[DM-MUG] 3 crashes in 3 days

[Matt W]

Well, this is a lively thread.

My weight lays in this direction: Suspect 10.3.4. Some success may be=20
had by reinstalling 10.3.4 using the Combo updater. I'd unplug all=20
devices first. Repair permissions afterwards. Still another method that=20=

reaches below the software is the Power Manager reset mentioned by CW.=20=

PowerBooks usually have a reset button or short procedure to follow,=20
desktops do not. You'll have to boot into Open Firmware and do a reset.=20=

This is a scary technician trick, and you don't HAVE to know it or use=20=

it to love the Mac.

One thing I'll mention (and re-mention) is that repeating processes=20
such as the one I'll outline here can be detrimental to your Mac's=20
health. Like clearing/zapping PRAM, or Power Managers, once is usually=20=

enough to ensure that a procedure has been performed. If you still have=20=

a problem, don't just repeat the technique, something else is wrong. In=20=

other words, don't beat a dead horse, you'll probably break your arm.=20
Use the arm of one of the many fine consultants who subscribe to this=20
list. They make their living (or try to) fixing Macs.

So, here goes, hold down Command (a.k.a. Apple key)-Option-O-F on=20
Startup. That's 4 keys. You'll get a scary grey screen with text that=20
tells you to let up on the 4 keys. At the prompt, type "reset-nvram"=20
and hit return. On the next line type, "reset-all" and hit return. The=20=

Mac will reboot, chime, and you'll have a reset Mac.

Remember, this is a low-level reset that does a number of functions=20
including clearing the PRAM and Power Manager for all OS X Macs with=20
Open Firmware installed. Use it sparingly. If your Mac is so hosed that=20=

it's not booting completely or exhibits very strange symptoms=97and I'm=20=

not just talking about apps quitting and icons not showing up=20
properly=97this is a good tool. If problems persist, look elsewhere.

Matthew

On Jun 2, 2004, at 8:21 PM, Ray Bowler wrote:

> At 5:22 PM -0400 on 6/2/04, CMSSpace@aol.com wrote about Re: [DM-MUG]=20=

> 3 crashes in 3 days:
>> I just had to add my opinion about this discussion.  Does anyone=20
>> running the X system feel like it is more complicated than Windows? I=20=

>> keep reading about "log" files and going to the prompt line and=20
>> typing in a bunch of commands.  Gee, this sounds like DOS and early=20=

>> windows stuff.
>
> OS X is much less complicated than Windows and in my experience than=20=

> OS 9. What you see about log files and the command line are from=20
> people who enjoy the Unix part of the command line.. When the same=20
> situations happen in Windows you call your friendly technician to fix=20=

> it. The ones talking about the CLI it are mostly technicians.  I have=20=

> never "had" to use the terminal. I have played with it a few times=20
> just because I had a spell of geekiness but it wasn't necessary. It is=20=

> less problems than my Windows machine at work. By the way I sometimes=20=

> miss the old DOS. More stable than Windows and the Mac OS
> --=20
> Ray
>
> Des Moines, IA Mac Users Group
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