Is this the original drive that is in the Cube or a replacement?
A buddy of mine is having the exact same problem. He installed a new 7200-rpm Maxtor drive and has had problems ever since. If it is a different drive, it could be running hotter than the old drive did and that could cause problems.
I was going to say "RAM problem" awhile back, but (I think) you said you switched out modules, etc. and it still happened. Your symptoms sound to very much to me like bad RAM. More than bad disk, but that could be it too. I'd investigate the RAM first, though.
I've had bad RAM modules in the past. The first time I got a bad module was back when System 7.6 was "the latest". The RAM test at startup caught the bad module. The last bad module I got passed the startup test but I had kernel panics like crazy (this was OS X). After replacing the module, all was well.
Try taking out any third party RAM you added and using the Cube like that for a couple of days (or as long as you expect it would take for the symptom to reappear). If it still has the problem, I would suspect the factory-installed RAM module (or is it souldered on the board?) before the hard drive, but, at that point, it's going to be easier to low-level format the drive and see if that fixes the trouble.
Norton Utilities is for diagnosing and repairing disk problems only. It won't test for any other problems. For disk and RAM (and more) testing, you should use TechTool Pro from Micromat (www.micromat.com).
My mother bought a new iMac and sadly, within four hours couldn't even boot up because of the kernel panics. Ran the hardware test CD and it sadi mem_2/4/ (or something like that). Called apple up, determined the factory installed RAM was bad (they were helpful and very apologetic I might add). Took it to the local apple reseller on Tuesday, got it back Friday, and she tells me it's working great now.
Hehehehe, yeah I did swap the RAM for a while a bit ago, but I can't actually remember what I did!!! I THINK I just put in 192 mb of RAM which it had before and was working fine. I also can't remember if it crashed or not.... which is kinda useless of me!!!
The hard disk is also the one which came with the computer, I upgraded it to 40gb with the build to order website. I don't know what make it is.
It says that the Deulxe version of Tech tools is like the 'lite' version. I'll look into Tech Tools Pro. Do you think they'll sell it anywhere in the UK?
Anyway, bad news, my parents just phoned saying the computer's completely broken, won't even boot up, just gets stuck on the booting screen with the gray background and the colourful balloon..... as far as I can tell from their descriptions on the phone. Quite funny, my parents are wierd. They just burst out laughing for 5 minutes when the bubble disappeared after I guided them through booting off one of the CDs which came with it. Then error messages came up (which as far as I could gather) told them something was wrong with the HD and you would have to Initialise it which would entail deleting everything on the HD. Doesn't sound good..... Will probably have to go back home this weekend and try and fix it (or at least get it to boot)!!! Anyway thanks for your help everyone so far!!!
Can you put the Cube in target disk mode like you did with the ibook? If so, try that with the ibook and salvage all the stuff off it. I'm still holding to the ram theory. Take it out and see how it works. Leave only the original 64megs that it came with in there. I know it'll be slow in OS X, but deal with it for a while to see if it crashes.
Yeah, I'll swap the RAM when I get back home. I'll also have a better idea of the problem...
Does it matter if you didn't keep your RAM in a very good place??? I mean I didn't really expect to use it and so I just stuffed it in the box the new RAM came in and without even the anti-static bag (I used that for the 128mb DIMM!). I know its stupid to keep RAM like that but hopefully its still OK, I mean no one touches the drawer its in....
Yeah, I'll swap the RAM when I get back home. I'll also have a better idea of the problem...
Does it matter if you didn't keep your RAM in a very good place??? I mean I didn't really expect to use it and so I just stuffed it in the box the new RAM came in and without even the anti-static bag (I used that for the 128mb DIMM!). I know its stupid to keep RAM like that but hopefully its still OK, I mean no one touches the drawer its in....
Something that strikes me as odd, is that there was no report of crashing when reformatting and re-installing the system software. Going through the process of reformatting and then installing OSX, upgrading OSX to the latest version, is something that now gives your Mac quite a workout.
I would recommend, making sure all cables are secure and it's plugged into a good powerstrip, zapping PRAM, reformatting hard drive, re-installing OSX and OS9, and then upgrading the system software to the latest versions.
Then I would run Apple's disk utility and check for errors.
If you've made it this far, I would highly doubt there's anything wrong with your Cube.
