Panther 10.3.X : crashes over crashes

Hello,
I am asking for help or advice. I have a brand new (february 2004)
Power Mac G4 - 1.25 GHz - 768 (256 + 512) RAM
(I have also installed recently a M-Audio Audiophile 2496 card, but problems occured before).

OS X.3 was pre-installed. I have updated to 10.3.2, then to 10.3.3. Then had to re-install the whole stuff due to crashes, and updated again to 10.3.2 and 10.3.3.

I still have several and numerous unexplained crashes every now and then, specially on games (such as UT demo for example) (they just quit with no warning)
Also with "normal" applications, sometimes the rainbow wheel appears and i am forced either to quit the finder or reboot the whole stuff. I am really at a loss.
I had first thought it was because of the "default folder" appli I had first installed, and indeed it (seemingly) worked better after I re-installed OS X. But the problems are back.
Any idea or solution ?

Peter
mail : [email protected]

Well, well, well... Is OSX a (bad) joke ?

Thanks for answering. I've tried the disk utility stuff., have done everything all rigth, repaired permissions; even did better and ran the fsck-f (everything ok) as some other advised me. Also ran Onyx to empty caches, optimize, script this and that etc...
Tonight, back home, I tried unreal tournameznt demo 2004 : crash, after crash, after, crash. Sigh.And launched onyx : ahemm, crashed
Below is the (beginning) of the crash log (whole stuff too long). I heard the RAM (the 512 extra M° could be involved...)
Big big sigh. My OS9 mac was soooooooo simple & steady
Shall I kick G4 and OSX to the bin?

Peter
[email protected]

Command: OnyX
Path: /Applications/OnyX.app/Contents/MacOS/OnyX
Version: 1.4.2 (1.4.2)
PID: 327
Thread: 0

Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS (0x0001) at 0x7e7bbb5c

Thread 0 Crashed:
0 libobjc.A.dylib 0x908311e8 objc_msgSend + 0x8
1 com.apple.AppKit 0x92def7b8 -[NSLayoutManager(NSTextViewSupport) layoutManagerOwnsFirstResponderInWindow:] + 0x44
2 com.apple.AppKit 0x92df5d94 -[NSTextView(NSPrivate) _shouldHaveBlinkTimer] + 0x154
3 com.apple.AppKit 0x92df3f14 -[NSTextView(NSSharing) updateInsertionPointStateAndRestartTimer:] + 0x184
4 com.apple.AppKit 0x92f20ba4 -[NSTextView(NSSharing) becomeKeyWindow] + 0x38
5 com.apple.AppKit 0x92face10 -[NSSecureTextView becomeKeyWindow] + 0x90
6 com.apple.AppKit 0x92e7fbb4 -[NSWindow becomeKeyWindow] + 0x1dc
7 com.apple.AppKit 0x92f3a0a0 _NXShowKeyAndMain + 0x140
8 com.apple.AppKit 0x92df4a38 -[NSApplication sendEvent:] + 0x5d0
9 com.apple.AppKit 0x92dfd73c -[NSApplication run] + 0x240
10 com.apple.AppKit 0x92eb9b80 NSApplicationMain + 0x1d0
11 com.titanium.OnyX 0x00009164 main + 0x84 (main.m:20)
12 com.titanium.OnyX 0x00008e10 _start + 0x188 (crt.c:267)
13 com.titanium.OnyX 0x00008c84 start + 0x30

Thread 1:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x90017048 semaphore_wait_signal_trap + 0x8
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9000e890 _pthread_cond_wait + 0x270
2 com.apple.Foundation 0x90a4c238 -[NSConditionLock lockWhenCondition:] + 0x44
3 com.apple.AppKit 0x92dca8dc -[NSUIHeartBeat _heartBeatThread:] + 0x190
4 com.apple.Foundation 0x90a3a2c4 forkThreadForFunction + 0x6c
5 libSystem.B.dylib 0x900247e8 _pthread_body + 0x28

