Michael McMann1

Q: Dying Power Mac or a serious system fault?

Power Mac G5 (June 2004 build)

OS X Version 10.5.8

I have a 700Gb drive which has an operating system partition and a data only one where I save work and other files. A couple of weeks ago I was using La Cie's SilverKeeper to back up my apps folder and data to a brand new Samsung 2Tb drive which I had erased and formatted (which, though it came with an installer, I was unable to use as it's for Intel Mac's only) and left it running overnight. SilverKeeper had frozen when I started work in the morning but it seemed everything had copied over successfully. Now I don't know for certain that my subsequent problems started with this event but, following it, Finder now takes an age to open folders, either on the system or on my partitioned data drive, or freezes up altogether and means that I have to perform forced restarts. I deleted various preferences such as system ones as well as zapping the PRAM. The strange thing was that after zapping it, the computer restarted on my second drive when I always seem to remember that it started off the last used startup disk.

 

Oddly, I can still use all my applications and am able to save and open folders on a back-up external drive which leads me to think that it might be a hardware problem as it seems to have affected the second internal drive as well. It's also now stopped booting off the power button and I have to use the option key method. Oddly, my second drive is always shown as the selected one. I don't want to erase the drive and start over, if I can avoid it, as I did this with the second drive and now that one won't boot up at all.

 

As it's an old Mac I suppose I should have expected something like this (though, it never happened with earlier Mac's) but if anyone out there has an alternative suggestion, I'd be most grateful to hear it.

 

Michael

Posted on May 19, 2016 6:40 AM

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Q: Dying Power Mac or a serious system fault?

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 20, 2016 2:54 AM in response to Michael McMann1
    Level 10 (123,484 points)
    May 20, 2016 2:54 AM in response to Michael McMann1

    Hello,

     

    Open Activity Monitor, Show:>All Processes, sort on CPU%, see if anything using too much CPU% when this happens, click on Memory tab, do you have many Pageouts?

     

    Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this happens.

     

    Click on the top line we want, Shift plus click on the bottom line we want, CMD+c to copy, then paste the text in a reply with CMD+v

    A few dozen lines should be about right, hundreds or thousands won't likely be readable

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 May 20, 2016 3:18 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    May 20, 2016 3:18 AM in response to BDAqua

    Appreciate you getting back to me. I hope I've understood correctly and included the information you suggested.

     

    Console Messages:

    13/11/2015 05:47:20 mdworker[63786] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 06:17:23 mdworker[64298] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 06:47:25 mdworker[64792] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 07:01:47 mdworker[65043] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 07:17:28 mdworker[65281] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 07:47:32 mdworker[65782] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 08:17:34 mdworker[66272] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 08:47:36 mdworker[66757] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 09:17:39 mdworker[67244] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 09:47:42 mdworker[67735] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 10:17:45 mdworker[68211] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 10:47:47 mdworker[68703] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 11:17:49 mdworker[69191] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 11:47:51 mdworker[69674] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 12:17:54 mdworker[70161] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 12:47:57 mdworker[70656] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 13:03:16 mdworker[70864] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 13:03:26 [0x0-0x667667].com.apple.Safari[41647] SimplyBurnsCMPlugIn_PostMenuCleanup( instance: 0x8052d0 )

    13/11/2015 13:14:25 com.apple.launchd[104] ([0x0-0x667667].com.apple.Safari[41647]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 13:32:48 mdworker[71349] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 13:44:52 quicklookd[71475] [QL ERROR] Using too much memory (754 MB), hit critical threshold, exiting to clean up.

