Can't get past a grey "you need to restart your computer screen"

Hello,
I have a few month old iMac 27" i7 quad core for music use and did an update this morning which consisted of an itunes update and update to the screen firmware and two other things I can't remember. Do the usual install and restart business and am now met with the following error:
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x558271): "Unable to find device driver for this platform: \"ACPI". \n"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1504.3.12......................
Debugger called: <panic>
Backtrace (CPU 0) , Frame: Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
7 lines of numbers and letters (please let me know if you need these)
BSD process name correspoding to current thread: Unknown
Mac OS Version:
Not yet set
Kernal Version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.0...............
System uptime in nanoseconds: 322691563
This is on the grey screen with the multi lingual "you need to restart your computer message"
Holding shift on startup bypasses the screen and allows me to eject the disk and boot in safe mode or whatever it's called but the bar down the bottom fills up and I'm just left with the rotating bars and the apple logo.
I have tried a few different suggestions I have found on other threads about holding a certain key to start in safe mode or something to that effect but nothing has worked.
I have inserted the OSX install dvd that came with the computer and restarted but that did nothing and now I cannot eject it.
I have backed up a lot of the stuff on there but it will be a huuuuuge inconvenience if I lose the data on this thing.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Cheers,
Stephen

This is called a "kernel panic" (the multi-lingual restart screen). Solving them can be tricky. From the sounds of it, you can probably rule out hardware, but you probably have pretty severe system damage, probably caused by bad hard drive damage. But without more information, it's hard to say. Try looking over [the X Lab FAQ on resolving kernel panics|http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html].

Similar Messages

You need to restart your computer/can't mount Macintosh HD

My problem is a bit of a complicated one and I have a lot of background info to explain, therefore I will try to go into great detail so please bear with me.
A couple of days ago I used Boot Camp to install Windows Vista on my Macbook. Everything was working fine and I used vista with no problems for a few days. Then yesterday I was playing a game in Vista and instead of manually quiting out of the game I took the lazy way out and just pressed the power button on my Mac which I had set in Vista to power down the computer. After a few second Vista shut down like it should have and the computer was off. I then pressed the power button again to turn on the computer. My startup disk at this point was Macintosh HD so I just let it boot up onto that volume.
And that's where the problems began. OS X booted BUT not all the way. It went past the startup chime, past the gray Apple, all the way to the blue screen with the rotating gear. But then it just stopped there. At first I thought the computer was just slow starting up because I shut down from Vista in a strange way but after a substantial amount of time of OS X not going past that point with the blue screen and rotating gear I decided to restart by pressing the power button for a few seconds and then pressing it again to start up. It went to the same place and hanged again. I did this 3 or 4 more times with no luck.
At this point, I consulted my Macbook manual and found out what to do if the computer doesn't start up. The best solution I could find by looking through pages 43 to 45 was to *zap the PRAM*. Simple enough, I restarted the computer and did the key combination and it restarted. Upon being restarted, it no longer went to the blue screen. No, no, not even close. It showed me the gray Apple logo and then after a second or two showed me the dreaded "You need to restart your computer" screen in four languages. No matter how many times I restarted and booted into OS X, it always showed that.
Now I have tried rezapping the PRAM probably ten times now and all it does is it shows me that as I have now learned "kernel panic" screen.
So I thought maybe I could repair the volume using Disk Utility on my OS X Installation DVD. So I did just that. I repaired the Macintosh HD volume. And that's when I noticed something strange. The Macintosh HD Volume was grayed out. I could still click on it and Disk Utility would still display options for what I could do with it but it was greyed out. It didn't take me long to find out that the volume was not mounted. I noticed this because my "Untitled" Windows Vista volume was not grayed out and had an "unmount" button. Again it didn't take me long to figure out that I should just click the mount button and my problems would be over. So I clicked and nothing happened. It just did something for a few seconds but didn't mount it. I don't know how many times I clicked on that **** button (out of frustration) but nothing happened.
And this is where I am now, with no idea about what I can do. My biggest worry is that I'll have to format the Macintosh HD and reinstall OS X but that's really my last, last resort because I have documents that are not backed up anywhere else and it would be a great hassle to restore them. If I was wiser I would have bought backup software for my Mac but I only bought it a month ago and went on an overseas trip in a very far away place a few days after buying it.
Anyway, it would be great if there was some sort of solution to fix this problem without wiping my volume clean. If there is none, and trust me, I'd try anything as long as I don't lose my files, then is there some sort of utility that can back up my volume onto a DVD or external hard-drive or something without booting up into OS X??
By the way, if this helps in any way: I have no problems booting up and using the Windows Vista volume.
Thanks in advance, and please help me.

