Resolved 2008 24" iMac Bizarre freezing issue

[Twimfy]

Specs: 24" ALU iMac, Early 2008, 3.06ghz, 4GB Ram, 8800GS, 10.8.2

The machine keeps randomly hanging, seems to do it more when running iTunes.

The music will stop, then about 10 seconds later all open windows become unresponsive. The mouse cursor still moves but clicking results in the beachball. I can however still swipe between full screen windows.

Then after around 15 seconds the machine will pick up, the music will come back on and everything is normal. Seems to happen every 20 mins or so. Unfortunately I can never check Activity monitor to see what's going on.

Oddly enough however I can run Netflix for hours on end and it will never freeze which makes me think it may be Hard Drive related as Netflix doesn't really require much data access.

So far I've done a clean install, permission repair. Verified the hard drive and ran a full AHT. Everything comes back peachy.

Any clues?

 

[Edie Brickell]

Try any drive monitor tool which can tell you drive health status,performance,temperature. Atleast you will come to know about your drive if it is in good condition to avoid any damage to your saved data.

 

[Twimfy]

Try any drive monitor tool which can tell you drive health status,performance,temperature. Atleast you will come to know about your drive if it is in good condition to avoid any damage to your saved data.

Every tool I've tried with the drive say it's good except one which reports that the SMART status has failed. Could be a false positive though.

I'll swap the drive as soon as I can afford it. In the meantime I'm just making daily TM backups.

 

[ser968]

Mine does this every once in a while exclusively in iTunes. It could be a performance issue with itunes 11.

 

[Twimfy]

Mine does this every once in a while exclusively in iTunes. It could be a performance issue with itunes 11.

I've started having the issue outside of iTunes too.

 

[Twimfy]

Sorry for the double post but does anyone know of a diagnostic program I can run continually which I can use to check the hardware/software logs so I can maybe pinpoint what's going on when this issue occurs?

It's totally random so I can't instigate it at will.

 

[Brian Y]

Can you post the console log from the time around when it happens (if you can remember the last time)?

It doesn't sound like the HDD tbh - the last time I saw something like that it turned out that a graphics API call was failing, which turned out to be a dying graphics card.

 

[Twimfy]

Can you post the console log from the time around when it happens (if you can remember the last time)?

It doesn't sound like the HDD tbh - the last time I saw something like that it turned out that a graphics API call was failing, which turned out to be a dying graphics card.

I've got console log open now but can't remember the time it was when it happened.

I'm working on my Mac now so as soon as it happens I'll note the time and post the log.

Is it just "all messages" I need to look at or another part of the log?

 

[Brian Y]

I've got console log open now but can't remember the time it was when it happened.

I'm working on my Mac now so as soon as it happens I'll note the time and post the log.

Is it just "all messages" I need to look at or another part of the log?

All messages will show everything we need to see

 

[Twimfy]

All messages will show everything we need to see

Ok had a quick look through for anything unusual since boot time and can't see any alarm bells but will note the exact time next and post the log.

Thanks for the suggestion and help. I just pray it's not the GPU, I thought I'd gotten lucky with my 8800GS.

 

[Twimfy]

Ok it's only happened twice today. I caught it the second time. Here is the log from that time. The freeze began at around 22:13:53 as that's when the music stopped in iTunes. Then clicking into the iMessage text box to reply to someone brought up the beachball as per usual. You can usually type for a couple of seconds and it'll input really slowly. When the freeze stops the music starts again and the text you type will rapidly jump into the box.

Also if it happens during video, the video will jump to where you are and you can see it scrubbing through everything you're missed.

