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From: Mike Rosenberg on 6 Feb 2010 19:02 John McWilliams <jpmcw(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > Passing a test tells you no problems were _detected_, not that no > > problems actually exist. Memory tests, no matter how extensive, cannot > > simulate all possible real-world situations, nor can they test the > > portion of RAM that's needed to boot the computer and run the test > > software in the first place. > > Absolutely Kee-Rect. > > If you have added RAM, take out that stick, and test by using computer > normally. Yep, but if it's the built-in RAM his out of luck. -- My latest dance performance <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_9pudbFisE> Mac and geek T-shirts & gifts <http://designsbymike.net/shop/mac.cgi> Prius shirts/bumper stickers <http://designsbymike.net/shop/prius.cgi>
From: Steven Fisher on 6 Feb 2010 23:50 On 2010-02-06 10:38:06 -0800, John said: > The mac certified tech says that my Mac had no hardware problems. Also I > ran multiple tests on the hardware and found no problems. My Mac DOES > NOT have hardware problems. I'm not gonna say you do have hardware problems, but the tests the tech will run are hardly exhaustive. I had my mini in four times before they finally swapped out the RAM. All my problems went away after that. This is a laptop, right? That rules out power supply. So I'd still be looking at RAM.
From: Mike Rosenberg on 7 Feb 2010 09:22 John <jwolf6589(a)NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote: > > Passing a test tells you no problems were _detected_, not that no > > problems actually exist. Memory tests, no matter how extensive, cannot > > simulate all possible real-world situations, nor can they test the > > portion of RAM that's needed to boot the computer and run the test > > software in the first place. > > I ran Memtest overnight and it also reported no problems. However I have > received 2 more Kernel Panics. I complained to the computer repair shop > and the guy got all bent out of shape and defensive. Apparently he did > not fully do his job and test my hardware like he claimed he would. So I > am going to argue for somewhat of a refund or I may take it to the BBB > if needs be. Um, did you actually _read_ what I wrote? Reread the paragraph of mine quote above over and over under you understand this: It'a not uncommon to have bad RAM and not be able to detect it through testing. That means two things to you: 1. You can only truly determine if you have defective RAM by removing or swapping it out. 2. Since it's something that often cannot be tested for, it's wrong to say the tech did not fully do his job. He'd have to run the iBook exactly as you do, and the one person who can do that is you. -- My latest dance performance <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_9pudbFisE> Mac and geek T-shirts & gifts <http://designsbymike.net/shop/mac.cgi> Prius shirts/bumper stickers <http://designsbymike.net/shop/prius.cgi>
From: Mike Rosenberg on 7 Feb 2010 09:34 Mike Rosenberg <mikePOST(a)TOGROUPmacconsult.com> wrote: > 1. You can only truly determine if you have defective RAM by removing or > swapping it out. Here's a story to illustrate this, and it happened with my own Mac: I bought one of the June 2003 Power Mac G4s when they first came out. It had one 512 MB DIMM from Apple and one added by MacMall for free. I ordered one more from Data Memory Systems and installed it before booting up for the first time. That G4 had frequent hard freezes from the beginning, and I immediately suspected one of the three DIMMs. Well, it passed Apple's hardware test with overnight looping, and it passed Memtest overnight, too. I tried each of the three by itself, the hard freezes were gone in each case. I tried them in each possible pair, and again the hard freezes were gone. Going back to all three, the freezes returned. I ruled out the possibility that one of the G4's four DIMM slots was the problem. Okay, so there I was, with three DIMMs that all worked perfectly by themselves or in pairs, and they even passed memory tests with all three installed. I played a hunch, got MacMall to replace the one they had provided, and never had a hard freeze again. Bottom line: You can just never be sure if your RAM is good except by actually using the computer without problem. -- My latest dance performance <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_9pudbFisE> Mac and geek T-shirts & gifts <http://designsbymike.net/shop/mac.cgi> Prius shirts/bumper stickers <http://designsbymike.net/shop/prius.cgi>
From: Mike Rosenberg on 7 Feb 2010 22:52
John <jwolf6589(a)NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote: > > That means two things to you: > > > > 1. You can only truly determine if you have defective RAM by removing or > > swapping it out. > > > > 2. Since it's something that often cannot be tested for, it's wrong to > > say the tech did not fully do his job. He'd have to run the iBook > > exactly as you do, and the one person who can do that is you. > > Its not the RAM. Remopving the chip increased the panics. Thereby providing extremely strong evidence that it's the built-in RAM on the motherboard, as _that_ RAM will be active a much greater percentage of the time you're using the computer. You do know there's built-in RAM, don't you? If there wasn't, you couldn't boot up with nothing in the expansion slot. -- My latest dance performance <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_9pudbFisE> Mac and geek T-shirts & gifts <http://designsbymike.net/shop/mac.cgi> Prius shirts/bumper stickers <http://designsbymike.net/shop/prius.cgi> |