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TICKET ARCHIVE -> iBook G4 14" stops responding

gsj4gsj - May 17, 2007 - 8:28 am

Hello
I have a G4 iBook 14" running OSX 10.4.9 with a 1.07Ghz processor with 1.25 GB RAM. System boots up ok and runs normally for 10-15 minutes. After that trackpad continues to control pointer, but clicking and return key have no effect - windows cannot be moved, buttons cannot be triggered. Once the iBook is turned off and then switched on again full functionality returns temporarily and ends as above.
Diagnostics so far have not revealed a problem. Is this software or the infamous iBook logic board trouble?
Any help appreciated.
Regards GSJ

koobiluphi - May 18, 2007 - 6:26 am

GSJ

When you boot up your computer, go straight to the Application/Utilities folder and open up Activity Viewer. Sort the processes by % so the most consuming process is listed at the top. Keep an eye on this and see if any processes spike out higher than 50% while your doing very little on the computer. If any processes turn red, that's also something to make note of. I've had a lot of experience with the iBook logic issues, and this doesn't quite sound like that, but I'm not ruling it out. When the computer finally stops responding, let me know what the highest consuming process was.

Hope I can help you out!

Luc
http://www.macosx.com/

gsj4gsj - May 18, 2007 - 12:57 pm

Hello Luc

Thanks for getting back to me. I followed your instructions and basically kept the iBook idle while regularly moving the odd window to keep checking the Mac was alive, and to stop the screen saver kicking-in. After about 35mins the iBook was still doing ok. I had to leave it for a while. On the hour after bootup I opened from sleep mode and was working fine. 1hr 30mins still ok, so I decide to give the CPU some work - it's been on about 4-8% till now. I set iTunes playing and the Mac is still fine after 2hrs - far and away the longest I've had it switched on continuously without freezing. Now I decide to install some software (iLife) and within 5-10mins I notice it's gone into the freeze state, only this time the pointer has frozen as well by the time I notice (usually the pointer continues to move around until I shut down after a moinute or so - I've also noticed that the pointer turns to a cursor when it's over a window or header in freeze). I took screen grabs throughout this process. CPU % use never spiked above 50 and was as follows: Activity monitor - 4% ave throughout; iTunes when running - 11%; installer when running - 23%; all others - 0%. Not sure I'm hearing a fan active at any time (there is a very quite purr if you listen closely), and the facia and keyboard get quite hot before the freeze kicks in. Hope this is useful if a little long-winded. Many thanks. GSJ

koobiluphi - May 18, 2007 - 3:36 pm

GSJ

Thanks for working so hard to get all that data. Basically, that let me know that there asn't some alien process that was eating up all your speed and locking you up. But, you mentioned heat possibly being an issue. So, I'd like to take a look at that issue. The fan should speed up automatically when it needs to. If you wouldn't mind, please download the software in the link provided below. I'd like to see what the internal tempurature is getting to by the time the computer locks up.

Luc
http://www.macosx.com/

gsj4gsj - May 19, 2007 - 6:09 am

Hello again Luc

Only link took me to the homepage. Did you want me to install system profile sharing? At present it's being rebuilt. I installed the istat nano widget and opened it to monitor temperature. Opening stats were: CPU - 27?; Battery - 20?; GPU - 30?; Memory/Power - 27?. I set iLife to install and temps rose to (respectively): 41?; 22?; 43?; 37?. Install completed and temps began to fall, so I set garageband to start recording a track. Temps began to climb again (widget was off when iBook froze, I shut down, set garageband running again) and the temps at the inevitable freeze on iStat were: CPU - 51?; Battery 24?; GPU - 52?; Mem/Power - 45?. Let me know if you want me to run anything else, but I hope this data is usual.

Thanks again, doctor - any thoughts on the patient's prognosis?

Regards

GSJ

gsj4gsj - May 19, 2007 - 6:19 am

Hello Dr Luc

Further - repeated above with almost identical results. Also, noticed message formatting produces question-mark instead of celcius point.

