Q: Random OS freeze or hang after Sierra Upgrade
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Sep 25, 2016 2:23 PMby alimz,HelpfulI had exactly the same problem you describe, on a 2014 retina iMac. I updated every non-App Store app I could think of (and deleted dozens of them), disabled launch items, unplugged my USB hub, downloaded EtreCheck (very useful app, by the way), and started combing through crash reports in the Library/Logs folder. On a Reddit thread about problems with Macs waking from sleep after installing Sierra, somebody suggested using the following command in Terminal: kextstat | grep -v com.apple
The command tells you what non-Apple kernel extensions are running in the background. Kernel extensions from apps like Airparrot, Tether, and Duet were causing problems with macOS Sierra. In my case, Tether was running a kernel extension – so I deleted that app, and went through my Library/LaunchAgents and Library/LaunchDaemon folders, deleting all the launch items left behind by Tether and other deleted apps.
The reports from EtreCheck were telling me that something called SIMBL was repeatedly causing crashes. So I got rid of that as well, using instructions on the SIMBL website.
Here's the problem: even after all these troubleshooting efforts (and every reset variant I could think of), nothing changed. My Mac still had exactly the symptoms you describe, on waking from sleep. Every single time.
In the end I simply gave up, and restored my iMac to its state 4 days ago, using a Time Machine backup. (It took 12 hours.) Thanks to Dropbox, I didn't lose any of the work I've done in the meantime. So I'm now running a stable El Capitan, with a newfound understanding for why people wait a few months before installing the latest OS updates.
Sorry I can't offer any more helpful troubleshooting options – but perhaps some of the things which didn't help me might help you anyway? Thanks for posting – it seems like Sierra's been a pretty smooth update for most people, so I guess we're just unlucky?
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Sep 25, 2016 2:30 PMby Dale Gardner,Thanks, this is very helpful.
For what it's worth, the system has been relatively stable since I posted - I did install an update to Tweetbot, so it's possible there may have been something there causing a problem. Or perhaps I've just been lucky.
I checked for kernel extensions and only came up with a couple for Sophos.
EtreCheck looks interesting, I'll have to check it out.
If the problems recur, I may have to break down and rebuild the system from a clean install. It dates from late 2009, and has been rock solid. I do tend to update in place, so it's quite possible there's a bit of cruft floating around somewhere.
In any event, thanks for the comprehensive reply.
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Sep 25, 2016 2:51 PMby alimz,No worries, glad your problems seem to have cleared up. Even though it didn't solve my problems, I definitely recommend EtreCheck - the bottom lines of an EtreCheck report show you the latest system log files on crashes and beachballing. From the filenames alone, you can learn which apps are causing your system to hang – which is a good starting point for troubleshooting.
As for me, I'm sad to miss out on the Sierra fun (especially using the Apple Watch to unlock – that was awesome). But at least I didn't lose any data. I've been neurotic about backups for years (Time Machine + Dropbox + SuperDuper + Crashplan), and something like this reminds me why I bother!
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Sep 26, 2016 2:26 PMby riadfromhabsheim,Hello,
I have the same issue here with an iMac Late 2009. I had three freezes in three days, this is very annoying.
The symptoms are the same than you: the mouse can move but that's it, I can't click and manipulate the system. The only way to recover is a force reboot.
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Sep 28, 2016 11:01 AMby Hurangeshu,Very similar problem here on my 2014 Retina Macbook. Random freezes where I lose my peripherals first - wireless mouse stops working - and I can use the trackpad for a little bit. Then beachball that freezes after a couple seconds and then I can't do anything. I haven't been able to figure out what triggers the freeze yet, but it's happened as many as 4 times in a day.
And of course, this never happened until I moved to Sierra.
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Sep 28, 2016 11:04 AMby Hurangeshu,And if it helps, I did do the EtreCheck scan right after a freeze and restart this afternoon:
EtreCheck version: 3.0.5 (309)
Report generated 2016-09-28 12:44:58
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 1:42
Performance: Excellent
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Click the [Remove] links to remove adware.
