Black window, you need to restart your computer

JoeAmora · JoeAmora #1 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:06 PM

Three times when I was on the internet using Safari the screen went dark and a black window came on and said I need to restart my computer. Nothing would work unless I pushed the power button and held it to shut down and then restart. Please help me to understand what this means.
Thank you,

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #2 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:11 PM

This sounds like a a kernel panic. Many times kernel panics are due to a hardware issue. And very commonly it is due to installing defective or non-compatible ram.

But kernel panics can be caused by other things as well.

- Nick

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #3 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:19 PM

Agreed with Nick.

First,what Mac is this? Model and CPU speed, RAM? What version of OSX is installed? Is the RAM the stock RAM (Memory) that came with the Mac or was it upgraded later?

JoeAmora · JoeAmora #4 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:20 PM

Hi, thank you for answering. I don't know what that is. I installed 4 more GB of ram about 4 months ago but all seams to be ok with it. It reads 8 GB in my system and I bought them from the Apple store. Any other help would be appreciated.

JoeAmora · JoeAmora #5 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:24 PM

Hi, I'm using the operating system before Lion, I have 8 GB of ram. iMac OS X 10.6.8

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #6 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeAmora

Hi, thank you for answering. I don't know what that is. I installed 4 more GB of ram about 4 months ago but all seams to be ok with it. It reads 8 GB in my system and I bought them from the Apple store. Any other help would be appreciated.

You don't have to be familiar with the term "Kernel Panic"...I just mentioned it for reference sake & for other folks reading/helping in this thread.

The important thing is that we accurately understand what's going on with your computer...so we can make suggestions.

If you upgraded your computer to 8gig of ram months ago...then the problem "most likely" isn't the ram...but that doesn't mean that we can eliminate the ram as a problem area. Any sort of hardware can go "bad" at any time...so even though some of your ram is "new"...it can still go bad.

The most straight forward way to eliminate the ram as a possibility is to remove all the ram...and only install 1-2 sticks of ram at a time...and use the process of elimination to see if any of the ram is bad. If all the ram is good...then we would have to try other ideas.

- Nick

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #7 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:35 PM

I would also mention that if you still have Applecare coverage on this computer...Kernel Panics can be a serious enough matter to just head straight to your local Apple Store (hopefully you have one).

If something hardware related is "bad" (other than the ram or maybe the hard drive)...the Apple folks are the one's to see.

- Nick

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #8 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeAmora

I installed 4 more GB of ram about 4 months ago but all seams to be ok with it. It reads 8 GB in my system and I bought them from the Apple store.

Too bad you bought the ram from the Apple Store...they charge about 4x more than other places for ram. A 4 gig ram upgrade from Apple (currently)...is about $200. From an online store...about $50-$60 bucks.

- Nick

Chemadian · Chemadian #9 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 06:01 PM

Have you noticed if the kernal panics happen when your on a certain wifi network? I ask because my MBP had the same type of problems when i was accessing the internet on my universities old g-network.

robduckyworth · robduckyworth #10 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 07:51 PM

to the OP, are you able to get the Kernel Panic log and post it here?

toMACsh · toMACsh #11 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Hi, thank you for answering. I don't know what that is.

It's not a "Karnal Panic". That's something else entirely.

JoeAmora · JoeAmora #12 (**permalink**)

12-21-2011, 08:21 AM

To all who have responded to my posts yesterday, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all. I'm not that well versed in the terminology necessary to completely understand all the acronym's that are being used to describe an issue or remedy to my problems. However, this will give me an opportunity to look up those that I don't know and increase my knowledge bass. So, please don't become frustrated if I ask a question that is very basic to most of you.
I will try to get more info the next time I get this black screen problem and be able to offer more clues.
I will be upgrading to a paid member after the first of the year as I think this will be a wise investment.
Thank you all,
Joe Amora

pigoo3 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 20,336 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.4	12-20-2011, 05:11 PM This sounds like a a kernel panic. Many times kernel panics are due to a hardware issue. And very commonly it is due to installing defective or non-compatible ram. But kernel panics can be caused by other things as well. - Nick - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

pigoo3 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 20,336 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.4	12-20-2011, 05:35 PM I would also mention that if you still have Applecare coverage on this computer...Kernel Panics can be a serious enough matter to just head straight to your local Apple Store (hopefully you have one). If something hardware related is "bad" (other than the ram or maybe the hard drive)...the Apple folks are the one's to see. - Nick - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

robduckyworth #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2011 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 2,972 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, 2.5GHz i7, 750GB, 6770M 1GB, iPad 3, iPhone 4, custom PC	12-20-2011, 07:51 PM to the OP, are you able to get the Kernel Panic log and post it here? If you find a post helpful, don't forget to use the reputation system (top right of post.) Join us in the IRC! How? Add me on Steam, Origin or PSN (Vita): robduckyworth
	QUOTE Thanks

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JoeAmora #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 4	12-20-2011, 05:06 PM Three times when I was on the internet using Safari the screen went dark and a black window came on and said I need to restart my computer. Nothing would work unless I pushed the power button and held it to shut down and then restart. Please help me to understand what this means. Thank you,
	QUOTE Thanks

JoeAmora #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 4	12-20-2011, 05:20 PM Hi, thank you for answering. I don't know what that is. I installed 4 more GB of ram about 4 months ago but all seams to be ok with it. It reads 8 GB in my system and I bought them from the Apple store. Any other help would be appreciated.
	QUOTE Thanks

JoeAmora #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 4	12-20-2011, 05:24 PM Hi, I'm using the operating system before Lion, I have 8 GB of ram. iMac OS X 10.6.8
	QUOTE Thanks

Chemadian #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 10, 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 99 Mac Specs: MBP Core i7 2.66 500GB 15" - Mac mini Core i5 2.5 500GB - Iphone 4 32GB - 32GB Ipad 2	12-20-2011, 06:01 PM Have you noticed if the kernal panics happen when your on a certain wifi network? I ask because my MBP had the same type of problems when i was accessing the internet on my universities old g-network.
	QUOTE Thanks

JoeAmora #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2011 Posts: 4	12-21-2011, 08:21 AM To all who have responded to my posts yesterday, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all. I'm not that well versed in the terminology necessary to completely understand all the acronym's that are being used to describe an issue or remedy to my problems. However, this will give me an opportunity to look up those that I don't know and increase my knowledge bass. So, please don't become frustrated if I ask a question that is very basic to most of you. I will try to get more info the next time I get this black screen problem and be able to offer more clues. I will be upgrading to a paid member after the first of the year as I think this will be a wise investment. Thank you all, Joe Amora
	QUOTE Thanks

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