PPC Thread State:
srr0: 0x908311e8 srr1: 0x0200f030 vrsave: 0x00000000
cr: 0x48044424 xer: 0x00000003 lr: 0x92def7b8 ctr: 0x908311e0
r0: 0x92def7b8 r1: 0xbffff040 r2: 0x0203ee4c r3: 0x7e7bbb5c
r4: 0x9083eb88 r5: 0x001ea130 r6: 0x00116b50 r7: 0xbffff140
r8: 0xbffff13c r9: 0x00000000 r10: 0x00000000 r11: 0xa2dc1f8c
r12: 0x908311e0 r13: 0x00000000 r14: 0x00000000 r15: 0x00000000
r16: 0x00000000 r17: 0x00000000 r18: 0x00000000 r19: 0x00000000
r20: 0x00000000 r21: 0x00000000 r22: 0x00000000 r23: 0x00000000
r24: 0x00000000 r25: 0x01a7fd60 r26: 0x00000000 r27: 0x01a7fc30
r28: 0x001ce500 r29: 0x00000000 r30: 0x01e52cf0 r31: 0x92def774

Binary Images Description:
0x1000 - 0x9fff com.titanium.OnyX 1.4.2 /Applications/OnyX.app/Contents/MacOS/OnyX
0x9f000 - 0x9ffff com.apple.applescript.component 1.9.3 /System/Library/Components/AppleScript.component/Contents/MacOS/AppleScript
0x6ec000 - 0x6ecfff com.apple.osax.digihub 1.0 /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/Digital Hub Scripting.osax/Contents/MacOS/Digital Hub Scripting
0x8de000 - 0x8e0fff ??? /Library/ScriptingAdditions/QXPScriptingAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/QXPScriptingAdditions
0xf81000 - 0xfb2fff com.apple.osax.standardadditions 1.9.3 (???) /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/StandardAdditions
0x7f770000 - 0x7f7b3fff com.apple.AppleScriptKit 1.3.1 (38) /System/Library/Frameworks/AppleScriptKit.framework/Versions/A/AppleScriptKit
0x836c0000 - 0x836dbfff com.apple.AppleShareClient 1.3.1 /System/Library/Frameworks/AppleShareClient.framework/Versions/A/AppleShareClient
0x87b20000 - 0x87b5bfff com.apple.AppleShareClientCore 1.3.1 (1.3.2) /System/Library/Frameworks/AppleShareClientCore.framework/Versions/A/AppleShareClientCore
0x8e4a0000 - 0x8e545fff com.apple.applescript 1.9.3 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AppleScript.framework/Versions/A/AppleScript
0x8fe00000 - 0x8fe4ffff dyld /usr/lib/dyld
0x90000000 - 0x90122fff libSystem.B.dylib /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib
0x90190000 - 0x9023dfff com.apple.CoreFoundation 6.3.3 (299.3) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/A/CoreFoundation
0x90280000 - 0x904f9fff com.apple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 10.3.3 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonCore.framework/Versions/A/CarbonCore
0x90570000 - 0x905defff com.apple.framework.IOKit 1.3.2 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/A/IOKit
0x90610000 - 0x90699fff com.apple.CoreServices.OSServices 3.0 (3.0.0) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OSServices.framework/Versions/A/OSServices
0x90700000 - 0x90700fff com.apple.CoreServices 10.3 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/CoreServices
0x90720000 - 0x90787fff com.apple.audio.CoreAudio 2.1.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAudio.framework/Versions/A/CoreAudio
0x907f0000 - 0x907f9fff com.apple.DiskArbitration 2.0.2 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiskArbitration.framework/Versions/A/DiskArbitration
0x90810000 - 0x90810fff com.apple.ApplicationServices 1.0 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/ApplicationServices
0x90830000 - 0x9089ffff libobjc.A.dylib /usr/lib/libobjc.A.dylib
0x90910000 - 0x90983fff com.apple.DesktopServices 1.2.1 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DesktopServicesPriv.framework/Versions/A/DesktopServicesPriv
0x909f0000 - 0x90b4afff com.apple.Foundation 6.3.4 (500.54) /System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/Versions/C/Foundation
0x90c10000 - 0x90c1afff com.apple.framework.AppleTalk 1.2.0 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/AppleTalk.framework/Versions/A/AppleTalk
0x90d00000 - 0x90d1bfff com.apple.SystemConfiguration 1.7.1 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.framework/Versions/A/SystemConfiguration
0x90d40000 - 0x90d40fff com.apple.Carbon 10.3 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Carbon
0x90ec0000 - 0x90ec0fff com.apple.Cocoa 6.3 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/Cocoa.framework/Versions/A/Cocoa
0x910b0000 - 0x910fffff com.apple.bom 1.2.4 (63) /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Bom.framework/Versions/A/Bom
0x91200000 - 0x91203fff com.apple.URLMount 2.1 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/URLMount.framework/Versions/A/URLMount
0x912a0000 - 0x912bdfff com.apple.audio.SoundManager 3.8 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonSound.framework/Versions/A/CarbonSound
0x912e0000 - 0x912f7fff com.apple.LangAnalysis 1.5.4 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LangAnalysis.framework/Versions/A/LangAnalysis
0x91320000 - 0x913defff ColorSync /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ColorSync.framework/Versions/A/ColorSync
0x91460000 - 0x91473fff com.apple.speech.synthesis.framework 3.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesis
0x914a0000 - 0x91509fff com.apple.htmlrendering 1.1.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HTMLRendering.framework/Versions/A/HTMLRendering
0x91560000 - 0x91619fff com.apple.QD 3.4.63 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/QD.framework/Versions/A/QD
0x91670000 - 0x916a8fff com.apple.AE 1.3.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/AE.framework/Versions/A/AE
0x916e0000 - 0x91773fff com.apple.print.framework.PrintCore 3.3 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/PrintCore.framework/Versions/A/PrintCore
0x917e0000 - 0x917f0fff com.apple.speech.recognition.framework 3.3 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechRecognition.framework/Versions/A/SpeechRecognition
0x91810000 - 0x9182afff com.apple.openscripting 1.2.1 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OpenScripting.framework/Versions/A/OpenScripting
0x91850000 - 0x91860fff com.apple.ImageCapture 2.1.0 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageCapture.framework/Versions/A/ImageCapture
0x91890000 - 0x9189cfff com.apple.help 1.0.1 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Help.framework/Versions/A/Help
0x918c0000 - 0x918cdfff com.apple.CommonPanels 1.2.1 (1.0) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CommonPanels.framework/Versions/A/CommonPanels
0x918f0000 - 0x9193efff com.apple.print.framework.Print 3.3 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Print.framework/Versions/A/Print
0x91990000 - 0x9199bfff com.apple.securityhi 1.2 (90) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SecurityHI.framework/Versions/A/SecurityHI
0x919c0000 - 0x91a33fff com.apple.NavigationServices 3.3.1 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/NavigationServices.framework/Versions/A/NavigationServices
0x91a90000 - 0x91a90fff com.apple.audio.units.AudioUnit 1.3.1 /System/Library/Frameworks/AudioUnit.framework/Versions/A/AudioUnit
0x91ab0000 - 0x91ac4fff libCGATS.A.dylib /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libCGATS.A.dylib
0x91ae0000 - 0x91aebfff libCSync.A.dylib /System/Library/
etc...

