iMac keeps shutting down randomly

My iMac keeps shutting down at random times. I've had it happen 4 times today. I'm running Sonoma and all my software is up-to-date (I'm pretty sure). It's not something that I can reproduce or anticipate--it just happens out of the blue.


I saw that Etrecheck diagnostics could be helpful to identify the problem, but it's sort of indecipherable to me. I've attached the report. Is there additional info I need to provide to help solve this problem?


I appreciate any assistance--I'm worried I will lose my work if this continues.



iMac 27″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Dec 23, 2023 6:40 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 24, 2023 1:42 PM

The report indicates that your have NTFS for Mac from Paragon Software. Look in your Applications folder for the app.


Uninstall it according to the developer's instructions. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For the NTFS software you'd do the following search(es): 


1 - Name contains ntfs

2 - Name contains paragon


Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.


FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  


If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and delete from there.


Note:  if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode.  This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.


Addendum: the Paragon software has been crashing frequently and, obviously, is not very compatible with your system.


Additionally unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they provide false security from a privacy standpoint and can interfere with system performance. 


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 24, 2023 1:42 PM in response to Todd Taliaferro

The report indicates that your have NTFS for Mac from Paragon Software. Look in your Applications folder for the app.


Uninstall it according to the developer's instructions. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For the NTFS software you'd do the following search(es): 


1 - Name contains ntfs

2 - Name contains paragon


Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.


FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  


If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and delete from there.


Note:  if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode.  This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.


Addendum: the Paragon software has been crashing frequently and, obviously, is not very compatible with your system.


Additionally unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they provide false security from a privacy standpoint and can interfere with system performance. 


Dec 23, 2023 8:22 PM in response to Todd Taliaferro

Your report shows you are using a third party VPN which should be uninstalled. It also shows you are using a hack in order to use NTFS External Hard Disk(s) which I’d recommend also uninstalling.


Other than that your report comes back clean. My guess is the power supply may be failing. If the computer is still covered by AppleCare please contact them.

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iMac keeps shutting down randomly

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