The thing is I can't seem to find anywhere which sells TechTools Pro in the UK..... I can find Norton everywhere in the Apple UK store and other places (for cheaper mind you!) but I've never seen TechTools Pro......
I kinda think Techtools will be better for me as it seems to check the RAM and processor and stuff. Alas....... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
Oh yeah, and I know this thread is about how awful Apple warranties are, having phoned Apple technical support about my iBook (the power supply only works at certain angles). I have to say .... if your product in under warranty they aren't half bad ..... its just when they aren't under warranty anymore .... instead of like MAYBE helping you or anything like just this once, they want money and everything. It just doesn't make you feel too much like a valued customer! I'm probably gonna upgrade my iBook warranty just to make sure even though I've had no major problems for it..... I just don't want a repeat of the Cube fiasco!!!
Oh yeah and for their next computer .... my parents won't have anything other than a PC!!!
OK, now I have an Apple Cube, not too old but old enough to be out of warranty (not too hard considering Apple's warranties) and now its almost completely kaput!!!! I crashes ALL the time (every day) even in Mac OS X (lastest update), covering the screen with scary UNIX-y black computer blurge saying stuff like cpu0 ... invalid stack .... hanging .... waiting for debugger..... and stuff, its not a pretty sight. I mean, I do know there is something wrong with the computer itself probably with the CPU or something. But what can I do??? Its not like a PC where I could just buy a new processor and upgrade it.....
The annoying thing is that to get it fixed by Apple, it'd cost £450! Also, this computer's being used by my parents and so I can't even help them when it crashes and doesn't boot up or does other wierd things because I'm not at home.... it gets incredibly frustrating telling them to reboot the computer over the phone over and over and over again until it starts working again. They really hate Apple now, I mean I've had a couple of PCs before the Cube, a Dell and a Gateway and some notebooks, but apart from Windows nonsense, they've been absolutely fine. This is the first computer to actually have the CPU fry or something. They were actually impressed and stuff when I showed them how to use it properly and showed them iPhoto and stuff, (in the middle of it crashing), but they just don't think that Apple makes good hardware. They think its was expensive (which is was admittedly), useless (currently it is ....) but looks good, it's just left a bad taste in their mouths.
I'm thinking of selling it on eBay, saying everything about it and saying stuff like, 'ideal for upgrading' as in the dual G4 cube and stuff. Figuring I could get about half the price of an iMac (selling the monitor as well) and then telling them to buy an iMac and just trust me. I mean my iBook is perfect, hasn't crashed ONCE!!!!! So I know Apple do make good computers usually, its just we got a dud. The stooopid warranty doesn't help either, I know we should have got an Applecare plan, but this was our first Apple, how were we to know the limitations of the warranty, I mean 90 days telephone support??? What's that??? I got LIFETIME telephone support with the Gateway??? And ONE year hardware warranty??? Couldn't they make it three??? I don't mind having to send the computer off its just people shouldn't have to buy extended warranties to get a half decent warranty!!!!
Anyway, damnit, rant just about over ..... anyone got any advise on what I should do???</strong><hr></blockquote>
LOL, I hate to say this, but I TOLD YOU SO!
Not you personally...I'm sorry about your troubles with that cube, nobody deserves that treatment from a computer, but...
When the cube was being made I ranted over and over about it's shortcomings, and I was constantly beset by AppleZombies who apologized for the cube and acted like it was actually a good computer. Well, it wasn't a good computer, it was sh!t on a stick, and I personally cannot believe anyone bought one. It was pur Sharper Image, a computer made for rich twats with more money than brains, for people who buy THINGS not to use but to impress their friends.
If you look around the net, you currently see complaints about the cube related to the same things I railed against when it was new:
1. Thermal wear. The cube runs too damn hot, and because of that it's life expectancy is short. Stories like yours are not uncommon, where perfectly working cubes mysteriously begin to freeze and crash all the time for no reason.
2. Overpriced. For LESS money, one can now buy an iMac with an LCD display. The mind reels at Apple's arrogant pricing scheme for the cube.
3. Non-upgradability. I've seen so many Cube owners whine about not being able to upgrade their video cards, or add a new CPU, or whatever. Well...what did you expect?!?!? For less money these cube owners could have bought Powermac towers and they wouldn't be whining now. Stupid consumers are apparently in abundant supply.
