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PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:52 pm 
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The SWUD didt find both the Java and the Security update to install, I conclude that they are not installed at the moment.)

That would indicate to me that they either ARE installed, or OSX THINKS there are from receipt pkgs or the db it uses.

Locate the version of Java that’s installed on your Mac OS X system.
1. Open the Utilities folder and run the Terminal application.
2. Type java -version and press Enter.
(space between java & -v important)
The version of Java that you have installed will then be displayed on the screen.


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:00 pm 
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BDAqua wrote:
Quote:
The SWUD didt find both the Java and the Security update to install, I conclude that they are not installed at the moment.)

That would indicate to me that they either ARE installed, or OSX THINKS there are from receipt pkgs or the db it uses.

Locate the version of Java that’s installed on your Mac OS X system.
1. Open the Utilities folder and run the Terminal application.
2. Type java -version and press Enter.
(space between java & -v important)
The version of Java that you have installed will then be displayed on the screen.



Here it is:

java version "1.6.0_45"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_45-b06-451-10M4406)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.45-b01-451, mixed mode)

I fear I was not clear. I wanted to say: The SWUD DID find the Java and security update to install (they were listet to download and install in the SWUD).


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:32 pm 
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Quote:
The SWUD DID find...

Ah. OK. :D


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:47 pm 
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That really looks like a bad video chip. Does turning one or the other off make any difference?

- Anonymous


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:35 pm 
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Hello,

Actually I can deliberately freeze my screen when switching the gfxCardStatus switch form Dynamic (where it boots in) to Discrete. When it is in integrated, I can also produce a freeze.

Image

I also tried loading gfxCardStatus form booting. But when I boot into the integrated card, I can easily make it crash....and it is IMPOSSIBLE to directly boot into the discrete card, the system freezes as soon as the gfxCardStatus is loading...

Is there any explanation for this latter fact?

Other question: I had the impression that when the MBP got hot and the fan went on, the crashes were more frequent. I also read about others having the impression that a dusty fan or heat could be harmfull for the GPU, However my temps on SMART are normally around 40 for the GPUs and 36 or the discs, but never higher than 45 (SMART always green).

Could clean the fan give some advantage?

Ququq

I saw that replacing the graphics card comes at about 1000 USD.... if I do the work with ifixit.com... that is not cool!

Thanks for your help!
Ququq


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:40 pm 
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Definitely blow the dust out, even if it isn't heat, it can carry electricity, or even hold a static charge.


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 5:10 pm 
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If you need physical repair, your best bet is likely to go directly through Apple. If your computer is in good shape Apple might do a flat fee repair that's a fraction of the price of ordering an individual part. Apple won't do flat fee repairs for computer that show any physical damage (dents, broken screen hinges, water sensors show exposure to water). Even if you can't get a flat fee repair, you could send the computer to Apple for a quote. At least in the US, Apple will take the computer in for free to assess it an quote you a cost for repair. Having Apple replace the motherboard will likely be cheaper than buying one aftermarket.

- Anonymous


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:32 am 
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At that price you may have better luck buying a used system off eBay or the like. Buy one that has a broken screen then switch your screen, RAM, & HD over to the new one. It's a bit of gamble since you don't know for sure if the new one has the same issue but...

I've noticed iFixit tends to have high prices for some parts, definitely shop around.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:11 pm 
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Hi again!

Until the repair can be done, I am currently working in safe boot mode only... At least I can work more than 1 minute.

However, one thing seems a little odd, I cannot enter the TimeMachine in safe boot. I did not find anything about that problem in google, so I would like to know if you guys knew something about that problem.

The TimeMachine mounts without problem, I then click "Enter TimeMachine" and the Finder window changes size (as it used to do in full mode) but then only another Finder window opens and the rest stays still...
I do not see the galaxy, I cannot choose form different backup dates and I do not know what I really see in this new finder window.

I would need to recover a file form time machine though...

Thanks for your help!


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:28 pm 
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Well, there's a way to just use the "Safe" Video driver in regular boot.

See this great post by themachead on how to list the extensions in Safe Mode with System Profiler then compare to the extension folder!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jsp ... &#10161377

How To Identify and Disable software extensions on OS X that cause other Apps to crash...

http://www.tempel.org/FindingCrashCausesOnOSX


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:27 pm 
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The "safe" video driver may not support OpenGL or whatever 3D functions are used by Time Machine.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:23 pm 
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MonkeyBoy wrote:
The "safe" video driver may not support OpenGL or whatever 3D functions are used by Time Machine.

Which is probably why they reduce the frequency with which the computer crashes: they're not pushing the video chip so hard. I used the same technique to limp by with a broken iBook video card for a few weeks. Of course these days all sorts of weird stuff depends on the graphics chip, so as you point out it's more problematic to run that way -- never mind that the UI can feel like it's drowning in molasses.

The nice thing about Time Machine is that if you only need to restore particular files, you can manually copy them off the Time Machine drive without "entering Time Machine." Just dig through the backup snapshots until you find the file you need.

Ququq, given the symptoms it's very unlikely the problem isn't hardware, but if you have some spare external storage, consider installing a fresh copy of the OS on to that media to totally verify problem isn't software related. If it crashes the same way with a fresh install it's certain you've got bad hardware.

- Anonymous


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:55 pm 
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Anonymous wrote:
MonkeyBoy wrote:
The "safe" video driver may not support OpenGL or whatever 3D functions are used by Time Machine.

