10.4.10 is ? me off now!!!

Question

Ok, I've been pretty patient so far with the issues that are plagueing this stupid software update. Now, it's ? me off. I've been trying to compose an email for the last 40 minutes and it's crashed on me 3 times. That's the only program that was running too! Just sitting here and then BAM "you must restart your computer...blah blah blah..."
So, my question is, since there appears to be no other options, can you archive and install to an external HD without firewire or is it required? Mine is USB. I've run every diagnostic through Onyx and TechTool Pro. Ran the Apple tests and everything is absolutely fine. There is not one single issue reported at all.
This is beyond frustrating. I'm going to re-install and just update up to 10.4.8 or something. The problems began after that.
If anyone can let me know whether or not I definitely need a firewire HD that would be appreciated. Also, will reinstalling OS X ruin my WinXP Bootcamp partition? Is this going to be a completely new HD once all is said and done? THanks all!!! I appreciate it.

Answer 1

I am sorry that you are having such problems but, despite a number of posts here (the forums are naturally a place for problems), I do not think the update itself was bad: I have updated 5 machines this time round, some in a student environment, and all are well. If you have been experiencing problems since 10.4.8 perhaps you have been compounding damage.
That said, some people have had problems which could stem from a number of causes. It concerns me that you have had three kernel panics in a short time as, without remedial work, I think you are compounding the problem.
I would suggest a couple of things: have a look at Dr Smoke's FAQs for a start. Also, try a Safe boot (hold down the Shift key at startup. Then restart as normal.
It is perhaps also a god idea to start up with the installation disk ( slide the disk in beforehand and press the C key as you start) then, after the language panel, access the Utility menu and run Disk Utility from there (I appreciate you have already run TechToolPro). It may point out and repair any disk problems that have occurred (continued restarts after a KP are not good for the disk.
If there is not one single issue reported, then there maybe something else untoward: new RAM, defective device driver, for example. Also, has any software been installed (around the time of the 10.4.8 update for example) that might have destabilized the system?
It IS possible to boot from a USB 2 drive, I am told, although I have no experience of this and work from Firewire. When you are having these problems, is the USB disk attached (see the Drivers comment above)? You will lose nothing by trying (except time): partition the disk as GUID if you intend to put a bootable system on.
A reinstall of a system on the hard disk, particularly if you use Archive and Install, should have zero effect on the Windows partition -- partitions are by definition separate. But I have never used Windows and wonder if this is a factor in some cases.
I am sorry I cannot analyse your Onyx crash log. Also check in Console where the logs are normally: these may also help if you post them. Look at the Console log for the time that you were experiencing (or about to experience) the KP.