This is getting pretty nasty now...

Question

I've had this Dual 2.0 since last May, and while it was fine at first, it justs keep getting worse. Surfing is fine (most of the time), menial tasks aren't a problem and the overall performance, i.e. start-up, navigating the interface and such are great.
But God forbid I try to use this thing to work. Photoshop always freezes on me. It's not a matter of if, but when. I've reinstalled Photoshop plenty of times, from the disk and no mas. This thing doesn't work.
The worst part is I can never just Force Quit. It hijacks the whole machine and I have to power down by the button, which I hate to do, and after tonight, with good reason. An illustration I've put far too many hours into is gone. The folder is there, everything around it is there, but the main file gone. I have Prosoft Data Rescue running right now in hopes of finding it. But just that it happened is really miserable and a sign that things are getting worse.
iMovie, which is made by Apple for Apple doesn't work. Importing video files freezes it. For software that's not after market or third party, this is poor. iPhoto is not worth the effort; the spinning beach ball gives me fits.
Sometimes when simply sitting still with me away from it, the fans start to blare and the machine freezes.
The machine is put together as such:
A WD Raptor 74 GB 10,000 RPM drive for boot and software.
Original 250 WD harddrive for content.
2.5 GB of RAM. 2 GB of after market RAMJET Ram.
The only after market things plugged in at all times is a Wacom tablet and a scanner, which is rarely ever turned on. No printers, no camera's or USB/Firewire cards. I have one, but am terrified of putting it in. I avoid fonts, as I really don't need them much and that issue also makes me nervous
I can't fault the RAM, as the machine handles almost everything else fine and the hardware tests and Tech Tool Pro say it's fine.
I've paid a pretty price for this high end machine and find this to be just ridiculous, what I'm dealing with.
Aside from the standards of repairing permissions, and PRAM Zaps and the hardware tests that say all is well, is there something I'm missing? I really need this thing to work, as in earn a living.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks.
-Vincent

Answer 1

I've had this Dual 2.0 since last May, and while it
was fine at first, it justs keep getting worse.
Surfing is fine (most of the time), menial tasks
aren't a problem and the overall performance, i.e.
start-up, navigating the interface and such are
great.
But God forbid I try to use this thing to work.
Photoshop always freezes on me. It's not a matter of
if, but when. I've reinstalled Photoshop plenty of
times, from the disk and no mas. This thing doesn't
work.
The worst part is I can never just Force Quit. It
hijacks the whole machine and I have to power down by
the button,
99 percent certain this is a kernal panic...generally not software related.
which I hate to do, and after tonight,
with good reason. An illustration I've put far too
many hours into is gone. The folder is there,
everything around it is there, but the main file
gone. I have Prosoft Data Rescue running right now in
hopes of finding it. But just that it happened is
really miserable and a sign that things are getting
worse.
iMovie, which is made by Apple for Apple doesn't
work. Importing video files freezes it. For software
that's not after market or third party, this is poor.
iPhoto is not worth the effort; the spinning beach
ball gives me fits.
Sometimes when simply sitting still with me away from
it, the fans start to blare and the machine freezes.
The machine is put together as such:
A WD Raptor 74 GB 10,000 RPM drive for boot and
software.
Original 250 WD harddrive for content.
2.5 GB of RAM. 2 GB of after market RAMJET Ram.
I can't fault the RAM, as the machine handles almost
everything else fine and the hardware tests and Tech
Tool Pro say it's fine.
Sorry to say, these RAM tests do not find bad RAM. That said, I'm not sure what they're actually for. I suppose they'd find REALLY bad ram, but you're RAM can still be bad after passing these tests any number of times. I'd hold out that your problem is still might be bad RAM. The symptoms you describe--random kernal panics that are difficult to reproduce under the exact same circumstances--would point me this direction.
Furthermore, the applications you describe having problem with exercise all or most of your RAM. The other tasks you say you don't have problem with don't.
Having gone though hundreds and hundreds of complaints such as yours when I was having similar problems suggested a pattern that "bad RAM" affects.
Since you have at least two sets of RAM, it makes it easier to systematically diagnose. Start by taking out the 3rd pary RAM, reboot and reset PRAM, and look for signs. Put the other in after taking out the first and reboot, resetting PRAM as well. If you're really ambitious, keep in mind that certain RAM slots may be bad. Pay attention to your user manual as to which slots must be filled first, before populating others. Some machines it doesn't matter, some it's critical. Some machines require identical pairs of RAM installed in symetrical slots. Again: User Manual.
I'm not saying this is definitely your problem...just that it's hightly likely. And, with each kernal panic you've experienced, your hard drive could become corrupted. Personally, I'd suggest running the Disk Utility after every panic...especially while you're trying to diagnose it. I think some of the other problems you may be experiencing with files is related to open files getting trashed at the time of the kernal panic.
I've paid a pretty price for this high end machine
and find this to be just ridiculous, what I'm dealing
with.
All the more reason to see if the problem is, in fact, something you introduced, or something you should be mad at Apple for. Either is possible.
Clay