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  3. My Mac just died on me!!!!!!

  • My Mac just died on me!!!!!!

    M
    M
    Hi there.
    My Mac has just died on me, out of the blue. After checking the final mix I had done with DP 4 and VSL, I checked the track on iTunes. Then, suddenly, an annoying high-pitched "trrrrrrrrrrrr" almost blew my speakers away (as the piece was playing on itunes). It froze and nothing responded, not even the mouse. I noticed a very scarry little screen (black background with white letters) that read something like "Core system error". I didn´t read it carefuly because eventhough I turned off the volume, the signal kept banging the mixer and I just disconnected the AC from the MAc.
    Now, it won´t start. I turn it on from one of the 2 monitors. It usually powers the monitors, then displays a gray screen briefly, then the usual blue one where you see the system loading. Well, now it just doesn´t get passed the initial gray screen, and it never attempts to start loading. It just stays there for ever, and I have to manually power off the computer (which I hate doing)
    HAve any ideas of what could´vehappened?
    First problem EVER that I have with this particular computer. Before this the system was ROCK solid.
    The worst: I have a deadline to meet for next week. Is this one of those things where I will waste hours trouble shooting hardware and software?

    Please help!!!!

    G4 Dual 1.2, 512 RAM, 3 internal HDs (C System/Programs, D Audio recording and G back up)
    Digital Performer 4.12
    Tascam 2408 Mk3


    Thank you.
    Fernando
  • T
    T
    last edited
    last edited
    Just put in the System CD that came with your Mac.

    Start up, and hold the C key down right after you turn the Mac on. That will start it up from the CD. You should, as I recall (hasn't happened to me in years) be able to get to DISK UTILITY on your CD, and use that to run a test and repair on your main startup drive. Do that, then restart. Let us know up here what happens.

    Tom

    @Miguélez said:

    Hi there.
    My Mac has just died on me, out of the blue. After checking the final mix I had done with DP 4 and VSL, I checked the track on iTunes. Then, suddenly, an annoying high-pitched "trrrrrrrrrrrr" almost blew my speakers away (as the piece was playing on itunes). It froze and nothing responded, not even the mouse. I noticed a very scarry little screen (black background with white letters) that read something like "Core system error". I didn´t read it carefuly because eventhough I turned off the volume, the signal kept banging the mixer and I just disconnected the AC from the MAc.
    Now, it won´t start. I turn it on from one of the 2 monitors. It usually powers the monitors, then displays a gray screen briefly, then the usual blue one where you see the system loading. Well, now it just doesn´t get passed the initial gray screen, and it never attempts to start loading. It just stays there for ever, and I have to manually power off the computer (which I hate doing)
    HAve any ideas of what could´vehappened?
    First problem EVER that I have with this particular computer. Before this the system was ROCK solid.
    The worst: I have a deadline to meet for next week. Is this one of those things where I will waste hours trouble shooting hardware and software?

    Please help!!!!

    G4 Dual 1.2, 512 RAM, 3 internal HDs (C System/Programs, D Audio recording and G back up)
    Digital Performer 4.12
    Tascam 2408 Mk3


    Thank you.
    Fernando
  • D
    D
    Fernando,

    It's also not a bad idea when troubleshooting something like this to disconnect anything external that is plugged in (and maybe one of the monitors as well), and if problems persist after trying what Tom suggested then remove any PCI cards installed. If you call Apple they're going to tell you to do that anyway.

    Good luck.

    Bill
  • A
    A
    I've had this happen and took it to MAc repair . Paid $120.00 for them to push a little reset button on your main board inside the computer. I'm not sure where it is on yours but just look at the main card inside. You will see a little tiny button in one of the corners I believe. Push it. Start your puter. Let me know if that was it. It's happened to me twice and that's all it took. If your startup cd won't work(i bet it doesn't) then I will bet this will fix it.
  • M
    M
    Wow! Thanks a lot for your suggestions.
    I ended up finishing the project at a friends studio (major pain), so now that I´ll have time I´ll try these things, get to the bottom of it and report back.
    GRACIAS!!!
  • M
    M
    Well... All that advise seemed VERY promising, but it all failed [8o|]
    I ran also the Tech tool. It didn´t report any anomalies. A friend connected via firewire my system HD to his laptop, and the HD seems to be perfect. I undressed my mac component by component until she was as I bought it. Nothing worked... I had to take her to the doctor to get a lobotomy.
    I called the Mac guys. I told them about this forum and all the trouble shooting I went thorugh and they will look at it, but it will take them more than a week, and it seems to be serious. Nice. Now I will be a bum for a week. I guess I´ll try to use my time smartly, like backing up all my PCs, clean my studio, and all that not-very-creative-but necessary crap.
    Anyway. Thanks a lot for your help, and I will report back ASA get it back.

    Fernando
  • M
    M
    IT WAS SERIOUS...
    The processors card got burned! That´s why it didn´t work. It cost me $500 dls to replace it, but now it is ok. Just to give this topic closure.
  • J
    J
    Glad to hear you're back in business
  • T
    T
    Sorry to hear it was that involved. Anything can happen to anything of course,but for the record, I've never had anything like that happen to any Mac I've owned, and I started buying them in 1986. [;)]



    TH