Mac restarts for no reason

**mtbakerskier** · 09-27-2006, 03:09 PM

Hey for some reason, My Imac just started to randomly restart for no reson at all, as far as I can tell.

Could this be bad Ram, or something else that is simple? Whats the best way to test it?

I cant figure out any thing in paticular that causes it to restart. It seems to be totaly random.

**runethechamp** · 09-27-2006, 03:29 PM

That's why I have a PC?

**doublediamond223** · 09-27-2006, 03:40 PM

I don't know much about macs, but if that happened on my windows machine I would look to the power supply first, then the motherboard.

**ninjabirdman** · 09-27-2006, 03:40 PM

google around for 'reset pram'.

will often solve strange, hardware-esqe problems on macs

**bio-smear** · 09-27-2006, 04:37 PM

I'd say bad memory too.

**ninjabirdman** · 09-27-2006, 04:46 PM

bad ram usually just crashes . . . unresponsive, etc. spontaneous powercycle is usually

Originally Posted by doublediamond223

mobo or power supply

**Dromond** · 09-27-2006, 04:57 PM

That's impossible. Macs never crash. You must be lying to us.

**Blatant** · 09-27-2006, 06:19 PM

when does it do this? what is running? Itunes, porn, etc etc?

**dfinn** · 09-27-2006, 07:23 PM

i was just reading about this same issue the other day, but it was on their new laptops. apparently it was because they were getting too hot. apple knows about it and has a fix. or at least that's what I remember reading.

is this a new intel imac?

**Eldo** · 09-29-2006, 02:40 PM

If it's a G5 iMac then the problem is likely a faulty power supply. I think there might even be an extended warranty for that issue on G5s.

Bad RAM wouldn't lead to shutdowns, maybe freezes. But an interruption in the power will cause a shutdown and then automatic restart.

A slim chance it is a faulty motherboard, but hopefully not, unless you are still under warranty.

Contact an Apple service provider.

**Rockband** · 09-29-2006, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Eldo

But an interruption in the power will cause a shutdown and then automatic restart.

My cube used to have that same problem I replaced the power supply, problem solved.

**The Jackamo** · 09-29-2006, 02:54 PM

to check if it's hardware related, pop in the "Mac OS X Install Disc 1" that came with your system, restart and hold down the option key right after you hear the 'bong' then select Apple Hardware test from the menu and just run it through the extended test maybe 2 or 3 times (it might not catch something the first time through). if it picks something up, write it down, then head over to your nearest apple store or call support.

it could be software related as well, so you can do a disk verify. with the same restore CD, restart and hold down the C key after the 'bong,' and go to Disk Utility in the upper menus, select your main volume and click "Disk Verify." this checks the filesystem's structure to make sure it isn't corrupted. if a problem shows up, click Disk Repair and it should (hopefully) repair the file system.