Recurring Problem with freezes and applications not shutting down.

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Level 1

86 points

Recurring Problem with freezes and applications not shutting down.

I seem to have an ongoing problem in applications hanging. The window closes, they don't show up in a terminal 'top' command, but they still show active in the dock, even after force quit attempts. They prevent a normal shutdown/restart of the system.

I've also had problems with the system hanging, freezing entirely at random moments. There doesn't seem to be a pattern that I've been able to discern as to specific applications being open.

Thoughts or ideas anyone?

Intel, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 19, 2009 1:32 PM

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Answer 1

2point5

Level 3

973 points

Jan 19, 2009 2:32 PM in response to Gary Learned

Gary,

Could be that you have a memory problem. Have you tried to run a hardware test? Do any of the crash logs give a clue?

Chris

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Answer 2

Jan 19, 2009 4:53 PM in response to Gary Learned

Also, Try using Disk Utility to do a Disk Repair, as shown in this link, while booted up on your install disk.
You could have some directory corruption. Let us know what errors Disk Utility reports and if DU was able to repair them.

 DALE

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Answer 3

Jan 19, 2009 5:36 PM in response to Gary Learned

This is for a Mac that won't shut down. Launch Activity Monitor (or Process Viewer if you're running a pre-Panther OSX) and see if there are any active applications besides Activity Monitor ( items with icons next to the name), select them, and click Quit Process.
If an app won't quit by clicking Quit, click Force Quit. Then try shutting down again.
If that doesn't work start killing off system-managed programs ( items without icons ) . Be sure to quit only the programs your user account is running; don't quit anything identified as "root" or "nobody" in the User column- and whatever you do, don't quit any of the following : loginwindow, Window Server, ATSServer, or SystemUIServer, which make up the foundation of Mac OS.
Quit one process at a time, and then shut down after each kill until you find success!
I wish you luck!

p.s.If you install two of a single user licensed third-party application on different computers which are networked, this symptom may occur. If that is the case, a solution is to perform "Erase and Install" for both computers.
(p.s. contributed by *Fumiaki Kawashima* , Level 4)

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