Endless spinning loop on shutdown

[gogreen1]

I have a Western Digital 2TB My Passport external drive connected via USB to my iMac. I partitioned the drive to include external backup, my TimeMachine backup, and by Carbon Copy Cloner bootable backups. Works perfectly.

Occasionally when I shut down my iMac, the external drive light stays on steadily or blinks and the darkened screen gets caught in an endless spinning loop.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need to eject the external drive every time before shutting down? If I need to do that, do I drag a drive icon to the trash, and if so, which one?

Thanks.

 

[jmiddel]

When the computer shuts down it should eject external drives. If some process using the external refuses to terminate, you get this type of problem. Try ejecting the external before shutdown and see wether you get an error message. Right click on the drive’s icon and choose eject, then opt to eject all partitions.

What do you now to regain control of the machine?

 

[gogreen1]

Thanks, jmiddel. To regain control, I press and hold the power button, and after a few seconds, the iMac shuts down. I should mention that to shut down, I habitually use Control-Option-Command-Eject. I wonder if using Apple key>shut down would work better... I'll try that, too, and see.

 

[gogreen1]

Well, I ejected the external drive and hit Apple key > shutdown, and the same thing happened--endless spinning loop!

 

[Longkeg]

Have you run First Aid in Disk Utility? Part of the shut down process involves disk utility performing diagnostics. If there’s a problem with a drive this may be causing an issue.

 

[gogreen1]

Thanks, Longkeg. Yes, I ran First Aid. All's fine. I've been giving it about 30 to 45 seconds to shut down by itself. I'll wait longer and see if that works over the next several shutdowns.

 

[chown33]

You could also try a Safe Mode startup, then perform a shutdown. If that works properly (i.e. it isn't slow), then it's possible there's some kind of extension that's blocking the shutdown. Unfortunately, I don't know an easy way to find it.

The only way I know of would be a binary search on all extensions (LaunchDaemons, LaunchAgents, both system-wide (/Library) and for your user (~/Library)) that are on your system. "Binary search" means disabling half of them, rebooting, then trying a shutdown. If it's slow, then you've determined that the problem lies in one or more of the enabled extensions. If it's fast, then the problem is in the disabled half. So you then enable or disable half of one of those halves, and repeat the process. In essence, you're sequentially isolating half of the extensions, then trying half of the bad half, then half of that, and so on until you get to 1 item. This doesn't always work, but it often does.

Before doing a binary search, you could try running the app Etrecheck (etrecheck.com) and posting the output it produces. Someone here may spot something that's a known problem. Or you might spot something yourself.

 

[gogreen1]

Thanks, chown33. The Etrecheck report follows. My totally novice eyes see nothing unusual. Anyone else see a possible cause for the blocvked shutdowns? I should mention that the problem shutdown occur about a third to a half the time.

EtreCheck version: 5.0.6 (5A017)
Report generated: 2018-10-18 14:30:37
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime: 1:45
Performance: Excellent

Problem: Other problem

Major Issues: None

Minor Issues:
These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems.
Apps with heavy CPU usage - There have been numerous cases of apps with heavy CPU usage.
Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed. They appear to be legitimate but should be reviewed.
32-bit Apps - This machine has 32-bits apps that may have problems in the future.

Hardware Information:
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017)
iMac Model: iMac18,3
1 4.2 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-7700K) CPU: 4-core
16 RAM - Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0 - 8 GB DDR4 2400 ok
BANK 0/DIMM1 - Empty
BANK 1/DIMM0 - 8 GB DDR4 2400 ok
BANK 1/DIMM1 - Empty

Video Information:
Radeon Pro 580 - VRAM: 8192 MB
iMac 5120 x 2880

Drives:
disk0 - APPLE SSD SM0512L 500.28 GB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)
Internal PCI-Express 8.0 GT/s x4 NVM Express
disk0s1 - EFI [EFI] 315 MB
disk0s2 [APFS Container] 499.96 GB
disk1 [APFS Virtual drive] 499.96 GB (Shared by 4 volumes)
disk1s1 - A******y (APFS) (Shared - 107.25 GB used)
disk1s2 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (Shared - 47 MB used)
disk1s3 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (Shared - 512 MB used)
disk1s4 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (Shared - 2.15 GB used)

disk2 - WD My Passport 25E1 2.00 TB
External USB 5 Gbit/s USB
disk2s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB
disk2s2 - C**************e (Journaled HFS+) 724.93 GB (517.29 GB used)
disk2s3 - Recovery HD (Journaled HFS+) [Recovery] 650 MB
disk2s4 - N*********e (Journaled HFS+) 74.96 GB (25.98 GB used)
disk2s5 - T*********e (Journaled HFS+) 1.20 TB (351.03 GB used)

Mounted Volumes:
disk1s1 - A******y 499.96 GB (389.84 GB free)
APFS
Mount point: /
Encrypted

disk1s4 - VM [APFS VM] (Shared - 2.15 GB used)
APFS
Mount point: /private/var/vm

disk2s2 - C**************e 724.93 GB (207.64 GB free)
Journaled HFS+
Mount point: /Volumes/C**************e

disk2s4 - N*********e 74.96 GB (48.99 GB free)
Journaled HFS+
Mount point: /Volumes/N*********e

disk2s5 - T*********e 1.20 TB (848.19 GB free)
Journaled HFS+
Mount point: /Volumes/T*********e

