When bad RAM happens to good PowerBooks…

Posted on by david

I’ve just spent a couple of very frustrating days rebuilding my PowerBook. It started with a constantly crashing Finder:

  • open Finder window
  • crash
  • write crash log
  • launch
  • crash
  • write crash log
  • launch
  • crash
  • …

Once I’d thought I’d resolved that (be restoring from my backup) the iChat daemon started quitting. I re-installed iChat and … the Finder started crashing again. So, burn some Panther install CD’s – Archive and Install (and all of the upgrades that entails – Xcode 1.2, WebObjects 5.2, Java 1.4.2, WebObjects 5.2.2, WebObjects 5.2.3…). Tried to install MySQL, and the installer quits. OK, just going to restart and … the Finders starts crashing again. Deep breath – AARGH!

I finally pulled a third party 512MB stick of RAM – which had successfully passed memtest – and sanity is once again restored. Between my TiBook, and my 17inch AlBook that makes 4 – FOUR! 512MB dimms I’ve had fail.

I know everyone offers lifetime warranties but this just sucks. RAM – can’t live with it, can’t shoot it.

One thought on “When bad RAM happens to good PowerBooks…”

  1. I had some bad 512MB powerbook ram myself. Was all stoked about upgrading to 1 gig, with 2x512MB sticks. Turns out one (or both) of them has poopy. Reverting to my stock ram made the misbehaviours go away, so I sent the new ram back for replacement. Got that back, and all was tickityboo. mmm… gig-o-ram…

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