    13/11/2015 13:45:03 quicklookd[71549] [QL ERROR] 'Creating thumbnail' timed out for '<QLThumbnailRequest file://localhost/Volumes/Job%20folder%20back-up%20%231/1209%20%E2%80%93%201479% 20/1322%20Your%20Energy%20Matters%20-%20Low%20Carbon%20Advisory%20Centre/Map/132 2%20Map_200%25%20enlargement%20from%20PDF.tif>'

    13/11/2015 13:45:06 quicklookd[71552] [QL ERROR] 'Creating thumbnail' timed out for '<QLThumbnailRequest file://localhost/Volumes/Job%20folder%20back-up%20%231/1209%20%E2%80%93%201479% 20/1322%20Your%20Energy%20Matters%20-%20Low%20Carbon%20Advisory%20Centre/Map/132 2%20Map.psd>'

    13/11/2015 13:45:07 com.apple.launchd[104] (com.apple.quicklook) Throttling respawn: Will start in 7 seconds

    13/11/2015 13:45:24 quicklookd[71555] [QL ERROR] 'Creating thumbnail' timed out for '<QLThumbnailRequest file://localhost/Volumes/Job%20folder%20back-up%20%231/1209%20%E2%80%93%201479% 20/1322%20Your%20Energy%20Matters%20-%20Low%20Carbon%20Advisory%20Centre/Map/132 2%20Map.psd>'

    13/11/2015 13:49:06 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f740.Locum[71639]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 13:55:46 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f650.Locum[71749]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 13:56:14 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f6c0.Locum[71754]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 13:56:33 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f660.Locum[71766]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 13:58:01 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f650.Locum[71783]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 14:00:30 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f650.Locum[71847]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 14:01:03 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f6c0.Locum[71852]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 14:01:16 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f650.Locum[71854]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 14:01:46 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x10f6c0.Locum[71859]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 14:04:25 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x112240.Locum[71891]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 14:11:29 com.apple.launchd[104] (0x1126f0.Locum[72042]) Exited: Terminated

    13/11/2015 14:27:59 com.apple.launchd[1] (0x10ab40.mdworker[71349]) Exited with exit code: 1

    13/11/2015 14:31:54 mdworker[72303] CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    13/11/2015 14:34:57 [0x0-0x18018].com.writebros.Screenwriter[142] CPreviousVersionManager::HandleNewBkFile:

    Actvity monitor.png

    System memory.png

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 May 20, 2016 3:27 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    May 20, 2016 3:27 AM in response to BDAqua

    Sorry, just realised that all the messages in the console are dated 2015.

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 May 20, 2016 3:34 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    May 20, 2016 3:34 AM in response to BDAqua

    This time I copied from the 'system.log':

    May 20 00:01:36 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b newsyslog[18051]: logfile turned over

    May 20 00:29:37 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[18349]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 01:29:36 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[18971]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 02:29:35 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[19591]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 03:29:34 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[20272]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 04:29:33 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[20894]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 05:24:55 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b ntpd[27]: time reset -0.162014 s

    May 20 05:29:31 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[21515]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 06:07:17 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mDNSResponder[18]: ERROR: getOptRdata - unknown opt 4

    May 20 06:07:47: --- last message repeated 32 times ---

    May 20 06:07:50 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mDNSResponder[18]: ERROR: getOptRdata - unknown opt 4

    May 20 06:08:20: --- last message repeated 11 times ---

    May 20 06:29:30 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[22165]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 06:38:49 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b mdworker[22261]: CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.

    May 20 06:39:19: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

    May 20 06:52:19 Unknown-7c-dd-90-00-c0-0b /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework /Versions/A/Support/mdworker[22261]: zip importer countered an error (2) scanning "/Volumes/700 data/***WORK & OTHER VIP FILES***/***WORK***/Brain-made-of-circuits.zip".

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:57:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_PPC

    May 20 06:57:00 localhost com.apple.launchctl.System[2]: fsck_hfs: Volume is journaled.  No checking performed.

    May 20 06:57:00 localhost com.apple.launchctl.System[2]: fsck_hfs: Use the -f option to force checking.

