Spontaneous Shutdown

I have a 20 inch iMac with an intel 2.4 ghz processor and 3 gb memory. It was purchased in November, 2007. Since months after purchase it began to spontaneously shutdown without any warning. I have had more than 5 case numbers on the same problem. It runs fine for a few months and then just starts its with the problem again. Just about every part in the machine has been replaced and diagnostics have been run. The last response I received is: This is a problem with this model. All that can be done has been done.
This tells me that Apple has a model that has had problems for almost 3 years and now they are saying that it is basically a flawed machine and nothing can be done. My warranty runs out in November. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, has a resolution been found?
Claire

Call Customer Support and politely ask/suggest that they replace your iMac with a new machine. Given the history, they should be willing to do this. Try to get someone in a senior position.

Similar Messages

  • Need more info - same spontaneous shutdown problem...

    I'm using a very trustworthy 2.5 year-old T500 running Vista SP2 32-bit and my laptop has begun to have the same spontaneous shutdown problems as other users who've written here.  I suspect it's overheating.  I normally use my T500 on a docking station, which may or may not exacerbate an overheating issue. 
    I want to address this problem to ensure that I can continue to progress on my PhD dissertation (!) without crises, so I have taken some of the steps previously recommended for this problem here on this board.  I installed TPFC today to begin monitoring CPU temperature and it appears that it runs between 55 and 65 C.  Other temps listed are lower.  I also made necessary adjustments in Power Settings to maximize fan speed and allow CPU speed to float.  I also removed the battery so I'm using AC power with no battery/recharging processes to add to the problem, though I'm not certain that last part will make any difference.
    I want to also clean the fan since I'm sure it's probably dirty after 2.5 years of continous use in my house.  How can I take my laptop apart to clean the cooling fan?  Or is this something I should take it to a repair shop to accomplish?
    Thanks in advance for your advice.

    No, my machine is not under warranty any longer.  I agree, if it was, there's no way I'd risk voiding it by tearing it apart myself.
    Thanks for causing me to double check.  I DO have a few months of warranty left, so this baby is going to a professional!  I could probalby do it myself, but why risk it?

  • 10.5.7 Spontaneous Shutdowns

    Hi, I updated to 10.5.7 yesterday with no problems during installation. Since then my MacBook Pro 1.83 with 2G ram experienced 3 spontaneous shutdowns. On start up I don't even get the message that Mac OS X quit. Has anybody experienced this ? I do think I was on battery power each time but my charge has been adequate.

    I have the identical problem as you: spontaneous system crashes when running on battery power, with plenty of battery life left. To clarify: what I mean by 'spontaneous system crash' is, the machine behaves exactly as if the battery had been pulled out. Years ago I experienced similar behavior with old batteries that needed replacing. Currently, though, I actually have two young batteries that I alternate between, and the problem occurs with both batteries. I no longer have a laptop. I have a desktop.
    I am sure it is not the logic board-- everything was fine until immediately after 10.5.7 upgrade. I bet that this is related to older logic boards, though-- I have the first intel MBP that came out. I have seen two people posting on discussions here saying that logic board replacements fixed their apparently identical problems. Perhaps these posters' logic board fixes happened because the upgrade replaced the older board with a more modern board that is not susceptible to the bug.
    I will be downgrading to 10.5.6 ASAP, and I am not happy about it. Time machine is no help, because you can't revert the OS only, you have to lose all new data created after the system update.

