After years of no problems, laptop keeps crashing repeatedly, and EtreCheck and DriveDx's apparently conflicting reports

Tried again and this time was able to boot into Safe mode. It brought up the login screen pretty quickly.

Logged into my own account that has administrator privs, and ran EtreCheck and DriveDx and am attaching the results. Also did DriveDx's 'Quick Test' which passed.

All looks good to me except for EtreCheck's 'Failing hard drive' diagnostic that is probably generated by nothing other than my choice of my (correct) choice of 'Problem' ('Computer is restarting')

Now shall run Mac's disk first aid as outlined by HWTech.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for the reply.

I managed to save a crash report, which I've attached.

It says "Panic diags file available: YES"

Well, I went through all the reports on the left pane of Console, and when a report has multiple logs, also checked out the likely ones.

I could not find anything labelled 'panic.'

I only found in 'Mac Analytics' (left pane) four short 'Panic' reports only for specific domains while everything was running.

Please let me know if there is some report/log that anyone would like me to look at and/or post.

Thanks.

Thanks to the new posters/replies to which I'll reply from my smartphone.

For now, another crash report.

First, it crashed soon after being woken from sleep; it was in Safe Mode. It booted up in Normal Mode. Then after 10-to-15 minutes at the login screen it crashed and began to restart (I was right there and was able to boot it in Safe Mode).

Thanks for the very helpful reply.

I realize I need to get a new laptop but when the (replacement) SSD is the only problem on this one, I certainly want to keep it.

I am getting in touch with OWC - MacSales to get one. I trust it is a reliable vendor. Please let me know if there are any online channels for OEM SSDs ('Vintage' leftover parts sellers, I suppose!).

If you have any tips on it, please let me know.

As it will be my first time, I may as well ask:–

1. Is there some clear guide, such as on iFixit, which spells out how I may DIY the replacement?
2. Once done, is there some way to boot up so that it asks for WiFi login specs, choice of OS, and proceed to download it?

Thanks again.

HWTech, I owe you a beer! Your replies are very helpful.

Yes, OWC seems like a godsend.

I am planning to get this 500GB SSD with tools and enclosure. (Checked that it's compatible with my MB Air 2017 7,2.) That way I could try simply to re-create by mirroring off my current SSD after putting in the new one. Or should I get something else?

If you can point me to how I may mirror, I would really appreciate that too. I don't use TimeMachine; I prefer FreeFileSync but how would I boot to be able to use it? I'll probably have to install Catalina online and then restore my ~/Library and then my ~ though I'd much rather try to recreate. Otherwise I'll have to download and re-install drivers, Java, etc.

This laptop came with Sierra and I went up to Catalina (10.15.7).

I did not want to upgrade from that because this is a 'lightweight' machine and each new O.S. consumes more CPU and VM than the previous one (one route to planned obsolescence), and because after Lion you never know what weird stuff a new MacOS will bring and do – I've been on this OS since before OSX, i.e. NEXTSTEP/OpenStep so I am very aware of the sharp difference in 'New Apple's philosophy towards computing. (The [not-so] new regime seems to think that a laptop is just a glorified smartphone.)

I've asked OWC a couple of questions, if you know:

1. What do the stars (*) before some of the products indicate.
2. Why do the SSDs (from the same manufacturer) have such wildly disparate warranty periods – two years through five years.

Thanks again.

Tried to boot in safe mode

The progress bar simply crept along after about three-fourths of the way. Right at the end it stopped -- see photo.

I had my finger on [Shift] for five minutes then removed my finger and waited another two minutes. Then powered off.

As everything worked perfectly for 50 days after SSD replacement it can't be something about the installation of the OS.

So I suppose this all points to a bad SSD?

Anything else I can try?

Thanks to all for the helpful replies.

Thanks for your replies

Would do what you both recommend but can't

When opened lid in morning the

environment (of the lightweight account) came up and clock even updated to current time

Then it froze with trackpad and arrow responsive but nothing else then that froze too

Then it restarted

Clicked on the username to log in but then got pinwheel

Kept spinning and then something new: it lost its bright colours and became a dimlycoloured grey wheel

I powered down

Is this grey pinwheel heard of?

Should I try to boot in safe mode or do a reset?

Fyi Have asked for another SSD

Thanks. Somehow I had missed this.

I've uninstalled Avast.

However, these problems began and became chronic before I'd installed Avast. I installed Avast only to scan for viruses in case that may have been causing the crashes/restarts.

Thanks and somehow I missed this.

I did run First Aid yesterday and there were no errors to fix and the SSD was supposedly okay.

I also did the short two-minute Recovery/Check.

The SSD is supposedly 'healthy' but cannot do those 'sprints,' as a poster put it. And it always has had to do a good bit of sprinting on my laptop though not now.

Thanks.

Yes, I know. Never installed any anti-virus product before. The only reason I did a few days back is to try to see if a virus may be responsible.

Un-installed it earlier.

I posted a new crash report and outlined the circs behind it.

I should have thought of mentioning this though most of the experts probably know.

The original SSD (that failed) on this laptop was 128 GB. The replacement is 256 GB.

In case that makes a difference.

(As mentioned elsewhere the replacement SSD is an Apple OEM by Samsung.)