    May 20 06:57:01 localhost com.apple.launchctl.System[2]: BootCacheControl: could not open /var/db/BootCache.playlist: No such file or directory

    May 20 06:57:01 localhost com.apple.launchctl.System[2]: BootCacheControl: could not unlink playlist /var/db/BootCache.playlist: Unknown error: -1

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchctl.System[2]: launchctl: Please convert the following to launchd: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (com.adobe.versioncueCS4): Unknown key: ServiceDescription

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.ODSAgent): Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.RemoteDesktop.PrivilegeProxy): Unknown key for boolean: EnableTransactions

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.usbmuxd): Unknown key for boolean: EnableTransactions

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cups-lpd): Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cupsd): Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (org.ntp.ntpd): Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight

    May 20 06:57:02 localhost com.apple.launchd[1] (org.x.privileged_startx): Unknown key for boolean: EnableTransactions

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost DirectoryService[11]: Launched version 5.8.1 (v514.28)

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost DirectoryService[11]: Improper shutdown detected

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: vm_page_bootstrap: 1019909 free pages and 28667 wired pages

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: mig_table_max_displ = 79

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: 115 prelinked modules

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Loading security extension com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: calling mpo_policy_init for TMSafetyNet

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Security policy loaded: Safety net for Time Machine (TMSafetyNet)

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Loading security extension com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Loading security extension com.apple.security.seatbelt

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: calling mpo_policy_init for mb

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Seatbelt MACF policy initialized

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Security policy loaded: Seatbelt Policy (mb)

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: MAC Framework successfully initialized

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: using 16384 buffer headers and 4096 cluster IO buffer headers

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: DART enabled

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 42 PCI now active, GUID 000d93fffe2a89a6; max speed s800.

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: mbinit: done

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Security auditing service present

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: BSM auditing present

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 38049F32-8474-3787-8B94-C242984B9E2A

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/MacRISC4PE/ht@0,f2000000/AppleMacRiscHT/pci@5/IOPCI2PCIBridge/k2-sat a-root@C/AppleK2SATARoot/k2-sata@1/AppleK2SATA/ATADeviceNub@0/AppleATADiskDriver /IOATABlockStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDriver/ST3750640AS ST3750640AS/IOApplePartitionScheme/Untitled@3

    May 20 06:57:03 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk0s3, major 14, minor 5

    May 20 06:57:04 localhost kernel[0]: jnl: unknown-dev: replay_journal: from: 10508800 to: 14072832 (joffset 0x4b2000)

    May 20 06:57:04 localhost kernel[0]: USBF: 61.349 [0x52e5f00] The IOUSBFamily is having trouble enumerating a USB device that has been plugged in.  It will keep retrying.  (Port 4 of hub @ location: 0x4b300000)

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 20, 2016 10:22 AM in response to Michael McMann1
    Level 10 (123,484 points)
    May 20, 2016 10:22 AM in response to Michael McMann1

    From the last line I'd say either the drive is failing, a bad cable, or a failing Power Supply on the external drive if it has AC power, or not enough USB mA if bus powered...

     

    At the Apple Logo at top left… About this Mac>Hardware>USB, select each Bus & check the mA & peruse all the Current Required, like...

     

    USB Hi-Speed Bus:

     

      Host Controller Location: Built-in USB

      Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBEHCI

      PCI Device ID: 0x283a

      PCI Revision ID: 0x0003

      PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086

      Bus Number: 0xfa

     

    USB2.0 Hub:

     

      Product ID: 0x0608

      Vendor ID: 0x05e3  (Genesys Logic, Inc.)

      Version: 32.98

      Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

      Location ID: 0xfa200000 / 2

      Current Available (mA): 500

      Current Required (mA): 100

     

    USB 2.0 Hub [MTT]:

     

      Product ID: 0x0201

      Vendor ID: 0x1a40  (TERMINUS TECHNOLOGY INC.)

      Version: 1.00

      Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

      Location ID: 0xfa210000 / 4

      Current Available (mA): 500

      Current Required (mA): 100

     

    Keyboard Hub:

     

      Product ID: 0x1006

      Vendor ID: 0x05ac  (Apple Inc.)