Which is probably why they reduce the frequency with which the computer crashes: they're not pushing the video chip so hard. I used the same technique to limp by with a broken iBook video card for a few weeks. Of course these days all sorts of weird stuff depends on the graphics chip, so as you point out it's more problematic to run that way -- never mind that the UI can feel like it's drowning in molasses.

The nice thing about Time Machine is that if you only need to restore particular files, you can manually copy them off the Time Machine drive without "entering Time Machine." Just dig through the backup snapshots until you find the file you need.


So is this your suspicion or did you experience the same? I would like to know if this behavior is normal or due to the problems of my current MBP.

I tried to enter the time machine, but I did not find the many versions but only the last one as a file... But maybe I also have messed up my TM after restoring the whole system...

Anonymous wrote:
Ququq, given the symptoms it's very unlikely the problem isn't hardware, but if you have some spare external storage, consider installing a fresh copy of the OS on to that media to totally verify problem isn't software related. If it crashes the same way with a fresh install it's certain you've got bad hardware.

- Anonymous


Yes I definitely will so this!


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:08 am 
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If I could program a more cantankerous backup app than ™… I could go to eleven!

Cloning is the way to go. :)


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:32 pm 
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There is something to be said for an incremental backup that backs up all versions of files as you use the system. That way if the last version of a file is corrupt or deleted, it's possible to go back to a point in time before it got corrupt or deleted. That doesn't mean Time Machine is ideal, but just that incremental backups have their advantages.

I prefer using both cloning & time machine...


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 2:36 pm 
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I wrote a couple of shell scripts that I've used for various companies to accomplish something akin to Time Machine, but using rsync for the snapshots. It's a little more cumbersome, and I'd recommend it for a typical home user the way I'd recommend locking yourself in a bathroom with 50 rabid stoats -- which is to say it's not hearty recommendation, but is a good solution for an IT department that needs more flexibility for backups on its servers.

I don't use Time Machine myself, but do interact with it upon occasion on other people's computers. I actually like Time Machine and find it works quite well for most people. The earliest versions were a bit of a mess, but it's reasonably reliable now, with minimal quirkiness. It's not perfect, and not perfectly reliable, and sometimes does something bizarre, but by-and-large, it's pretty good for what it does.

Ququq: depending on what you were referring to, it's my suspicion, and I suspect it's similar to what's occurring on your MBP. That is, the graphics processor is calculating things in a faulty manner, resulting in crashes. The less the GPU does, the less opportunity it'll have to foul things up. I suspect that Time Machine uses the GPU to accelerate its overwrought interface, but also suspect that Time Machine will work without most of the GPU's acceleration, albeit perhaps more sluggishly or with a little less ornamentation. Your mileage may vary.

Keep us updated...

- Anonymous


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 5:03 pm 
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Tri-Backup...

http://www.tri-edre.com/english/tribackup.html

Can do everything TM does, can clone, & much more.


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:53 am 
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BDAqua wrote:
Definitely blow the dust out, even if it isn't heat, it can carry electricity, or even hold a static charge.

speaking of dust, I recently wired up a newer electric stove (3 phase - 5 leads) AND WOWsky talk about dust! The leads were located behind a plate at the back of the stove and they were so dust laden you could not see them. It looks as though the static flow around the connection bar is very intense.

_________________
-v


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:04 am 
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Interesting, thanks! :)


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:43 am 
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Hi all, and thanks for following this annoying problem!

Well, I did the Snow Leopard install on the external USB drive. The install went well, now problem with giving in all the preferences etc (15min).
I then rebooted form the USB drive and went to the Internet using Safari. I wasn't there maybe 3 minutes on the forum here and gmail until a sudden black screen froze everything... I forced reboot in the safe mode, but the blue screen never disappeared, I then forced reboot on the install DVD (key c) and suddenly had the flaring artifact on the grey screen too... no reboot possible at all since then.

So the conclusion is, when on the external USB install the same problems occur it is definitely the CPU, right?

Well, need to go to Apple store.

Thanks for all your help!
Ququq


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:01 pm 
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Yeah, it needs repair.

- Anonymous


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:29 am 
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Hello back,

After the premium reseller has made his tests, they confirm that it is indeed the graphic card not working, and that the motherboard will have to be replaced for about 800 USD.

I am very dissapointed by the quality of this MBP which I bought for 2800 USD in 2011, and in which I already had to replace the HD after 4 months use....

Thanks for you help!
Ququq


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:03 am 
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You might be able to find someone who's able to replace just the graphics card or chip. I don't know where you're located, but someone (at Apple Discussions) found this place in the UK which they were quite satisfied with. It would otherwise have required a logic board replacement. Wherever you may be located, perhaps you can find something comparable, and if so, see what kind of reviews they get.

http://www.macfixcentre.com/shop/deskto ... gic-boards


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:59 am 
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Sadly, I'm not impressed with Apple's quality or Warranty, some parts of the world, like the EU, have extended warranty beyond Apple's… less than confident in their own designs warranty.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:46 pm 
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Again, I'm not sure about the availability in your locale, but call Apple and ask about flat-fee repair. This isn't something that's likely to be offered to you. I've always had to ask for it. The deal is, if the system doesn't have any physical damage (including no exposure to water) Apple will repair whatever is wrong with it for a flat fee that's less than the cost of most no-questions-asked repairs on the more expensive parts like the motherboard.

- Anonymous


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