iGary's Fracking Trouble With Apple Part 1,252™

[iGary]

Beware of that Belkin card. Don't want things to be thrown out of loop again.

I threw it out.

 

[Ryan T.]

I think I've read here on MR that people who have emailed intelligent and poignant emails to "Steve Jobs" have received much better response (but from whomever filters his emails).

I've emailed Steve Jobs when I was having concerns over Apples quality control (some issues with Powerbooks, G5), and I received a call the next day from an "Executive Relations Specialist", who seemed to have the ability to make things happen. I had a product replaced less than a week later.

 

[yoda13]

I had to take my computer to the store to have it diagnosed because I had OWC ram in it. Applecare wouldn't help me. Store did though, it was the RAM, now its fixed, and no charges.

iGary, I sure hope you get your stuff fixed soon. Too much money for too many problems...

 

[Kingsly]

I've emailed Steve Jobs when I was having concerns over Apples quality control (some issues with Powerbooks, G5), and I received a call the next day from an "Executive Relations Specialist", who seemed to have the ability to make things happen. I had a product replaced less than a week later.

Good to hear. Perhaps I can get a new MBP that doesn't burn me. And iGary, perhaps a new G5?

 

[iGary]

I'm seriously about to lose my mind. I even cried when I was on hold. I told the guy I might as well be burning 100 dollar bills because that is what it's costing me to play this game. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO "It just works?"

Here's where we are:

Fourth AppleCare person today (and the biggest ass so far):

Remove HDD with all my software etc. on it and do an erase and install on a totally clean drive. Do not add software updates, do not pass go, do not collect $200.00.

Now I am putting it into a deep sleep with the 8GB of Crucial RAM that I have in it (I stupidly sold the 2X512 it came with) to see if it locks up on wake up like it had been doing. I have to wait an hour while it does this so it goes into "deep sleep."

Now, if it does what it is supposed to and wakes back up again, it's RAM or software. So, I had Apple overnight me 2X256 of Apple Certified RAM so I can try the test with only their RAM in it.

If it behaves properly and wakes without locking up and going into full fan blowout with only the Apple RAM, then how the hell do I test 8GB of RAM to find out which DIMMs are faulty, for Chris's sake? Just call Crucial and tell them that Apple said it all failed their hardware test (lie)?

I also asked him - what if it is a piece of software - nothing I run is off of P2P or haxie-type stuff...does anyone realize how long it would take to isolate a piece of software?

It passed the full diagnostic at the store, including the RAM.

Excuse me, I'm going to go run in front of a bus now.

 

[disconap]

I have to say I am very impressed with the way I was treated. I guess they new they weren't dealing with a complete idiot, which makes their life easier.

Sorry, had to. It made me laugh.

On the serious side, don't run in front of a bus. If it turns out to be the RAM, go here and run the app, it should tell you which one is ****ing up...

 

[Kingsly]

Im serious iGary, copy all your "Trouble with Apple" threads into an e-mail and send it to steve@apple.com

if you must jump in front of a bus, please revise your will to include me (I could use a new display, and perhaps a backup iPod)

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

Was that sarcasm or..?

steve@apple.com isn't his email address. d'oh.

 

[DMPDX]

well with that plethora of thousand dollar software, I wouldnt be crying. Arrange an inspectiion at an apple store, thats what they had me do for my pb. then theyll either send it off to be repaired/replaced or tell you to go suck your thumb. It worked for me though.
-dsm

 

[iGary]

Sorry, had to. It made me laugh.

On the serious side, don't run in front of a bus. If it turns out to be the RAM, go here and run the app, it should tell you which one is ****ing up...

LOL...Derrrr me.

 

[Mac_Freak]

Just try testing the RAM with only one stick at a time. Chances are that it will lock up before system fully loads.

Just so you know I also had a problem with my Mac locking up after sleep. I have run an Apple Hardware test and it would pass everything. Then I have tried rotating the order of my Ram sticks, and a s a result lockup on boot. Luckily I had a lifetime warranty from a great Apple reseller and they have replaced it for free and I haven't have any issues since.

 

[iGary]

Just try testing the RAM with only one stick at a time. Chances are that it will lock up before system fully loads.

Just so you know I also had a problem with my Mac locking up after sleep. I have run an Apple Hardware test and it would pass everything. Then I have tried rotating the order of my Ram sticks, and a s a result lockup on boot. Luckily I had a lifetime warranty from a great Apple reseller and they have replaced it for free and I haven't have any issues since.

Yeah, that is next - I'll pull out all but 2X1GB sticks and try them one at a time - should I use the same "center" slot for each pair?

 

[Mac_Freak]

Good luck with testing your RAM, cup of coffee might help

 

[iGary]

Good luck with testing your RAM, cup of coffee might help

Any specific slots I should start with first?

I'm thinking the center two.

 

[Mac_Freak]

Any specific slots I should start with first?

I'm thinking the center two.

Try the first two that appear in the System Profiler. That will be my best guess, as I don't know how they map to the slots on the MotherBoard

 

[nospleen]

Put the whole damn setup on ebay and buy a QUAD... I could hardly take it if I were you!