      Version: 94.15

      Serial Number: 000000000000

      Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

      Manufacturer: Apple, Inc.

      Location ID: 0xfa217000 / 5

      Current Available (mA): 500

      Current Required (mA): 300

     

    Apple Keyboard:

     

      Product ID: 0x0220

      Vendor ID: 0x05ac  (Apple Inc.)

      Version: 0.67

      Speed: Up to 1.5 Mb/sec

      Manufacturer: Apple, Inc

      Location ID: 0xfa217200 / 6

      Current Available (mA): 100

      Current Required (mA): 20

     

    USB to ATA/ATAPI Bridge:

     

      Product ID: 0x2338

      Vendor ID: 0x152d  (JMicron Technology Corp.)

      Version: 1.00

      Serial Number: 152D203380B6

      Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

      Manufacturer: JMicron

      Location ID: 0xfa230000 / 3

      Current Available (mA): 500

      Current Required (mA): 2

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 May 23, 2016 3:22 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2016 3:22 AM in response to BDAqua

    I'm sure it's a hardware problem.

     

    Many thanks for your persistence.

     

    Michael

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 23, 2016 4:50 AM in response to Michael McMann1
    Level 10 (123,484 points)
    May 23, 2016 4:50 AM in response to Michael McMann1

    OK, good luck, & please let us know if you find anything.

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 May 24, 2016 2:49 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    May 24, 2016 2:49 AM in response to BDAqua

    Really appreciate all the help. I've been putting off investing in a new iMac for some time now but this has forced my hand. If there was an industry for procrastination they'd make me chairman of the board!

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 24, 2016 6:36 AM in response to Michael McMann1
    Level 10 (123,484 points)
    May 24, 2016 6:36 AM in response to Michael McMann1

     

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 Jun 18, 2016 3:25 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 18, 2016 3:25 AM in response to BDAqua

    Thought you might like to know the outcome of my G5 travails. Well it may not be hardware after all but that lovely pop-up app known as MacKeeper (fingers crossed and knotted). This morning, after some routine tasks including deleting unwanted apps – whilst awaiting the interminable spinning ball of death to complete – this dialogue box pops up out of the blue:

    MacKeeper.jpg

    So having Googled it, I find that there is almost universal antipathy to it from the Mac community. I followed the recommended uninstall procedures – including all the hidden system files and the like – and, hey presto, my beloved G5 seems to be back on stream.

     

    The thing is I never even deliberately installed it – partly because I don't trust pop-up web page apps, but I now learn that it almost installs itself. So fellow users be warned: this may be the source of your problem.

     

    Thanks for sticking with me over this,

    Michael

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 Jun 18, 2016 4:41 AM in response to Michael McMann1
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 18, 2016 4:41 AM in response to Michael McMann1

    Oh, dear. Been too hasty, I'm afraid. It was working so well after I uninstalled MacKeeper until I went to open a folder and, it's back to the same old problems. Now I'm convinced it's faulty hardware. Might it be a warn battery? I've read that they can be a cause of the kind of problems I'm suffering from.

     

    Michael

  • by Wdavery,

    Wdavery Wdavery Jun 18, 2016 4:47 AM in response to Michael McMann1
    Level 1 (23 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 18, 2016 4:47 AM in response to Michael McMann1

    Just a shot in the dark here, but is your date and time set correctly? If the PRAM battery is on the outs the date will reset to 1969 or the likes and will cause all kinds of issues.

  • by Michael McMann1,

    Michael McMann1 Michael McMann1 Jun 20, 2016 11:40 PM in response to Wdavery
    Level 1 (99 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 20, 2016 11:40 PM in response to Wdavery

    Hi, most appreciative of your contribution. You know, I never checked the date/time although I did wonder whether it might be the battery.

     

    However, it's all academic now, guys, as the G5 was so old that upgrades were all but unobtainable – in this Intel world – and no support for it other than generous souls on this forum like yourselves that I've since decided to scrap it and start again with an iMac.

     

    So once, again, many thanks.

    Michael