Great outcome Tim. And thumbs up to MacWorx. I am in the Swan Valley so use Macs4Us in Midland. I can also recommend them to anyone out my way !
> On 25 May 2021, at 7:19 pm, Tim Law <[email protected]> wrote: > > Good afternoon, > > As a follow up to this problem. > > Reminder - Random crashes after the iMac 27” went for a drive to Ledge Point. > > Error report included: >>>>>>>>> ** MCA Error Report *** >>>>>>>>> CPU Machine Check Architecture Error Dump (CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) >>>>>>>>> i5-7500 CPU @ 3.40GHz, CPUID: 0x906E9) >>>>>>>>> CATERR detected! No MCA data found. > > > Actions: > I ran every conceivable test, computer showed normal. No faults identified by > any testing app or process. It crashed even in Safe Mode. > Took to Apple Centre in Perth who wiped computer and installed fresh OSX. Did > not fault at Apple Centre. No faults found in their testing. > > I bought the machine home and reloaded data from Time Machine and the faults > started again. > Seemed particularly vulnerable for video production using iMovie but not > replicate able. > > Eventually I took it to MacWorx in Joondalup. They had the machine for over a > week and kept me informed at every step. > With careful diagnosis they had a hunch that the SSD component of the fusion > drive was faulty. To prove this theory they cloned my drive and rebooted off > an external SSD. This was successful and the machine did not fault. > > They opened the machine, removed the existing fusion drive and replaced it > with the cloned SSD. > > The problem has been resolved. Cost was much less than expected and I can > only speak highly of the careful diagnostic skills of the team at MacWorx and > their customer service. > > The SSD part of the fusion drive is attached to the motherboard on the > computer and is not part of the drive itself. It is used as a 32gb buffer > where frequently used data is stored to increase access speed. It seems the > SSD component of the process had failed or was failing - but testing never > showed up any faults. > > Happy outcome at last. > > Tim > > > >> On 3 Nov 2020, at 9:39 pm, Tim Law <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> My positivities were short-lived. After an hour or more of normal running >> whilst I was making an iMovie, the dreaded tick tick tick of a computer in >> loop appeared, then shut down. This kept happening for four of five restarts >> until I gave up. Now returning home I find a circle with a line through it. >> >> I’ve rebooted into Recovery, run disk utility and reloaded the OSX. >> >> If it happens again, I’m off to MacWorx. :-( >> >> Tim >> >>> On 3 Nov 2020, at 8:46 am, Tim Law <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Good morning, >>> >>> After a couple of days of no random freezes I’m becoming confident a >>> solution has appeared. The initial problem I feel was RAM being moved a >>> fraction whilst the computer was being transported, screen down, in my car. >>> >>> I focused on testing RAM one stick at a time and moving it around into >>> various bays. Plus resetting PRAM, SMC, reinstalling the OS from recovery, >>> held D on restart for a test process to commence, but still the freezes >>> would come. >>> >>> One thing I didn’t do very well was the restarting procedure. I don’t >>> normally have to restart the iMac, so wasn’t familiar with how long to hold >>> the power button for. Once I read on the Apple support description on >>> adding RAM >>> "Your iMac performs a memory initialisation procedure when you first turn >>> it on after upgrading memory or rearranging DIMMs. This process can take 30 >>> seconds or more, and the display of your iMac remains dark until it's >>> finished. Make sure you let the memory initialisation complete.” >>> >>> I realised I had probably been interrupting this. I then held the power >>> button for about half a second to get it going and walked away until it did >>> it’s thing and bingo, the iMac has stayed running correctly. >>> >>> Simple really….. :-) >>> >>> Thanks >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> On 30 Oct 2020, at 1:07 am, Daniel Kerr <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> No worries, fingers crossed something there resolves it! Good luck with it >>>> :) >>>> Kind regards >>>> Daniel >>>> >>>> --- >>>> Daniel Kerr >>>> MacWizardry >>>> >>>> Phone: 0414 795 960 >>>> Email: <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au> >>>> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >>>> >>>> >>>> **For everything Apple** >>>> >>>> NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion >>>> and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of >>>> MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or warrant any form >>>> of warranty or accept liability. It would be appreciated that if any >>>> information in this email is to be disseminated, distributed or copied, >>>> that permission by the author be requested. >>>> >>>>> On 29 Oct 2020, at 10:51 pm, Tim Law <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Getting somewhere I think Daniel. Thanks heaps >>>>> >>>>> Tim's red iPhone >>>>> >>>>>> On 29 Oct 2020, at 10:07 pm, Daniel Kerr <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi Tim >>>>>> >>>>>> Generally I use the bottom slot, as that tends to be the first one it >>>>>> checks. (And Apple ship in the bottom two by default,..so I assume that >>>>>> first one is the first one it checks). >>>>>> Kind regards >>>>>> Daniel >>>>>> >>>>>> --- >>>>>> Daniel Kerr >>>>>> MacWizardry >>>>>> >>>>>> Phone: 0414 795 960 >>>>>> Email: <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au> >>>>>> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> **For everything Apple** >>>>>> >>>>>> NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion >>>>>> and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of >>>>>> MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or warrant any form >>>>>> of warranty or accept liability. It would be appreciated that if any >>>>>> information in this email is to be disseminated, distributed or copied, >>>>>> that permission by the author be requested. >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 29 Oct 2020, at 9:23 pm, Tim Law <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Always helpful Daniel >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Does it matter which slot I have the RAM in? