Well, if the power cord idea fails, I can try to do what you said with an external disk. I have a few lying around that should serve, and I've meant to put ML on a thumb drive for some time anyway. Still, the restarts can happen every few hours or once a day, so that'd be quite a while without my usual apps. It beats $40 or so in ram, though. Oh, and no, I'm the only user and have no Office products installed at all. On Oct 29, 2012, at 3:27 PM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote:
> I guess that's why they give it as an option. Each of us wish to handle > things in different ways. > > I did some checking and noted a few other reasons for a problem such as > yours. One has to do with Excel. If you are the only user of this Mac, I'm > guessing that Excel is not likely the issue then as it is not accessible to > VO users. The other issue is a RAM issue. In the case of RAM, you'd either > have to replace the RAM to confirm the issue or take it into the Shop. > > If you have an external HD that you could use as a test OS, it would go far > to determine if it is a hardware or software issue. With the external HD, > install your OS on it and tell the Mini to startup from that HD under the > Startup Disk pane of the System Preferences. Just install the OS and let it > run for a while. Set it to not automatically log into any user so that if it > restarts on its own, you'll know because the Mini will be at the login > screen. I know that not everyone has things like that hanging around but for > geeks like me, it makes the troubleshooting process more reliable. > > Later... > > Tim Kilburn > Fort McMurray, AB Canada > > On 2012-10-29, at 12:22 PM, Alex Hall <[email protected]> wrote: > >> It was already unchecked, for what that's worth. I always had vague notions >> of returning power being too much for the machine, so I never wanted it to >> try powering up. I also was not sure if it would turn on, only to be cut off >> again in the case of fluctuating power. Ridiculous thoughts I know, but at >> least that box has never been checked. >> On Oct 29, 2012, at 2:13 PM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> It's in the same window. I'm running a Server though so the Energy Saver >>> window may have a slightly different look. Uncheck that one for now. >>> >>> Later... >>> >>> Tim Kilburn >>> Fort McMurray, AB Canada >>> >>> On 2012-10-29, at 12:02 PM, Alex Hall <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I'll try the restart in a moment. I looked in energy saver, though, and >>>> saw only a box for restarting after a power failure. Is there a separate >>>> box for restarting after a freeze, or is it just in a different place? >>>> Thanks for your continued assistance. >>>> On Oct 29, 2012, at 1:28 PM, Tim Kilburn <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi, >>>>> >>>>> You have a couple of scenarios to consider here: >>>>> >>>>> 1. Software issue with System Management Controller (SMC). Sometimes it >>>>> gets confused and causes such behaviour. The errors you're reporting >>>>> could simply be caused by apps being interrupted in mid-use therefore >>>>> they will report that they were not Quit properly and may have various >>>>> errors reported. Fix this by shutting down your computer, unplugging >>>>> the power cord for 15 to 30 seconds, plugging it back in and waiting for >>>>> at least 5 seconds then powering it back up. This is similar to what I >>>>> asked you to do yesterday but I checked on Apple's site and this process >>>>> has been slightly modified. >>>>> >>>>> 2. Hardware issue with your Mini's power supply. >>>>> >>>>> 3. Software problem with your installation. If you have your Mac set to >>>>> restart automatically after the computer freezes or after a power >>>>> failure, then this would usually indicate one or the other. First, I >>>>> would uncheck both these items in the Energy Saver pane of your System >>>>> Preferences. Then let your computer run normally. If you come back to a >>>>> frozen computer, then you likely have a software problem. If you come >>>>> back to a computer that is off, then it is an issue with your power >>>>> supply, cord or supply of electricity to the unit itself. >>>>> >>>>> Some are not good news but at least with these troubleshooting steps, you >>>>> should be able to determine where the problem lies. >>>>> >>>>> Later... >>>>> >>>>> Tim Kilburn >>>>> Fort McMurray, AB Canada >>>>> >>>>> On 2012-10-29, at 10:51 AM, Alex Hall <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi all, >>>>>> I did as was suggested and unplugged the mac for a few minutes >>>>>> yesterday. Once it booted back up, I ran Disk Utility and told it to >>>>>> repair permissions on my hard drive, and if fixed about 10 problems. I >>>>>> had no more restarts, and I was going to wait a day or two longer before >>>>>> tentatively declaring success... until I came upstairs, opened my >>>>>> bedroom door, and heard vo speaking a bunch of app names as it >>>>>> re-launched them. I knew what it meant, and I was right: there was a >>>>>> brand new problem report sitting there, saying what the last few have: >>>>>> my mac had been restarted due to a problem. As always, I reported it >>>>>> with the problem report thing, but now what? As I said, I don't have >>>>>> Apple Care, nor do I have the funds to replace my machine. It is a 2011 >>>>>> Mini with 2gb ram. It runs as cool as it always has, and it's on the >>>>>> back of my desk where it has reasonably good airflow around it. Also, my >>>>>> room is normally cold enough that I sometimes have trouble typing, so I >>>>>> am nearly certain that overheating is not a problem. So, any suggestions >>>>>> or ideas anyone has would be wonderful. Thanks. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Have a great day, >>>>>> Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Have a great day, >>>> Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> >> >> >> Have a great day, >> Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) [email protected] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
