imac/Leopard randomly restarting

[biggus_richus]

I recently bought myself a 2.4GHz 20" aluminium iMac. It came with Tiger and the first thing I did was install Leopard from the supplied disc.

I don't know if it's software or hardware related (or both), but the computer has a habit of randomly spontaneously restarting. It happened two or three times to the wife, so I checked for software updates and installed them. Then it happened to me for the first time.

I've had a company MacBook Pro for over a year running Tiger and this has never happened.

Considering reinstalling Leopard and/or getting in touch with Apple support, but I wondered if anyone else had the same problem. I've bought the parents an ex-display MacBook for Christmas which needs the OS reinstalling but I'm not sure whether to install Leopard or Tiger...

Any help/suggestions appreciated.

[Tenex]

Probably worth reseating the RAM before you go as far as reinstalling. Do you get a grey screen before it happens (kernel panic)?

My new MacBook is running Leopard without a problem but my Tiger iMac had Mail exit x3 times yesterday when just reading email.

[biggus_richus]

Originally Posted by Tenex

Probably worth reseating the RAM before you go as far as reinstalling. Do you get a grey screen before it happens (kernel panic)?

Nope, it's like the power has been cut. Straight to black, fans kick in, Apple chime.

[Tenex]

If its within the first year I'd phone AppleCare and get them to sort it out. They may decide to swap it out.

[Eddy.]

Sounds to me like it might be overheating.

[rob_finch]

I've had a few similar spontaneous reboots as well. Probably worth resetting your Parameter RAM, see this Apple article on how to do it.

[biggus_richus]

An odd development; last night the computer spontaneously shutdown without warning. But I couldn't switch it on again for short period. First time I tried, I got a buzzing noise (normally get it on start up) and nothing. Second time, buzz, grey screen, chime, black. Third time nothing. Switched off the mains. Switched back on. Tried again - buzz. Tried again - success!

There may be a common factor. I think it occurs shortly after the mac has been woken from putting itself to sleep after disuse.

Thanks for all suggestions; I will give them a try when I can, but it may be going back to Apple in the new year.

[Tenex]

That sounds like a PSU problem, bad luck but its worth having it sorted ASAP.

[rob_finch]

Is it a G5 iMac? If it is, it's a known problem - http://www.apple.com/support/imac/re...ensionprogram/

My Dad's iMac has suffered the above, he now shuts down rather than put it to sleep.

Doh! Just noticed your specs in the first post! Nevermind...

[biggus_richus]

Well, I called Apple support. They agree with Tenex and reckon it's a PSU problem. I now have to book in with an authorised service partner for assessment and repair. This involves delivering and collecting the imac myself (the service centre is 31 miles away) and being without it for approximately two weeks.

Not happy - I thought Apple support was supposed to be second to none. I was expecting them to collect it and supply a new one - I've had the imac for less than a month.

[Tenex]

Did you buy the extended Applecare pack? If so they generally do collect etc.

Phone the service centre and discuss it with them, something like a PSU may be something they have on the shelf (though everything tends to be JIT these days). If its on the shelf and you turn up early etc you may talk them into turning it around in the day. Good luck.


BTW assessment and repair IME are two different processes, so involve two visits. At the assessment they decide the problem and order the parts and then when they've arrived they book it in.

[roaster]

Bad connection on the mains cable (not properly pushed home at one end or the other) can produce these symptoms too. In fact an improperly seated connector somewhere inside, or less likely, dry solder joint is also a likely candidate for the fault.

Unfortunately, with something intermittent, it's extremely hard for a service technician doing module swapping to be sure the problem is fixed.

[PharCyder]

I've seen something similar when doing an upgrade from Tiger to Leopard. Try a clean install of Leopard to rule out software. If it still does it then you know its hardware and its warranty time.

[monstaracerr]

just have to upgrade the OS. It was a problem that was addressed pretty quickly by apple, i have exactly the same as you but the upgrade sorted it!!!

[biggus_richus]

After another couple of instances where the computer shutdown and just wouldn't turn on and a period during which it restarted four or five times in thirty minutes, I placed another call to Apple support.

They have made a special exception, since the computer is brand new and the service centre is over 30 miles away, and are taking the computer back to replace with a new one.