> Date: Sat, Oct 24 2009 7:11 pm > From: Len Gerstel > > > > On Oct 24, 2009, at 7:28 PM, dorayme wrote: > >>> >> >> The thiotimoline bit I understand. Translated, you are possibly >> saying, it is logically impossible to do X. Not sure how to google >> for why an instruction that cannot be executed makes it impossible to >> design the OS to say as much. Lacking a good model, I guess. Is it >> like someone falls into a sound proof black hole suddenly and cannot >> message anything? >> > It would require a pre computer to do this. An individual instruction > might be fine, but combined with others can cause problems. > > You would need to have a checking processor, with its' own ram, video > chip and everything else that your system has to check the > consequences of the next instruction. In other words, a whole complete > system to check this. > > To simplify it, compare it to the following instruction: > > Take 3 steps forward. > > By itself, perfectly executable and will not cause a problem. However, > add in the fact that you are standing on the edge of a 200 meter cliff > and looking over it and now there is a huge problem executing that > instruction. So to test a software instruction, you need to see > everything that is going on around it, not just the particular line of > code. > > So in order to fully evaluate whether an instruction will cause a > problem, you have to try it on the exact setup that it will be run on. > This is one of the great advantages that Macs have over pcs. There is > a finite number of Mac systems that software vendors need to test > their software on. In the pc world, there are hundreds of options for > each component, making it impossible for vendors to try every > combination to make sure there are no conflicts.
I think I mis-described quite what I was wanting to say. Nice explanation, Len, nevertheless. I should shut up about kernel panics as I have little experience with them. I very rarely get freezes of any kind on my QS running Tiger latest. I think I was more or less calling for a more user friendly *error message* canvassing general possibilities and suggesting rebooting and looking at logs or seeking advice etc from etc... Anyway, I bought 2 x 500MB RAM from OWC brand new for about $60 for my QS (cf to $250 in Australia!) and they came this morning so maybe I will get kernel panics at last. Can hardly wait! <g> -- dorayme --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
