Any browser I try to use, Brave, Chrome, Safari all crashes my macbook pro. I seem to have no problems using my browsers in Safe Mode so now I need help trying to find the culprit that's crashing my laptop in Normal Boot.
MacBook Pro 13″
Hello so the good news. I found a fix-(ish) that the only possible way is to reinstall an original Apple SSD (which thankfully I still have) in order for the firmware to update by reinstalling the latest OS, and then reinstall back the OWC drive. So far I checked online and it seems like the firmware is the correct version now, and so far no more crashes phew.
Now the bad news. As I proceeded to DIY I believe the battery definitely needs replacement now even if my system report claims the battery is still normal. It seems like the battery has expanded and there is no way I can close back the back cover (as a result I've lost a few screws so it's not properly sealed. So I guess at this point I need to bring it to a proper technician to replace the battery as I found it is not an easy task and not recommended to DIY.
Edit: Before I forget, here's the latest etrecheck report -
Hello so the good news. I found a fix-(ish) that the only possible way is to reinstall an original Apple SSD (which thankfully I still have) in order for the firmware to update by reinstalling the latest OS, and then reinstall back the OWC drive. So far I checked online and it seems like the firmware is the correct version now, and so far no more crashes phew.
Now the bad news. As I proceeded to DIY I believe the battery definitely needs replacement now even if my system report claims the battery is still normal. It seems like the battery has expanded and there is no way I can close back the back cover (as a result I've lost a few screws so it's not properly sealed. So I guess at this point I need to bring it to a proper technician to replace the battery as I found it is not an easy task and not recommended to DIY.
Edit: Before I forget, here's the latest etrecheck report -
Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster and comprise the Operating System
Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a portion on each sale. What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase
Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions
➡️ This will include CleanMyMac , ⬅️ This will include BitDefender ,
This will included Norton Antivirus , Sophos Av Software
Intego AntiVirus, McAfee, MacKeeper, Avast AntiVirus
Ad Guard, Webroot , ESET , Avira , Dr Cleaner Pro Plus
Read some of the posting and arrive at your own conclusions.
The The Built in Security is all that is required.
Part 2 of 2
Specific to CMM, MacKeeper and Dr Cleaner Pro Plus
Some Contributors suggest restarting in Recovery Mode and choosing to Reinstall the Operating System over the existing installation.
This may or may not replace elements of the Entire Operating System including the Home Folder ( User Account ) and replace any corrupted or removed elements of the Operating System and make thing right.
Then there are Other Contributors ( like myself ) would suggest from this link Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.
Thereafter to start from scratch and install all Required Application directly from the Apple Apps Store or Directly from the Developer.
If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate things back as this will probably Re-Introduce the existing issue that existed when the TM Backup was made
I'd like to update and boy was this a doozy..
Tried option 1. Eventually nothing seemed to work so was advised sent to Apple people.
2. Felt like a waste of money tbh. Spent $100 and from their report didn't seem like they did much other than resetting smc and nvram. Actually nvram was the only thing I never did so maybe that was the missing solution.. or so I thought.
Eventually got back my mac that was clean installed and reformatted again to ventura. Then upgraded to 13.2.1 and guess what, crashed again!
At this point I resetted smc and nvram a few times. While trying to use migration assistant also crashes a few times and my mac looked like it was glitcthing. Resetted again smc and nvram eventually MA was able to complete but on normal mode crashed..again.
I recalled in one of my many chats with Apple support they figured it was a software issue as diagnostics turned ok out. Even the Apple people did Diagnostics and MRI which passed according to their report.
Then I tried safe boot and left it be.. and seemed like no crash at all. Then I think I caught on to something..
I recall that sometimes my macbook seemed to crash.. but sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I can do many things and never crash but sometimes a little thing I do then crash.
I also recalled that Apple support suggested to disable login items... and I recall (and here's the reveal) I would use Microsoft tools.. usually Excel currently.. and then crashes.
I figured.. this must be a Microsoft problem. Totally in line that I can always use my macbook but at times it failed.. it must be when I try to use any Microsoft software.
Anyway back into normal mode all seems ok. But as soon I open MS word what do you know.. crash!
And now after a restart I do not dare to attempt to open any MS but hey.. no more crash!
And I found this too about MS office. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/all-microsoft-products-crash-on-start-on-mac-os/ad940b0c-7c9b-4341-b458-c620336a6b50 looks like I am not the only one.. and this seems unanswered.
Following the thread I tried to make a guest account for a different profile and so tried to open a Microsoft app. Was still on the setting up part.. then crash!
I try in safe boot to open a Microsoft app. Now it's ok.
So inconclusion it seems the root of all this mumbo jumbo.. was MS office. Sheesh!
Oh gosh... cleanmymac again... sigh...
This hideous piece of **** is tantamount to malware.
Also you have some vpn stuff that may be causing trouble.
Vpn should only be used as directed to connect to a work or school network.
Public VPN are anything but private
You also have Surfshark "antivirus"... and more vpn stuff, left overs of avg, ...
I have to say that this machine is a big mess.
It is high time to get this in shape.
I strongly recommend that you make two full backups, then do an erase and install, and migrate ONLY the user accounts.
Do not fall for any software that claims to clean, optimize or speed up your mac.
We need to know what system modifications you have that may cause this.
