B&W G3 became a Crash-a-holic

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GEOS's picture
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B&W G3 became a Crash-a-holic

For the past 3 years I have been using a Powermacintosh G3 as my main desktop computer. Specs are as follows: 350MHz 896MB RAM, DVD-ROM, 160GB HD and 20GB HD, stock ATI Rage video card, and internal Zip 100. About 2 months ago it started having kernal panics quite frequently when doing any intence processor work, especially when doing filters and effects in Photoshop. I tried repairing permissions and all that Disk Utility crap first off, but that never solved the problem. I decided it was time for a freash install of Mac OS as it had been running this same version of 10.3.9 for quite some time. I backed up what I could between crashes and erased my 160Gb HD. I was never able to reinstall Mac OSX because it would crash half way through startup. I could only get it to boot into OS 9 or previous with the exception of an emergency 10.3 bootup disk I made. In short, I have tried everything I could to solve this crashing problem with no success. It can boot into OS 9 okay, but if I start using it for anything remotely complex, it will freeze. This is a hard crash as in the mouse and keyboard also do not work. The things I have tried are listed below. I may have forgotten some, so any suggestions would be welcomed.
1. Reset PRAM
2. Reset CUDA button on MB
3. Ran Tech Tool Pro
4. Removed RAM 1 piece at a time to try and track down a broken stick. All work fine
5. Re-arranged HD's and tried different combinations to see If i could find a problem there
6. Downclocked the processor
7. Reset the computer in Open Firmware
9. Ran Norton Utilities
10. Ran Disk First Aid in both OSX and OS 9
11. Blew out the case with air
12. Removed and reset the video card after cleaning contacts
13. Cleaned all the contacts on the RAM
I've tried all the tricks I know to no avail. I have never had a Mac I couldn't fix before and this one is driving me mad. I know you guys here are all very Mac savvy, so I know someone will have ideas. Ask me questions if you need any more info.

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sounds like the cpu is starti

sounds like the cpu is starting to go, or your hdd could be going, or the video card. have you replaced the pram battery with a new one. make shure everything that can be plugged in on the logic board is well seated other than what you reseated in the above post. do you have replacement parts like a extra cpu extra hdd and a video card. first of all i would replace the rage video card with a ati radion 7000 32mb pci Mac edition.

GEOS's picture
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I have tried different HD's i

I have tried different HD's in there and the problem presists. I do have a beige G3 that I could pull the processor and video card from. Thaks for the input.

coius's picture
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make sure

that the Beige CPU is 300MHz or higher. It won't work otherwise

GEOS's picture
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Re: make sure

that the Beige CPU is 300MHz or higher. It won't work otherwise

It's a 333MHz one.

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333? for B&W?

What color is the jumper block for that?

Or will the current jumper block just force the 333MHz to 350MHz?

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my b/w g3 has issues sometime

my b/w g3 has issues sometimes as well. not the same mind u. it will sometimes freeze in os 10.4 and u gotta restart. kinda weird things

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my b/w g3 has issues sometime

my b/w g3 has issues sometimes as well. not the same mind u. it will sometimes freeze in os 10.4 and u gotta restart. kinda weird things

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my B&W did alot of things bef

my B&W did alot of things before it finnally heaved and died

GEOS's picture
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Well I tried both replacing a

Well I tried both replacing all the ram and changing out the video card and neither one worked. I guess that leaves me with the processor.

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i will add that the CPU from

i will add that the CPU from my system that died still works. it may be just the board....

GEOS's picture
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Well, I pulled the 333MHz pro

Well, I pulled the 333MHz processor out of my beige G3 and put it in my B&W clocked at 350MHz. I started it up off the 10.3 CD and was able to get it all up and running with no problems. Looks like all I have to do is get a new processor! Thanks for all your input guys, sometimes It helps to get some input even when you think you've tried it all.

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i guess every one is a differ

i guess every one is a different machine eh? hahaha.... ill never get these things totally..... i have a 300mhz tested and working ill sell ya for the price of shipping... PM me if your interested

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Re: i guess every one is a differ

i guess every one is a different machine eh? hahaha.... ill never get these things totally..... i have a 300mhz tested and working ill sell ya for the price of shipping... PM me if your interested

lol, thanks man, but I've got about 20 or so Macs laying around the house already. After this Powermac went crazy I got a new Mini because I need a comp for school and I hated using my iBook. I went ahead and placed a bid on a 450MHz processor off ebay, so I will be okay. Then I can put this 333 back in the beige box.

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i meant just the cpu :-)

i meant just the cpu Smile

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