Level 1

27 points

G4 Quicksilver freezes at desktop screen requiring PRAM reset.

Hi,

I recently got a used G4 dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver with two internal hard drives(80 & 40GB). I made some mistakes when I first received it, being used to running OS 9 on a blueberry G3 with one hard drive, and now it frequently freezes after a cold start at the desktop screen.
When I first got it, it had two HDs installed. The slave HD had OS 9.2.2 loaded on it and the master had OSX 10.4.7. Unfortunately, being used to OS9 right away I tried to open an application (Internet Explorer) on the OS 9(slave) hard drive from the desk top while running the OSX hard drive(master HD). As a result, the computer sarted opening a huge file.
My wife came home for luch and I needed to leave. I tried to stop the program, I couldn't. I tried to shut down the computer, it wouldn't. So, I unplugged the computer. Second mistake.
When I got home I couldn't turn the computer on. With some research I discovered how to reset the PMU. That did it.
Unfortunately, I still hadn't learned to not try to open one hard drive while running the other without selecting it as a startup item. As a result, late that night I tried a half dozen more times to open an application on the OS 9 (slave) hard drive while not understanding that I was running the master HD. All with the same result. It took 15 minutes to open ending with a text block about the "21 day trial period for IPNetSentry" having expired then total lock up. Then I restarted and repeated the same mistake. The only thing that stopped me was that it was 2:30 in the morning. Sounds pretty stupid now. I then tried to find all the threads of this IPNet Sentry and trash them.
The next morning my current problem seemed to begin. The screen freezes once I get to the desktop screen. I can reset the PRAM and all is fine again until the next time I turn the computer off and start it up again. It doesn't happen every time. It will happen for a few days, go away then after a week or so start acting up again. I also noticed that it doesn't lock up when I use restart, only when it is all the way off and turned on again.
Here's what I have done to try to resolve the problem. I scrubbed both hard drives using the restore software, and I replaced the PRAM or back up battery. The apple hardware test disk passes everything.
One more big clue. When I was reloading the restore software on the master HD I got the messages "!Could not restore the restricted-segment image. Reading block 00174A440." and then "The restore failed. The volume 'MacIntosh HD' may be unusable." Another time the first text block was the same except the reading block was 002141B0. Major bummer. It took four or five tries before I get get all five of the restore disks to install.
In another forum I found someone else with a similar message and a responder said that the hard drive may have gotten scratched. His thinking was that in trying to open a big file (in this case, the application on the slave HD while running the master HD) that the memory got used up and spilled into virtual memory and somehow scratched the master HD.
If anyone has any ideas of things to try before I go out and by another hard drive I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 80GB HD + 40 GB HD

Posted on Oct 13, 2006 12:51 PM

27 replies

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Oct 30, 2006 1:06 PM in response to Majordadusma

Hi Gary,

I just installed the two 250 GB Seagate hard drives that I just bought. Unfortunately, my original problem is still with me.
I have to reset the PRAM every time I have a cold start. For some reason it does not happen on restarts, only on cold starts.
Also, the cursor always freezes in the same upper left corner of the screen.
Any thoughts?
To recap, I have replaced both hard drives, and the PRAM/backup battery. Any thoughts on what my next move should be?
Thanks, Geoff.

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 8, 2006 9:34 AM in response to G4RAY

I am still having my original problem with PRAM resets (See above).
I installed two new Seagate 250 GB internal hard drives hoping that my problem was damaged or corrupted hard drives, but my problem persists.
Does anyone have any ideas?
To recap, I have replaced my PRAM battery and both hard drives, but my computer continues to freeze up on start up at the desk top screen. If I reset the PRAM it works fine until I turn the computer off. I also noticed that I don't have a problem on retarts, only on cold starts.
I welcome any and all ideas.
Thanks.

Nov 8, 2006 10:43 AM in response to G4RAY

Try a PMU reset. You will have to change some of your Preference settings including Date/Time. See Mac PRAM, NVRAM, CUDA/PMU & Battery Tutorial

Cheers, Tom

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 8, 2006 11:43 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

That did It!!!!!!! Thank you Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had reset the PMU before, but I must have screwed something up since then. I'm sure I did now that I think about it.
All seems to be working fine now. Knock on wood. Thanks a million!

Any ideas what could lead to this problem re: the PMU (and PRAM for that matter)?

One last note. I came across something interesting thru the links you just gave me. I remember reading other posts where folks had problems with their machines draining their PRAM batteries in a day or so. Looks like if you touch the circuitry of the logic board while handling the PMU that you can cause the PMU to stop working. This will cause the battery to drain in two days or so. A PMU reset will stop this problem under these circumstances. Just thought I'd pass that along if anyone can use it.

Thanks again to Tom and everyone here who helped me. Cheers! Yippee!!!!

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 8, 2006 2:02 PM in response to G4RAY

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

The problem is back! I shut the computer off for a few hours and when I turned it back on I had to reset the PRAM.