  • Kernal Panic- spontaneous shutdown

    My Macbook (13", late 2008, running Mavericks 10.9.5) spontaneously shutdown, so I came here to see if anyone else has had the same problem. I was not doing anything out of the ordinary, just that there was a CD-ROM in the computer, but it was not running at the time. Per suggestions from other community, here is the panic log I found: 12/24/14 11:37:14.041 AM ReportPanic[345]: ReportPanic could not stat /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2000-12-31-170140_Jeanette-Abarcas-MacBo ok.panic
    Here is the information from EtreCheck:
    Problem description:
    My Macbook spontaneously shutdown. Using this program recommended by an Apple Community user.
    EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108)
    Report generated December 24, 2014 at 12:11:32 PM MST
    Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
    Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
    Click the [Adware] links for help removing adware.
    Hardware Information: ℹ️
      MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) (Verified)
      MacBook - model: MacBook5,1
      1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core
      4 GB RAM Upgradeable
      BANK 0/DIMM0
      2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
      BANK 0/DIMM1
      2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
      Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
      Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
    Video Information: ℹ️
      NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB
      Color LCD 1280 x 800
    System Software: ℹ️
      OS X 10.9.5 (13F34) - Uptime: 0:40:44
    Disk Information: ℹ️
      Hitachi HTS545025B9SA02 disk0 : (250.06 GB)
      EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
      Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 249.20 GB (152.65 GB free)
      Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB
      HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS21N
    USB Information: ℹ️
      Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
      Apple, Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
      Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
      Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
      Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
    Gatekeeper: ℹ️
      Mac App Store and identified developers
    Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
      /System/Library/Extensions
      [not loaded] com.leapfrog.codeless.kext (2) [Support]
      [not loaded] com.leapfrog.driver.LfConnectDriver (1.8.0 - SDK 10.7) [Support]
    Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
      [failed] com.apple.Kerberos.digest-service.plist [Details]
      [failed] com.apple.Kerberos.kdc.plist [Details]
    Launch Agents: ℹ️
      [loaded] com.coupons.coupond.plist [Support]
      [loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Support]
    Launch Daemons: ℹ️
      [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
      [loaded] com.leapfrog.connect.shell.plist [Support]
      [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Support]
      [loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Support]
      [loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Support]
    User Launch Agents: ℹ️
      [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
      [running] com.amazon.cloud-player.plist [Support]
      [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
      [running] com.microsoft.LaunchAgent.SyncServicesAgent.plist [Support]
    User Login Items: ℹ️
      Monitor Application (/Applications/LeapFrogConnect.app/Contents/Monitor.app)
      iTunesHelper ApplicationHidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
      Microsoft Database Daemon Application (/Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Office/Microsoft Database Daemon.app)
      DING! Application (/Applications/DING!.app)
    Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
      Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Support]
      Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
      AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.13 [Support]
      FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
      Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
      AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.16 [Support]
      QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
      SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.7 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
      AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.13 [Support]
      CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: Version: 5.0.3 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
      iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
      JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 25 Check version
    User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
      npBcsMcTcIO: Version: Unknown [Support]
    Safari Extensions: ℹ️
      Pin It Button [Installed]
    3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
      Flash Player  [Support]
      Java  [Support]
    Time Machine: ℹ️
      Auto backup: YES
      Destinations:
      Jeanette [Network]
      Total size: 1.92 TB
      Total number of backups: 0
      Oldest backup: -
      Last backup: -
      Size of backup disk: Excellent
      Backup size 1.92 TB > (Disk size 0 B X 3)
    Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
          6% iTunes
          2% HP Device Monitor
          2% WindowServer
          0% Microsoft Outlook
          0% Console
    Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
      142 MB Safari
      129 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent
      125 MB iTunes
      86 MB Finder
      86 MB com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64
    Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
      49 MB Free RAM
      1.59 GB Active RAM
      1.54 GB Inactive RAM
      575 MB Wired RAM
      792 MB Page-ins
      18 MB Page-outs
    Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
      Dec 24, 2014, 11:31:34 AM Self test - passed
    If anyone out there can decipher all this, I'd really appreciate it. Any other information needed? Thank you!!

    Kerberos is the system level logging in software.
    Leapfrog connects to a variety of personal digital assistants and kid toys made by that manufacturer.  It may be distressing the machine.   It is important to remember USB devices are sensitive to the power of the computer.   Macintoshes have an underpowered USB port, which is better to connect into via a wall powered USB device than looking for system level power.  Many USB hubs offer this kind of connection so your device doesn't have to have its own power, and the computer doesn't have to be confused.  Energy Saver, also known as Sleep can also trigger issues with USB devices, and that is activated when you close the display lid of the computer.