Anyway here is the log:


01/03/2013 22:11:19.464 WindowServer[120]: Display 0x4272380 captured by conn 0x8903
01/03/2013 22:11:26.243 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: (com.apple.tccd[3704]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:11:26.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3704 [tccd]
01/03/2013 22:11:26.823 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: (com.apple.CalendarAgent[3703]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:11:26.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3703 [CalendarAgent]
01/03/2013 22:11:27.626 com.apple.qtkitserver[3710]: CGSGetWindowType: Invalid (NULL) window
01/03/2013 22:11:27.627 com.apple.qtkitserver[3710]: CGSGetWindowResolution: Invalid window 0x0
01/03/2013 22:11:27.627 com.apple.qtkitserver[3710]: CGSGetWindowDepth: Invalid window
01/03/2013 22:11:27.627 com.apple.qtkitserver[3710]: CGSLockWindowRectBits: Invalid window 0x0
01/03/2013 22:11:27.627 com.apple.qtkitserver[3710]: CGSUnlockWindowBits: Invalid window 0x0
01/03/2013 22:11:28.528 com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[3711]: CGSGetWindowType: Invalid (NULL) window
01/03/2013 22:11:28.528 com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[3711]: CGSGetWindowResolution: Invalid window 0x0
01/03/2013 22:11:28.529 com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[3711]: CGSGetWindowDepth: Invalid window
01/03/2013 22:11:28.529 com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[3711]: CGSLockWindowRectBits: Invalid window 0x0
01/03/2013 22:11:28.529 com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[3711]: CGSUnlockWindowBits: Invalid window 0x0
01/03/2013 22:11:29.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(3712) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
01/03/2013 22:11:30.225 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[3669]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:11:30.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3669 [com.apple.iCloud]
01/03/2013 22:11:31.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3662 [cfprefsd]
01/03/2013 22:11:31.770 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: ([0x0-0x23d23d].com.apple.inputmethod.ironwood[3659]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:11:31.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3659 [DictationIM]
01/03/2013 22:11:33.275 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3652]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:11:33.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3652 [SleepServicesD]
01/03/2013 22:11:34.346 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: (com.apple.pbs[3233]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:11:34.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3233 [pbs]
01/03/2013 22:11:34.757 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[3711]) Could not terminate job: 3: No such process
01/03/2013 22:11:34.757 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[3711]) Using fallback option to terminate job...
01/03/2013 22:11:35.350 sandboxd[3712]: ([3710]) com.apple.qtkits(3710) deny file-read-data /Volumes/Time Machine iMac/Backups.backupdb/Macintosh/2013-02-20-000658/Macintosh HD/Users/Tim/Desktop
01/03/2013 22:11:39.682 sandboxd[3712]: ([3710]) com.apple.qtkits(3710) deny file-read-data /Volumes/Time Machine iMac/Backups.backupdb/Macintosh/2013-02-20-000658/Macintosh HD/Users/Tim/Desktop
01/03/2013 22:11:51.452 com.apple.backupd[3707]: Will copy (4.44 GB) from Macintosh HD
01/03/2013 22:11:51.565 com.apple.backupd[3707]: Found 5999 files (4.6 GB) needing backup
01/03/2013 22:11:51.572 com.apple.backupd[3707]: 6.03 GB required (including padding), 251.45 GB available
01/03/2013 22:11:54.749 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.coremedia.videodecoder[3715]) Exit timeout elapsed (20 seconds). Killing
01/03/2013 22:12:01.220 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: (com.apple.tccd[3731]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:01.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3731 [tccd]
01/03/2013 22:12:01.615 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.audio.ComponentHelper[3722]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:01.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3722 [com.apple.audio.]
01/03/2013 22:12:02.723 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.audio.SandboxHelper[3721]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:02.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3721 [com.apple.audio.]
01/03/2013 22:12:08.562 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[3734]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:08.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3734 [com.apple.iCloud]
01/03/2013 22:12:09.446 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: (com.apple.pbs[3718]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:09.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3718 [pbs]
01/03/2013 22:12:09.717 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: ([0x0-0x24b24b].com.apple.inputmethod.ironwood[3716]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:10.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3716 [DictationIM]
01/03/2013 22:12:10.441 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3714]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:10.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3714 [SleepServicesD]
01/03/2013 22:12:12.810 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: (com.apple.tccd[3736]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:12:12.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3736 [tccd]
01/03/2013 22:12:47.855 mdworker[3755]: Unable to talk to lsboxd
01/03/2013 22:12:47.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(3756) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
01/03/2013 22:12:49.216 sandboxd[3756]: ([3755]) mdworker(3755) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd
01/03/2013 22:12:55.139 com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.coremedia.videodecoder[3723]) Exit timeout elapsed (20 seconds). Killing
01/03/2013 22:13:16.072 WindowServer[120]: Display 0x4272380 released by conn 0x8903
01/03/2013 22:13:19.679 Locum[3762]: Connection with distnoted server was invalidated
01/03/2013 22:13:51.907 WindowServer[120]: CGXDisableUpdate: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "Messages" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.
01/03/2013 22:14:05.908 WindowServer[120]: disable_update_likely_unbalanced: UI updates still disabled by application "Messages" after 15.00 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds). Likely an unbalanced disableUpdate call.
01/03/2013 22:14:15.562 WindowServer[120]: reenable_update_for_connection: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "Messages" after 24.66 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds)
01/03/2013 22:15:49.853 mdworker[3784]: Unable to talk to lsboxd
01/03/2013 22:15:50.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(3786) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
01/03/2013 22:15:51.857 sandboxd[3786]: ([3784]) mdworker(3784) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd
01/03/2013 22:19:15.787 com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[242]: (com.apple.CalendarAgent[3798]) Exited: Killed: 9
01/03/2013 22:19:15.000 kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3798 [CalendarAgent]

