System Locks up overnight

[gagaga]

Similar problem or not, I don't know actually. In my case, I took off the memories, then slotted in those.
Apple Support mentioned that is memory issue in this article.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86776

This is for Xserve,but our G5's power light flashed three times.
Now the G5 looks fine.

[samsc]

apple actually ships a hardware test cd with the computers, that loads before the OS loads.

it is supposed to do memory tests and the like.

the intermittent problems we are seeing here, are not likely to be memory related.

if the memory is incorrectly installed, it just wont work at all.

[tylerr]

I have done all the Apple tests. A OK.

Tyler

[samsc]

yes.

apple hardware tests arent good for intermittent problems.
they test things once, then finish.


i wrote test software for the artisan lighting consoles, that tested the buttons and lights, it had to run the whole time for hours, then you used to hit things, and see intermittent faults.

[tylerr]

I have an update to this ongoing problem.

I have now done the following.
Formatted Drives and reloaded OS and Library
Replaced SCSI Cable
Replaced SCSI Controller
Flashed all firmware

And oddly enough it still crashes in about 8 hours.
Now here is what i have found.

If I run the system with a Targus USB hub it will crash in 8 hours. New hub or old hub it doesn't matter.

However if I run it without the hub it runs all night long. I am up to 20 hrs.
Has anyone had any USB hub problems?

But in the end the really cool part is that I have 3 other systems running with this same hub and there are no problems on those machines.

[samsc]

do you have an internal usb pci card?

or is the hub plugged into an external mac port?

[tylerr]

No internal USB. Hub was pluged into one of the rear ports.

[samsc]

classic intermittent hardware failure.

had a quick chat with riverdance catalyst person last night, he does things like reseat pci cards, and connectors after long road trips.
says this fixes some occasional freezes.

its those classic on the road electronics issues.

this stuff gets beaten to death and breaks.
it looks like software - but it isnt.

[samsc]

internet report of freeze with usb hub:

Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Ben reports another, USB-related freeze trigger for the Mac mini:


"I've also notice random, regular lock-ups with my Mac mini. I seemed to have narrowed it down to the USB. If I have either my Canon LiDE 35 scanner or my SanDisk ImageMate 8 in 1 media reader (SDDR-88) plugged in, after a period of time (sometimes hours, sometimes days) my Mac mini will lock. Looking in the /var/log/system I see what looks like an attempt to access the USB devices followed by the inevitable hard reboot I had to perform. I'm not sure if it's the devices, but two different types of devices and two different manufacturers make me think it's something with the USB software/hardware subsystem or the Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 7-Port Hub I have my USB devices plugged into."

http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?...05041107171246

this report is from a mac-mini its quite possibly a related hardware issue.

[tylerr]

Its kinda funny that this problem is ongoing and semingly unsolveable. I recently threw up my hands and paid my $45 to CDW for a pro to look into the problem. He had the machine running for 24 hours with no problems.

I love computers.