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Level 3

828 points

iMac Freeze During Startup - Fine After Reset

I have a 24" 2.4GHz Intel Aluminum iMac. It came with 10.5.x installed. All was peaches and cream until earlier this year when it would freeze during startup. A forced reboot fixes the problem 99% of the time and it behaves normally after that. But most of the time, I have to start my Mac and then re-start it if I want to use it. The lock-up occurs either on the blue screen, the gray Apple screen, or as soon as it makes it to the main desktop stage. I used to just let my iMac sleep but started having trouble waking it around the turn of '09. This problem started sometime during the last 2 updates of Leopard, I am not sure which iteration though. I thought it might be the wireless keyboard I was using but after hooking up the wired OEM one it still happens. Will happen with no other external devices plugged in as well.

I am not running SL on it yet, though I have SL on an external HD. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I know of only one or two others. I run regular system maintenance and that has not cleared up the issue. It was suggested it might be a HD problem but all tests show my HD to be okay and my system stable. I've not had any other issues and am otherwise happy with my iMac. I run Onyx's automated functions about once a week so permissions and other whatnots should be okay. Any ideas? It seems like something off with the OS, not the iMac, or perhaps a combo of the iMac and the OS. I just ordered DiskWarrior 4 so we'll see if running that helps things (will upgrade to 4.2 when I get it).

Thoughts?

24" 2.4 GHz iMac (10.5.8), MacMini(10.4.x), 2GHz G5(10.3.9) Airport Ext. (n), Mac OS X (10.5.8), 23" Cinema Display, Epson 836XL scanner, Epson R1800 Printer

Posted on Nov 4, 2009 1:33 PM

25 replies

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Nov 5, 2009 12:51 PM in response to Leafmaker

Leafmaker wrote:
We all need a break now and then, even computers too right?

Of course! 😉

den.thed

Level 9

77,314 points

Nov 5, 2009 4:31 PM in response to Kort

If you used the System Preferences > Startup Disk to boot into SL on the External HD, your system may still be looking for it to boot from. Go back to System Preferences > Startup Disk and make sure that the Mac OS X 10.5.8 on Macintosh HD is reselected regardless of weather or not the External HD is connected.

To add: After posting last evening, as a test I ran OnyX in Automation with all the boxes checked and it did not cause any problems or slow startup issue for me.

I only suggested reinstalling checking or trying different ram to eliminate it as a possible cause for your startup issue. Generally if a module is bad it will fail the boot process and give you an error code (three flashes or beeps depending on the model), but say if you had a bad or week connection your iMac maybe taking longer to test the ram.

Dennis

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Nov 6, 2009 6:33 AM in response to den.thed

den.thed wrote:
If you used the System Preferences > Startup Disk to boot into SL on the External HD, your system may still be looking for it to boot from. Go back to System Preferences > Startup Disk and make sure that the Mac OS X 10.5.8 on Macintosh HD is reselected regardless of weather or not the External HD is connected.

Thank you Dennis. Yes, I have thought of that and tried it, to no avail.

To add: After posting last evening, as a test I ran OnyX in Automation with all the boxes checked and it did not cause any problems or slow startup issue for me.

I'm not saying Onyx is an issue, I was just pointing out that running it did not help me.

I only suggested reinstalling checking or trying different ram to eliminate it as a possible cause for your startup issue. Generally if a module is bad it will fail the boot process and give you an error code (three flashes or beeps depending on the model), but say if you had a bad or week connection your iMac maybe taking longer to test the ram.

No beeps, but I see where you are coming from. I have memtest and will run it on my RAM to make sure all is well. Thanks.

den.thed

Level 9

77,314 points

Nov 6, 2009 7:33 AM in response to Kort

As part of your troubleshooting efforts, you might want to try it 1 module at a time to see if it makes any difference in boot time.

Nov 12, 2009 8:49 AM in response to den.thed

Kort, did you ever resolve your issue? I ask because I've recently been experiencing what sounds like the same thing. My iMac takes a bit longer to get to desktop screen and then freezes usually right there with the cursor in the upper left corner. I have to hold button to restart and it does fine after that.

ALSO: it has trouble shutting down (using proper shutdown technique). Sometimes it whirls and whirls and never shuts down. Sometimes, the screen goes to black but it's still on. Other times it shuts down normally. When it doesn't shut down, I hold down the back button to shut it down manually.

The only app I cd think of that was new was growl and I removed that (as best I could! It wasn't easy.)

I haven't done any of the things that have been suggested in this thread yet but will. But I just wondered what the upshot was for you.

Or anyone else having same prob.

Thanks!

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Nov 12, 2009 9:00 AM in response to cestchouette

cestchouette wrote:
Kort, did you ever resolve your issue? I ask because I've recently been experiencing what sounds like the same thing. My iMac takes a bit longer to get to desktop screen and then freezes usually right there with the cursor in the upper left corner. I have to hold button to restart and it does fine after that.

Not resolved yet, I hate to say. Sometimes it seems like it has gone away, but then it comes back. I've reset the NVRAM/PRAM, used Disk Utility, Onyx, DiskWarrior, used the combo update for 10.5.8, tried booting without peripherals, everything I can think of. I ran Applejack, but not the "Deep Clean" which clears ALL caches. And I've yet to check my memory using memtest. That is ahead.

Yep, cursor in the top left corner frozen sounds just like what I experience, in addition to the other freezes at the grey and blue screen stages. I don't have Growl so don't think that is a factor.

Sorry to hear you are having this issue too cestchouette, but welcome to the 'club'.

~Kort

Nov 12, 2009 10:29 AM in response to Kort

("I wouldn't want to join any club that would have me as a member" as the famous line (sort of) goes. Hee-hee.)

Don't want to be unduely hopeful, but I followed one of the poster's advice and checked my logins in system prefs under accounts and found that several growl items were still there and set to launch. So i deleted and shut down. Restart was very clean and quick. So was shut down.

But we'll see. It seemed that way before, too.

Thanks for getting back so quickly with your response. I'll be watching for any updates!

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Dec 1, 2009 8:34 AM in response to Leafmaker

I'm just wondering if anyone has any updates for this topic.

I run all of my fixes and the problem is diminished, though it still pops up infrequently (once or twice a week). I'm still hoping there is a resolution for this, and that it isn't a sign of a more serious issue.

shorts

Level 2

463 points

Dec 3, 2009 1:42 AM in response to Kort

@Kort

Maybe check your system log when the machine starts up and look for any repeated errors on startup.

Another good way to find out whats going on in the background while your machine starts up is to put it in verbose mode.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492

Take note of the last couple of lines when it crashes and post it here...

Kort Author

Level 3

828 points

Jan 7, 2010 1:26 PM in response to shorts

shorts wrote:
Take note of the last couple of lines when it crashes and post it here...

I've tried looking in the past...never seen anything that looks helpful, but thanks.

To update, I've not had the startup issue for a few weeks now. I want to leave this thread open in case it comes up again but for now things are good (fingers crossed). I am thinking perhaps my old scanner and its jury-rigged firewire connection may have been the culprit. Hard to say since this has been an intermittent problem, but since getting a new scanner things have been stable.

iMac Freeze During Startup - Fine After Reset