----------

Seems to be something to do with CGXDisableUpdate

 

[macthefork]

Do a Safe Boot. Hold down the shift key while booting until you see a progress bar. Let the entire boot process finish. (might take a while).

Then shudown and restart normally. That should clear some of those caches that can cause the spotlight indexing problems you're apparently having.

See how that works.

 

[Twimfy]

Do a Safe Boot. Hold down the shift key while booting until you see a progress bar. Let the entire boot process finish. (might take a while).

Then shudown and restart normally. That should clear some of those caches that can cause the spotlight indexing problems you're apparently having.

See how that works.

Done. Will see how it goes.

It hasn't been long since I did a fresh install of ML but I did a TM transfer from a backup taken from my 2011 Macbook Air. I'm wondering if there's something that's gone wrong there.

It'd be interesting to run the machine on a completely clean install for a day or so, see if it still happens. I don't really have the means to do so at the moment due to work.

 

[divideby]

Sounds like a hard drive, even before you mentioned SMART status failing.

 

[macthefork]

Does Disk Utility state S.M.A.R.T. has failed on the HDD? Or something like Tech Tools Pro. If Disk Utilities states S.M.A.R.T. status has failed, then start thinking about replacing that HD and be sure everything is backed up. If something like Tech Tools Pro, states S.M.A.R.T. is failing, but Disk Utility says it's "Verified" it may be OK, since Tech Tools Pro doesn't read some of the sensor parameters correctly.

I looked into this extensively when TTP was showing a failed S.M.A.R.T. test on my iMac, but Disk Utility showed it to be "Verified".

 

[Twimfy]

Does Disk Utility state S.M.A.R.T. has failed on the HDD? Or something like Tech Tools Pro. If Disk Utilities states S.M.A.R.T. status has failed, then start thinking about replacing that HD and be sure everything is backed up. If something like Tech Tools Pro, states S.M.A.R.T. is failing, but Disk Utility says it's "Verified" it may be OK, since Tech Tools Pro doesn't read some of the sensor parameters correctly.

I looked into this extensively when TTP was showing a failed S.M.A.R.T. test on my iMac, but Disk Utility showed it to be "Verified".

Disk Util shows verified and returns no errors on a disk check.

OnyX reports that the disk is fine.

SMART Utility however reports it as failing however the only errors it shows are CRC errors (about 4,000) I'd show a screen grab but my free checks are all up.

I haven't tried TTP but then if you're reporting that it returned a false positive I'm not sure it'll help.