Problem: Beachballing
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro11,3
1 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core
16 GB RAM Not upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 375
Intel Iris Pro
Color LCD 2880 x 1800
NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M - VRAM: 2048 MB
macOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: less than an hour
APPLE SSD SM0512F disk0 : (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 499.10 GB (111.86 GB free)
Core Storage: disk0s2 499.42 GB Online
VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Logitech USB Receiver
VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
/etc/sudoers, File size 2299 but expected 1563
Mac App Store and identified developers
~/Library/Safari/Extensions/Lexside.safariextz
One adware file found. [Remove]
/Applications/Toast 11 Titanium/Spin Doctor.app
[not loaded] com.hzsystems.terminus.driver (4 - 2015-05-04) [Support]
/Applications/Toast 11 Titanium/Toast Titanium.app
[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0 - 2016-06-11) [Support]
/Applications/zoom.us.app
[not loaded] zoom.us.ZoomAudioDevice (1.1 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-08-05) [Support]
/Library/Extensions
[loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.3 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-21) [Support]
[not loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.3 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.globaldelight.driver.VoilaDevice (2.1 - SDK 10.10 - 2016-09-21) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.6 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-21) [Support]
[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks
[loaded] 170 Apple tasks
[running] 94 Apple tasks
[not loaded] com.apple.jetsamproperties.Mac.plist (2016-08-25) [Support]
[not loaded] 42 Apple tasks
[loaded] 159 Apple tasks
[running] 102 Apple tasks
[running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist (2016-07-20) [Support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-04-24) [Support]
[running] com.bjango.istatmenusagent.plist (2016-07-26) [Support]
[running] com.bjango.istatmenusnotifications.plist (2016-07-26) [Support]
[running] com.bjango.istatmenusstatus.plist (2016-07-26) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2015-02-21) [Support]
[running] jp.co.canon.ScanGearMF.appl.Canon-MF-Scan-Agent.plist (2012-09-12) [Support]
[running] jp.co.canon.ScanGearMF.appl.Canon-MFSU-Agent.plist (2014-12-10) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2015-04-24) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-08-29) [Support]
[running] com.bjango.istatmenusdaemon.plist (2016-07-26) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-08-03) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2015-08-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2015-02-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-08-29) [Support]
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
SpeechSynthesisServer Application (/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)
Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector EX Application Hidden (/Applications/Canon Utilities/IJ Network Scanner Selector EX/Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector EX.app)
FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-22) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-13)
Flash Player: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-22) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 10.1.1 (2015-04-24) [Support]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.8 - SDK 10.6 (2016-09-16) [Support]
PepperFlashPlayer: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-14) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.50428.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-29) [Support]
SlingPlayer: Unknown - SDK 10.8 (2015-07-17) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-07-26) Check version
WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.10 (2016-02-28) [Support]
Aspera Web 3.6.1.111259: Unknown - SDK 10.9 (2015-09-11) [Support]
AddLive_v3: AddLive_v3 3.0.6.3 (2016-04-13) [Support]
ZoomUsPlugIn: 3.5.22132.0730 - SDK 10.10 (2015-08-05) [Support]
1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2016-09-26)
AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-03-21)
Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-09-26)
Reddit Enhancement Suite - Steve Sobel - http://redditenhancementsuite.com/ (2014-12-30)
Lexside - Lexside - http://www.lexside.com/faq#lexside (2016-03-21) Adware! [Remove]
Flash Player (2016-08-29) [Support]
Java (2016-07-26) [Support]
Logitech Control Center (2016-08-29) [Support]
MusicManager (2015-11-17) [Support]
Perian (2013-12-10) [Support]
Time Machine not configured!
23% Mail
7% WindowServer
7% kernel_task
4% mds_stores
3% com.apple.spotlight.IndexAgent
3.47 GB Google Chrome Helper(17)
2.80 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(8)
1.12 GB kernel_task
737 MB mdworker(20)
557 MB Safari
1.75 GB Free RAM
14.00 GB Used RAM (2.79 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used
Sep 28, 2016, 12:39:14 PM Self test - passed
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Oct 9, 2016 8:56 AMby diyaphoto,same issue here
diagnostic report follows. hints are much appreciated !
currently looking into deleting all sw that is no longer used.
