Honeywmoon with Intel iMac...Is Over..Need Help!

[wpwj40e]

Although it's the probably the least of your worries, I can possibly fix your VLC issue - do you have the universal binary version of it? Because the current version will not work with the Intel machines. Grab the x86 version and it should work. But I realize you have bigger problems to deal with as well...

Think I am ready to try this again. Have gone almost 8 hours without a crash and without having to wipe my system clean....maybe rebooting a zillion times to get memtest to work did the trick

Thanks
Therese

 

[mkrishnan]

Do they use the disks when they build the image of the machine from the factory - or is there some sort of default image? Reason I ask is I had the problem before I did the archive/clean install and after. If they use the disks from the get go then that makes sense - otherwise....???

Therese, they use images at the factory, but they've probably updated both the images and the discs... they do so regularly.

 

[Phase IV]

Apps on my new iMac also crash frequently!

Similar to wpwj40e's problems, applications on my new iMac 2Ghz, 2GB Apple memory, crash not infrequently.
The crashes don't render my computer unusable, but I also have had Safari (frequently), iTunes (several times), and EndNote (every now and then) crash!
Maybe, the whole system is still a little bit unstable?!

 

[wpwj40e]

Similar to wpwj40e's problems, applications on my new iMac 2Ghz, 2GB Apple memory, crash not infrequently.
The crashes don't render my computer unusable, but I also have had Safari (frequently), iTunes (several times), and EndNote (every now and then) crash!
Maybe, the whole system is still a little bit unstable?!

As much as your gonna hate hearing this...it appears that a clean install (okay 2 of them!) and rebooting the machine about 10x has made it more stable. I have not been on it much today...but knock on whatever wood is available - have not had a crash since.

Gonna try some of the stuff that used to make it do it pretty consistantly and report back - but for now...maybe it has gotten over it. Sounds like a flu or something

If not I want a new machine or my wintel box back... That's how bad it was...so here's hoping...
Therese

 

[wpwj40e]

Nevermind...it's back doing the crash thing....All it took was opening my AOL browser, opening an email and deleting it. WHAM BAM crash.

Then did the copy a thread from this forum into word - WHAM BAM crash.

Then opened 3 browser windows with tab browsing - opened the windows with tabs enabled - WHAM BAM crash....

At least these I can do repeatedly - the other crashes I have yet to associate a set of events that lead up to them... Other than non universal binaries and the like.

iTunes crashes intermittantly - but don't know why, actually so does about every app - but again its intermittant and I have no clue - cannot make it repeatable except for the above events.

WIll be talking to tech support early next week - if this does not get resolved - and no more reformats either - sorry to say am going back to my wintel box - way too aggravating/frustrating. I know I can avoid AOL - have most of the 15+ years of website/register etc moved over to another account - have set it up with mail - but tabbed browsing and the intermittant - stuff just sucks. And oh by the way when it does crash whatever you were working is corrupted - so word docs - gone, photos gone - you get the picture.

So much for switching....I'm afraid even typing a post this long...

Therese

 

[mikeyredk]

That AOL client might be using a plugin, do you have any plugins installed for itunes?

 

[wpwj40e]

That AOL client might be using a plugin, do you have any plugins installed for itunes?

Not using the AOL client. It does not even work with INTEL iMac - Had AOL dial up for years - just got DLS last week - so luckily did not have to fuss too much with it. Oh and by the way - earthlink and AOL do not have dial up clients that work with INTEL iMacs right now. So...just using the aol browser mail - which anyone can get to from an machine...well...except for me!

Have no plug ins for iTunes - pretty much this machine is as I got it - as everything got blown away with the archive restore and then the reformats and have not bothered loading much on it.

Therese

 

[Phase IV]

Not using the AOL client. It does not even work with INTEL iMac - Had AOL dial up for years - just got DLS last week - so luckily did not have to fuss too much with it. Oh and by the way - earthlink and AOL do not have dial up clients that work with INTEL iMacs right now. So...just using the aol browser mail - which anyone can get to from an machine...well...except for me!

Have no plug ins for iTunes - pretty much this machine is as I got it - as everything got blown away with the archive restore and then the reformats and have not bothered loading much on it.

