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TICKET ARCHIVE -> System sporadically freezes

HeatherMarie - Jan 9, 2008 - 1:33 am

I have an iBook G4, Tiger edition 10.4.11, 1.07 GHz, 768 MB DDR SDRAM.

My system sporadically freezes. Whenever it is moved (i.e. resituated on my lap, or from my lap to the table). Or if I leave it unattended for a period of time (i.e. downloading something, and walk away, by the time I come back it's froze if I am not constantly DOING something). Or if I try to access 3 or 4 applications at a single time.

Sometimes the freeze is a complete system freeze where nothing works or moves. Sometimes everything but the mouse freezes and I can still move the black arrow around. Sometimes it freezes and the little beach ball just keeps spinning, but is still mobile.

Sometimes after it freezes it will not restart. Instead it goes to a screen where it is all white with black flashing horizontal lines.

Sometimes a screen will pop up and say simply "You need to restart your computer. Please hold down the power key."

The only thing that I've found that fixes the screen is to take out the battery for 5-10 seconds and then it restarts immediately and perfectly.

I've done my "google" research and found that the early G4's (which mine is) have issues with the logic board and my Mac showed similar symptom's. It also said the "clamp" method temporarily fixes the problem. I tried this and it did nothing but readjust the black flashing lines. It did not fix the problem.

I've tried completely reformatting my hard drive. Starting from scratch.
I installed an additional 512 MB of RAM on top of the 256 built-in.
I ran Disk Utility to verify and repair permissions.
I installed SMART reporter, and it says that my hard drive is fine.
I ran ClamXav before reformatting my drive and it found nothing. I can't run it now, it freezes before it's finished every time

At the very bottom of this message I've added the error report it sends to Apple sometimes after a freeze.

I've added everything I know of. I hope you can help. I'm baffled. Thank you!
Heather Marie




panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 000000000086328C, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 40000000, dar = 0000000011DCC040
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x26D77000)
PC=0x0086328C; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x11DCC040; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x0086687C; R1=0x07B7BA50; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x0166B588 0x0086687C 0x008672C8 0x0085194C 0x002E9A80 0x002EB94C
0x0008C248 0x00029234 0x000233F8 0x000ABEAC 0x01133F60
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.ATIRadeon8500(4.1.8)@0x84a000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.4.2)@0x810000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.4.2)@0x834000
Exception state (sv=0x26838500)
PC=0x9000B348; MSR=0x0000F030; DAR=0x0020C00E; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x9000B29C; R1=0xBFFFE930; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1/RELEASE_PPC
Model: PowerBook6,5, BootROM 4.8.5f0, 1 processors, PowerPC G4 (1.1), 1.07 GHz, 256 MB
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9200, ATY,RV280M9+, AGP, 32 MB
Memory Module: DIMM0/BUILT-IN, 256 MB, built-in, built-in
AirPort: AirPort Extreme, 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)
Modem: Jump, V.92, Version 1.0
Network Service: Built-in Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITACD-RW CW-8123
Parallel ATA Device: Hitachi IC25N060ATMR04-0, 55.89 GB

tubajensen - Jan 9, 2008 - 6:04 am

Heather Marie,

according to the information about your kernel version it seems that only 256MB of RAM are listed. Could this be the reason for the frequent freezes? I'm sure 256MB RAM is way to little to run Tiger 10.4.11. What hardware do you see listed if you run the System Profiler located in the Utilities folder in Applications?


Allan.

HeatherMarie - Jan 9, 2008 - 11:04 am

That kernel was before I added the 512 of RAM. Now I have 768 MB, but the issues are the same. I just didn't think to paste a new report. Sorry.

tubajensen - Jan 9, 2008 - 11:40 am

I suppose you have checked the System Profiler as recommended and confirmed that the extra 512MB RAM are recognized by the system?