Hello,
First of all thanks for the reply. The only problem is that I've already tried what you suggested. When I press the option key on the keyboard with the installation cd inserted I see what I am supposed to, the CD, Windows Vista and Macintosh HD. When I select Macintosh HD it does that same thing, goes to the "restart your computer" screen.
If I try to change the startup disk from the OS X Installation disk the only two volumes that show up are "Windows Vista on Untitled" and the "OS X Installation" disk, no Macintosh HD to even choose. I believe the reason for this is because Macintosh HD but as I have already said, it just can't be mounted.
I think the reason that Macintosh HD shows up when I press Option at startup is because Apple has hard-coded it in so that it's always there, no matter if you can actually access it or not depending on whether or not it's mounted.
Right now the best thing for me is to find out how to mount Macintosh HD, if it has to be done manually through Terminal I'll do it, I just need the syntax but something tells me if it doesn't work through GUI it probably won't work through command prompt.
Anyway, thanks for the reply. Let's hope we get something.

Help with Kernal Panic; "You need to restart your computer..." on startup

My sister just gave me her old iBook G4. I don't know what OS it is running and I don't know the exact model beyond iBook G4. She is currently looking for the disks that came with it.
Everytime I try to start the computer, before I get past the screen with the apple, the screen goes grey and I get the following message:
"You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the Restart button."
Are there any diagnostics I can run without the discs that came with the computer? What should my first steps be? Is there any way to tell what OS or hardware I'm using without being able to boot up?
Thanks,
Brett

Hi Brett and welcome to Apple Discussions.
You could try Starting up in Safe Mode
What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode
Safe Boot takes longer than normal startup
Safe boot may by-pass the problematic process/hardware (the airport card is a frequent culprit) and enable you to boot sufficiently to find out the OS. Click on the blue Apple top/left, then 'About this Mac'. If Safe Boot is successful take a look at Macintosh HD/Library/Logs, particularly Console and Panic. I'm no expert on deciphering logs but you could copy/past the last couple of paragraphs of Panic into a reply.
Good luck,
Adrian

"You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button for seve..."

Hello,
I have recently been getting this same message "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button for several seconds or press the Restart button." whenever I start up my computer. It happens about 95% of the time. I have been reading on different forums that I should reset the PRam and the NVRam and I have been doing so and it does help as it does EVENTUALLY start up (sometimes takes me 5-10 min. to get it to start up).
I have also read that it may be the RAM that is loose, so I did check that and made sure that the ram is properly placed (which it is).
I don't know what else I can do. Should I reformat and reinstall Mac OS X?
Here is the exact error form the dump:
IOAPIC: Version 0x20 Vectors 64:87
AppleACPIPlatformExpert::start failed
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x55c095): "Unable to find driver for this platform: \"Macbook 2,1\".\n"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1504.9.26/iokit/Kernel/IOPlatformExpert.cpp:1389
Debugger called: <panic>

Well just got around to installing the new HDD and RAM yesterday, and I am sad to say... that the problem persists. :/
I reseated the memory and made sure they were in there properly, and I also installed the HDD and ran DiskUtility before I erased/reformatted and installed a fresh version of MacOSX Leopard, then updated to Snow Leopard.
As long as I am using my computer everything works fine, the problem occurs when the machine is shut off or put to sleep for a long period of time. Because when I shut it off and turn it right back on a few minutes later it works, or if I shut the lid and open it 10-20 min. later everything works fine, it's only when the machine is off or asleep for long periods of time.
So, I do not know what else can be wrong.
Should I try to take out the old RAM and just leave the new module in and see if that works out? See if that specific module is faulty?

" You need to restart your computer, hold down...."

My daughters iBook G4 1.33MHz Power Pc running 10.4.11
She keeps getting the blackscreen message " You need to restart your computer, Hold down.....etc. " This has been done several times but returns about 10 minutes later. Keen to save the computer if possible, so I would be grateful for any advice.
Thank you
Mike

Mike:
Your daughter's computer is having what is called a kernel panic. This can be either hardware or software based, although, more often hardware than software. RAM is one of the most frequent offenders followed by the Airport Express card. If you have installed additional RAM, remove the module you installed and boot without it and see if the KP returns. You can do the same with the Airport card. There are other possibilities, but that's where I would begin. Dr. Smoke's FAQ Resolving Kernel Panics has more information and troubleshooting tips. After you have checked these out please do post back with further questions or comments.
cornelius

Getting the " You need to restart your computer.... " message !!