  • NF750-G55 BIOS Memory Options causing spontaneous shutdowns

    I was playing a bit with BIOS and I found these options under memory settings that are not mentioned in the manual:
    Power Down Enable
    MemClk Tristate C3/Altvid
    Thinking to save power and/or lower heat output of my memory modules, I enabled all of them.  It did not seem to give any observable benefits, but I left them enabled anyway.
    About 30 minutes later playing Assassin's Creed, suddenly my PC turned off by itself.  Just like, boom, off, just like when you unplug the power cord.  I pressed the power button, and it turn on and boot up normally.  Windows did say that it was not shut down properly, but it booted up to desktop just fine.  I was thinking maybe my graphic card or PSU is going to die.  So I left the computer to idle about 20 minutes (i went to the kitchen), and when I came back, the PC was off.  So this happened on idle as well.
    Then I remembered that I changed the BIOS memory settings.  So I disabled all the settings that I mentioned above (back to prior settings), and my PC has been on (playing games and idle) like... 3 hours now no shutting down by itself yet.
    Should I worry about components failing or these BIOS settings are just some of the things that I should stay away from?
    Its not impossible that it is the culprit as new things break too, but my PSU is pretty new (like 1-2 months old).
    Thanks in advance

    Quote
    1st, I do not joke about serious matter, why would I joke about your statement?
    I was not making joke of anyone's statement.
    Quote
    If you joke about seeking help you are in the wrong forum
    I did not joke about seeking help, I joke because it is seem to be so hard to understand about that particular BIOS setting, you know, to clear the atmosphere.  Oh, C'mooon...
    Quote
    2nd, The shutdown can't be caused by a BIOS setting like that.
    It will shutdown a lot more without that setting, I'm sure, maybe not right away but it will.
    If you read my original post you will understand that my PC is working well (aka no spontaneous shutdown) before I change this setting.  Clearly the spontaneous shutdown only happened while the setting was enabled.  I have disabled the setting ever since, and up to this moment, absolutely no spontaneous shutdown, just like before.  It is pretty clear that the BIOS setting caused this.
    Quote
    3th, Why would a memory setting do an Emergency Shutdown? If you are so funny, answer that!
    There is no EMERGENCY to POWER-OFF over your STUPID setting, now is there?
    This is exactly my question!  Now why I fool around in this forum if I have the answer?
    Quote
    Your silly switch isn't, so why would it do that? Unless it didn't power-off at all.
    This is not my silly switch.  If I remember correctly it was made by Micro Star International, the board manufacturer.

  • Spontaneous Shutdowns

    About three weeks ago, my MacBook (purchased Feb 07) began to spontaneously shut down. I'd be in the middle of something, then -- ch-thunk -- black screen, off. This happened about 20 times in one night.
    2 things seemed to precipitate this: 1) moving my laptop from one surface to another (i.e., lap to table) and 2) pressing the keys M N and K. But it wasn't consistent. Anyway, it turned out there was a loose screw on the underside of the lap top so I thought that was the problem and that I'd fixed it. 9 days later it happened again, but just crashing once, that particular time. Then it crashed again a couple of days later. I took it to the Apple store and all they did was reset the SMC (which I'd done myself to no avail) and then tell me if it happens again that I need to send it in to the Depot (?) for a repair. Of course, I brought it home and it crashed three times. Then there was a stretch of days where it was fine ... and then yesterday crashed five times. I've also tried repairing disk permissions (in Disk Utility) from reading through some of the discussion topics here, but obviously that didn't help.
    Anyway, sorry if this topic has been posted before, there are a lot to read and I'm new here! Anyone have any suggestions for me to try before I have to spend $400 repairing it? (And, are the repairs guananteed?)
    Thanks!

    Same thing has been going on with my Macbook over the last two weeks. The issue has escalated to the point where I experience random shutdowns/restarts and freezings up to 10 times PER HOUR (or sometimes it works for hours at a time without a single glitch). I was an early adopter and have had this laptop for just over two years now.
    * Six and 10 months after my purchase, respectively, I had to get the power supply and logic board replaced due to these very same issues. In between that time and now (the span of about a year), I've only been subject to the occasional Kernel Panic, but now find that my Macbook is nearly unusable and completely unreliable due to the return of this random shutdown/freeze/restart.
    I've run all the Hardware tests, Disk Permissions/Verifications and resorted to going back to my originally installed RAM of 1GB, but I find that the problem seems to be most likely emanating from the logic board once again. Foolishly, I did not opt to purchase the Applecare Plan and find myself completely stuck with a what seems to be a lemon. I doubt Customer Care would be willing to assist me given this situation.
    And not to turn this into a whinefest, but my Macbook has also suffered trackpad wear/discoloration and chipping of the edges of the keyboard faceplace.
    I like Apple products, but I'm really dissatisfied with the performance and quality of this laptop and feel that Apple has not properly addressed this as some systematic problem (ie -- product recall), which seems to be affecting many more owners out there than Apple is willing to acknowledge.