I really want to get to the bottom of this as I've been thinking of buying an SSD or at the very least a new plate drive but I'm not going to spend money if it turns out to be something more serious.

I know this model is notorious for having a faulty GPU but I think I would have seen far worse things by now if that was responsible.

Just before I did the safe boot as recommended it froze again which seemed to coincide with the beginning of my scheduled Time Machine backup, could just be a coincidence though. It freezes without the backup drive plugged in but the extra pull of data could during a backup could indicate a hard drive issue.

I'm really stumped with this.

 

[macthefork]

CRC errors indicates a data transfer error, although not all disk manufactures report the same way. Since you have symptoms, you probably could use a replacement drive. Here's more information on that particular error.

Back up... Drive is likely failing.

 

[Twimfy]

CRC errors indicates a data transfer error, although not all disk manufactures report the same way. Since you have symptoms, you probably could use a replacement drive. Here's more information on that particular error.

Back up...

SSD It is then.

If that doesn't remedy the issue I can always use the SSD for something else when I get my new Mac in a few months.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

 

[irnchriz]

Specs: 24" ALU iMac, Early 2008, 3.06ghz, 4GB Ram, 8800GS, 10.8.2

The machine keeps randomly hanging, seems to do it more when running iTunes.

The music will stop, then about 10 seconds later all open windows become unresponsive. The mouse cursor still moves but clicking results in the beachball. I can however still swipe between full screen windows.

Then after around 15 seconds the machine will pick up, the music will come back on and everything is normal. Seems to happen every 20 mins or so. Unfortunately I can never check Activity monitor to see what's going on.

Oddly enough however I can run Netflix for hours on end and it will never freeze which makes me think it may be Hard Drive related as Netflix doesn't really require much data access.

So far I've done a clean install, permission repair. Verified the hard drive and ran a full AHT. Everything comes back peachy.

Any clues?

Common failures on that machine are
1. Video card is crapping out (total garbage cards from nvidia, have a stack of them in the office from these iMacs)
2. Hard drive failure.

Solution?

Oops it fell over, kids knocked it over, roof leaked, it fell down the stairs...

Hello mr insurance

Hellooooo shiny new iMac

 

[Twimfy]

Common failures on that machine are
1. Video card is crapping out (total garbage cards from nvidia, have a stack of them in the office from these iMacs)
2. Hard drive failure.

Solution?

Oops it fell over, kids knocked it over, roof leaked, it fell down the stairs...

Hello mr insurance

Hellooooo shiny new iMac

Sadly my insurance won't cover the machine due to A: It's age and B: It was second hand. Apparently the insurance companies are pretty clued up on Apple stuff these days.

Well I've had the machine running for 3 hours today and so far no freeze. Fingers crossed that safe boot fixed it.

 

[Twimfy]

Well the issue has happened 3 times today.

Seems to do it more when the computer is just sat idle playing music or video.

The more I use the machine the less it seems to happen. I can be running xcode, safari, PS and iTunes all at once and it'll never happen.

 

[macthefork]

Continuous reads such as Time Machine, or listening to iTunes, or watching video, also point to a hard drive failing. All those are streaming from your hard drive. If the drive is having issues reading a particular sector or sectors, it will freeze it up because the data at that location can't be read. Other programs simply load to the RAM and work from there, or may write to good areas of the drive.

It's sounding like a failing drive.

 

[Twimfy]

Continuous reads such as Time Machine, or listening to iTunes, or watching video, also point to a hard drive failing. All those are streaming from your hard drive. If the drive is having issues reading a particular sector or sectors, it will freeze it up because the data at that location can't be read. Other programs simply load to the RAM and work from there, or may write to good areas of the drive.

It's sounding like a failing drive.

I'm in the process of installing ML to a USB drive. I'll then load some music from iTunes Match and go about my business and see how the machine fairs.

 

[Twimfy]

99% certain it's the hard drive as I ran 10.8.2 from a USB hard drive for 9 hours yesterday just going about my business and it never hiccuped once. Thanks for all the suggestions and help.

Time to go shopping.