Hello,
i was checking my HD recently and it says i have some problems i need to insert the " installation disk " and repaire it.
i inserted the disk and restart the Mac and pressed D
once i press D it pops up a picture says " you need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button until it turns off, then press the Power button again. "
and there are four more additional languages
i cannot get into the installation disk.
What can i do?
Thanks,

Thanks guys, i did what you told me but nothing has changed
Either, my mac ejecting the CD and boot normally or pops up the same message i wrote it above
and when the mac starts it's shows me a message content :
Interval Since Last Panic Report: 560647 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 4
Anonymous UUID: 2BF5C669-5043-4640-B684-0E5AC2F4D503
Mon Oct 11 14:14:19 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x475588): "Process 1 exec of /sbin/launchd failed, errno 5\n"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1456.1.25/bsd/kern/kern_exec.c:3146
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x3074be48 : 0x21acfa (0x5ce650 0x3074be7c 0x223156 0x0)
0x3074be98 : 0x475588 (0x5c0904 0x831ca8 0x5 0x0)
0x3074bef8 : 0x45f7f3 (0x47dcd20 0x1fe 0x44a5b60 0x80000001)
0x3074bf38 : 0x485c50 (0x44a97a8 0x0 0x1 0x40047a8)
0x3074bf68 : 0x218901 (0x44a97a8 0xffffff7f 0x0 0x0)
0x3074bfa8 : 0x2a5a07 (0xffffffff 0x1 0x0 0x2a27e000)
0x3074bfc8 : 0x29c866 (0x0 0x0 0x29c69b 0x40018c0)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: init
Mac OS version:
Not yet set
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0: Fri Jul 31 22:47:34 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1456.1.25~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookPro5,5 (Mac-F2268AC8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 6384157396
unloaded kexts:
(none)
loaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 1.8.0b4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 1.8.0b4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 1.8.0b4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.5.0
com.apple.BootCache 31
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 3.7.8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.3.4
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx 410.91.20
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.0.0
com.apple.nvenet 1.0.58
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI 3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 160.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.security.sandbox 0
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.0.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 90.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 90.0.0
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.2f18 - last loaded 6305396352
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.2f18
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.2f18
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 200.20
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 3.7.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.7.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 3.7.5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.1.7
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 300.20
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.8
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 3.7.8
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 281
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0

IMac G4 Freezes - Get message - You need to restart your computer.

I just posted this question in the G5 forum, I think. The Mac I am using is a G4 - the round 'lamp base' model' - so I will repost the question here.
My iMac freezes without notice, a dark screen comes over the monitor and the message "you need to restart your computer" appears.
This happens randomly and I have no idea what causes this. I thought perhaps it was just a loose power cord, as the cord does seem quite loose.
However, it happens after the machine has been running for some time. Before I have a chance to save my work, the computer tells me it has to shut down. It's not a consistent thing, so it's hard to know if it's the cord or not.
This also happened half way through watching a DVD. Nothing was touched or moved, so it wouldn't appear that this is being caused by a loose cord.
Can anyone shed some light on this problem? (I'm running Tiger on this machine with 700+ megs of RAM plus am using a Mac keyboard. Airport is installed but not in use.
I ran a Hardware Test on it and everything passed. I also completely reloaded all the software, erased the hard drive and did a complete reinstall, and the problem persists. It really is a nuisance and I have no idea what else to try.

Hi AnnieGrace,
Sorry to hear of your woes. You are suffering from Kernel Panics (link) which could be caused by defective RAM, dodgy USB drivers or a software corruption etc etc.
I would advise disconnecting all external devices (except an Apple mouse and keyboard), removing any 3rd party RAM you've installed and the Airport card if you have one.
The best thing to do then is work though Dr Smoke's Kernel Panic Resolution Guide (link).
Do let us know how you get on. When I suffered them it was down to cheap RAM; other AD users have reported that old keyboards caused their problem.
regards
mrtotes

Just updated on my iMac and now have continual 'You need to restart your computer ...' What can I do?

