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Level 1

64 points

iTunes Freezing after 10.5.5 update.

After running the OS X software update seeded today, iTunes is freezing whenever I am on the iTunes store. I cannot force quit and I also lose control of the mouse after a couple of minutes. I have to force a restart by holding the power button down for several seconds. It has happened 4 times and now I am afraid of going to the online store. Anyone experiencing this problem? I am using iTunes 8.0 BTW. This is the first time I have had to force restart my computer or had iTunes freeze on me.

How do I fix this?

<Edited by Moderator>

iMac Aluminum, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Sep 15, 2008 5:19 PM

271 replies

Dec 12, 2008 12:50 AM in response to Wade H.

Yep, Apple gave me a new iMac too, for exactly the same reason. And .... iTunes 8 crashes the system just the same on the new one as on the old.

Very disappointed in Apple over this.

MightyMac Author

Level 1

64 points

Dec 12, 2008 4:06 AM in response to MightyMac

I have managed to successfully avoid freezing in the store for well over a month now. This is not a solution, but a work around. The freeze always occurs when coverflow images are displayed and you scroll through the page. These coverflow images are ever present in the Movies, TV Shows, and Podcasts sections of the store. By using the 'home' and 'end' key as a substitute for scrolling in these pages, I have not had any freeing issue at all. I only scroll when there is no coverflow and I do not incur any issues this way. With 10.5.6 rumored to be out soon, we can only guess if this issue will be addressed. This method has allowed me to enjoy browsing and using the iTunes store the way I would like to once again. Since there are several threads on this subject, I will post this on them and I encourage people to try this method to see what results they get. One important note is to wait until all the coverflow images load before hitting the 'home' and 'end' keys to navigate. I hope this helps all of you the same way that it has helped me.

Wade H.

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2008 11:02 AM in response to MightyMac

Thanks for the suggestion MightyMac. I just logged in to iTunes and was browsing music only... no vidoes, podcasts, or TV shows. I was able to browse for about 2 minutes when it froze up tight again.

I'm not sure if any of the software engineers at Apple read these discussion forums, but I would hope that they can understand the frustration that users have when spending quite a bit of money on a new Mac, only to have issues running an Apple application. That being said, I still love my iMac for everything else ~ my kids especially love how easy it is to use! I understand this iTunes problem doesn't effect MacBooks ~ maybe it's time to give myself a Christmas present!

Dec 13, 2008 11:26 AM in response to Wade H.

Wade H. wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion MightyMac. I just logged in to iTunes and was browsing music only... no vidoes, podcasts, or TV shows. I was able to browse for about 2 minutes when it froze up tight again.

I'm not sure if any of the software engineers at Apple read these discussion forums, but I would hope that they can understand the frustration that users have when spending quite a bit of money on a new Mac, only to have issues running an Apple application. That being said, I still love my iMac for everything else ~ my kids especially love how easy it is to use! I understand this iTunes problem doesn't effect MacBooks ~ maybe it's time to give myself a Christmas present!

Definately seems to be just iMacs from what I can tell. I swapped my 2006 Intel Core duo for a like new Mac Pro and also have a macbook pro and neither have problems and the settings on my Mac Pro were from my imac interms of files, passwords and so forth and no problem.

I also know (where the old imac went) that with complete wipe and reinstall the problems came back as soon as another person in our network was given it so now he is dealing with the beachballs so a fresh install from scratch does not do it. Something with these imacs and 10.5.5 and such. And he does not even have itunes running most of time, the beachballs show up in safari and other applications while the machine hangs for half a minute to a couple minutes or more.

Russ Jacobson

JonK..

Level 2

234 points

Dec 13, 2008 2:26 PM in response to dino_russ

he is dealing with the beachballs so a fresh install from scratch does not do it. Something with these imacs and >10.5.5 and such. And he does not even have itunes running most of time, the beachballs show up in safari and >other applications while the machine hangs for half a minute to a couple minutes or more.

then this is not the issue disscussed on this thread, there is no beach ball, and it ONLY happens in the iTunes store. (total system freeze, except mouse movement) only on 20" iMacs it appears.

your machine appears to have something much more serious, something hardware related possibly.