Regards

Graham
GSJ

koobiluphi - May 22, 2007 - 5:27 am

GSJ

Sorry about my delay in getting back to you. I am in the process of relocating. Back to business!

I've re-read over the ticket, and after taking a look at all of this, and have the following for you...

The temps are well within range. When you get up to 180+ degrees F, then we'll have other issues, but as it stands, you're okay in that area. For your peace of mind... if you computer gets too hot, it will speed up the fan (up to 6400 rpm). If, after that speed up, the temp doesn't drop fast enough, you're computer will either sleep or shut down until the temps drop. It won't let you overheat it. Still, don't keep it on your lap for extended periods for your own safety. 180 degrees is still pretty warm.

I'm thinking to problem is major directory damage or fragmentation. Depending on how you use your Mac, this can happen at different speeds and different amounts of fragmentation. Either way, it's going to happen eventually.

Personally, in my experience, TechTools has served me quite well. It allows you to create an emergency partition drive that you can boot from and perform regular maintenance on your startup volume.

Either way, having a thrid-party utilities program is (In My Humble Opinion) a comusmer must, wether PC or Mac. Hard drives fragment. If your directory data gets fragmented, it will locked up your computer very quickly. The problem only gets worse, not better.

However, that all being said, I can't say without a doubt that this is the problem. You may run a utility program and still have problems. I doubt it, but it's possible. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Luc
http://www.macosx.com/

gsj4gsj - May 23, 2007 - 11:31 am

Hello Luc

Many thanks. I'll look into this and let you know how I get on.

Best wishes

Graham

gsj4gsj - May 24, 2007 - 11:21 am

Hello Luc

Tried setting iBook to Target mode and using Disk Warrior from my PowerMac rebuilt the laptop disk. Same problems recurred when I booted up the iBook - i.e. freeze after several minutes running an app. Also noticed that any fiddling with power cord (plugging-in or unplugging, or removal of battery while on mains - not recommended I'm sure - triggers the freeze immediately).

Regards
Graham

koobiluphi - May 24, 2007 - 2:52 pm

Graham

When plugging in your iBook, the power cord shoud light orange (charging) or green (charged). If it ever lights red, that's not a good sign. Also, there are many issues around those type of plugs on the iBooks and Powerbooks. I had similar problems. They get snagged easitly, and start to bend. You need to find out where the problem is: the male end of the plug or the female end of the computer. The plug should be computer round, and the computer should be completely centered. If either of those statements isn't true, it could lead to problems. I'd recommend finding another cord (if you have one) or taking the computer to an apple store and seeing if they'll let you borrow a power source (they'll let you!) and try to recreate the freeze. If the new cord doesn't, then there's the problem! If the new cord still freezes the computer, then you probably need to have your power source on your computer looked at.

Computers are finicky. Any jump or drop in power, even for a millisecond, can make the thing screwy (I believe that's the techincal term...). I think we've eliminated any possible software issues. Sorry to say, Graham, but I think we're looking at a hardware problem.

Luc
http://www.macosx.com/

gsj4gsj - May 25, 2007 - 1:00 pm

Hell Luc

Well, I think we're looking at the end of the road for this Mac. I used the power adaptor from a colleague - no joy. As a last hurrah I decided to wipe the Mac (more out of spite) and reinstall. But, of course, since we've established it's probably hardware, the same old symptoms persist. Shame. I reckon that my next step is to get the screwdriver out and sell it in pieces on eBay - help the piggy-bank towards a replacement. That being the case, I suppose it means our correspondence is at an end. Can I just thank you for all your help - it's been a compensatory pleasure.
Slanje Var
Graham

koobiluphi - May 25, 2007 - 1:04 pm

Graham

Well, I can say I completely understand your frustration. As a last-ditch effort, you still may want to swing by an Apple Store. They may have a solution for you that I haven't thought of yet. They may even be able to repair it for you. That would be cheaper than getting a new computer. Still, this would be a good excuse to go out and get a nice new MacBook, wouldn't it... ;-)

It's been a pleasure helping you. Feel free to contact me if you need anything else.

Luc
http://www.macosx.com/