Dual 2.0 G5: Random Freezes

[SunnyDaze]

Dear Gurus,

I have a Dual 2.0 G5, an original model. I have 8 gigs of DDR, all in matched pairs and an nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL (genuine Mac version), ROM version 2130. I'm running 10.4.11.

Lately it's been freezing up about once a week, on average. Sometimes it's twice a day. Sometimes it's not for three weeks. There seems to be no pattern as to when and why it occurs. No certain application triggers it. When it does freeze, nothing is able to respond. Everything goes beach ball. The fans don't seem to "rev up" as they periodically do when it's not frozen. This is becoming a problem because I'll have several hours into a project for school and VIOLA! Gone.

I ran memtest, everything was "fine." I ran a complete Onyx maintenance. What else can I do in terms of diagnosing this puppy?

Thanks all,
Elijah

 

[harryb2448]

Pop in disc one of your original install discs and run Apple Hardware Test and see what is reported. If no problems, boot from your install DVD and run Repair Disk from Utilities and see what that reports regarding the state of health of the hard drikve.

 

[SunnyDaze]

This is a problem. I don't have the originals. I have a retail copy of 10.4.11. Any suggestions?

 

[chscag]

The retail copy of Tiger will work fine. Just do as harry suggested.

Regards.

 

[SunnyDaze]

After about 4 hours of hardware testing, the screen went plaid. It was either concluding the RAM test or beginning the VRAM test. It passed the Logic Board and Removable Storage tests. I'll run it again tomorrow.

YIKES!

 

[harryb2448]

There is a problem somewhere as even on the extended test should take about 40 minutes even with a large quantity of memory installed. Try booting from Tiger disc and run Repair Disk from there.

 

[SunnyDaze]

Okay, I'm on Thanksgiving break. I've got time to play! I have the 4 10.4.11 retail install CD's. How do I go about booting from the disk so that I can run the repair?

Thanks!

 

[harryb2448]

Pop in the Tiger disc and it should be a DVD. Trust the disc is the full retail install black coloured version and not a silver grey system specific disc. Reboot and after trhe chime hold down 'C' until the gear wheel commences it stuff.

When loaded go tol Utilities in the Menu Bar and select Disk Utility and hit Repair Disk. If there is anything wrong with the hard drive you will see red writing. Keep us posted?

 

[SunnyDaze]

It's definitely 4 CD's. Not one DVD. What else can I do?

:-/

 

[SunnyDaze]

Well, it's only done it once as of late, but it was while I was working on a presentation. What can I do with the Tiger CD's? Do I need the DVD?

Another option would be to load the OS onto the other HD and see if it freezes. If I do this, could I use migration assistant to transfer my stuff over?

Any ideas?

 

[SunnyDaze]

Okay, I found the original Apple system disks from my old G5, but it was a 1.6 (M9020LL/A). My present machine is a dual processor 2.0 (M9032LL/A). I have the two DVD's (10.2.7) and the Apple Hardware Test DVD.

In terms of running the hardware test and booting from the DVD to repair permissions, will the fact that these disks were originally for a 1.6 and not a dual 2.0 matter?

 

[harryb2448]

Yes indeed it may. Just check if Apple Hardware Test is version 2.2.5, 2.5 or 2.5.2. The original 1.6GHz G5 came with version 2.1 which is not suitable. And it will matter a great deal booting from disc and running Repair Permissions.

Jaguar OS X.2 is now a very old OS and I would think if you have Tiger on CDs, it is a set from an older eMac or such. If they are a silver grey colour they will not work and you will need the full retail install DVD of Tiger.

Some eMacs did not come with a DVD reader as they were sold in large numbers to schools and colleges hence Apple released Tiger on CDs for them. Don't throw them out as there is always a demand for Tiger on CDs.

 

[SunnyDaze]

The Hardware Test is version 2.2.4. Will this work?

It's a genuine retail copy of Tiger, and it's on 4 CD's. I can post pictures of the box and the CD's if you'd like.

 

[SunnyDaze]

Okay. I ran HW Test version 2.2.4. Everything passed, even on the extended version.

I did notice that 2 of my RAM sticks are 30440 as opposed to 30330. Initially, one of the 30330's were paired up with the 30440's. I rearranged them so that memory slots 5 and 6 (which are a pair) are both the 30440 sticks.

Do you think this could have anything to do with my problem? The funny thing is, I bought all of the memory from one source. Same brand. Same part number. Heh.

 

[SunnyDaze]

Alrighty, on a hunch, I booted the machine from my Leopard DVD and ran Disk Utility that way. Apparently, it repaired whatever the issue was from the Startup Disk.

If I have any more freezes, I'll be sure to post them on here. Thanks for all the help.