Network:
Interface en0: Ethernet
Interface en6: USB 10/100/1000 LAN
Interface en5: iPhone
Interface en1: Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Interface en4: Bluetooth PAN
Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge
iCloud Quota: 2.23 GB available

System Software:
macOS Mojave 10.14 (18A391)
Time since boot: Less than an hour

Security:
System Status
Gatekeeper Enabled
System Integrity Protection Enabled

Unsigned Files:
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.prosoftnet.idwebdaemon.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/IDriveforMac/IDriveHelperTools/IDWebManagement.app/Contents/MacOS/IDWebManagement
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist
Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/Helper-Tool
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.brother.LOGINserver.plist
Executable: /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/LOGINserver.app/Contents/MacOS/LOGINserver
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper.plist
Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist
Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/JavaUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaUpdater -bgcheck
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist
Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/JavaUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaUpdater -bgcheck
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist
Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/Helper-Tool
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK


32-bit Applications:
2 32-bit apps

Kernel Extensions:
/Library/Application Support/Logitech.localized/Logitech Options.localized
LogiMgrDriver.kext (6.94.1 - SDK 10.12)

/Library/Extensions
Soundflower.kext (2.0b2 - SDK 10.10)
LogitechHIDDevices.kext (3.9.7 - SDK 10.10)
LogitechUnifying.kext (1.3.7 - SDK 10.10)

System Launch Agents:
[Not Loaded] 10 Apple tasks
[Loaded] 172 Apple tasks
[Running] 117 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons:
[Not Loaded] 36 Apple tasks
[Loaded] 182 Apple tasks
[Running] 115 Apple tasks
[Other] One Apple task

Launch Agents:
[Loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (? 87652558 - installed 2018-03-10)
[Running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist (Logitech Inc. - installed 2018-09-21)
[Running] com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (? a1772de2 - installed 2016-10-24)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.update.agent.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2018-10-17)
[Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.frontend.agent.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2018-09-14)
[Running] com.logitech.manager.daemon.plist (Logitech Inc. - installed 2018-09-19)

Launch Daemons:
[Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.rtprotection.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2018-09-14)
[Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.settings.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2018-09-14)
[Running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (Bombich Software, Inc. - installed 2018-10-12)
[Running] com.aaa.windscribe.OVPNHelper.plist (Windscribe Limited - installed 2018-09-22)
[Running] com.prosoftnet.idrivedaemon.plist (IDrive Incorporated - installed 2018-10-10)
[Loaded] com.prosoftnet.idwebdaemon.plist (? 8fbd971c - installed 2018-06-18)
[Loaded] com.sibersystems.gs-helper.plist (Siber Systems - installed 2018-01-23)
[Running] com.prosoftnet.idwifimanager.plist (IDrive Incorporated - installed 2018-10-10)
[Loaded] com.prosoftnet.idsyncdaemon.plist (IDrive Incorporated - installed 2018-10-10)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2018-10-17)
[Running] com.siber.gs-server.plist (Siber Systems - installed 2018-01-19)
[Loaded] com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper.plist (? 9f7f4405 - installed 2018-01-19)
[Loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (? fa56dec8 - installed 2018-03-10)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2017-12-05)
[Other] com.sibersystems.gsync-***.plist (Siber Systems - installed 2018-01-23)

User Launch Agents:
[Loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2018-09-02)

User Login Items:
Macintosh HD (?)
(/Volumes/Macintosh HD)
SpeechSynthesisServer.app (Apple - installed 2018-09-21)
(/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)
IDriveMonitor.app (IDrive Incorporated - installed 2018-10-10)
(/Library/Application Support/IDriveforMac/IDriveHelperTools/IDriveMonitor.app)
IDriveMonitor.app (IDrive Incorporated - installed 2018-10-10)
(/Library/Application Support/IDriveforMac/IDriveHelperTools/IDriveMonitor.app)
1Password Launcher (AgileBits Inc. - installed 2018-09-26)
(/Applications/1Password 7.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/1Password Launcher.app)
1Password Extension Helper (AgileBits Inc. - installed 2018-09-26)
(/Applications/1Password 7.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/1Password Extension Helper.app)
IDriveMonitor (IDrive Incorporated - installed 2018-10-10)
(/Library/Application Support/IDriveforMac/IDriveHelperTools/IDriveMonitor.app/Contents/MacOS/IDriveMonitor)

Internet Plug-ins:
jdk: (installed 2018-03-10)
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2018-09-21)
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 9.0.4 build 11 (installed 2018-09-18)

Safari Extensions:
ABP Control Panel - App Store (installed 2018-10-04)
1Password - App Store (installed 2018-09-26)
ABP - App Store (installed 2018-10-04)

3rd Party Preference Panes:
Java (installed 2017-12-19)
Logitech Control Center (installed 2018-10-10)
Logi Options Launcher (installed 2018-09-26)