First question, did you buy Apple care when you purcahsed your power mac? If so you may want to give Apple a call.

Since you received your power mac in February, I am assuming you don't have a lot of data. If you can, get a back up of your data. Next download the Mac OS X 10.3.3 combination updater. Then re-install OS X 10.3.3 using the downloaded file. After that run disk utilities to repair permissions.

This may resolve your problem. My guess is that you, may have a corrupted file or two.

If it does not. Re-install a fresh copy of OS X 10.3 and wipe the disk clean before you install. After you get it to 10.3, then install the downloaded file to bring it to 10.3.3. Don't forget to repair permissions. Make sure the system is stable before start adding back your personal files.

And make sure that you have good ram.. if you have any bad ram, you'll be crashing up a storm and having other serious problems..

You may want to do as Murlyn suggest. Remove the additional ram chip first.

Thanks for answers

Is there a rationnal way to know if a ram is corrupt ?

No, the only thing you can do is remove it and see what happens. If the system works better, then there is a ram problem.

Back in the game

Good stuff.
Removed memory chip / could play through the whole demo with no crashes.
Replaced chip, and changed slots for a change. Crashes again, somzetimes right from the start, or mouse freeze, etc...
Removed chip again : seems to run allright.

I think my retailer willl hear from em soon.

Thanks for the support.

Peter, from France.

The memory chip sure cause you a big headache. At least you don't have to reload the OS.

Yeah no kidding