  • Macbook spontaneous shutdown

    To give you an idea what I am going through, I have written this post four times before fiannly moving to a different computer to post this desperate need for help.
    My 5 month old macbook started spontaneously shutting down a few weeks ago and I just can't take it anymore. I brought it to the genius bar after being advised to do so by applecare and some gentlemen shocked my p-ram?
    Well, of course it didn't shut down in front of him. This was even after we opened almost everything to use some processing power.
    So, what should I do now? Is there some trick to fix this issue. I tried removing the ram moduals and replacing them and that worked for a day, but now it is doing its thing again. Help....

    Hello oceanboy,
    Welcome to our world of RSD or Random Shutdown or RSS Random Shutdown Syndrome or as Apple likes to call it Intermittent Shutdown.
    This has been effecting alot of macbooks since the beginning.
    There are two options:
    1. Call Applecare and tell them you are suffering from intermittent shutdown and they should tell you to send it in where they are going to replace your logicboard and heatsink, which alot of users are stating have fixed the RSD issue.
    2. Take it back to the Apple store and tell them the same thing from 1 and they should attempt to fix it at the store.
    But be prepared to be without your macbook for up to 1 month. It should be quicker turnaround time but there are some users who have reported having their macbook in the shop for a long time.
    You are not alone man, alot of people have suffered from this issue just look through the discussion boards and you will see a whole lot of RSD issues.
    Luckly you will get yours back without a problem, mine has comeback with always other issues that crop up. But luckly I am getting a replacement blackbook which I am in the process of completing.
    Good luck and please mark as solved.

  • Spontaneous shutdown error

    Setup: Powerbook 17" G4 connected to Apple ADC LCD display (various) via DVI-ADC adaptor.
    Situation: shortly after boot (specifically, about when the login screen is ready to give me control of the mouse), the Mac spontaneously powers off. Not a clean shutdown, just stops.
    This only occurs if the DVI-ADC part is plugged in. If just the USB line is plugged in (but not DVI), then it still works. If the DVI port is plugged in, this happens 100% reliably, whether or not USB is plugged in or what USB devices are plugged into the display.
    Over the past few years, I've had it happen on three different ADC-DVI adaptors, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 years old. Once it happens, it happens every time. Changing Mac or monitor makes no difference. Changing ADC-DVI adaptor makes it go away. I've had this happen on 10.3 and 10.4 OS versions.
    It's obviously something odd going on in the ADC box once it gets "old", because the system works completely fine until boot-up is completed. Then it just dies.
    Questions:
    (1) Why does this happen?
    (2) Is there a way to fix it without replacing the DVI-ADC box (not cheap)?

    Same problem on my G5 1.8. Two 20" Apple Cinema displays. When I hook up the second screen using the adapter, the computer will run for awhile and then shut down. When I try to start up it shuts down immediately after boot. If I let it sit for awhile, than I can book up again. I will try another adapter as the original poster mentioned.

  • Screen losing brightness / spontaneous shutdowns

    2 Problems:
    1.) My iMac G3 400 / slot-loader / OS 9.1 has had recent startup problems; i.e., occasionally shuts down spontaneously shortly after initial startup, or sometimes after several minutes, or longer use.
    2.) The monitor has become darker. I brightened it a bit via the Monitor Control Panel, but it is still too dark.
    Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
    iMac G3 SE 400 mhz   Mac OS 9.1.x   384 RAM 16 GB HD DSL Modem