I just pulled the PRAM battery thinking I needed to leave out for 10 minutes or so while the power was off. When I put the battery back I will reset the PMU.

Unfortunately, when I pulled the battery out the battery holder that was a bit brittle and fit very tightly, snapped!
Anybody know if i can replace the battery holder for my 2002 Quicksilver?

What a rollercoaster. I am beginning to wish I had bought a new computer.

Thanks for the help.

Nov 8, 2006 2:58 PM in response to G4RAY

I would try using some super glue & see if it will fasten the holder together. An alternate fix would be to place the battery in the holder & use some tape or a rubber band to hold it & make contact with the battery terminals.

On your prior post saying the PMU reset "fixed" the problem, you can award responders with points for Helpful & Solved, and mark as Answered.

It's not really known what causes the PRAM memory to get corrupted, requiring a zap. Same for the PMU Reset. This reset also zaps PRAM & other settings in the Mac back to the factory defaults. If you don't follow Apple's procedure EXACTLY for the PMU reset, the memory battery can be quickly discharged. You might consider installing another new battery.

When you say you shut the Mac Off, did you just do a shutdown or did you unplug from AC power?

Cheers, Tom

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 8, 2006 5:16 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I still have the same problem. I thought it was "fixed" since the next two times I started the computer from a cold start after resetting the PMU the initial time I didn't have to reset the PRAM. No such luck.

I then turned the computer off for a few hours to do something else. I did not unplug it at this time. When I came back and turned it on I had to reset the PRAM to get it to work.

Next I reset the PMU again, this time I removed the PRAM battery for 10 minutes or so. At this time the computer was unplugged (each time I reset the PMU the computer was unplugged per Apple's instructions).

(My understanding of the proper way to reset the PMU is to shut the computer off, touch the metal plate on the back of the computer to discharge any static charge I might have, unplug the computer, press the reset button, wait ten seconds then plug in the computer and restart it).

This time the PMU reset did not solve the problem.

This is when the battery holder cracked. Insult to injury. Talk about an Achilles heel. Bad design on that part. I'm sure I'm not the first person to crack one of those. The battery seems to hold in place and be making full contact in spite of the side of the holder popping off. I don't think the battery is a problem since it seems to be making good contact and my settings seem to be fine when the computer is turned back on.

At this point it looks like I have a hardware problem. I am wondering what hardware items are tied to the PMU/PRAM.

Thanks again for trhe help.

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 10, 2006 11:15 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

Hi Tom,

It looks like after letting the computer sit overnight that the PMU reset did indeed solve the problem. Knock on wood.

I don't understand what happened, but if it works I will accept it though it's a little troubling not knowing what the cause was.

Thanks again for your help.

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 22, 2006 5:23 PM in response to G4RAY

After a week of smoothe sailing, my problem has returned. I reset the PMU and that worked for a day, then back to the old problem w/ PRAM reset.

I will reset PMU and let sit overnight and see what happens.

Meanwhile if anyone has any ideas of what the cause of this nightmare is I'd love to hear it. I'm about at my wit's end.

Thanks!

G4 Dual 1 GHZ Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2x 250 GB Seagate HD, iSub Harmon Kardon speakers

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 22, 2006 5:26 PM in response to G4RAY

The original problem has returned. Resetting the PMU seems to be a band aid rather than a cure. I need to find out what is CAUSING me to have to reset my PMU and PRAM.

enigmac

Level 1

0 points

Jan 2, 2007 11:42 AM in response to G4RAY

Hellow Mac users!! Happy New Year.

My Problem is identical to that of G4RAY
Do I want to know which the answer is to that question?

I need to find out what is CAUSING me to have to reset my PMU and PRAM.

Ahead of time thank you.

Escuseme for my english because it is not very good.

Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) 1.2 Ghz Sonnet, 1GB RAM, HDs 2080300GB, PCI USB 2 Card and ATA 100/133 Mac OS X (10.3.9) Power Book G4 12" 1.33Ghz,1.256GB RAM, 60GB

G4RAY Author

Level 1

27 points

Jan 2, 2007 12:47 PM in response to enigmac

Ola enigmac,

I am wondering if part of my problem could have been the configuration of my Energy Saver settings (sleep, screensaver, etc.). In retrospect it seemed like I would have problems when the computer would go to sleep and became unresponsive requiring me to restart the computer. This may simply be a symptom of the PMU problem rather than the cause, but may also be worth looking at.

I have reset my Energy Saver settings since I realized this. Now the screen saver comes on before the screen rests. No problems now, knock on wood. Before it was set up to put the computer to sleep before the screen, and before the screensaver came on. I believe this was even a default setting. Strange.

I have also read that there is all kinds of stuff tied to the PMU other than power management. I think in my case it was either caused by unplugging the computer when I couldn't get it to abort opening an application, or the fact that I was trying to open an application on another hard drive while using the first one without restarting thru the System Preferences. Both stupid mistakes that I will never do again.

Good luck enigmac!

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G4 Quicksilver freezes at desktop screen requiring PRAM reset.