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Tim's red iPhone >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 29 Oct 2020, at 9:12 pm, Daniel Kerr <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hi Tim >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> When you removed and replaced the RAM, did you put it all back or test >>>>>>>> it separately? >>>>>>>> That would be one check, is just run it on one stick of RAM at a time. >>>>>>>> It will be slow, but this can narrow down if a stick is faulty. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Also, you can check the drive as well to ensure that’s ok. >>>>>>>> I recommend the following SMART Utility. (You can run it in Shareware >>>>>>>> mode) >>>>>>>> https://www.volitans-software.com/apps/smart-utility/ >>>>>>>> This will check the drives and advise is “Passed” (green), “Failing” >>>>>>>> (orange) or “Failed” (red). It works with Fusion Drives as well and >>>>>>>> will test both HDD and SSD separately. >>>>>>>> I’ve used it to find faulty drives even before Apple Disk Utility >>>>>>>> finds them. So it’s a good little tool. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> That would be my first things to try anyway, just to rule out a stick >>>>>>>> of RAM and drive is ok. >>>>>>>> Also try an SMC reset and PRAM reset. (I have steps on my FAQ page of >>>>>>>> my website if you’re not familiar with that. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Try those and see how you go. >>>>>>>> If no success, and seeing you’re up Duncraig way I’d recommend MacWorx >>>>>>>> Joondalup. (Delage Street, Joondalup) - www.macworx.com.au >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hope something there helps. >>>>>>>> Kind regards >>>>>>>> Daniel >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone 12 Pro >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> --- >>>>>>>> Daniel Kerr >>>>>>>> MacWizardry >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Phone: 0414 795 960 >>>>>>>> Email: <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au> >>>>>>>> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> **For everything Apple** >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal >>>>>>>> opinion and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the >>>>>>>> views of MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or >>>>>>>> warrant any form of warranty or accept liability. It would be >>>>>>>> appreciated that if any information in this email is to be >>>>>>>> disseminated, distributed or copied, that permission by the author be >>>>>>>> requested. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 29 Oct 2020, at 8:39 pm, Tim Law <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hello folks. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I have an unhappy iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) >>>>>>>>> 40Gb RAM >>>>>>>>> 10.15.7 >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Problem is random restarts. >>>>>>>>> First symptom is the mouse freezes then about 30 seconds later the >>>>>>>>> computer turns off and restarts. This happens enough to be very >>>>>>>>> annoying, and has occurred whilst I was drafting this message. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The problem first occurred after I had transported the computer, >>>>>>>>> screen down, on the seat of my car. No physical external damage is >>>>>>>>> apparent. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Problem does occur in Safe Boot mode, though not as frequently as in >>>>>>>>> normal mode. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> EtreCheck shows nothing out of order >>>>>>>>> Rebooting into recovery mode and running both Disk Utility and reload >>>>>>>>> latest operating system have been done. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> *** MCA Error Report *** >>>>>>>>> CPU Machine Check Architecture Error Dump (CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) >>>>>>>>> i5-7500 CPU @ 3.40GHz, CPUID: 0x906E9) >>>>>>>>> CATERR detected! No MCA data found. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I had assumed it was a hardware problem triggered by moving the >>>>>>>>> machine but nothing is showing up in any errors that I have seen. I >>>>>>>>> have removed and replaced the RAM. When running, it functions >>>>>>>>> normally as expected. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Any thoughts on what else I could do before taking it to the doctor? >>>>>>>>> Which doctor is recommended. >>>>>>>>> I live in Duncraig area. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Thanks >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>>>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>>>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>>>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>>>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>>> >>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>> >>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>> >>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >> > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> Regards Stephen Chape Mac by choice Windows because my employer knew no better
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