Therese

Are you running any PowerPC applications in the background? For some reason, I have the feeling my crashes started after installing PowerPC applications on my iMac, and that crashes are more frequent when I have Rosetta-emulated applications (like Word or EndNote) open in the background. Maybe try to run Safari by itself. Just a thought, though.

 

[wpwj40e]

Are you running any PowerPC applications in the background? For some reason, I have the feeling my crashes started after installing PowerPC applications on my iMac, and that crashes are more frequent when I have Rosetta-emulated applications (like Word or EndNote) open in the background. Maybe try to run Safari by itself. Just a thought, though.

Thanks for the tip. I will try that - yes I have been running PPC apps in the background. I.E. The example of copying to WORD for instance. I also get Safari crashes with just Safari running.

But will see if making sure all non UB apps are closed makes a difference in iTunes/iPhoto etc.

Thanks
Therese

 

[truz]

I have no clue if this will help but try turning Rosetta on in Safari (Go-> Applications-> right click Safari (hold control + click mouse)-> Get Info-> Check the box that says "Open using Rosetta")

Currently the only issue I'm having with the INTEL iMac is it going into sleep mode and not turning back on, I'm having to do a hard shutdown by holding the power button down in the back of the imac and pushing it again for it to power on. I have tried hitting a key on the keyboard, clicking mouse and pushing the power button once as well as pushing buttons on the remote Oh, well maybe I'll find a fix.......


**edit** I have to say that tech support link was very funny and on the windows world VERY TRUE! I have yet to test it on mac so I'll take your word on it being true.. Its an easy way for businesses to hire tech support staff (business: here guy, watch this video on formatting hard drives, this is all you will need to know )

 

[wpwj40e]

I have no clue if this will help but try turning Rosetta on in Safari (Go-> Applications-> right click Safari (hold control + click mouse)-> Get Info-> Check the box that says "Open using Rosetta")

Currently the only issue I'm having with the INTEL iMac is it going into sleep mode and not turning back on, I'm having to do a hard shutdown by holding the power button down in the back of the imac and pushing it again for it to power on. I have tried hitting a key on the keyboard, clicking mouse and pushing the power button once as well as pushing buttons on the remote Oh, well maybe I'll find a fix.......


**edit** I have to say that tech support link was very funny and on the windows world VERY TRUE! I have yet to test it on mac so I'll take your word on it being true.. Its an easy way for businesses to hire tech support staff (business: here guy, watch this video on formatting hard drives, this is all you will need to know )

Have also had the sleep issue - as well as intermittant problems with the desktop coming back after using front row or for that matter getting front row to come on.

Now am hearing hard drive chattering when there is absolutely nothing going on in the machine. In other words, no downloads, no backups, sitting across the room without any applications open and the hard drive starts grinding away like it is doing some heavy lifting. Goes on for about 30 minutes then stops.

Really think there is something VERY wrong with this machine. It has grown noticeably slower. In the first few days I could have many apps open and function without seeing the spinning wheel. Now see it all the time with just one or two apps open. Mind you I have LESS on the machine now as after all the reinstalls most of downloaded/loaded apps are gone. This is pretty much with the software that ships.

Well - waiting for tech support. Will see what happens.

Therese

 

[xyian]

I feel bad for you Therese. I am somewhat wondering that 10.4.4 might be the culprit. My Quicksilver was fine until I got the new iLife and had to update. All of a sudden I got a lot of kernel crashes and then things started dissappearing. I couldn't get the clock or search magnifier to display in the menu. I ended up having to reformat(lost some things as well) and now it seems to be okay with 10.4.3. Your machine probably can't run that though.
I hope they just replace it for you. Companies should do that but I also understand why they can't do that all the time.

 

[XIII]

Which country are you in? Apple store around?

I would get it in there, demand a replacement/refund. You shouldn't have to be doing this with a brand new machine, tell them that, and get what you need/want. If you don't have an Apple store near, then get onto Customer Service, not tech support. Tech support are useless. At customer service, keep asking for the manager until you get as high as you can. Then simply state your case, say tech support have ****ed around and not found a solution, replace/refund me.

Good luck.

 

[wpwj40e]

Which country are you in? Apple store around?