Just done routine update on my iMac, it asked me to restart and now have continual 'You need to restart your computer ...' What can I do?
on a grey screen I see:
panic (cpu 0 caller 0xffffff800064ba7b): "Unable to find driver for this platform: \"ACPI\".\n"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1699.26.8/iokit/Kernel/I0PlatformExpert.cpp:1 504
Debugger called: <panic>
can't perform kext scan: no kext summary
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: Unknown
Mac OS version:
Not yet set

Same problem on my MacBook Pro and a bunch of more people here:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/18621731#18621731

Keep getting message - You need to restart your computer - iMac freezes

My iMac freezes without notice, a dark screen comes over the monitor and the message "you need to restart your computer" appears.
This happens randomly and I have no idea what causes this. I thought perhaps it was just a loose power cord, as the cord does seem quite loose.
However, it happens after the machine has been running for some time. Before I have a chance to save my work, the computer tells me it has to shut down. It's not a consistent thing, so it's hard to know if it's the cord or not.
This also happened half way through watching a DVD. Nothing was touched or moved, so it wouldn't appear that this is being caused by a loose cord.
Can anyone shed some light on this problem? (I'm running Tiger on this machine with 700+ megs of RAM plus am using a Mac keyboard. Airport is installed but not in use.

Hi there,
I would first make sure your Mac is or isn't on any list contained here: http://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/imac.html - you may in fact have a faulty power supply which is covered by repair extension through Apple.
Here's a brief explanation on a Kernel Panic: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106227
Good luck, Rick
iMac G5 iSight 20" - 30G iPOD in Slimming Black - Mac OS X (10.4.8) - HP Pav 15" WS and Toshiba Sat 17" WS LP's - Canon 20D & A620 Kodak P880

IMac G3 Kernel Panic - You need to restart your computer - HELP

I have an iMac G3 400Mhz slot-loading with 256MB 13GB running Mac OS 10.3.3. It was all along running Ok until I tried to do an OS updating recently. After update done, re-boot and I got this cyclic message "You need to restart your computer". Tried all methods like pressing CtrlOption+PR or Option during power-up but still the same. Now at a loss as I also cannot find my OS media installation CD anymore. Can anyone suggest how to remedy this? Worse case scenario, I don't mind clean re-load OS but need help in getting a copy of the Mac OS installation media.

Welcome To  Discussions KevK!
How much space is available on the 13 GB Hard Drive?
What peripherals do you have connected to the iBook?
Are there any programs or applications, that are set to load at Startup?
You may find use helpful tips in this document Resolving Kernel Panics, authored by Dr Smoke.
As the iMac G3 400 MHZ's, original pre-installed OS was Mac OS 8.6, the original system discs, will not be much help.
You will need to purchase a new set of Panther discs, or a newer version of OS X, if you wish to upgrade.
With a larger Hard Drive, and additional RAM, that iMac, is capable of running Tiger 10.4.x.
Tiger is available for purchase at The Apple Store (U.S.).
Panther, is no longer available directly from the Apple Online Store, as Leopard 10.5.x, is the most up to date OS.
But, if you know what to look for, a Full Retail Version, of the Panther Install CDs, or a Full Retail Version, of the Tiger Install DVD, can be purchased, sometimes less expensively, at some online Apple retailers, Amazon, eBay, FastMac, HardCore Mac, AllMac, etc.
Be sure not to purchase grey, upgrade or machine specific CDs or DVDs.
Panther is only on CDs, not DVDs.
The discs should look exactly like the images in the above links, and not say Upgrade, CPU Drop-in DVD, or "This software is part of a hardware bundle purchase - not to be sold seperately." on them.
Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?
Caveat Emptor!
If any are presently available, examine these items very carefully, and if in doubt, ask questions of the seller before purchase!
Panther On eBay
Tiger On eBay
Once Panther 10.3.x is re-installed, you can use the 10.3.9 Combo Update, to upgrade to the final version.
If your Mac meets the Tiger System Requirements, you could also consider installing that, and then use the PPC 10.4.11 Combo Update, to upgrade to the current version.
Additionally, Tiger 10.4.x ships on a DVD, so if your Mac doesn’t have a built-in DVD-ROM player, you will have to use an alternative method of installation.
Info here Installing Tiger Using Firewire Target Disk Mode.
And here Installing Tiger Without A DVD Drive.
The Tiger Media Exchange Program, referred to, is no longer available.
Shop Carefully, Examine All Documentation, And I Wish You Success!
ali b

You need to restart your computer ...

