In article <BE1410B1.29DEF%inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net> ,
iehsmith <inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net> wrote:

> I've been getting a lot of Type 1, 2 and 3 errors for a while now. Also,
> I'll be working and my program will just quit with no warning. Not a lot of
> freezes, but some; and some bombs occurring. I know some of is has been my
> fault just by working too long, in too many apps without restarting. But
> sometimes I will get the errors messages not long after I've started up for
> the day.

Getting errors shortly after startup for the day hints that its not a heat
issue. But if it gets more frequent during the day, it might be heat after
all. Try putting a fan to blow on the computer and see if things improve.
Hopefully, the Mac isn't choked with dust inside.

> Also, sometimes when I quit a program I'll get a system error
> telling me that the program has 'unexpected quit'?! I suspected memory going
> bad and was going to take it to get checked, but the guy (not a Mac guy)
> said that if the system was recognizing all my RAM that is isn't bad... is
> this correct?

Not really. RAM that isn't up to specifications is a big problem. It can
look like it works, but then fail at random moments causing nearly random
crashes. It causes frustrating system crashes on OS X.

> Would a RAM stick that's going bad only show up intermittently
> so that I wouldn't catch it in 'About This Computer' or the System Profiler?
> What else can be going wrong here?

Glad you asked. Bad Power. A circuit that has noisy power or is browning out
can cause the RAM to corrupt when the voltage dips. If you suspect this, try
turning off as many items on the same circuit as you can. Remember that a
circuit can extend into other rooms (like bathrooms with hair dryers.) This
can be prevented by using a UPS with a voltage regulation feature. (UPS =
uninterruptible power supply. They are available at many electronics outlets
like CompUSA, Best Buy, etc. Not all have a voltage regulation feature.)
Many times, I've heard my UPS beep while kicking in with no obvious dip in the
house's power. (I live in central Florida, lightning capitol of the U.S.)

> I work in graphics production & design as a freelancer (nonexistent budget).
> I'm running OS 9.2.2 and my main apps are Quark 4.11, Photoshop 6.0.1,
> Illustrator 9.0.2, Freehand 9, Acrobat/Distiller 4, Expression 3.3 (beta),
> Netscape 7, Outlook Express 5.0.6, BBEdit 5.1. I frequently use the freeware
> version of faxSTF 5.1, and I can run into problems if I don't reboot after
> sending faxes. I just upped the memory allocation for the Fax Browser and
> Fax Status, but doubt that will solve anything. With the apps I use I have
> no idea which are happy with Virtual Memory and which don't like it. I used
> to always keep VM off as a rule because it had caused me problem with Quark
> and some other apps. I was advised to keep it on now, but still have no idea
> how it affects some apps,

If it doesn't work for you, turn it off. It does make some loading of code
and data more efficient, but its not worth crashes.

> and I can't figure out how high to set memory
> allocation for each of my apps. I have to continue making due with this
> computer for a while, so any help would be appreciated, and is desperately
> needed for my work to proceed.
>
> My configuration probably sucks, but it's the best I could come up with:
> Mac G4/350Mhz Yikes PCI
> 832MB RAM [64+256+256+256 (um, not all same brand)]
> 60GB HD; partitioned: 9.99GB holding system, apps, files; 47.26GB as scratch
> disk (I have VM pointed to the scratch disk and currently set at 962MB)

breaking it up this way probably won't get you anything speed-wise, because
its still the same disk.

> 10GB HD holding backup OS 8.6 and files. But it's my old original HD, so I
> really have no backup at all.

Its your work, you should really get a backup. If it goes out will you be out
of business?

> No CD/DVD burner, no external HD.
> My video card has never been up to par with my monitor. It's the original
> ATI Rage 128/VRAM 16mb. I know this make my display slow, but can it affect
> other operations... memory use?

Maybe in OSX it would be slower. Not in 9. However, lots of better cards are
pretty cheap now. Check eBay and your local flea markets.

> Display: LaCie electron 22 blue II
> SCSI card Adaptec 2906 connecting Umax PowerLook III scanner
>
> I've had a couple of serious instances when OS isn't recognized, can't boot
> in OS 9.2.2 and have had to boot on old HD running OS 8.6 to run Norton
> Utilities off CD to do repairs. For some reason I can't boot off the Norton
> CD.

Norton CD is probably older than the Mac. Put Norton on your other hard drive
along with a minimal OS. Then if one drive/partition has a problem, the Mac
will boot from the other.

>
> I have tight deadline work to do each month and am scared to death I'm going
> to crash & burn in the middle of something and lose my only continuous
> client. Help!
>
> TIA,
> inez
>
>
>



--
Walt Sellers
Macintosh Programming and Support in Central Florida
www.VirtualOutpost.com
ws_usenet@virtualoutpost.com - include the keyPhrase "WhoYaGonnaCall?"
in the body or subject of the message to get past the spam filters.
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