George Todd

Q: frequent system crash

Hello all,

this iMac (2009 20inch) now crashes at least once per day.

I browse with Safari and look at/commnet on Facebook, I don't use any fancy apps...

Things like Pages and Skype are rarely on - iTunes almost never!

 

Other apps for imaging work or writing (Adobe, Blurb) are also used from time to time.

Typically, they are in use when a crash occurs...

 

I wonder if it would help to fit a need hard drive, or is the problem deeper, i.e., in the mother board?

Your help and comments will be appreciated,

GeTe

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 24, 2014 11:14 AM

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Q: frequent system crash

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,Helpful

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit May 24, 2014 11:44 AM in response to George Todd
    Level 10 (122,412 points)
    Apple Music
    May 24, 2014 11:44 AM in response to George Todd

    The starttup disk may need repairing...


     

    Launch Disk Utility located in HD > Applications > Utillities

     

    Select the startup disk on the left then select the First Aid tab.

     

    Click:  Verify Disk  (not Verify Disk Permissions)

     

    If Disk Utility reports errors, start up from your Mac install disc to make repairs.

     

     

    Control click the MacintoshHD icon on your desktop or open the Finder, right or control click startup disk in the Sidebar on the left then click Get Info.

     

    You'll see Available and Capacity. Make sure there's at least 15% available disk space. Less can cause the problems you are describing.

  • by George Todd,

    George Todd George Todd May 24, 2014 1:57 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 24, 2014 1:57 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Thanks for your reply Carolyn - I'll do all those checks and see what happens.

    As for space availaböe, I've got almost half the harddrive free

    I'll let you kmow if this clears up the problem...

  • by George Todd,

    George Todd George Todd May 25, 2014 2:04 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 25, 2014 2:04 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    On starting those checks I realized that is what I've done many times:

    Utilities: Disc utility: verify disc - and I always get the report: OK !

     

    It also amounts to the same as my usual restart after a black screen (or other colors/patterns) crash:

    cmd s 

    sbin/fsck -fy

     

    This does a system check and removes lost or orphaned files, or even a folder...

    Usually there's at least 6 'lost" files removed, sometime more if i'm into image processing, or layout work...

     

    I did a system restore 2 days ago using the latest back-up from a Tbit external drive.

    A few hours later it crashed again

     

    I forgot to say that I'm using Snow Leopard plus the final updates (10.6.8) with 5GB memeory

    The only 'foreign', i.e., non-Apple apps in occasional use are Skype, VueScan (BTW, it's super) Word for Mac, Adobe CS

     

    Then there's Clean my Mac and YASU. one or the other used every day before shutdown...

    Have nice weekend...

    GeTe

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit May 25, 2014 3:33 AM in response to George Todd
    Level 10 (122,412 points)
    Apple Music
    May 25, 2014 3:33 AM in response to George Todd

    CleanMyMac and YASU .. 

     

     

    Third party Mac cleaning utilities are not necessary on a Mac and can cause the crashes. Your Mac runs maintenance in the background for you >  Mac OS X: About background maintenance tasks

     

    Uninstall CleanMyMac > How To Uninstall CleanMyMac

     

    Visit the YASU site for uninstall instructions.

     

     

    Restart your Mac after you have uninstalled the software.

     

     

     

    FYI. MacKeeper is another one to avoid > Do not install MacKeeper: Apple Support Communities

  • by George Todd,

    George Todd George Todd May 25, 2014 4:12 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 25, 2014 4:12 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    I didn't get MacKeeper because I had read of this problem.

     

    CleanmyMac is another app that is reportedly better - whether it is safer in another question. Up to now it didn't give any problem...

     

    According to my local Mac shop YSAU does the same as the built-in maintainance that you mentioned above, which why after Lion it is no longer recommneded as Lion does this automatically - or so I am told.

    The only thing one had to avoid in YASU with pre-Lion systems was not to click on any of the reset buttons...

     

    Anyway, I'll do as you say and see how it runs - I'm not one for negative thinking; where there's a will, there's a way

     

    Wish us peace in Europe

    thanks,

    GeTe

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit May 25, 2014 4:23 AM in response to George Todd
    Level 10 (122,412 points)
    Apple Music
    May 25, 2014 4:23 AM in response to George Todd

    this iMac (2009 20inch) now crashes at least once per day.

     

     

    You may want to take a minute to see all the issues that CleanMyMac has caused for other Mac users here.

  • by George Todd,

    George Todd George Todd May 25, 2014 4:54 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 25, 2014 4:54 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Carolyn - you've convinced me already

    But how do I tell you how I'm getting without these silly apps if I click on the "this solved my question" button...

    I jus hope that others will see our conversation

    bye 4 now

    GeTe

  • by George Todd,

    George Todd George Todd Jun 11, 2014 8:28 AM in response to George Todd
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 11, 2014 8:28 AM in response to George Todd

    My earöier posts about frequent crashes resulted in removing Clean my Mac and YAS - the pnly other apps I had installed.

    I have none of the ueual extras : apps like Aperture or famcy links to games etc.

     

    I run OS10.6.8 and use the computer for writing (Pages) and image processing, via a scanner - but these are seldom in use.

    My daily browsing in done on Safari, various major sites like BBC, DeutschWelle and newspapers - and Facebook.

     

    Despite frequent cleance of Safari history and caches, I still get at least1 crash per day. I then restart in the single user mode...

     

    So - problem still not solved

    Any ideas anyone ?

     

     

    This refers to my discusions with Carolyn Samit

     

    Message was edited by: George Todd

  • by George Todd,

    George Todd George Todd Jun 11, 2014 8:28 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 11, 2014 8:28 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    My earöier posts about frequent crashes resulted in removing Clean my Mac and YAS - the pnly other apps I had installed.

    I have none of the ueual extras : apps like Aperture or famcy links to games etc.

     

    I run OS10.6.8 and use the computer for writing (Pages) and image processing, via a scanner - but these are seldom in use.

    My daily browsing in done on Safari, various major sites like BBC, DeutschWelle and newspapers - and Facebook.

     

    Despite frequent cleance of Safari history and caches, I still get at least1 crash per day. I then restart in the single user mode...

     

    So - problem still not solved

    Any ideas anyone ?

     

     

    This refers to my discusions with Carolyn Samit

     

    Message was edited by: George Todd

  • by George Todd,

    George Todd George Todd Jun 11, 2014 8:59 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 11, 2014 8:59 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    My earöier posts about frequent crashes resulted in removing Clean my Mac and YAS - the pnly other apps I had installed.

    I have none of the usual extras : apps like Aperture or famcy links to games etc.

     

    I run OS10.6.8 and use the computer for writing (Pages) and image processing, via a scanner - but these are seldom in use.

    My daily browsing in done on Safari, various major sites like BBC, DeutschWelle and newspapers - and Facebook.

     

    Despite frequent cleance of Safari history and caches, I still get at least1 crash per day. I then restart in the single user mode...

     

    So - problem still not solved