    I'm no expert, but experienced the same issue. I believe that the iMac is not retaining enough charge for the monitor (26,000 volts for minimum brightness), which is why a) it's so dim, and 2) other parts (hard drive, etc.) pull so much power during startup that it kills the machine.
    This is what I did to rescue my iMac while I look for another machine (you should try all software methods [permissions, pram, system disk, etc.] before you do this):
    1. UNPLUG.
    2. open the memory door. Reach in and disconnect the CD drive (you may need to take out the memory cards for better access). It's a little snug in there -- you may need to get out some needle-nose pliers. The plug is the SMALLER (and outmost) of the two black boxes leading into the cd drive. The other one is soldered onto the cd drive itself, and -- ahem -- shouldn't be yanked out.
    3. re-insert your memory cards if needed
    4. Plug back in.
    5. Try powering up. (zapping PRAM might be a good idea at this time, too)
    6. Let it sit with its "?" (hey, where's the system?) icon for a while -- I believe this builds a charge large enough to :
    7. Unplug, reconnect the CD drive, and power up.
    If you have sucess, NEVER shut down (sleep was okay for me) unless you want to go through this process again. It seems the capacitor isn't holding charge on power down, or that the trickle charge isn't trickling well. It could also be that the charge is TOO large, but I doubt that.
    Anyway, that is what worked for me. I'm typing from said iMac right now, and looking for a new one right now before it gets really scary...
    iMac G3 500Mhz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

  • Macbook Pro Spontaneous shutdown (different than the original issue?)

    After two and a half years of use my computer has decided to hate me in a new and novel way, and due to a couple of changes recently I'm hard-pressed to pinpoint the issue. In short, it has fallen into the habit of shutting down spontaneously without notice or regard to power adapter, battery life, or even the battery that's in it.
    It seems to happen most often when I'm playing World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, where it will, without fail, go to black within half an hour of booting up the program. It has happened, though far less regularily, while only using Safari.
    I've also recently replaced the battery, because the old one had finally stopped holding a charge whatsoever, and I'd also a few days prior cleaned out my hard disk as best I could of superflous crud because it'd run out of space, mostly to install WoW but also to free up reserve memory for Adobe programs, since I'm a graphic design student and so will regularily eat through all my memory easily with a 300 dpi 32x40 inch poster.
    I'm very stymied. It might be the battery but switching to the old one doesn't help, running without battery doesn't help, and it doesn't seem to matter if the power adapter is plugged in or not. It might be WoW being too hardware intensive but I'm well within the system reqs and I regularily run big bad programs anywsy. It might be that WoW is buggy, but it's shut down without me using it. It might be because I cleared out something important, but couldn't possibly think what that could've been, especially because it was mostly old games, photos, music, and logs. I have no idea what it could be. Any help? It would be much appreciated.

    How much RAM do you have installed?
    Check the shut down settings in Energy Saver.
    System Preferences>Energy Saver>Sleep>Schedule
    If you have AppleCare, then contact them.

  • Why spontaneous shutdown (CDMA)?

    Any ideas why my CDMA iPhone4 may have spontaneously shut down? Took a long time to achieve reset.
    TIA,
    picman

    Hi friend,
    It happened with me before in my iPhone. After reset network settings and turned off my iPhone, I then turned it on and now runs at a glance.
    Hope it helps

  • K7n2g spontaneous shutdown

    I just upgraded to a new mb, cpu, the works.  Had the normal problems becoming familiar with the new equipment (new for me since my last computer was a P166). :D
    Anyway, loaded win98 and ran without a problem.
    Yesterday upgraded to xp pro and seemed fine.  Then, while my son is playing pinball the system shuts off.  I'm thinking the cpu must have overheated and the mb shut the system down.  All last night when I try to power on the d-led system seems to indicate it is getting to the video and won't initialize so shuts down.
    This morning it boots into xp fine so I turn it off.  At lunch I decide to run memtest on it and it shuts down after about 3 or 4 minutes.
    Is the mb bad? cpu bad? Onboard video overheating? DDR bad?
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks.
    p.s.  I'm running an amd 1800+ .13 micron (rev. a...I think)
    Using a coolmaster HSF variable speed at around 4000 rpm
    Bios shows the cpu is around 46C in win 98 and 48C in xp pro.

