Two Kernal Panics in Two Days. :(

[iShane]

Hello all,

Yesterday I left my computer on for a while and when I came home it was shut down. When I started it back up it gave me some alert and then a message came up saying something about a Kernal Panic. I wasn't too worried because it was my first one. But today while doing a Video Chat it gave me that "You Need to Restart You're Computer" message and so I did. So I'm worried now. What kind of things should I do? I have Applecare, if this messes up my iMac G5 what will they do about it? I'm kinda new the Kernal Panics, so any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[mklos]

Have you upgraded the RAM? If so take it out and using it without the RAM for a while. You may of had a stick of RAM go bad on you. If you haven't, then it still may be bad RAM as the standard RAM stick may of gone bad.

Do a repair of permissions (which probably won't fix the issue, but its good to do it every once in a while anyways) You can repair the permissions by going to Disk Utility (Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility) and click on your HD and then click on Repair Disk Permissions.

When thats done leave Disk Utility up and click on Verify Disk and see if it comes back with any issues.

You can also boot from the Apple Hardware Diagnostic CD, which may be part of your 1st Restore DVD. That all depends on the Mac. Post back if thats the case and I'll show you how to get it to boot from the Apple Hardware Diagnostic CD if its on the Restore DVD.

If nothing comes up, do an archive and install of Mac OS X which will reinstall OS X, but keep your apps, documents, settings, emails, etc... It will ONLY reinstall the OS X folder. If you do so, remember you'll probably need to reinstall all of the OS X updates again.

If it still does it, take it to Apple and have them look it over.

 

[iShane]

Have you upgraded the RAM? If so take it out and using it without the RAM for a while. You may of had a stick of RAM go bad on you. If you haven't, then it still may be bad RAM as the standard RAM stick may of gone bad.

Do a repair of permissions (which probably won't fix the issue, but its good to do it every once in a while anyways) You can repair the permissions by going to Disk Utility (Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility) and click on your HD and then click on Repair Disk Permissions.

When thats done leave Disk Utility up and click on Verify Disk and see if it comes back with any issues.

You can also boot from the Apple Hardware Diagnostic CD, which may be part of your 1st Restore DVD. That all depends on the Mac. Post back if thats the case and I'll show you how to get it to boot from the Apple Hardware Diagnostic CD if its on the Restore DVD.

If nothing comes up, do an archive and install of Mac OS X which will reinstall OS X, but keep your apps, documents, settings, emails, etc... It will ONLY reinstall the OS X folder. If you do so, remember you'll probably need to reinstall all of the OS X updates again.

If it still does it, take it to Apple and have them look it over.

Taking out the RAM isn't dangerous at all is it? Also, how will I know which RAM is the original and which RAM is the upgrade?

Thanks for your reply!

 

[mklos]

No its not dangerous at all as long as the iMac is turned off. The only thing you'll notice is that the iMac will probably be slower in what it does. Also, its a good idea to ground yourself BEFORE taking out the RAM.

It really doesn't matter which stick you take out. Just take one out, run the iMac for a while and see if it kernel panics. If it does, put that stick back in and take the other one out and see if it does it. If it still does it, then its not a RAM problem as I would find it hard to believe that both sticks went bad. That would be very unusual, but not entirely impossible. Apple could determine that, or if you have a known working stick of RAM that fits your particular iMac stick it in there. If its 256MB or higher OS X will run ok, but not great.

I had a 1.8 GHz iMac G5 and the Apple RAM was Hynix RAM. It could also be Samsung RAM. Sometimes Apple RAM will say Apple Memory Module on it, or have the Apple Logo on the sticker.

 

[iShane]

No its not dangerous at all as long as the iMac is turned off. The only thing you'll notice is that the iMac will probably be slower in what it does. Also, its a good idea to ground yourself BEFORE taking out the RAM.

It really doesn't matter which stick you take out. Just take one out, run the iMac for a while and see if it kernel panics. If it does, put that stick back in and take the other one out and see if it does it. If it still does it, then its not a RAM problem as I would find it hard to believe that both sticks went bad. That would be very unusual, but not entirely impossible. Apple could determine that, or if you have a known working stick of RAM that fits your particular iMac stick it in there. If its 256MB or higher OS X will run ok, but not great.

I had a 1.8 GHz iMac G5 and the Apple RAM was Hynix RAM. It could also be Samsung RAM. Sometimes Apple RAM will say Apple Memory Module on it, or have the Apple Logo on the sticker.

It is Apple RAM, because I'm pretty sure I had it installed while waiting. Okay. I'll try the RAM thing. We'll see what happens.