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TICKET ARCHIVE -> iMac Core Duo Restarts on me!
edgecrusherr - Feb 24, 2006 - 11:15 am
I have a new iMac Core Duo with the following specs: 2GHz, 2GB RAM, 256MB Video memory. The serious problem I'm having is that when I try to do anything with video (so it seems at this point) the computer will restart on it's own, without any warning. The last 2 times the iMac made a horrible noise just before restart (I was playing audio in the foreground while the computer was exporting video in the background). This is not good. I was only able to make it through one video export in Quicktime. I'm still trouble shooting to see if I can find the cause. I know it's not Rosetta because I've had it restart on me when using Quicktime and Handbrake. EyeTV 2, and DVD2One also caused this issue (both are PPC). I also ran Tiger Cache Cleaner app. I don't know if this just an issue with 10.4.5 as I didn't have the computer too long before 10.4.5 was released. Anyone have any ideas or seen this before? I'll continue to try different things to see is I can isolate the problem. Thanks for your time!
DeltaMac - Feb 24, 2006 - 9:01 pm
Have you tried the Apple Hardware Test? You will find that on your restore DVD. Look for the simple directions on the label. Reboot with that disk, holding the D key. Run various tests.
Can you describe the 'horrible noise'?
Can you describe the 'horrible noise'?
edgecrusherr - Feb 27, 2006 - 12:04 pm
I tried the Hardware test. The first time I did it with all my stuff plugged in. I know you're supposed to unplug all your peripherals, but I just wanted to see what would happen. It froze about 2/5 through. So I forced a restart and did it the right way with only a keyboard and mouse—no problems.
The noise sounded like a thick, softcover book hitting the ground, or maybe a bunch of papers and office supplies. The noise had to be from the fact that the computer was restarting in the middle of playing audio. However, it few seconds of sound makes me wonder if the system's freezing up a little before the restart.
This issue is quite crazy, there's so many possible reasons and I'm having figuring out what's linked to the problem, since it happens while doing different things in different software. I'm pretty sure it's video related, since there always seems to be something video going on when the computer restarts (however, the computer doesn't always restart then I'm doing something video, just sometimes). Last night I wasn't using the computer at all for several hours and when EyeTV 2 started recording a show, it restarted.
One thing I did try was unhooking my external 19" Viewsonic CRT after the computer restarted last night. It seemed ok, but the problem happened again during a video export.
Here's what else I have plugged in to the machine:
• Mini DVI to VGA: 19" CRT (unplugged now).
• Ethernet cable to Linksys router (Airport card disabled).
• Firewire: external HDD (turned off), external DVD burner (off too).
• USB: Apple keyboard w/ Kensington mouse (controlled by USB Over Drive). Belkin USB 4 Port Hub #1: APC battery backup, EyeTV USB, Logitech MX1000, Epson Scanner (unplugged from wall). Belkin USB 4 Port Hub #2: iPod cable (w/o iPod plugged in), Dig Camera cable (w/o camera plugged in).
• Audio in: cable to allow guitar connection (bought after issue started).
• Audio out: Digital Audio cable to speakers (rarely plugged in).
I know I have an arsenal of peripherals. I'm going to start testing them soon, I'll start by unplugging everything and see if that helps. Well, there you have it, I appreciate any suggestions anyone can make (like what devices might most cause this issue). Thanks.
The noise sounded like a thick, softcover book hitting the ground, or maybe a bunch of papers and office supplies. The noise had to be from the fact that the computer was restarting in the middle of playing audio. However, it few seconds of sound makes me wonder if the system's freezing up a little before the restart.
This issue is quite crazy, there's so many possible reasons and I'm having figuring out what's linked to the problem, since it happens while doing different things in different software. I'm pretty sure it's video related, since there always seems to be something video going on when the computer restarts (however, the computer doesn't always restart then I'm doing something video, just sometimes). Last night I wasn't using the computer at all for several hours and when EyeTV 2 started recording a show, it restarted.
One thing I did try was unhooking my external 19" Viewsonic CRT after the computer restarted last night. It seemed ok, but the problem happened again during a video export.
