Beige G3 keeps crashing

#1 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 02:30 68kMLA

I have a Beige G3 that I have set up running OS 8.5 with AppleShare IP. For some reason, it keeps crashing. I can't seem to figure out the problem. If I boot it up, it will disappear from the list of servers in the chooser within 2 hours, requiring me to reboot it.

Any clue as to what's causing the instability? I have a Power Macintosh 6500 also acting on a server, and hasn't crashed in over a week.

#2 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 02:39 68kMLA

(a) move to 8.6?

( B) is there an option of a firmware upgrade?

#3 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 03:02 68kMLA

(a) move to 8.6?

That's what it was originally running; it was just as bad.(I downgraded to 8.5 to see if it would make a difference)

( B) is there an option of a firmware upgrade?

for a Beige? I've never heard of such a thing - It's an Old World machine.

#4 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 03:17 68kMLA

I'm running OSX 10.2 on my Biege G3. Also 9.2.1 will work.

#5 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 03:26 68kMLA

I'm running OSX 10.2 on my Biege G3. Also 9.2.1 will work.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what does that have to do with firmware? Beige G3 uses ROM chips, not a ROM file like New World macs.

#6 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 03:41 68kMLA

Maybe I'm missing something, but what does that have to do with firmware?

Nothing, I'm just going through the OS options.

The next steps are disabling all unused extensions and the like.

#7 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 17:45 68kMLA

The CPU could be overheating. That is what was causing my Beige G3 to crash in between one and seven days for a year or two.

If you have it overclocked, move the jumpers back to the proper setting for your CPU module.

In any case, pull the heat sink, clean off the old heat sink compound (likely to be a useless powder by now) and reapply new heat sink compound.

#8 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 17:55 68kMLA

I disabled unnecessary extensions, and now I can't even get to the finder...

The CPU could be overheating. That is what was causing my Beige G3 to crash in between one and seven days for a year or two.
If you have it overclocked, move the jumpers back to the proper setting for your CPU module.

In any case, pull the heat sink, clean off the old heat sink compound (likely to be a useless powder by now) and reapply new heat sink compound.

I never thought of that. The processor is not overclocked, to the best of my knowledge. Maybe I should install another fan or something? I'll blow the thing out with compressed air and check the processor.

By the way, I have Farallon Timbuktu installed on the server, to make it headless. I wonder if there's a problem with it?

#9 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 21:41 68kMLA

I had no end of trouble with OS X 10.2.8 on my Beige G3, after a while it would just die. It then turned out it was going into power saver mode :

, so I disabled that and it's been happy ever since.

#10 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 - 22:36 68kMLA

I did fresh install of OS 8.6, AppleShare, and Timbuktu. Disabled all of the unnecessary extensions. So far it's holding out. I still think I'll pop the hood and give it a once-over.