Time Machine:
Skip System Files: No
Mobile backups:
Auto backup: Yes
Volumes being backed up:
A******y: Disk size: 499.96 GB - Disk used: 110.12 GB
Destinations:
T*********e [Local] (Last used)
Total size: 1.20 TB
Total number of backups: 69
Oldest backup: 2018-01-28 15:56:27
Last backup: 2018-10-18 14:08:57

Performance:
System Load: 1.53 (1 min ago) 1.43 (5 min ago) 1.15 (15 min ago)
Nominal I/O speed: 2.75 MB/s
File system: 17.04 seconds
Write speed: 2046 MB/s
Read speed: 2778 MB/s

CPU Usage:
Type Overall Individual cores
System 0 % 2 % 0 % 1 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 %
User 1 % 3 % 0 % 1 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 %
Idle 99 % 95 % 100 % 98 % 100 % 99 % 100 % 100 % 100 %

Top Processes by CPU:
Process (count) Source CPU Location
WindowServer Apple 3.20 %
EtreCheckPro Etresoft, Inc. 2.92 %
usbmuxd Apple 1.60 %
iconservicesagent (2) Apple 1.22 %
kernel_task Apple 1.06 %

Top Processes by Memory:
Process (count) Source RAM usage Location
EtreCheckPro Etresoft, Inc. 650 MB
mdworker_shared (21) Apple 541 MB
thunderbird Mozilla Corporation 402 MB
com.apple.SafariServices.ExtensionHelper Apple 365 MB
mds_stores Apple 248 MB

Top Processes by Network Use:
Process Source Input Output Location
kernel_task Apple 18 MB 224 KB
IDriveDaemon IDrive Incorporated 33 KB 512 KB
mDNSResponder Apple 430 KB 95 KB
apsd Apple 44 KB 41 KB
cloudd Apple 54 KB 29 KB

Virtual Memory Information:
Available RAM 10.89 GB
Free RAM 7.75 GB
Used RAM 5.11 GB
Cached files 3.15 GB
Swap Used 0 B

Software Installs (past 30 days):
Name Version Install Date
Gatekeeper Configuration Data 155 2018-09-25
Logitech Options 6.94 2018-09-26
XProtectPlistConfigData 2100 2018-09-28
AdBlock 1.10.0 2018-09-28
Garritan ARIA Player 1872 2018-10-03
Garritan Instruments for Finale 2003 2018-10-03
Adblock Plus 2.0.3 2018-10-04
IDrive 1.0 2018-10-10
Logitech Control Center 3.8.0 2018-10-10
Duplicate File Finder 5.6 2018-10-10
FreeFileSync 10.5 1.0 2018-10-11
Finale 26.0.0.703 2018-10-13
Microsoft Word for Mac 16.16.18101500 2018-10-17
Microsoft Excel for Mac 16.16.18101500 2018-10-17
Microsoft OneNote for Mac 16.16.18101500 2018-10-17
Microsoft AutoUpdate 4.4.18101400 2018-10-17

Diagnostics Information (past 7 days):
2018-10-18 09:06:23 com.apple.WebKit.WebContent CPU
/System/Library/Frameworks/WebKit.framework/Versions/A/XPCServices/com.apple.WebKit.WebContent.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

2018-10-17 09:44:49 Finale.app CPU
/Applications/Finale.app

2018-10-15 12:11:28 Thunderbird.app Hang
/Applications/Thunderbird.app

End of report

 

[chown33]

I recommend that you try a Safe Mode startup, then do a shutdown. If that's slow, then the problem isn't a 3rd-party extension. I listed it first in my earlier reply because that's the first thing I'd try.

 

[gogreen1]

OK. Will do.

 

[hobowankenobi]

One thing I see...Idrive.

Have not touched it in a few years, but it used to cause all sorts of issues that affected stability and performance. I would put it on the list of suspects.

 

[gogreen1]

Good to know. Thanks, hobowankenobi. I'll keep an eye on it, but so far, since I ran for a bit in safe mode, things seem to be OK. I wonder if safe mode fixed something...

 

[Fishrrman]

My thoughts only, but your CCC cloned backup should be on its own "physical drive", separate and apart from a drive that contains TM backups.

I don't use TM at all (CCC for ALL my backups).
I've even gone so far as to delete the TM app from my Mac, as well as the TM preference pane in System preferences....!

 

[gogreen1]

OK, Fishrrman, now I'm really curious. Why do you think the CCC cloned backup needs to be on its own physical drive apart from a drive that contains TM backups?

Also, what's your beef with TM?

 

[hobowankenobi]

Good to know. Thanks, hobowankenobi. I'll keep an eye on it, but so far, since I ran for a bit in safe mode, things seem to be OK. I wonder if safe mode fixed something...

Safe Mode prevents all 3rd party software and kexts from running. Helps to confirm that the OS is happy...if everything is good in Safe Mode. If the problem returns when Safe Mode is off, then it confirms that the problem is with 3rd party software.

Safe Mode also does a bit of house cleaning.

 

[gogreen1]

Thanks, hobowankenobi. I think Safe Mode fixed it--maybe a cache or directory problem.