    Hi, I finally acquired the last of my needed parts to put a system together based off of the K7N2G yesterday, and after putting it all together I have had a similar problem to what's been described above... but worse since it's not a Blue Screen (no OS yet) or a reboot... the power just cuts out.
    The power supply came with the case, and is:
    PowMax 400W max
    Model LP-8800D
    +3.3v 28A
    +5v 30A
    +12v 25A
    +5vsb 2A
    -5v .3A
    -12v .8A
    both +5/3.3 and +12 are connected to the mb
    CPU: Athlon XP 2400+ Thoroughbred
    RAM: Corsair TWINX 1GB (matched pair of 512s) PC2700
    HSF: Thermaltake Volcano 9 Coolmod set to Function 1 (constant max speed, as opposed to thermal sensor under the CPU option, or manual variable speed adjustment option).  Runs at 4800RPM max roughly (BIOS when I'm able to get to it reports around 5000)
    BIOS after CMOS reset (several times now) can generally be accessed and BIOS defaults then reloaded provide the best result, usually anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes before immediate and thorough power shutoff.
    To be able to restart the PSU on/off switch has to be toggled (usually give it a little time between switching on and off, I suppose plugging/unplugging the power cord might work but I haven't done that, and if you do neither the power button is useless).
    So is this almost definitely a bad PSU?  The first few tries didn't lead me there as I had an ATI 9700 All-In-Wonder Pro in the AGP slot and I couldn't even get to the BIOS (died at VGA start).  Thinking I might have to do some BIOS/updates tweaks to convince the 9700 to run on the nForce (or would that be the nForce to run the 9700?), I took it out and have since then basically seen the above behavior.
    There are no other cards attached.  The D-Bracket, S-Bracket, and Firewire bracket are though, but those come with the board so I've not suspected them of evil yet.
    There is one ATA133 Hard Drive primary master on IDE1 and one ATA133 CDR/RW/DVD primary master on IDE2
    The only other thing that (until recently) interacted with the system was the LCD time/temp. display on the front of the case which required having it's own power plugged into the +5/3.3 with a female recepticle coming out the back to which the actual PSU connected.  Took that off and plugged the PSU straight in, did not improve anything.
    Thank you if you've read this far, and thank you more if you reply (and more, etc. if your answer is of help).  Barring that, does anybody know who sells PSUs with the square 12v auxilliary?  I poked around a little online and at best have only found a 4-pin straight line auxillary connector.  Thanks so much,
    Steve

  • Dual 2.0 g5 progressively getting more unstable. Constant spont. shutdowns

    Hi Y'all-
    A while back I posted a topic about my computer not wanting to boot after an OS update:
    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2939745#2939745
    Thanks to discussion boards,I just boot using the option key and selecting the "drive." I have to do this every once and awhile. The Applestore pretty much proved useless so far,but I'm beginning to suspect my PMU/power manager is not happy. It's on a power strip,and my outlet voltage is fine(electrician checked this out.) When I take the machine in,with a 30" cinema display too(I hear the power draw is unstable on those)it seems to operate fine. I think the Applestore will have a voltage regulator,and I'm betting the perfect delivery of power keeps my machine running at the store. Plus, pulling the plug is essentially a PMU/SMU reset.
    When I get home, it acts up again and has to boot from the OPTION mode occasionally. I could live with that, but the other day it started spontaneous shutdowns. Usually with 2-3 programs running.
    The fans start spinning fast using Safari and even iTunes. If I start Safari,90% of the time it crashes the whole machine. The fans and chirping started after an OS update about 1.5 years ago, but shutdowns are all new.
    Does this sound like a power manager/motherboard issue? I have 2 months left on my warranty and can't seem to get anywhere. Nothing abnormal. This is the worst MAC I have owned-I'm shocked. Such a hassle compared to my bullet-proof g4 laptop. Nothing special loaded, no extra RAM yet.

    A tech friend of mine told me to experiment with cooling and heating the g5 in different ways. He said spontaneous shutdowns seem to be linked to an overheated processor and /or RAM.
    I bypassed the experiment and wondered why the machine wasn't able to cool itself off. During operation I took the side cover off. Then I took the plastic air divertor off. The machine went into panic mode and all 4 fans came on suddenly. There was a huge plume of dust that flew out of the machine. From that point, I replaced the plastic diverotr and the machine wasn't shutting down, but the fans would spin up.
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