I have an early 2005 Power Mac G5. Spotlight is constantly indexing, initially showing 100+ hours for about 135GB of info, and requiring the cpu and fans to run all the time.
Any suggestions of how to stop this??
Thanks!!
Power Mac G5 Dual 2.7 Ghz, 8GB SDRAM, ATI Radeon X850 XT, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Apple 23" HD Cinema Display
Have got new iMac and will be switching to it. One problem I would like to try and fix before moving is this. When I started in Safe Boot to dump the mail files, as you suggested, the G5 acted normal. When the computer came up, it was on the login page and asked me for my password to access. When starting "normally" now, it never goes to the login page, it just goes to the desktop. This implies to me that it never really shuts off, but I could be wrong. Anyway, I see this as a security problem. Will still keep the G5 around, still try to fix it, maybe found new cpu, etc...... but, don't want it where , if its turned on, it's on for anybody, no security. So, if you have any ideas of how to make the G5 at least start coming up to the login page with password required for access.... it would be great peace of mind!!! Thanks!!! Also, any thoughts or concerns about trying to transfer any files, data, iTunes(specifically), etc from the old G5(with it's many problems/)PowerPC to the new iMac/Intel???????????
I don't think those steps are essential or useful until you deal with the underlying issue.
And even then, only use features IF there is a problem rather than run everything.
People with system problems mistake what cache cleaner can do, is for, and can cause more trouble.
You have the idea there is a quick fix. If there is, it would be along the lines of CLONE what you have / Disk Warrior
Better yet, just do a clean install on another drive and setup a solid OS. Then gradually copy your files to a data drive. And last, migrate files you need that are tested.
You can't fix a flat until you remove the tire and put a good tire on the car. A spare is often only good for 50 miles and to get you to a safe place.
I appreciate your comments. However, I'm not that computer savvy when it comes to digging in to the "guts" of a computer. A quick fix is about all I can hope for without step by step instructions to follow along with. Clean install to another drive, copy files to dat drive, test migrated files, etc.... I , generally, understand the concept...... just don't know the right buttons to push to make all the steps happen. And Lord help me if I hit a snag along the way!!
Again Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions!! Even with a flat tire, there is usually an owners manual in the car to tell where everything is and how to change the tire..... and usually, the car should not be running when the change is made!
Using Cloning as a Backup Strategy
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone-backup.html
Trying to find the pea under the mattress or the needle in the haystack is what is hard, time consuming, fruitless, etc. I know people want quick fixes and wave wand or incense or magic.
Magic is having a bootable backup clone; Disk Warrior; and an alternate up to date drive you can boot from and use.
And it is easy. Of course doing it once - the fruit is in the tasting and then you have the experience of the pie, and the confidence of how to.
Hand holding or using a cane can make one more dependent on the cane (I know that lesson) and relying on training wheels.
Multiple backups, a recovery plan that has been tested at least once.
SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner and they already HAVE tutorials and guides, someone wrote their pdf manuals. There are Help in the HELP menu though no one looks anymore and wants what? spoon-fed? Disk utility Help tells how to "clone" (they call it restore) a disk partition and how to erase.
And in earlier reply, How to Clone: did you notice? it has screen shot images of what to expect!
>When starting "normally" now, it never goes to the login page, it just goes to the desktop. This implies to me that it never really shuts off, but I could be wrong.
On the G5>System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click on Login Options right above the +-, see if Automatic Login is set, if so disable it. 🙂
>Also, any thoughts or concerns about trying to transfer any files, data, iTunes(specifically), etc from the old G5(with it's many problems/)PowerPC to the new iMac/Intel?
If it were me I'd have the G5 in Target mode & on 1st boot of the new Mac use Migration Assistant right after filling in some info on first boot.
My thinking is that MA is far wiser in 10.6, & that if some bad info is transfered from the G5, that it takes little time to just Erase & Install fresh & try slower methods of getting your iTunes & such over.
Once again, thanks for all of your help and patience! Have got the new iMac up and running. Still haven't transferred files yet. The G5 still works sometime, can listen to music, but don't have it connected to the internet. Hate not to try and fix it, it has been a great machine... but, wonder if it's worth the $$? I have the time now and a new computer/ Spotlight still updates all the time. Local Apple repair store said $1200 to replace cpu.
Again thanks for your patience with someone that is "not as knowing" about all the mechanics of how a computer works......
Good to hear, thanks & you're quit welcome. 🙂
We can still work on the G5, no problem, but certainly not worth the $1200 CPU. 😟
Did anyone get around on how to delete the mds index and database and see what happens?
Would love to fix G5, but if one of the cpu's is dead and causing problem... what can be done, without replacing it? Hate to waste everyones time here, when I'm a novice, at best, trying to work on it... when it might can't be fixed. All of this, searching for files, plain code, etc. is all new for me.... used to the thing just working!! But I do like learning all that I can about it... but still way above my pay grade!
I'm open for suggestions!!
Don't think I've tried that yet. But, I have tried so many different things over the past 3 -4 weeks with this thing, trying to figure out the problem and fix it... I'm starting to lose track!! As stated, one of the cpu's is apparently dead. So, don't know if thats the reason for everything else not working!
We could turn off CPU B and have a single CPU G5.
The cpus boot argument can range from 1 up to the total number of processor cores on your system.
http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/qa/qa2001/qa1141.html
You might try this also, thanks to old comm guy...
This can be done in open firmware,(boot with cmd+option+O+F held down).
setenv boot-args cpus=1
reset-all
Looked at the article and my computer. Where do I find "Processor preferences../developer/extras/preference pane" on my G5?
Old Comm Guy had also suggested in a past post to reseat the cpu. I assume that means just getting to it, unplugging it and putting it back in it's slot. He suggested this has cured a lot of problems. I do have a friend that runs IT for a local college, but only knows pc's, and he claimed the same fix a lot of times. ??
Not familiar with "open firmware" but, I assume it opens a page where commands are typed in.
Do I type in everything--- setenv boot-args cpus=1
reset-all
or can I just type in "reset all" and that would reboot the cpus. Then, do I shut it down and restart to check??
> I assume that means just getting to it, unplugging it and putting it back in it's slot.
It would need the thermal paste replaced while doing, but I* imagine they know that.
>Do I type in everything
Both lines are important with ENTER/Reurn after each, 1sy one tells the Mac to just use the first CPU, 2nd one restarts the Mac.
>I assume it opens a page where commands are typed in.
Yes, you'll just get a text prompt like...
>
At least I'm learning more. Haven't typed in firmware yet, but ran across this discussion which you were also in. The problem seems very similar if not exactly the same.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1672650?start=195&tstart=0
It seems to me there is a seating problem, after reading this discussion. So if I take my old dual 2.7 GHz cpu with Liquid Cooling System, maybe they are not bad and not the problem, out and reseat with better compound... wonder if that will fix it.
Or, buy a replacement dual 2.7 w/ LCS, and replace that with newer, hopefully better,Thermal protectant????
Just brainstorming after reading article. Any thoughts????
>Or, buy a replacement dual 2.7 w/ LCS, and replace that with newer, hopefully better,Thermal protectant????
Either way, better thermal paste should be tried.
Spotlight Constantly Indexing
