The only drive I have ever had fail is the fusion drive replaced under warranty many years ago. But ... thank goodness for good backup routine.
Good description of problem and solution. Thank you! > On 26 May 2021, at 9:54 am, Stephen Chape <chap...@bigpond.com> wrote: > > 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 <t...@peoplehelp.com.au> 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 <t...@peoplehelp.com.au> 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 <t...@peoplehelp.com.au> 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 <wa...@macwizardry.com.au> 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 <t...@peoplehelp.com.au> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Getting somewhere I think Daniel. Thanks heaps >>>>>> >>>>>> Tim's red iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 29 Oct 2020, at 10:07 pm, Daniel Kerr <wa...@macwizardry.com.au> >>>>>>> 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 <t...@peoplehelp.com.au> 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 <dan...@macwizardry.com.au> >>>>>>>>>> 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 <t...@peoplehelp.com.au> 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 > > -- 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>
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