24" iMac Screen Freezes since 10.6.3 update - pls help!

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Level 1

2 points

24" iMac Screen Freezes since 10.6.3 update - pls help!

I don't know if this is just coincidence or not, but since updating my iMac to 10.6.3 it keeps on crashing. On 3 separate occasions today, whilst using my Mac the screen has gone completely black with thin white lines down it.....see pic below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6SYzhCgVYEU5TBKqRfOQ1Q?feat=directlink

The fans and hard disk are still running but it will not respond to any keyboard or mouse presses - I simply have to turn it off by holding the power button in.
It will then restart as usual.

Anyone got any ideas? Do you think that if I was to re-install Mac OS X from my original install disk it could solve the issue?

Thanks

Darren

24" intel imac 2.8Ghz, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Mar 31, 2010 2:43 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 3, 2017 7:44 AM in response to steveylin

The fix that worked: For me, without question, the removal of the AMD4800* files from /System/Library/Extensions and replacement with the old ATI4800* versions of the three files referenced in the Page 117 post (and linked in the reply above) halted my very frequent Safari hangs. (AMD4800* on an iMac 11,1 27-inch, Late 2009)

In early December 2016 an auto-install of a MacOS update replaced the AMD4800* versions and the hangs came back.

So, keep an eye on the Extensions folder if you are applying MacOS updates or allowing App Store to auto-install them.

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Answer 2

Jun 12, 2017 6:59 PM in response to davidefrombruino

Hello. I know I'm a few years late to this thread, but I just started having issues. I have a late 2009 21.5 inch Imac model A1311. I get these weird checker patterned fuzzy squares all over my screen after letting the imac run for a few minutes. I thought it was heat related, but after thorough cleaning of the insides, it is still doing it. I have followed you instructions all the way to the point where I have to install new kext files. I cant find the kext files for my ATI Radeon HD 4670 ANYWHERE. If someone could point me in the right direction, that would be great. Its a pain to work on because you only have a few minutes of the imac being on until you cant use it anymore, and you have to wait an hour or so to be able to use it for a reasonable amount of time again. Please help!! THX

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Answer 3

Keithz77

Level 1

25 points

Jul 19, 2017 7:57 AM in response to Tazthed

Hi Tazthed

I have exactly the same machine with the same issues (Although I have upgraded to SSD)

Would you mind explaining how you did the update? I have no idea what kexts to install or change. Perhaps a step by step?

would very much appreciate a response as about to throw machine through wall.....

cheers

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Answer 4

Mar 31, 2010 5:25 PM in response to DazzaG

I hate to waste your time but I'm having a very similar issue and can't figure out why. My screen get's chunks or blocks of distorted applications I'm running and then begins to hang. I've noticed it occasionally before I upgraded today. But I ran whatever OSX upgrade today and I've had to reboot four times since due to an unreadable or hung screen. I initially thought it was a memory leak in firefox but as of now, I haven't identified the offending app. If I figure anything out, I will post.

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Answer 5

Mar 31, 2010 5:35 PM in response to DazzaG

HI,

Try Resetting the PRAM

If that doesn't help, try Resetting the SMC

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 6

DazzaG Author

Level 1

2 points

Mar 31, 2010 11:54 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Tried this already....problem still persists 😟

Anyone got any other suggestions?

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Answer 7

Apr 1, 2010 1:24 AM in response to DazzaG

Try going to the Apple support downloads and re-install the 10.6.2 update. I'm in the process of this now, as my system has also been crashing randomly since the update. Been getting a black screen or spinning ball of death and it's getting ridiculous. Good luck!

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Answer 8

Apr 1, 2010 1:32 AM in response to bumpskier176

And I tried... and failed. Wouldn't let me since 10.6.3 was already installed...

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Answer 9

Apr 4, 2010 10:53 AM in response to bumpskier176

Experiencing the exact same issue - usually when using iTunes or Safari.
Screen becomes garbled with junk video artifacts, network connection drops and then the only thing I can do is move the mouse around. I cannot interact with the screen at all. The only "fix" is to do a hard power-down via the power button on back.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the freeze - it is not reproducible in any timeframe or activity.

I attempted the following to rectify:

• Reformat
• Reinstall 10.6.0 from SL DVD
• Created entirely new user
• Repaired permissions via Disk Utility on first login
• Restarted
• Updated OS to 10.6.3 from Combo update
• Repaired permissions via Disk Utility again
• Restarted three times to build up caches
• System froze as before after roughly 25 minutes of web browsing and browsing iTunes Store

This points to a major graphics update bug - there is not other explanation. I have never had this kind of freeze in the two + years that I have owned this machine.

It has happened 6 times since 10.6.3 was installed.

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Answer 10

manriki

Level 1

0 points

Apr 5, 2010 8:26 AM in response to DazzaG

I'm not solving this, but just wanted to confirm I had the same problem since upgrading to 10.6.3. My screen just turns all black and the system freezes. Never had a problem with this Mac so pretty frustrated.
It's happened a couple of times now.

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Answer 11

Apr 5, 2010 8:13 PM in response to DazzaG

Since updating to 10.6.3, my 24" 3.06Ghz iMac now freezes for no apparent reason. It is doing it all the time, where as before the update it never did. The only way out is to restart. Cursor becomes completely stuck. Way to go Apple. What other crap you got up your sleeve for us?

Looks like it's time to go back to 10.6.2. What a royal PITA!

Hey Apple! You listening to this stuff going on here? *** are you guys doing?

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Answer 12

M_Landers

Level 1

125 points

Apr 5, 2010 9:02 PM in response to Andrew Artz

Andrew, when you reinstalled back to 10.6 did it happen while using this version or did it only happen after upgrading back to 10.6.3?

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Answer 13

Apr 6, 2010 1:29 PM in response to DazzaG

A user at the office reports the same issue on her 2008 24" iMac (I showed her the picture from this thread). Is my only solution going to be reinstalling 10.6 and then updating to 10.6.2?

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Answer 14

Apr 7, 2010 1:44 PM in response to M_Landers

For clarification -
This issue continues to persist only on 10.6.3
It will not replicate on 10.6, 10.6.1 or 10.6.2

Never had this issue until 10.6.3. I am currently using 10.6.2 on this iMac until the issue is verified and a patch is issued by Apple. I suspect a graphics update will be pushed out. My idea is that it is possibly faulty updated video drivers or an overstressed video card from the new 10.6.3 video requirements / changes.

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Answer 15

Vibbers

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2010 3:00 PM in response to Andrew Artz

Happy to see that I´m not alone with this issue. My iMac i7 has blacked out (screen output disappears) several times per day since the 10.6.3 update. If I leave the computer well alone it will stay on for hours without problems, but the crashes seem to be provoked by user activity (seemingly random).

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