Q: System Freezes Randomly after 10.6.3 Update

whyisitsohard wrote:
I have converted the com.apple.windowserver.plist file to xml.

FWIW, TextWrangler or plutil just show you raw XML. That is why I suggested Pref Setter or Property List Editor, either of which show the hierarchy of key/value pairs and arrays & dictionaries in a much clearer, easier to understand format.

A better use for plutil is with the "-lint" option to check syntax of property list files. (Since it is the default, you don't actually have to specify it.) For instance, either of the following will check every plist file in /Library/preferences/ for syntax errors, returning only any that do:

sudo plutil -lint -s /Library/preferences/*.plist
sudo plutil -s /Library/preferences/*.plist

Similarly, the following will check all the plist files in the user level /Library/preferences/ folder:

sudo plutil -s ~/Library/preferences/*.plist

(sudo grants access to any files you might not otherwise not be able to see but requires that you blind type in your admin password & press return to proceed.)

Syntax errors are often the result of file corruption, so even though a preference file with bad values might pass this test, any that don't should be checked out for problems or replaced.

I would drop back to 10.6.2 or pull your hair out until 10.6.4 comes out. Why punish when you could have some productivity going on?

Good S leopard, bad S. Leopard or no S.Leopard!

Thanks for the info RC -R.

xtech wrote:
Good S leopard, bad S. Leopard or no S.Leopard!

Think I will go back to 10.5.8 and leave finding the problem to the experts.

1. Problem started happening after 10.6.3 update? Yes
2. Did you get any errors during 10.6.3 update process? No
3. Mouse cursor moves? No
4. Mouse clicking does nothing? Yes
5. Keyboard key presses do nothing? Yes
6. Only way to re-animate system is by holding down power button? Yes
7. Mouse/Keyboard Model? Apple default keyboard (USB) and Logitech trackballs (2)

Direct upgrade from Leopard to 10.6.3

Well, I tried the "delete com.apple.windowserver.plist" gambit... to no avail. All I see is the same behavior after this "plist" file is regenerated automatically at each reboot. (Just to be clear, I did not uninstall Flash because I had never installed it in the first place... and I did not 'update' whatever came with Safari during all the automatic updates, either).

On another level, I am disappointed because I find that the ATIRadeonX2000 driver from the 10.6.2 Combo Update (v1.6.6) no longer works. The only difference is that I installed 10.6.3 directly (followed by the update to 10.6.3 v1.1) rather than from the sequence of 10.4.10 (system disk) ->10.5 (system disk) ->10.5.8 (Combo Update) -> 10.6 (system disk) -> 10.6.3 v1.1 (Combo Update).

On the other hand, "hiding" the ATIRadeonX2000 driver from 10.6.3 v1.1 (v1.6.10) seems to still work solidly if a bit slowly (graphically speaking)... so I am going to take a different tack for now and stick with 10.6.3 v1.1 w/ the ATIRadeonX2000 driver "hidden"... and for anyone who might be interested, here's a "recipe" for doing it (followed by the steps to reverse it):

1) "Hiding" the driver

first, "Safe Boot": restart while holding the Shift key (the login should say "Safe Boot")
then, open a terminal...
$ sudo sh (note: administrator password needed)
# cd /System/Library/Extensions
# mkdir zold_ATIRadeonX2000_v1_610 (note: the origin of "z_old..." is explained below)
# mv ATIRadeonX2000* zold_ATIRadeonX2000_v1_610
# du -sx / (note: the utility of "du" is explained below)
# reboot

2) "Unhiding" the driver (I tested this to insure that it works for me...)
first, "Safe Boot"...
then, open a terminal...
$ sudo sh
# cd /System/Library/Extensions
# mv zold_ATIRadeonX2000_v1_610/* .
# du -sx /
# reboot

Explanation of the "z_old..." terminology: just my invention to make these additions more apparent...

Explanation of "du -sx /": this has the effect of clearing some hidden and temporary swap and cache files while measuring actual disk usage. It might also be a good idea to use Disk Utility to verify and repair all permissions on the system disk, but I have found it was unnecessary.

Finally, I would agree that returning to 10.5.8 is probably a wiser and simpler solution for anyone who, like me, does not want to stay in the limbo-like stability of 10.6.2; however, I'm still hoping that Apple will have some official "news" about either 10.6.4 or the purported ATI hardware updates... and I intend to contact them at the end of May if I have not received any news before then.

Good luck to all...

so, no freeze since my downgrade to 10.6.2 on may 7th. here's again my spec.