HeatherMarie - Jan 9, 2008 - 11:50 am

Yes sir.

tubajensen - Jan 9, 2008 - 4:08 pm

Reading your question once again it seems that something is wrong with your hardware. Especially since the computer reacts on physical handling like moving the computer (or the opposite - not moving it) and taking the battery out and replacing it.
I don't have any further suggestions - sorry. I'll re-open your question for somebody else to view.

Allan

HeatherMarie - Jan 10, 2008 - 4:55 pm

This is the new error report: after I installed the new RAM. maybe it helps?

panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 000000000089D56C, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 40000000, dar = 000000001C601040
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x33C8D000)
PC=0x0089D56C; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x1C601040; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x0089D1A4; R1=0x122D3920; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x002D98D4 0x0089D1A4 0x008A3F68 0x008A390C 0x008A12D8 0x0088B94C
0x002E9A80 0x002EB94C 0x0008C248 0x00029234 0x000233F8 0x000ABEAC 0x44763877
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.ATIRadeon8500(4.1.8)@0x884000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.4.2)@0x84a000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.4.2)@0x86e000
Exception state (sv=0x27110500)
PC=0x9000B348; MSR=0x0200F030; DAR=0x0109400E; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x9000B29C; R1=0xBFFFE930; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1/RELEASE_PPCModel: PowerBook6,5, BootROM 4.8.5f0, 1 processors, PowerPC G4 (1.1), 1.07 GHz, 768 MB
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9200, ATY,RV280M9+, AGP, 32 MB
Memory Module: DIMM0/BUILT-IN, 256 MB, built-in, built-in
Memory Module: DIMM1/J31, 512 MB, DDR SDRAM, PC2100U-25330
AirPort: AirPort Extreme, 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)
Modem: Jump, V.92, Version 1.0
Network Service: Built-in Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITACD-RW CW-8123
Parallel ATA Device: Hitachi IC25N060ATMR04-0, 55.89 GB

steveo612 - Jan 10, 2008 - 10:09 pm

Heather,

After reading you question I agree with Allan. Because when physical things happen to the computer, and as far as I know that particular computer does not have any motion sensing devices, it has to be a hardware problem. There is no way I could see this to be a software problem of any sort. The best advice I can give you is to phone an Apple representative as they may be able to repair the computer.

Sorry I can't give you better news.

Stephen

HeatherMarie - Jan 12, 2008 - 12:09 am

Thank you. I will contact an Apple representative right away. Thank you both for your time.

TechSupport - Mar 13, 2008 - 12:10 am

We apologize for not being able to resolve the issue you asked of us. It is the absolute worst case scenario for us to do this. In our review of why this happens, it generally is related to either the particular issue being addressed or frequently, incomplete or incorrect information provided. We hope by moving your request to the public forums that you will be able to get a solution without leaving you empty handed.

Your ticket has been closed with our support team. Your request has just been posted to Mac OS X System & Mac Software and is available for your viewing at:

http://macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299109

Again, thank you for using Macosx.com. We hope you will consider using us again in the future.

HeatherMarie - Mar 13, 2008 - 12:10 am

I recently thought of something. I was told that "the CPU is experiencing a "die-level" voltage over flow. That means the heart of the chip is occasionally, and randomly getting more current that is can handle and that causes varying degrees of "freeze up""It was a couple months after this that my computer started messing up, but the original power cord was shorting out so i bought a generic one from EBay. Could that be causing the power surges or whatnot?

TechSupport - Mar 16, 2008 - 12:20 am

We apologize for not being able to resolve the issue you asked of us. It is the absolute worst case scenario for us to do this. In our review of why this happens, it generally is related to either the particular issue being addressed or frequently, incomplete or incorrect information provided. We hope by moving your request to the public forums that you will be able to get a solution without leaving you empty handed.

Your ticket has been closed with our support team. Your request has just been posted to Mac OS X System & Mac Software and is available for your viewing at:

http://macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299170

Again, thank you for using Macosx.com. We hope you will consider using us again in the future.