Dec 13, 2008 3:49 PM in response to JonK..

JonK.. wrote:

he is dealing with the beachballs so a fresh install from scratch does not do it. Something with these imacs and >10.5.5 and such. And he does not even have itunes running most of time, the beachballs show up in safari and >other applications while the machine hangs for half a minute to a couple minutes or more.

then this is not the issue disscussed on this thread, there is no beach ball, and it ONLY happens in the iTunes store. (total system freeze, except mouse movement) only on 20" iMacs it appears.

your machine appears to have something much more serious, something hardware related possibly.

Ok, I know there are long threads on the beachball for some imacs also (my former one included). Hope it is not hardware issue. But I think that some who left at 10.5.4 with such no longer had it, maybe hardware has issues with 10.5.5 because that never appeared until 10.5.5 on my old imac?
Russ

Dec 13, 2008 6:13 PM in response to MightyMac

I go into iTunes store then hit control b and this puts into browse mode. I can use my mighty mouse all I want. So I don't get the "pretty coverflow" pictures but this works for me. No freeze. I have had the problem since upgrading to 10.5.5. I have had my iMac for 4.5 months. First mac I've owned. Needless to say, I left the other system for this kind of bug?

Dec 13, 2008 7:19 PM in response to Latenight Mac

Meant to say.... use the command b option not control b.

Sorry.

Wade H.

Level 1

0 points

Dec 14, 2008 11:32 AM in response to JonK..

JonK's point is correct ~ it appears at this point that all of my other applications (Safari, FrontRow, etc.) seem to work perfectly with no beach ball issues. When my iTunes hangs, the beach ball will spin for a couple minutes, but the entire system still freezes. I do have mouse/pointer control, but can't click on anything.

Now, I'm no software engineer, but it seems that if there is truly a 'hardware' issue specifically relating to the 20" iMacs, all the updating of iTunes and Mac OS won't make a bit of difference. I wonder how committed Apple will be to truly solving this issue since this is the interface to my couple-hundred dollar iPod touch, my wife's iPod Nano, my son's iPod Nano, etc., etc., etc.

Just curious, do those people who upgraded to a better video card (i.e. the 24" iMacs) have this problem?

Jason L

Community Specialist

Dec 15, 2008 9:52 AM in response to Wade H.

Hi,

Try updating to Mac OS 10.5.6, just click the Apple at the top of the screen> Software Update.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3194

-Jason

Dec 15, 2008 10:09 AM in response to MightyMac

well! 10.5.6 is out and we'll see how it does. apple notes that it includes:

Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards.

fingers-crossed it also resolves the iTunes problem.

i'll report back for those of you that went back to 10.5.4 and found relief.

Dec 15, 2008 10:32 AM in response to Tony Carreon

10 minutes so far and no freezing. (usually only lasts a minute or two). scrolling around itunes store with mouse using ball, scrollbar and arrows...playing movie in itunes the whole time. cpu usage is a little high but no freeze yet...

checked out music, tv shows, movies, podcasts...

anyone else want to guinea pig it?

Dec 15, 2008 10:35 AM in response to Tony Carreon

I called AppleCare to ask if the 10.5.6 update resolved this problem, and the tech was baffled by the query. Eh.

However, I went ahead and upgraded the OS, and returned to iTunes 8.0.2 (having reverted to iTunes 7 in frustration), and .... well, no freezes after ten minutes or so, which is longer than it used to last. Fingers crossed.

JonK..

Level 2

234 points

Dec 15, 2008 11:03 AM in response to Tony Carreon

it's been an Hour, what's the verdict guys/gals? does 10.5.6 fix the problem?

i'm downloading now, i'll also report back in a few hours.

Dec 15, 2008 11:04 AM in response to jstrevino

So much for that. The freeze set in about 17 minutes later. This issue is NOT resolved.

iTunes Freezing after 10.5.5 update.