Here's what else I have plugged in to the machine:
• Mini DVI to VGA: 19" CRT (unplugged now).
• Ethernet cable to Linksys router (Airport card disabled).
• Firewire: external HDD (turned off), external DVD burner (off too).
• USB: Apple keyboard w/ Kensington mouse (controlled by USB Over Drive). Belkin USB 4 Port Hub #1: APC battery backup, EyeTV USB, Logitech MX1000, Epson Scanner (unplugged from wall). Belkin USB 4 Port Hub #2: iPod cable (w/o iPod plugged in), Dig Camera cable (w/o camera plugged in).
• Audio in: cable to allow guitar connection (bought after issue started).
• Audio out: Digital Audio cable to speakers (rarely plugged in).
I know I have an arsenal of peripherals. I'm going to start testing them soon, I'll start by unplugging everything and see if that helps. Well, there you have it, I appreciate any suggestions anyone can make (like what devices might most cause this issue). Thanks.
DeltaMac - Feb 27, 2006 - 4:04 pm
Go into your System Preferences/Energy Saver/Options prefs, and turn OFF 'Restart Automatically after a Power Failure'.
I suspect your APC may be not playing nice, or something else is causing your system to simply shut down, and then automatically restarts because that's how you have it set.
If the system simply shuts off, then could be a USB hub - disconnect one at a time to check these. USB hubs are known to fail from time to time, or just not play nice with a newer computer.
Go with unplugging ONE peripheral at a time, and try to duplicate the problem. Start with USB peripherals, especially the hubs themselves. Then go on to your FireWire devices if just powered off, and not currently completely disconnected. Then to the external display. The network stuff would likely be a last choice. You should discover where the problem lies long before getting to the network.
Let me know how it goes.
- Dale
I suspect your APC may be not playing nice, or something else is causing your system to simply shut down, and then automatically restarts because that's how you have it set.
If the system simply shuts off, then could be a USB hub - disconnect one at a time to check these. USB hubs are known to fail from time to time, or just not play nice with a newer computer.
Go with unplugging ONE peripheral at a time, and try to duplicate the problem. Start with USB peripherals, especially the hubs themselves. Then go on to your FireWire devices if just powered off, and not currently completely disconnected. Then to the external display. The network stuff would likely be a last choice. You should discover where the problem lies long before getting to the network.
Let me know how it goes.
- Dale
edgecrusherr - Feb 28, 2006 - 8:05 am
I already had "Restart after Power Failure" off, since the title alone could sound like my issue (plus all the many different problems that have occurred to different people over the year due to Energy settings). However, I unplugged the APC backup USB component last night, exported a video, and so far so good. I'll give it another day or 2. It would be great if that's all that was causing the issue because I don't really care about that sensor too much, 95% of the time it just saves me from quick power blinks, not long enough to go through the auto shut down feature. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again!
edgecrusherr - Mar 4, 2006 - 12:45 pm
Well, after making my way through all my devices and finding that nothing helped, I decided to finally give Apple a call. I held off from this before because they haven't been so great in the last few years. Well, they had me reset the PRAM (whatever they call it now on the Intel Macs) and the RAM itself. I didn't know you could reset RAM. Anyway, since then I've tried to reproduce the problem and everything seems to be ok so far. In retrospect, the 1GB RAM module that I added a few days after I received the computer must have caused the issue. If this was the problem, then even though the machine showed the RAMM and gave no warnings, the RAM needed to be reset to function correctly. The correlation I made between working with video and the restarting of the iMac must have been due to the fact that the system probably choked when intensively using a lot of memory (video compression). I'll make a post in a few days if everything is ok or not. Thanks again!
edgecrusherr - Jun 21, 2006 - 6:04 am
Sorry for the VERY late response—I've been so busy. I just want to follow up for anyone having a similar problem.
A few days after the last post it started all over again. Turned out to be bad RAM. I called Other World Computing and I exchanged it for a new module with no problems. So everything's been great the last few month.
A few days after the last post it started all over again. Turned out to be bad RAM. I called Other World Computing and I exchanged it for a new module with no problems. So everything's been great the last few month.
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