4. Non-expandable. Wha, wha, wha, why can't I add a PCI video card to my cube so I can use two displays with it? wha wha wha.
Now the chickens have come home to roost. Cube owners are discovering that looks aren't everything. Well, they should have thought of that before buying the cube. Sorry, but it was so obviously a bad product, that I have trouble understand why anyone would be surprised at the problems it now has.
The Cube is NOT indicative of other Macs, in fact it was a last-ditch effort by Apple to draw attention away from the 500 MHz G4 debacle. Apple was desperate to sell "powermacs" but without a speed bump, they had to do something else to get sales. The cube was it...and one Apple executive even bragged about the Cube having the greatest profit margins of any computer in the entire industry! LOL! No kidding...every cube sale was a brutal rape of some consumer's finances, but amazingly enough it was consensual!
Comments
Is this the original drive that is in the Cube or a replacement?
A buddy of mine is having the exact same problem. He installed a new 7200-rpm Maxtor drive and has had problems ever since. If it is a different drive, it could be running hotter than the old drive did and that could cause problems.
--Mike
I was going to say "RAM problem" awhile back, but (I think) you said you switched out modules, etc. and it still happened. Your symptoms sound to very much to me like bad RAM. More than bad disk, but that could be it too. I'd investigate the RAM first, though.
I've had bad RAM modules in the past. The first time I got a bad module was back when System 7.6 was "the latest". The RAM test at startup caught the bad module. The last bad module I got passed the startup test but I had kernel panics like crazy (this was OS X). After replacing the module, all was well.
Try taking out any third party RAM you added and using the Cube like that for a couple of days (or as long as you expect it would take for the symptom to reappear). If it still has the problem, I would suspect the factory-installed RAM module (or is it souldered on the board?) before the hard drive, but, at that point, it's going to be easier to low-level format the drive and see if that fixes the trouble.
Norton Utilities is for diagnosing and repairing disk problems only. It won't test for any other problems. For disk and RAM (and more) testing, you should use TechTool Pro from Micromat (www.micromat.com).
edit: going to the Micromat, TechTool web pages I see things have changed for that product. What you'll want is "TechTool Deluxe" which is, apparently, only available with an AppleCare plan: <a href="http://www.micromat.com/deluxe/main_techTool_Deluxe.html"; target="_blank">http://www.micromat.com/deluxe/main_techTool_Deluxe.html</a>;
[ 04-29-2002: Message edited by: spotbug ]</p>
My mother bought a new iMac and sadly, within four hours couldn't even boot up because of the kernel panics. Ran the hardware test CD and it sadi mem_2/4/ (or something like that). Called apple up, determined the factory installed RAM was bad (they were helpful and very apologetic I might add). Took it to the local apple reseller on Tuesday, got it back Friday, and she tells me it's working great now.
The hard disk is also the one which came with the computer, I upgraded it to 40gb with the build to order website. I don't know what make it is.
It says that the Deulxe version of Tech tools is like the 'lite' version. I'll look into Tech Tools Pro. Do you think they'll sell it anywhere in the UK?
Anyway, bad news, my parents just phoned saying the computer's completely broken, won't even boot up, just gets stuck on the booting screen with the gray background and the colourful balloon..... as far as I can tell from their descriptions on the phone. Quite funny, my parents are wierd. They just burst out laughing for 5 minutes when the bubble disappeared after I guided them through booting off one of the CDs which came with it. Then error messages came up (which as far as I could gather) told them something was wrong with the HD and you would have to Initialise it which would entail deleting everything on the HD. Doesn't sound good..... Will probably have to go back home this weekend and try and fix it (or at least get it to boot)!!! Anyway thanks for your help everyone so far!!!
Does it matter if you didn't keep your RAM in a very good place???
Does it matter if you didn't keep your RAM in a very good place???
I would recommend, making sure all cables are secure and it's plugged into a good powerstrip, zapping PRAM, reformatting hard drive, re-installing OSX and OS9, and then upgrading the system software to the latest versions.
Then I would run Apple's disk utility and check for errors.
If you've made it this far, I would highly doubt there's anything wrong with your Cube.
I kinda think Techtools will be better for me as it seems to check the RAM and processor and stuff. Alas....... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
Oh yeah and for their next computer .... my parents won't have anything other than a PC!!!