I would get it in there, demand a replacement/refund. You shouldn't have to be doing this with a brand new machine, tell them that, and get what you need/want. If you don't have an Apple store near, then get onto Customer Service, not tech support. Tech support are useless. At customer service, keep asking for the manager until you get as high as you can. Then simply state your case, say tech support have ****ed around and not found a solution, replace/refund me.

Good luck.

Not having much luck. Customer support (mgr level) claims they are not technically competent - and that I have to go back to tech support. Tech support states they need to do further diagnostics and that I have to do another clean install while reformatting the hard drive......again. Without me doing this no one wants to budge. And ...it all has to be done by 6pm Pacific time - Mon-FRI. So in order to do this I have to take off of work to spend all day (it takes hours and hours to reformat these harddrives as I have painfully discovered) playing with this.

Gotta tell you- I am sick of this...Even if they ever got it working - or sent me a replacement - not sure I wanna go through this. On my windows machine as much as the OS sucks - I can at least trouble 99% of what I had and reinstall or play with parts until I get it where I want to be. It was not a pleasant day to day expereince - and windows problems/ hardware software are just as bad - but at least I was in control of those and could solve them by running down to FRy's - buying a new HD whatever...

I really am tired of the Apple "way of life" at the moment...
Therese

 

[Clix Pix]

I notice you mention that you had AOL dialup for years and then just last week or so moved to DSL.... Is it DSL in connection with AOL or is it totally different? There may be some special configuration that AOL uses in its DSL setup. You mentioned, too, though, that you're not using the AOL client and AOL software -- thank goodness! -- one problem area that can be eliminated. However, I am wondering if possibly there is some glitch in the new DSL connectivity and that it is causing a conflict with your new iMac. ??

 

[bigfib]

Inline WMP & real Audio/video

This is a bit of a strange one, I'm really sorry to hear you're having problems. Safari hasn't cashed once on me and VLC (PPC version - where can i get the intel version!) is flawless - The only things (very annoying) that aint working properly for me are 1) plugins for QT, so that i can watch all avi's and wmv's with it, 2)flash in browser - no flash or anything seems to work at all.. 3) i cannot stream through WMP.

Only real problems ive had

For what it's worth, on my intel 17" imac Safari is rock solid too. I'm running the ox86 vlc player which works fine (the ppc version did not work for me), and MS word X service release 1 works with no probs at all, including pasting from safari...

Hey, bakedbeans, if you find solutions to the inline WMP and REAL then please let me know... that's irritating me too...

 

[XIII]

Not having much luck. Customer support (mgr level) claims they are not technically competent - and that I have to go back to tech support. Tech support states they need to do further diagnostics and that I have to do another clean install while reformatting the hard drive......again. Without me doing this no one wants to budge. And ...it all has to be done by 6pm Pacific time - Mon-FRI. So in order to do this I have to take off of work to spend all day (it takes hours and hours to reformat these harddrives as I have painfully discovered) playing with this.

Gotta tell you- I am sick of this...Even if they ever got it working - or sent me a replacement - not sure I wanna go through this. On my windows machine as much as the OS sucks - I can at least trouble 99% of what I had and reinstall or play with parts until I get it where I want to be. It was not a pleasant day to day expereince - and windows problems/ hardware software are just as bad - but at least I was in control of those and could solve them by running down to FRy's - buying a new HD whatever...

I really am tired of the Apple "way of life" at the moment...
Therese

I can tell you this is highly unusual, stick in there, the OS and "apple way of life" is definately worth it. You've done the hard part getting the Mac and switching.

Ok, let technical support tell you to do a clean install. Tell them you will do it. Don't do it. Tell them the problems are persisting (after a suitable time frame which would've allowed you to clean install). If they ask you to do anything else, go awol. Ask for managers everywhere, refunds, replacements.. tell them how angry you are at Apple, how bloated and ridiculous their phone service is. Good luck once more.

 

[wpwj40e]

I can tell you this is highly unusual, stick in there, the OS and "apple way of life" is definately worth it. You've done the hard part getting the Mac and switching.