1. Problem started happening after 10.6.3 update? Yes, i updated on 16.04., it worked well for one week
2. Did you get any errors during 10.6.3 update process? No
3. Mouse cursor moves? No
4. Mouse clicking does nothing? Yes
5. Keyboard key presses do nothing? Yes
6. Only way to re-animate system is by holding down power button? Yes
7. Mouse/Keyboard Model? Aluminum Keybord/Magic Mouse

iMac8,1
Prozessortyp: Intel Core 2 Duo
Prozessorgeschwindigkeit: 2,8 GH
Anzahl der Prozessoren: 1
Gesamtzahl der Kerne: 2
L2-Cache: 6 MB
Speicher: 2 GB
Busgeschwindigkeit: 1,07 GHz
Boot-ROM-Version: IM81.00C1.B00
SMC-Version (System): 1.30f1

ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro
Typ: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe-Lane-Breite: x16
VRAM (gesamt): 256 MB
Hersteller: ATI (0x1002)
Geräte-ID: 0x9583
Versions-ID: 0x0000
ROM-Version: 113-B2250L-259
EFI-Treiberversion: 01.00.259

Well ... Knock on wood

Bantondor please read this .. even all the responses.

http://www.xhackintosh.com/ati-radeon-hd-4350-snow-leopard-qe-ci.html

I would not just wait for Apple .. but also call AMD/ATI and see if another quick driver fix
for 10.6.3 would be feasible or downloadable .. well unless they have been informed by Apple
to get it for 10.6.4!

GPU's are even more complex then the intel processors

Maybe I should rephrase this sentence now!

It seems the issue here is with the graphic drivers for some of the various GPU's. If so, then like I said a couple times before it's the Snow Leopard software with the issue(s) in which it looks like the graphic drivers will need to be revamped and compiled into the 10.6.4 release whenever that comes out.

Unless AMD/ATI has already posted some quick driver fixes.

TextWrangler does have syntax colouring and the plist files are generated with basic indentation.

Comes down to personal preference. I like TextWrangler's approach of seeing the whole file at a glance with the raw information. Property List Editor makes the file look nicer.

Cheers

xtech:

I appreciate the suggestions, but I am not very interested in this approach for a couple of reasons:

1) ATI supplied drivers for this iMac w/ 10.4.10, but Apple retook control and responsibility for that support as of 10.5 (this is clear on the ATI/AMD website and is my recollection, too...). I would be hesitant to install third party drivers for the graphics on this machine while it is still under Apple Care...

2) You once suggested that there was a hardware (or firmware) revision pending for these devices (identified somewhere earlier in this forum as Rev.2), but I see no reference to it anywhere. If it is coming down the pike, then that is certainly the preferable solution.

3) I'm reasonably content with the stability and performance of this machine as it stands (and just to be clear, I currently use it primarily for basic housekeeping (email, etc.) and as a server both remotely and for video streaming to a large screen TV, so the absence of highest-performance graphics possible is not a big problem for me at the moment...).

Thanks anyway...

1. Problem started happening after 10.6.3 update? Yes
2. Did you get any errors during 10.6.3 update process? No
3. Mouse cursor moves? Yes
4. Mouse clicking does nothing? nothing
5. Keyboard key presses do nothing? nothing
6. Only way to re-animate system is by holding down power button? Yes/
7. Mouse/Keyboard Model? bluetooth keyboard magic mouse, all apple
Has been happening periodically and twice today so far. I wonder if it is the update?

1. Problem started happening after 10.6.3 update? Yes
2. Did you get any errors during 10.6.3 update process? No
3. Mouse cursor moves? Yes
4. Mouse clicking does nothing? No(I can usually click between open windows)
5. Keyboard key presses do nothing? No(sometimes I can interact with another open window briefly)
6. Only way to re-animate system is by holding down power button? Yes
7. Mouse/Keyboard Model? Wireless Keyboard, Logitech G500 Mouse

This is my second brand new 27" iMac, returned the first one after having these problems.
I run smcfancontrol to keep the fans on high, that seemed to reduce the frequency of it.
Another thing to note, is I get these freezes as well with Windows 7 in bootcamp as well.

I havn't had a lockup in 2 days, though, and the only thing I've done recently that's any different, is I've been using a USB headset instead of the onboard sound. A Logitech G35 headset, specifically.
Could someone else try that, see if it helps?

Another thing to note, is I get these freezes as well with Windows 7 in bootcamp as well.

How could 10.6.3 cause that?