 

[bodeh6]

Maybe now it is time to fire up the more realiable Dell that you have

 

[nospleen]

Uh Oh... That is going to leave a mark.

 

[iGary]

Maybe now it is time to fire up the more realiable Dell that you have

I don't have it anymore. I couldn't take it...wait...I can't take this either.

I'm donig this last set of tests VERY carefully so they have no excuses when I call them when it effs up again.

 

[DeepIn2U]

..."It must be software." I told him that I have reinstalled the OS four times on two different drives and swapped which slots they are in, but he says kernel panics are almost always software related, so fine, I go home and reinstall everything. (It kernel panicked during the install - LOL).

So after installing the OS, I unplug all the peripherals except the mouse, which I plug into the front, and the monitor, sans firewire and USB.

Firist I add all Apple software (Aperture, iLife etc. etc.) and try to sleep it etc. Fine, no worries. Then I work for a while and figure it is safe to add the rest of my software. After reinstalling all the stuff I have to have, it works fine, and will sleep, but not automatically (through system preferences) after a specified period of time. I have to do it manually. I try unplugging a bunch of peripherals and still same result.

Ok iGary ... I'm not an Apple user but a BIG fan ... Hoping that I have at least half the Mula your spending to repair this situation - that I could even buy a Mac. You've just about exhausted ALL points of hardware issues. Nothing too isolated to just one but to 3 instances, USB expansion card, iPod Nanos, and even the video card. but you mentioned in the quote above that 1> installing the OS failed ... I must ask which OS? The one that came with your PowerMac G5 Liquey, OR updated OS? Also all these devices that have been connected user firmware (video card, possible Logic Board firmware due to the replacement CPU - is it the same generation? and also that Belkin USB expansion card that rests in the garbage.)

But the major point missed that you just noticed (how long does it take to install all this software ..) you GOTTA do one-by-one. Its a must to rule out their 4 hour test of the issue being related to software. Is there any specific software that you run that needs direct access to the cpu, or video card or that takes presedence of those 2 components?

Remember, the PowerMac G5 is a fine tool, a professionals tool. It hurts to see your productivity go down the tubes, but it also hurts to hear your ready to cry. So go at this like the professional you are ... think of the days of a building set made of Lego ... dissect it!

 

[Kingsly]

Was that sarcasm or..?

steve@apple.com isn't his email address. d'oh.

Yes, I was being sarcastic.

Yes, that is his address, according to the front desk at Cupertino.

 

[iGary]

Ok iGary ... I'm not an Apple user but a BIG fan ... Hoping that I have at least half the Mula your spending to repair this situation - that I could even buy a Mac. You've just about exhausted ALL points of hardware issues. Nothing too isolated to just one but to 3 instances, USB expansion card, iPod Nanos, and even the video card. but you mentioned in the quote above that 1> installing the OS failed ... I must ask which OS? The one that came with your PowerMac G5 Liquey, OR updated OS?


The one that came with the system originally. They told me NOT to run the software updates. Period.




Also all these devices that have been connected user firmware (video card, possible Logic Board firmware due to the replacement CPU - is it the same generation? and also that Belkin USB expansion card that rests in the garbage.)


The video card is original equipment. The logic board was not replaced...



But the major point missed that you just noticed (how long does it take to install all this software ..) you GOTTA do one-by-one. Its a must to rule out their 4 hour test of the issue being related to software. Is there any specific software that you run that needs direct access to the cpu, or video card or that takes presedence of those 2 components?

Yeah, that is tomorrow. And I have been doing each one by one.

Remember, the PowerMac G5 is a fine tool, a professionals tool. It hurts to see your productivity go down the tubes, but it also hurts to hear your ready to cry. So go at this like the professional you are ... think of the days of a building set made of Lego ... dissect it!

I'm on RAM pair 3 as we speak.

 

[solvs]

I must ask which OS?

Or what disk? I'm guessing they tried their own disk at the Apple Store, but did they give you a new install disk to try? Would suck if it really was a software thing.

Otherwise, if this keeps up, I'd just request a brand spanking new machine. It's the least they can do. Isn't there some sort of lemon law on these things or something. I had a friend who's rev. A iMac blew up because of that capacitor issue and they just gave him a new model.

 

[puckhead193]

iGary i think you need some TLC (and no not the group) How much work are you missing out because of this crap?

My brother's G5, i think its a dual 2.5 with a 23" ACD has a weird problem. it won't sleep. the screen will go blank then it will turn back on...its the weird thing. He's brought it to apple (which is a pain because carrying that fracking thing is pain in the mall) and they said its past the tests... weird

 

[iGary]

iGary i think you need some TLC (and no not the group) How much work are you missing out because of this crap?

My brother's G5, i think its a dual 2.5 with a 23" ACD has a weird problem. it won't sleep. the screen will go blank then it will turn back on...its the weird thing. He's brought it to apple (which is a pain because carrying that fracking thing is pain in the mall) and they said its past the tests... weird

I went over to the Apple Forums tonight and it is LITTERED with similar complaints.