Maintenence on the iMac

Question

My iMac 800 Flat Pan G4 has just recently begun to have a couple of kernel panics when shutting down. I called tech support and since my 3 years were up as of August they said it would cost me $$ to fix.
I think I may have trouble shot the problem since I unplugged most everything, usb, and started up one by one again. But....
Is there any kind of routine maintence I can do to keep the machine in good running order? I wasn't sure if I shoud reset the 'pram?' etc..., run disk utility repair, etc..
Can anyone tell me what to do so not to get kernel panics and keep the machine running well?
Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Jorge,
Running Apple Hardware Test:
It depends on which iMac model you have, and which version of Mac OS X came with it, but there should be no difference once you are restarted with it.
Mine is on the Install DVD (#1), booted with the Option key, not the C key.
Some others may be on a separate CD that will just "C" boot?
AHT should be mentioned on the disc itself (at least mine is). If not, the ReadMe files.
"I suppose I should wait to run the hardware test disc after I put in the new RAM. Any advice?"
I would run it now, so that I can be sure of the old RAM too.
The complete hardware test takes no more than 25 minutes on my iMac (the more RAM you have, the more it takes).
Then, yes,
testing your new (warrantied) RAM is a good idea.
Other than your kernel panics troubleshooting, no, AHT is certainly not a maintenance routine...
Maintenance:
"...it wouldn't be a bad idea to run Cocktail every so often..."
Not bad.
I've seen different approaches here in the Apple Forums, Barry's being an excellent one, even some who never do anything and claim no problem at all...
Here's mine:
1) Always keep at least 10-15% free hard drive space.
2) Back up: <small>better use a file-by-file method, as opposed to a bit-for-bit method.</small>
3) Repair Permissions after each software install or update that required an installer.
4) Run the three Periodic tasks ('cron' nightly maintenance) if your iMac is shut down at night, or if it often sleeps (10.4.2). All three tasks together once or twice a month is plenty.
That's it.
You can also
before Mac OS X Updates or twice a year:
5) Clean users', browsers' and fonts' caches --> + restart.
6) Restart from your Tiger install DVD and Repair Disk with Disk Utility.
7) Run DiskWarrior if you have it.
Repairing Permissions can be done with Cocktail, but when you use Disk Utility, you can keep an eye on the S.M.A.R.T. status too.
Two other very different approaches, both excellent:
(Gulliver) Mac OS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance
(The X Lab) Maintaining Mac OS X
Barry,
<center><small>"your system will run somewhat slower after 'cleaning cache.'"</small></center>
Slower for a few seconds or minutes. No big deal but the certitude of having only clean files recreated.
Also: Those who use a "superfast" internet connection with a faster computer, nowadays choose to lock the Cache folder, as cache-accessing actually slows down such very-fast-connected systems.
<center><small>"cron scripts will be run automatically by OS X 10.4.2"</small></center>
Hopefully by OS X 10.4.3, but yet buggy behaviour makes it reliable only for the Daily task and only if either
(a) no shut down at night or (b) if shut down at night, enough sleep time during the day (<small>And "c", meeting these conditions makes it then likely for the two other Periodic tasks to never run...</small>).
Good maintenance!
Axl