iMac Freezing Problem

This did not completely work for me. I too downgraded but just froze after waking up and immediately mousing over dock. Time will tell if it's an improvement, but it is not a fix (at least in my case).

Michael,
Please keep us updated on what they tell you when you visit the Apple Store. I don't currently have an iMac, but was thinking of buying one. However, I am seeing way, way too many instances of where the same thing is happening on a lot of peoples iMacs. I may just keep my little eMachine for a little while longer. I know that Apple prides itself on having top notch software, hardware, etc., but I can tell you that I am currently running Vista on my eMachine and it has not froze up one time like the iMacs have. Now, I do occasionally get the messages that say something like, "McAfee Proxy Service had to close", etc. I think that something in Vista is not totally compatible with my McAfee. However, like I said, I haven't experienced any freezes or anything like that.

It's freezing mine too.
After 3 days .. today I lost 5 hours of 3D work.
VERY VERY VERY BAD!

It remembers of the G5 freeze. There was a thread of 1200 posts, 15 months old at some point. a thread always on the first page .. ..
PLS do something quick Apple.

Same for me. My iMac 24" 2.8GHz, 2Gb RAM just totally freezes. The only option is to power off and on. It is happening while the thing is idle or asleep.

It could be that it happens while using graphics intensive applications, it has certainly happened when down loading a large image from Canon's website, using Google Earth and while playing Age of Empires III.

I will call Apple and let them know.

Mark

FWIW, I was having the freezing problem ONLY when trying to use iphoto 08. I had applied all the updates and i really can't say if the freezing started before or after the 1.1 update. I thought i would share that I read somewhere to delete the iphoto plist file which i did and it SEEMS to have resolved the issue.

I called Apple support. They were not aware of any particular issue. They got me to boot from the install CD and run the disc utility. There was a 'minor problem' with the disc header information. I am not surprised; freezing and then powering the iMac off and on are bound to cause some disc issues eventually.

I am going to use the second of the accounts on this iMac for a while now. If the issue appears to go away then it could be a user specific issue; if the issue returns then I guess it could be hardware (memory most likely) or OS issue.

For now I am doing my backups regularly....

Mark

Oh yes, I forgot to say. I also ran the short form of the inbuilt diags (hold down D at startup). Those found no problems with the hardware.
Mark

When you were talking about the freezes of the G5's, how long did it take Apple to come up with a fix to that problem? I hate that you have lost your work.

I had the same issues. Unfortunately I didn't want to spend the time talking to an AppleCare Rep who would just tell me to attempt to do the same as everyone here has done. Here's what I did...

I reset PRAM, SMC then backed up all of my data. Note only data, no user folder nothing. I didn't want any legacy lib files left behind.

I performed and complete erase and reinstall. After watching paint dry for some time, I updated the iMac "WITHOUT 1.1" All other updated were installed expect 1.1.

I then proceeded to reinstall my applications and update them. Thus far I have zero freezes or any issues of any kind. Crossing my fingers and knock'n of wood here!


I honestly believe there are two issues. One is that there was a bad install load of OSX and the other is bad hardware. What I mean with bad hardware is, bad batch of video cards. I am surprised people on here haven't started to track their SN and Batch numbers of their iMacs to see if there is a common denominator.

Well that's my feedback. If I start having issues again, I will certainly be calling apple this time.

Take care all.

Hello, everyone. This freeze up mess happened to me on my personal machine. I am thinking about getting one for my new assistant, but I'm wary. I reinstalled the OS with the discs that came with the computer. So far, so good. I've been working on it for a couple hours now with no freezes. Maybe it lasts two more weeks. I tried the Pacifist/load old firmware idea, but it didn't work. Installing the OS has worked. Stay tuned.

I've been having a similar problem. Screen freezes (or I get a garbage-looking display, as if I'm looking at memory — haven't had this sort of problem since the 90s with system 7!), mouse still moves but can't select anything, keyboard iffy (continues to work about 50% of the time).

I am getting these freezes about once a day. For me, the app that triggers the freeze is usally pages!