[X4U] Freezes, Crashes, Kernel Panics - Oh MY ! ! !

[Randy B. Singer]

On Jun 25, 2009, at 3:12 PM, J. R. Rosen wrote:

> HELLO LISTERS ! ! !
>
> I am running 10.4.11 on a 2002, Quicksilver 1.0gHz MP - 1.5gb RAM.   
> Was having crashes, freezes and kernel panics almost every day, so  
> I reinstalled the OS and brought it up to date with all of the  
> proper software enhancements from Apple.
>
> I am still having the same problems.  I cannot isolate the  
> sequence, otherwise, I wouldn't be writing this.
>
> Is there a known bug of any kind, a virus, or some other anomaly  
> anyone knows of that could be causing this?
>
> It will KP with just Apple Mail and Safari open.  It will freeze  
> when trying to awaken from sleep.  I'll get the "Killer-Gray- 
> Screen" when trying to send an email.

The fact that it still does it after replacing the OS with a fresh  
copy, and the fact that it does it randomly, indicates that the  
problem is a hardware one, not a software one.

Uninstall all non-Apple hardware: RAM, USB hubs, external hard  
drives, printer, third party keyboard and mouse...everything, and  
revert to what came with your Mac from Apple.  (Assuming that Apple  
didn't install any third-party hardware for you.  If they did,  
uninstall that too.)

See if that fixes the problem.  If it does, you can re-install things  
one at a time to find the culprit.

If it doesn't fix the problem, you have to then begin to suspect that  
the Apple RAM is now bad, or that there is a motherboard problem, or  
something like that.  It is probably impossible for you to diagnose  
this yourself, so you will need to send your Mac back to Apple for  
repair.  (Or you might want to consider just purchasing a used Mac,  
as that might be cheaper than having a 7 year old Mac repaired.)

___________________________________________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
___________________________________________