EtreCheck version: 3.0.6 (315)
Report generated 2016-10-09 16:50:02
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 3:13
Performance: Good
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Other problem
Description:
iMac freeze. hard reset required.
mouse still moves but no action from clicking or keyboard
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
iMac - model: iMac11,2
1 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 CPU: 2-core
16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 0/DIMM1
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM1
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
ATI Radeon HD 4670 - VRAM: 256 MB
iMac 1920 x 1080
macOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: less than an hour
WDC WD5000AAKS-40V6A0 disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (248.42 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H ()
Western Digital Elements 10B8
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Western Digital My Passport 0748
Apple Card Reader
Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Mac App Store and identified developers
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchAfaTech (1.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchCinergy450 (1.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchCinergyXS (1.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchEmpia (1.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchVoyager (1.1 - 2016-09-22) [Support]
[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks
[loaded] 170 Apple tasks
[running] 93 Apple tasks
[not loaded] 37 Apple tasks
[loaded] 166 Apple tasks
[running] 101 Apple tasks
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-09-12) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist (2010-01-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]
[running] com.lexmark.hbnlistener.plist (2010-10-22) [Support]
[loaded] com.lexmark.hostinfoupdater.plist (2010-10-22) [Support]
[loaded] com.lexmark.hostregister.plist (2010-10-22) [Support]
[failed] com.lexmark.lexnetlaunchd.plist (2011-02-25)
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]
[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2016-10-07) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-03) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2011-08-20) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2011-07-03) [Support]
[failed] com.akamai.client.plist (2010-01-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncer.plist (2009-09-03)
iTunesHelper Application Hidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
Google Drive Application (/Applications/Google Drive.app)
EyeTV Helper Application (/Library/Application Support/EyeTV/EyeTV Helper.app)
AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-09-12) [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-14)
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-05) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-05) [Support]
Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) Outdated! Update
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.0.0.126 - SDK 10.8 (2013-01-04) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: 15.0.1 - SDK 10.12 (2012-07-25) Check version
o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-16) [Support]
googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-04-18)
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.79 (2012-09-06) [Support]
RealPlayer Plugin: Unknown
Flash Player (2016-04-16) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 250.83 GB
Destinations:
2TBackup [Local]
Total size: 2.00 TB
Total number of backups: 89
Oldest backup: 20/04/2015, 23:04
Last backup: 09/10/2016, 16:17
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 499.25 GB X 3)
18% mdworker(8)
2% WindowServer
1% fontd
1% kernel_task
0% com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent
917 MB kernel_task
180 MB mdworker(8)
180 MB Google Drive
147 MB Finder
98 MB mds_stores
12.00 GB Free RAM
4.09 GB Used RAM (2.34 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used
Oct 9, 2016, 04:32:23 PM Self test - passed
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Oct 10, 2016 1:52 AMby diyaphoto,hello,
I went through the excellent report of EtreCheck and one by one I deleted all the applications and drivers that are no longer used by the machine. Example, lexmark driver. I sold that printer two years ago.
my guess is that some old unused software or driver is still being loaded since it was installed 2 or 3 years ago and that sw does not adapt to the new OS since it is no longer updated since no longer in use.
Just a guess. will know in a few days as I use it.
if no freeze then it was one of those old sw modules.
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Oct 11, 2016 4:21 PMby douglasfromvirginia,Random OS freeze or hang after Sierra Upgrade:
Oct 11th, same story for me exactly, only the mouse can move and I am forced to use the power switch on my Mid 2010 21 iMac, 16ram, 750 SSD. Never had an issue with this iMac until now. Looks like I have another boat anchor.
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Oct 12, 2016 1:33 PMby already_here,HelpfulDo you have Safari open/running when this happens?
if yes, then you have probably the same issue as posted here: macOS Sierra freeze on iMac late 2009 using Safari