Please run Etrecheck and post its full report here. Use the "additional text" button and paste the report into the text box.
FWIW....I used to have CleanMyMac X installed as well as MalwareBytes and McaFee anti-virus. After learning here how unnecessary all those are, I removed them. Their removals resulted in significant and substantial system performance both when booting up as well as just running throughout the day. I also had numerous background task alerts before and now have none. Just thought I'd throw this out there. I agree totally with Luis. Time for a major clean up.
Ok so far after erase and reinstall seems like it's working ok. But you guys were right. Trying to restore apps seemed to cause crashes again so I only restored small files like documents and stuff. Apps I reinstalled slowly although at one point reinstalling seemed to crash perhaps was trying to recover too quickly for my macbook pro to handle. Put it down a notch and so far my macbook pro seems to be doing ok no crashes so far.
Hello. I would like to update. First of all I highly doubt it was surfshark because prior to my macbook crashing I'm pretty sure I have been using for quite awhile and the crashes only happen quite recently, but I could be wrong. But I believe deleting /etc/sysctl.conf did the trick.
So far doesn't seem to be any crashes thank god. May I ask though what is the purpose of /etc/sysctl.conf and why deleting it seems to have remedy the problem?
Try completely uninstalling surfshark and see how it goes.
Running 3 different computers, 2 of which run Ventura 13.1.
Have the default Safari 16.2, Firefox 108.xx on both machines.
Do not experience what you are experiencing.
This begs the question >> " Ok so far after erase and reinstall seems like it's working ok. " >> " Trying to restore apps seemed to cause crashes again so I only restored small files like documents and stuff. Apps I "
The User ( you _ are the only one who actually knows what applications these were.
So remove them and Test.
Windsns wrote:
Where do I locate this file exactly?
Do this in Terminal to remove that file:
sudo rm -f /etc/sysctl.conf
You will be asked for your password. Type it (blindly, there is no feedback as you type) and press enter.
Then restart your mac.
Windsns wrote:
Thankfully because of all this crashing nonsense I keep backing up. Very curious I am, I went back into my oldest backup, retrieved back the file to copy it momentarily to see the contents with textedit. This is what was inside.
kern.maxfiles=50000
kern.maxfilesperproc=50000
This is a configuration file used by the system utility sysctl.
Thank you for posting the contents of the file.
The contents more or less speak for themselves - they are trying to set maximum number of files used at a time, and the max number per each process.
I have no idea why anyone would do this, especially since the value 50000 is lower than what my machine shows, without any modification.
Come to think of it, though, this may have existed since previous versions of the OS and then the limits could have been lower - then perhaps some program that wanted to open a big number of files might have installed this.
Whether or not it caused issues (and it seems not), it is a good thing it's gone.
The only
Firstly, I must apologize 😔 from not pickup up on the Hardware aspects related to this computer.
When I have gone back to Compare the First Report to Second ( most recent version ) noticed two important hardware issues - IMHO
1 - This machine has an After Market SSD Drive. Yes it can be used but and yes a but.
Installing Monterey macOS 12, higher than about Monterey 12.3 or Monterey12.3.1 to an After Market Drive is problematic at best.
Long explanation is, the EFI Boot ROM contained within the Monterey Installer checks if the Destination drive is an Apple Original Drive.
The EFI Boot ROM requires Flashing the Computer and not the Drive
If it does not, the installation will often Baulk or outright refuse to install.
That said, you have installed Monterey 12.6.2 on this OWC Drive but the BOOT ROM may Not have Flashed the Computer itself.
Thus the issues the computer is experiencing now, even in Safe Mode
Suggest communicating with OWC for either a replacement drive or a means to Flash the Drive itself to make it function under Monterey 12.6.2
2 - The battery in both first and second report have indicated the battery was loosing Capacity.
Generally, this would also need some serious considerations for Servicing
Q - High battery cycle count - Your battery may be losing capacity. From Second Report
Q ** High battery cycle count - Your battery may be losing capacity. *** From First Report
Q - Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 774 From Second Report
Q ** - Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 771 *** From First Report
Hardware Information:
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
Status: Supported
MacBook Pro Model: MacBookPro14,1
2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 (i5-7360U) CPU: 2-core
8 GB RAM - Not upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0 - 4 GB LPDDR3 2133
BANK 1/DIMM0 - 4 GB LPDDR3 2133
Drives:
Q - disk0 - OWC Aura Pro NT 240GB 240.06 GB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes) From Second Report
Q *** disk0 - OWC Aura Pro NT 240GB 240.06 GB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes) *** From First Report
P. Phillips wrote:
To add.
Not exactly sure if below is connected to the " surfshark " as outlined by @Luis Sequeira1 but definitely worth removing also.
Configuration Files:
File /etc/sysctl.conf exists but not expected
Agreed
There are exactly Two entities I would allow to touch my 4 different Apple Computer and 1 iPhone.
That would be an 1 - Apple Genius Bar or an 2 - Apple Certified & Authorized Service Centre
As They have has Direct and Physical On-Hands access to the computer - we ( I ) am in not in any position to doubt their Evaluation and Suggestions.
Even if I did have the above access, that is way beyond my Technical knowledge to render a second opinion.
Should it be felt the assessment is questionable, find a second Apple Certified and Authorized Service Centre and ge a second opinion.
All browsers crashing my Macbook