Ok, let technical support tell you to do a clean install. Tell them you will do it. Don't do it. Tell them the problems are persisting (after a suitable time frame which would've allowed you to clean install). If they ask you to do anything else, go awol. Ask for managers everywhere, refunds, replacements.. tell them how angry you are at Apple, how bloated and ridiculous their phone service is. Good luck once more.

Thanks for the words of advice. Having just survived another kernel panic ...I believe that's the MAC term for machine shut down and gibberish is all over the place. Losing my networks etc...And being placed on holfd for tech support - long enough for them to leave for the day and miss the "cut off" - I can tell you I am frustrated.

I now need to move evrything off this machine and back to my wintel box - get it all spiffed up again as I have to have something to work with as this machine is toast.

It appears I may be in for a long haul to either eventually get a replacment or a refund and I will have to take some leave to even deal with tech support and try all these things.

The really bad news is I was so excited the first few days before heavily using the machine and having all these problems , I talked one of my neighbors into one....well....least they saw my enthusiasm and purchased one from the local apple store. Their first (20 in basic) was DOA within the first day - the second they took back yesterday - said all the programs were crashing. Only knew this PM as we talked due to "garbage day" - asked them how was the new computer....JEEZ - do I feel like an idiot!

Oh well...live and learn!

 

[wpwj40e]

I notice you mention that you had AOL dialup for years and then just last week or so moved to DSL.... Is it DSL in connection with AOL or is it totally different? There may be some special configuration that AOL uses in its DSL setup. You mentioned, too, though, that you're not using the AOL client and AOL software -- thank goodness! -- one problem area that can be eliminated. However, I am wondering if possibly there is some glitch in the new DSL connectivity and that it is causing a conflict with your new iMac. ??

Thanks for tip...The DSL is with QWEST, Cannot run any AOL software(not that I want to) The AOL I use is the browser email to get my mail - well - I really can't use that on the iMac - due to the problems, it also happens with Apple widgets from their site - about every other one...

Anyways...while I did not think it was DSL - who know - so trucked the machine to my friends house (he has cable hi speed - COX) and same stuff happened there. In fact I now have machine shut downs intermittantly - well only 2 to date - so who knows. But the i stuff crashes etc - again intermittantly - even with a competely different network. So think that probably alleviates DSL as the culprit.

Given that my neighbor just informed me they returned their machine (the 2nd one I might add) for as he put it "always crashing with anything i" I'm beginning to think it is not just my machine but a problem perhaps with the early builds. I ordered mine within an hour of the keynote and my neighbor got his when they first hit the stores(Apple).

Don't know anymore - but have tested everything I can think of. Willing to do all kinds of testing if it does not involve reinstalling and reformatting again and fixes this dang machine!!!! I WANT it to work!

Thanks!

 

[jsw]

It sure sounds like it's a hardware issue. In fact, it seems to me that many of the complaints I've seen have been with 20"/256MB VRAM systems, so perhaps they're particularly flaky.

FWIW, the 17" I just got last Wednesday has worked flawlessly (well, Front Row has some issues, but I'm not sure it's the iMac's fault), and I've been using it 8+ hours per day since then, doing Java development (and posting here, of course). So not all Intel iMacs have issues, and they should be able to fix yours.

 

[wpwj40e]

UPDATE - Bad Hard Drive

Just wanted to update those that have been so kind with the tips and help.

Tech support worked with me and it appears I have a bad hard drive. So new machine is on it's way!!! Gonna try this again.

Thanks so much for everyone's support and help.

Therese

 

[~Shard~]

Just wanted to update those that have been so kind with the tips and help.

Tech support worked with me and it appears I have a bad hard drive. So new machine is on it's way!!! Gonna try this again.

Thanks so much for everyone's support and help.

Therese

Glad to hear they identified the problem, and sorry that your Mac experience had to be such a frustrating one. I hope you have no issues whatsoever when you get your new machine, but if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask them here.

 

[XIII]

Just wanted to update those that have been so kind with the tips and help.

Tech support worked with me and it appears I have a bad hard drive. So new machine is on it's way!!! Gonna try this again.

Thanks so much for everyone's support and help.

Therese

Well done hanging in, good luck with the new one.

I hope my 20"/256mb vram doesn't have these problems... :S