<strong>***RANT******
OK, now I have an Apple Cube, not too old but old enough to be out of warranty (not too hard considering Apple's warranties) and now its almost completely kaput!!!! I crashes ALL the time (every day) even in Mac OS X (lastest update), covering the screen with scary UNIX-y black computer blurge saying stuff like cpu0 ... invalid stack .... hanging .... waiting for debugger..... and stuff, its not a pretty sight. I mean, I do know there is something wrong with the computer itself probably with the CPU or something. But what can I do??? Its not like a PC where I could just buy a new processor and upgrade it.....
The annoying thing is that to get it fixed by Apple, it'd cost £450! Also, this computer's being used by my parents and so I can't even help them when it crashes and doesn't boot up or does other wierd things because I'm not at home.... it gets incredibly frustrating telling them to reboot the computer over the phone over and over and over again until it starts working again. They really hate Apple now, I mean I've had a couple of PCs before the Cube, a Dell and a Gateway and some notebooks, but apart from Windows nonsense, they've been absolutely fine. This is the first computer to actually have the CPU fry or something. They were actually impressed and stuff when I showed them how to use it properly and showed them iPhoto and stuff, (in the middle of it crashing), but they just don't think that Apple makes good hardware. They think its was expensive (which is was admittedly), useless (currently it is ....) but looks good, it's just left a bad taste in their mouths.
I'm thinking of selling it on eBay, saying everything about it and saying stuff like, 'ideal for upgrading' as in the dual G4 cube and stuff. Figuring I could get about half the price of an iMac (selling the monitor as well) and then telling them to buy an iMac and just trust me. I mean my iBook is perfect, hasn't crashed ONCE!!!!! So I know Apple do make good computers usually, its just we got a dud. The stooopid warranty doesn't help either, I know we should have got an Applecare plan, but this was our first Apple, how were we to know the limitations of the warranty, I mean 90 days telephone support??? What's that??? I got LIFETIME telephone support with the Gateway??? And ONE year hardware warranty??? Couldn't they make it three??? I don't mind having to send the computer off its just people shouldn't have to buy extended warranties to get a half decent warranty!!!!
Anyway, damnit, rant just about over ..... anyone got any advise on what I should do???</strong><hr></blockquote>
LOL, I hate to say this, but I TOLD YOU SO!
Not you personally...I'm sorry about your troubles with that cube, nobody deserves that treatment from a computer, but...
When the cube was being made I ranted over and over about it's shortcomings, and I was constantly beset by AppleZombies who apologized for the cube and acted like it was actually a good computer. Well, it wasn't a good computer, it was sh!t on a stick, and I personally cannot believe anyone bought one. It was pur Sharper Image, a computer made for rich twats with more money than brains, for people who buy THINGS not to use but to impress their friends.
If you look around the net, you currently see complaints about the cube related to the same things I railed against when it was new:
1. Thermal wear. The cube runs too damn hot, and because of that it's life expectancy is short. Stories like yours are not uncommon, where perfectly working cubes mysteriously begin to freeze and crash all the time for no reason.
2. Overpriced. For LESS money, one can now buy an iMac with an LCD display. The mind reels at Apple's arrogant pricing scheme for the cube.
3. Non-upgradability. I've seen so many Cube owners whine about not being able to upgrade their video cards, or add a new CPU, or whatever. Well...what did you expect?!?!? For less money these cube owners could have bought Powermac towers and they wouldn't be whining now. Stupid consumers are apparently in abundant supply.
4. Non-expandable. Wha, wha, wha, why can't I add a PCI video card to my cube so I can use two displays with it? wha wha wha.
Now the chickens have come home to roost. Cube owners are discovering that looks aren't everything. Well, they should have thought of that before buying the cube. Sorry, but it was so obviously a bad product, that I have trouble understand why anyone would be surprised at the problems it now has.
The Cube is NOT indicative of other Macs, in fact it was a last-ditch effort by Apple to draw attention away from the 500 MHz G4 debacle. Apple was desperate to sell "powermacs" but without a speed bump, they had to do something else to get sales. The cube was it...and one Apple executive even bragged about the Cube having the greatest profit margins of any computer in the entire industry! LOL! No kidding...every cube sale was a brutal rape of some consumer's finances, but amazingly enough it was consensual!