Hi,
Just started getting the message, You need to restart your computer ...
The mac constantly crashes at startup, it even crashes from CD start-up.
I have;
1-reset nvram
2-changed battery
3-zapped pram
4-changed ram
5-changed video card
6-removed everything except power cable
7-removed battery, unplugged for several hours, tried to re-boot
8-tried to boot to safe mode, but holding shift does not seem to work, although I use a swedish keyboard, and some of the comMands are in different places (anyone know where the shift command is, on a Swedish keyboard)
9-screamed, shouted!
All with the same results.
The mac powers up, fans work. the red light is on the motherboard, but it just cannot boot (except for a couple of times, but then froze after several minutes).
If it gets to the blue screen it is usually the , 'You need to restart...' message, but I have also had 'System failure: CPU=01, 00000001 (corrupt stack) plus a few variations on this message.
A few of the crashes have lines of code/test covering the screen ending in 'we are hanging here'.
I am thinking it must be the CPU?, as the mac powers up, and does try to start.
As you will see from my info, the CPU is a 1.47 MHz upgrade.
I hope someone can help, cheers.

Hi,
I use a swedish keyboard, and some of the comMands are in different places (anyone know where the shift command is, on a Swedish keyboard)
Looks like both Shift keys are in the same place as here...
corrupt stack
Usually that means bad RAM, but it could be anything from CPU to Logic Board.
Does it get further along in the boot if it's cooled for a few hours?

When Waking From Sleep: 'You Need to Restart your Computer' Message Appears

About once a month, when my computer goes to sleep and I wake it up again I get the dreaded 'You need to restart your computer message'. Like I said, it only happens about once a month and not every time I wake it up.
I did upgrade my memory to 8GB a few months ago but I don't suspect that this is the cause since I only get this message once in a while.
When I checked my Crash log I found the following info:
Date/Time: 2011-02-06 00:59:30.207 -0800
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.6.6 (10J567)
Report Version: 6
Exception Type: EXCBADACCESS (SIGBUS)
Exception Codes: KERNPROTECTIONFAILURE at 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread: 23
Thread 23 Crashed:
0 ??? 0000000000 0 + 0
1 ...dia.FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin 0x13a32556 0x136fe000 + 3360086
2 ...dia.FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin 0x13a32934 0x136fe000 + 3361076
3 ...dia.FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin 0x13b4297e unregister_ShockwaveFlash + 46638
4 ...dia.FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin 0x13b42ab5 unregister_ShockwaveFlash + 46949
5 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9027385d pthreadstart + 345
6 libSystem.B.dylib 0x902736e2 thread_start + 34
Thread 24:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9026ba12 _workqkernreturn + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9026bfa8 pthreadwqthread + 941
2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9026bbc6 start_wqthread + 30
Thread 23 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):
eax: 0x14118da8 ebx: 0x139ab41e ecx: 0x1412d458 edx: 0x14f6e000
edi: 0xb52aa000 esi: 0x1412d2c0 ebp: 0xcb4aadf8 esp: 0xcb4aadbc
ss: 0x0000001f efl: 0x00010286 eip: 0x00000000 cs: 0x00000017
ds: 0x0000001f es: 0x0000001f fs: 0x0000001f gs: 0x00000037
cr2: 0x00000000
Can anyone interpret this crash log and help me find out what's going on?

What would help more is the panic.log entry. See, Mac OS X- How to log a kernel panic.
Superficially, I'd say uninstall your Shockwave and/or Flash plug-ins.

Freeze !!! Then the message read "you need to restart your computer.

New MAC User..
I just purchased a used G4 from Ebay and it was love at first login, but after 2 weeks my heart is broken as I write this post from my XP box. A few spec's as well as a little history. My spec's are 450 cpu, 20 gig hdd, 512 memory. I did a bios update as well as a 256 memory upgrade a week after purchase. Here's the issue. The system will freeze at any given time. The message read "you need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button etc. Now, to stay on track I uninstalled the additional memory, which was the only hardware change made to the system but it still froze.
As I record this post my MAC is going through this freeze slash send error report ordeal. Now let me record a few lines from the report. Unresolved Kernal trap (cpu 0):0x300 data access, etc.
I believe the problem started after I ran the software update for Tiger X. What I also found out was OS-9 is installed on this PC as well. When I found out how to boot to OS-9 it ran for 2 days without freezing. Soon as I booted to X boom. The other strange part of this eqaution is that in the X environment it could take 2hr to freeze or 10 minutes.
I ran Disk Utility to repair but no luck.How do I uninstall the X updates? or do you guys think it's another issue. Oh, I did not receive any software from the seller so my next move was to purchase Tiger and do a clean install.
(Loving My New (old) MAC....)BUT !!!!

