Author Topic: What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?  (Read 2883 times)

Offline Mrious_be

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Hi everyone,

I have been having this for weeks now, my iBook restart itself at 1:54PM, possibly every day.
I always have it in the weekends at that time (didn't check during weekdays since i'm at work, but I tend to check it one of these days).
Been checking what it might be and even deleting some software that might be the problem.
Like I deleted Mac HelpMate since it has an "autocheck" function, also been disabling all "auto updates" that I could find thinking it might be that related.
But none of it seems to help, the iBook just likes to restart at that perticular time of day.
If it wasn't a mac, I would think I might have a virus on it wink.gif

The thing is, I have only one idea left (that it might be) and one thing I can try out (and will) when Smiley is here.
The idea is that it might be related to my battery sad.gif
It is down to 61% of it's capacity and it's time to get a new one, but before I buy another one I want to be sure it is NOT another hardware problem like the motherboard or so, would be bad.
So when Smiley is here, I am going to reinstall this iBook from scratch, and also zap the PRAM first.
I might first zap the PRAM anyway to see if it's solved or not.

Anyway, I have been searching the net for possible reasons "why" but all I found was it might be the battery.
When someone here can help me out with some more information, I am happy to hear about it.

smile.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2007, 03:44:20 PM »
If it's always at the same time of day, it's not the battery. Many Utilities have the capability of restarting any Mac at a specific time of day. Are you running/using Cocktail, TinkerTool, OnyX, etc.?
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline sandbox

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2007, 04:07:17 PM »
>preferences>energy saver>schedule>uncheck "start up computer every day @ 0:00 am/pm

If that's not it then some other program is controlling your energy saver preferences.

Of course under the Options button there is an option to restart after power failure but, it's unlikely that power is failing at the same time everyday.

Offline Mrious_be

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2007, 11:41:19 AM »
Yup Sandbox and Airbusdriver, checked all those things.
And trashed Mac HelpMate together with other software just to be sure but still restarts.

I'll have to see if it still happens after the PRAM zap and install again.

Hope nothing is wrong with this little iBook but to me it feels software related yes.

Another thing that I have for a looooooong time is 2 the same, and even 3 the same icons for some software in the "Open With" (contextual) Menu.

Hmmmm.... Thinking.gif
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Offline gunug

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2007, 12:25:59 PM »
I have checked out the MacHelpmate on a couple of my systems and I don't see how but I suppose it's possible for it to get corrupt and not allow you to turn off a schedule of stuff (administrative rights corrupted maybe) and uninstalling it would be an escalation to fix it.  I don't usually schedule things that way and if I did have things goofed up with rights I would boot up in Single-User and run Applejack to fix rights because I've got it installed on my systems.

Later: I meant to ask if you have bought/registered your copy or whether you're using the version with advertising like I am!
« Last Edit: August 21, 2007, 12:33:36 PM by gunug »
"If there really is no beer in heaven then maybe at least the
computers will work all of the time!"

Offline pendragon

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2007, 12:38:38 PM »
Mrious_be: "Another thing that I have for a looooooong time is 2 the same, and even 3 the same icons for some software in the "Open With" (contextual) Menu."
---
I too noticed that duplicate issue after using SuperDuper. So I asked Dave Nanian, the developer, if he had insight. His reply:

"The reason you see multiple items, after using SuperDuper!, is because you're creating new copies of the applications (on the backup). Since the paths to these applications are different, LaunchServices puts them in again."

I presume this is also the case with CCC and other backup programs.

Rebuilding the Launch Services Database with Cocktail, OnyX, or similar utilities is a solution.

Regarding the 1:54 PM start up...try this:
1. At about 1:50 quit all applications and shut down the computer.
2. After the computer has restarted itself, go to Utilities/Activity Monitor, select All Processes and then highlight Process Name.
3. You should now have an alphabetical list of all running processes. A review of that may yield a clue.

HTH
« Last Edit: August 21, 2007, 12:40:38 PM by pendragon »
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~ Voltaire

Offline Xairbusdriver

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2007, 01:31:29 PM »
The duplicate items thing is a nuisance, but the 'fix' may be worse. When you delete the LaunchServices database, you will get a dialog asking if you want to start every program the next time you try to open it. It only comes up once but if you back up often and that is what is causing it, you'll be seeing these dialogs quite often. I'm thinking that it might be possible to save a good copy of that database and set it aside for re-installation after whatever causes the dialogs. Thinking.gif Might require use of Terminal...dntknw.gif
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Mrious_be

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2007, 01:53:37 PM »
QUOTE(gunug @ Aug 21 2007, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Later: I meant to ask if you have bought/registered your copy or whether you're using the version with advertising like I am!

I am yes ;)The thing is, I didn't even had that auto schedule function activated, but I just didn't wanted to take a chance.

QUOTE(pendragon @ Aug 21 2007, 06:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Regarding the 1:54 PM start up...try this:1. At about 1:50 quit all applications and shut down the computer.2. After the computer has restarted itself, go to Utilities/Activity Monitor, select All Processes and then highlight Process Name.3. You should now have an alphabetical list of all running processes. A review of that may yield a clue.

Thanks, I will try this as soon as I have the chance.You do mean, close all applications and have the computer restart itself I guess? Or should I really power it down myself and start up again AFTER 1:54PM? (I guess not cause that wouldn't show me anything useful in the Activity Monitor). smile.gif

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 21 2007, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The duplicate items thing is a nuisance, but the 'fix' may be worse. When you delete the LaunchServices database, you will get a dialog asking if you want to start every program the next time you try to open it. It only comes up once but if you back up often and that is what is causing it, you'll be seeing these dialogs quite often. I'm thinking that it might be possible to save a good copy of that database and set it aside for re-installation after whatever causes the dialogs.

If it would only bring up that question once I think I wouldn't mind actually.... hmmm.But wait, does these double icons get created by doing Backups? ohmy.gif Cause till now I assumed they got created cause of new(er) software that you install over an older existing software? dntknw.gif
« Last Edit: August 21, 2007, 01:55:50 PM by Mrious_be »
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Offline pendragon

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2007, 02:19:36 PM »
QUOTE(Mrious_be @ Aug 21 2007, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You do mean, close all applications and have the computer restart itself I guess?


Yes, that's what I mean.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~ Voltaire

Offline Xairbusdriver

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2007, 03:02:36 PM »
QUOTE
I assumed they got created cause of new(er) software that you install over an older existing software?
I had assumed that, also. Seems I'd read that somewhere. dntknw.gif But if Harv says that Dave Nanian says there's another reason, I sure won't argue with them. I don't remember when this phenomenon started, but it sure seems like it was well before I used CCC or SuperDuper. OTOH, I have trouble remembering my own phone number sometimes! doh.gif smile.gif

The dialogs would only come on the first use after a backup. But if you do daily backups, that means they'll be there practically every day. Still not a reason not to back up! eek2.gif Some people don't even know that a hard drive can go in reverse! laugh.gif
« Last Edit: August 21, 2007, 03:03:11 PM by Xairbusdriver »
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Mrious_be

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What can possibly be the reason that my iBooks restart itself?
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2007, 03:01:52 PM »
Well my first goal is to get that annoying restarting out of my iBook, then I will check the double icons.
I will probably reinstall the computer anyway (it's just that time again) so I guess I won't have a problem with the double icons for a while.

But for now.... ahoi people... off to Denmark for a while salute.gif
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