed it to prevent it being used.
I am glad you are back to running smoothly.
Cheryl
It sounds like you had a bad block on the hard drive.
Your hard drive is sectioned or formatted into blocks which helps it and the logic board to install programs and find it when needed. A clean install would have found the bad block and closed it to prevent it being used.
I am glad you are back to running smoothly.
Cheryl
IF THIS IS YOUR QUESTION AND YOU WISH TO RESPOND, LOGIN HERE FIRST.
