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Mac won't shut down...

Hi,
when I try to shut down the computer, the dock and a tool bar recede, the screen goes pale, those little black lines start to chase each other, but then, it stays like that indefinitely. So, I have to use the power button on the back, to turn the computer off. That, after I boot it up and restart it, I could shut it down properly.
What seems to be the trouble...?

Thanks.

IMac G5, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Nov 16, 2009 7:48 PM

Reply
5 replies

Nov 17, 2009 12:07 AM in response to Tatartatartatartatartatar

Not sure, other than just doing a bit of routine and basic system
maintenance that helps keep the computer running OK...

If everything else is OK with the computer and this is the only
possible issue, the answer may be as simple as running Disk
Utility to 'repair disk permissions.' Or, as I sometimes do, if I'm
bored and want to exercise the computer further, I start up in
SafeBoot (shift key held on start until SafeBoot startup appears
and continue until you get a desktop) then run Disk Utility to
repair disk permissions, when done, quit D.U. & restart normally.

If the hard disk drive is getting fuller than 80% the computer
could be taking forever to sort through the files and finally
get around to the shut-down routine. By force-quitting or
pushing the power button before it can really do anything to
the final extent of a routine, you may be adding to this issue.

Depending on other factors (unknown to me) and if there is
no evidence of hardware or software damage, and more
rarely, some shutdown and startup issues may be related
to a power management problem. To reset that circuit would
be among the last efforts of a desperate person. You have
to try and troubleshoot the issue; if you have not performed
any basic or preventative maintenance, try that first.

If the hard disk drive is more than 70% full, you may have to start
removing content to an off-computer archive and free up some
larger chunks of hard disk drive so it will have more free-space.
Mac OS X uses free-space in addition to the installed RAM chips
to add system and app support; free-space can be used as an
automatic Virtual Memory supplement and everything in the Mac
can use some free space as virtual memory or VM. When it is
not available, the existing full space gets overwritten or corrupt.

If the system and other files get corrupted, there may also be
damage to the actual hard drive; sometimes just the directory,
but other times, the drive itself may fail & need replacement.

So, it is really hard to say exactly what is causing your Mac to act
up the way is presently is, but the shut-down method is doing harm.

About every month or so, I run a free utility tool by the name of OnyX
from Titanium Software (versions for different OS X are on their site)
and have it run everything in that tool's "automation" selection. I also
have that tool's preferences set to restart the Mac when that is done.
(It can take upwards of 45 minutes, depending on the computer.)

You could try finding out how much free space and other system
resources are available (and used) in the computer via Activity
Monitor and also in sections of the System Profiler. Also, it may
not hurt to boot the computer from the OS X installer disc and
have that run its own version of Disk Utility (see menu bar header
in Installer, when computer is running from the booted install disc)
and choose to repair disk, then after that is run, repair the disk's
permissions; and then check to see if the hard disk is Verified;
as it may be failing. (Even if is says verified or passed, it may fail.)

How much RAM is installed, and what are the numbers relating to
the capacity used and amount free, in the hard disk drive?

The answer is in there somewhere...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Nov 17, 2009 1:47 AM in response to K Shaffer

PS: last and sometimes not least, there is a
power management unit or system controller
reset button or procedure you may undertake
to see if the computer will can resume normal
operations; this is usually a last result if it is
known all other normal routines, maintenance
and care have been done over time.

iMac G5: How to Reset the SMU (power controller)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1767?viewlocale=en_US

Hopefully this helps...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Nov 17, 2009 8:14 AM in response to Tatartatartatartatartatar

I had this happen with mine just last week. But, I remembered that there were two of us 'logged in' and switching windows back and forth until I just went to shut it off. Perhaps it was trying to do the shuffle with both log-ons and get all the loose ends in the right places. After about 5 minutes, I used the power button to shut it off.

Logging back in all seemed normal... for both of us. Anyway for what we have done on it since then. However now we do log-off any other account leaving only mine (the administrator) open before going into a shutdown.

It was my daughter with 3 separate accounts that alerted me to this, as when those accounts are in 'fast user switching' and she shuts it off, it can go for half an hour before it finally shuts off (she was scared to force it not knowing what it would do next).

When all the other accounts have already been handled one-by-one, leaving only my one account at shut-down, it does it in about half a minute.

However, I do do regular maintenance and monthly permissions repairs, plus my drive is only half full. This could of aided the fast recovery from the force off I did.

Nov 17, 2009 9:25 AM in response to The Bohemian

Sometimes, if a computer is trying to index a hard disk drive or
other slow task about the time you'd want to shut it down, things
may stick or hang there awhile. When the computer goes so far
at shut-down (as to hide the Dock and give you no option to stop
the process of shutting down) one has to start looking for repairs.

To force-quit and/or push power button, or pull the plug, are a
few more indicative signs of a few things needing more attention.

{Although I'd never used Panther's fast-user switching, I did look
into it and decided the few times I needed to run my secondary
accounts, I would not need them any faster than a normal login.}

We'll see if routine maintenance or any other voodoo will do do.

Until that time...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Mac won't shut down...

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