The problem is not Unix per se. The situation, from what I have read, is as follows.
UNIX is a massive os that loads as much into ram as possible for performance. If ram is not dead on, problems ensue with corruption of data.
UNIX has been server technology and was traditionally installed in a professionally built and maintained environment. It frequently uses ECC ram which is more expensive and adds another layer of overhead to a system. For an enterprise system those cost are negligible.
Apple builds it's macs for non ECC ram for cost and for speed. The ram must be correct or the system will corrut itself. There are no mechanisms to correct for bad/marginal ram(cost and speed). To account for this Apple has very tight tolerances for the ram installed.
Each version of X has tightened the tolerances on the ram. Why? Because as time goes on, the macs are getting faster and the os more complex. A car that only goes 25mph can have flaky brakes, suspension, etc and still get by. As the speed of the cars increase the rest of the system must be improved (timing of ram in this case) or crashes ensue. So, even if your mac isn't going any faster the os that you are trying to use has specs for faster macs built in. It isn't UNIX but Apple's implementation of UNIX. As the macs speed increases, look for tighter specs on macs. I expect that this will happed with Intel macs as their clock speeds are higher.

On startup: "You need to restart your computer. Hold down ..."

When I start up from system folder 10.4.3 on hard disk, I get this message:
"You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Poweer button for several seconds or press the Restart button."
When I do this, my eMac restarts but returns to this very same message.
I did recently fix disk permissions using Hard Disk Utility. Tech Tools program reports no failures.
How can I restart my computer?

Find some body that can download and and burn you a copy of techtool 3.0.4 contact micromat and see if they know of a way to roll back a repair. Diskwarrior might help. There again check for the version number compatibility. Utilities are not like they use to be on OS9 and below; here you could use a version designed for lower OS and get by using it.
Todays utilities are based on the operating system themselves. There was a Major change in the version of UNIX used in OS X.3 and X.4 previously they used BSD (Berkley Systems Development) originated my Berkley University. Apple had to pay a Royalty payment for each copy sold. OSX uses FreeBSD UNIX which originally started from BSD UNIX; but, was taken over by the General UNIX community under a License like Mozilla uses for FIreFox and others. Anyway it can be used Royalty free. What's better is FreeBSD is constantly being improved literally daiyly; and therefore is much improved.
I digress. because of these differences the utilities must be written for the differences in code. And what worked on one doesn't on the other.

Told "You Need To Restart Your Computer"

Background: This is my second MacBook. It is a week 32, I have been using it for 3 weeks now, hasn't given me any serious problems, and is usually kept on (either with activity or sleeping) for several days in a row. The only suspicious thing happening lately is when I turn it on, the screen has flashed brightly really quickly, then back to black quickly, and then it starts to load like normal. So if anyone knows what that is either, it would be of help.
This issue: I was on my MacBook tonight, using the Internet and iTunes, like normal, and out of nowhere the screen dims down and in the middle is a black box that says "You need to restart your computer. Press down on the power button..." in like 4 different languages. So, I did. Then I turned it back on and it loaded fine (but gave me the "Mac OS X shut down unexpectedly" message).
The only thing odd about my use of it tonight would have to be that I was using it on my bed, so maybe not enough air was getting to the bottom of it. Could this cause it to force to shut down?
Once again, this is the only major issue I've had with it so far. My old MacBook had several problems but never the "You need to restart your computer" in the black box one.
Please help!

in a row. The only suspicious thing happening lately
is when I turn it on, the screen has flashed brightly
really quickly, then back to black quickly, and then
it starts to load like normal.
That's normal behavior. Mine does it to.
This issue: I was on my MacBook tonight, using
the Internet and iTunes, like normal, and out of
nowhere the screen dims down and in the middle is a
black box that says "You need to restart your
computer. Press down on the power button..." in like
4 different languages.
You experienced a kernel panic.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106227
They are usually hardware related. Disconnect any external devices.
Did you install any third-party RAM? If so, pull it out and run it with just the stock RAM.
-Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
Join Us @ MacOSG.com
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Can't get past a grey "you need to restart your computer screen"

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