CTO iMac, 3.6Ghz i5, 8Gb RAM random freezes

Hello to you all,

from day 1, October the 13th, my CTO iMac freezes randomly; it has frozen a total of 8 times, 3 of them during the last Apple Keynote, on October the 20th.

When it freezes and there is sound going, it continuously repeats the last sounds, very fast, and the first time this scared me a lot: the first time I thought the loudspeakers broke up (loud scratchy noises, like bangs).
In the other cases, the iMac just freezes, stays there, no heat, no fans going. So here what I've already done:

(1) Contacted Apple, they suggested to (and I did):
(2) Check disk - no problems
(3) Check permission - no problems, solved some inconsistencies
(4) Zap PRAM
(5) Run Hardware Test (I ran the full HW test, all is ok)

And I:

(6) Updated to 10.6.5 and to what System Update was telling me to. (10.6.5 was updated from Combo, as I always do with large system updates)
(7) Checked the temperature of the processor and other temperatures, are all ok
(8) Stressed the iMac with Call Of Duty 4, with the help of a gamer, he played for two hours two times, no freeze.

Until the end of october I had the iMac connected to my router with a Ethernet to power line communication adapter, so thinking that the problem could be related to noise on the power line, I stopped using them and, until today, the problem seemed solved.

Today, after 22 days after the last freeze, I've launched a check of one of my external HD with Sophos Antivirus (I have some Windows files there) and went to lunch. When back, the iMac was frozen, keyboard unresponsive, black screen (should this coming from power save mode).

Details:

(a) iMac i5@3.6 Ghz 8 Gb RAM, all of them same brand (0x80AD)
(b) Bluetooth keyboard and mouse
(c) Time Machine active, the TM HD normally is off, I decide when to make it.
(d) I have the full system.log; there are some errors that I can't explain, but they not always are followed by the freeze.

I've deleted the Chrome App, that was active in some cases; and almost always Safari was running.

I report pieces of my system.log just before the freezes:

(I)

Oct 13 15:07:01 Bugfixer PubSubAgent[298]: SQL Error: SQLITE_CANTOPEN[14.0]: Database file not found
Oct 13 15:09:53 localhost com.apple.launchd[1]: * launchd[1] has started up. *
Oct 13 15:09:57 localhost DirectoryService[15]: Improper shutdown detected

(II)

Oct 15 20:13:03 Bugfixer configd[13]: Hibernate Statistics
Oct 15 20:13:03 Bugfixer configd[13]: Kernel WDDMService com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.cancelled
Oct 15 20:13:13 Bugfixer configd[13]: PMConnection mDNSResponder com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 759 ms
Oct 15 20:13:49 localhost com.apple.launchd[1]: * launchd[1] has started up. *
Oct 15 20:13:53 localhost DirectoryService[15]: Improper shutdown detected

(III, this happened TWO times in a very similar way)

Oct 20 18:53:44 Bugfixer [0x0-0x28028].com.google.Chrome[288]: objc[302]: Class TaskOperation is implemented in both /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../Google Chrome Framework.framework/Google Chrome Framework and /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Framework.framework/Internet Plug-Ins/PDF.plugin/Contents/MacOS/PDF. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 20 18:53:44 Bugfixer [0x0-0x28028].com.google.Chrome[288]: objc[302]: Class WorkerPoolObjC is implemented in both /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../Google Chrome Framework.framework/Google Chrome Framework and /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Framework.framework/Internet Plug-Ins/PDF.plugin/Contents/MacOS/PDF. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 20 18:54:49 Bugfixer [0x0-0x28028].com.google.Chrome[288]: 2010-10-20 18:54:49.788 Google Chrome Helper[302:207] __CFServiceControllerBeginPBSLoadForLocalizations received error 1100 from bootstrap lookup2
Oct 20 18:58:50 Bugfixer fontd[171]: query/build result time = 0.216912 sec
Oct 20 19:42:14 Bugfixer com.apple.backupd-auto[362]: Not starting scheduled Time Machine backup - time machine destination not resolvable.
Oct 20 19:51:37 localhost com.apple.launchd[1]: * launchd[1] has started up. *
Oct 20 19:51:42 localhost DirectoryService[15]: Improper shutdown detected

(IV)

Oct 20 20:19:47 Bugfixer Nikon Message Center 2[198]: terminate
Oct 20 20:19:47 Bugfixer com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[163] (com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-bugfixer@me.com-SharedServices[189]): Exited with exit code: 1
Oct 20 20:20:40 Bugfixer login[217]: USER_PROCESS: 217 ttys000
Oct 20 20:22:30 Bugfixer [0x0-0x17017].com.apple.Safari[223]: FlateDecode: decoding error: incorrect data check.
Oct 20 21:27:18 localhost com.apple.launchd[1]: * launchd[1] has started up. *
Oct 20 21:27:21 localhost DirectoryService[15]: Improper shutdown detected
(V)
Oct 27 19:31:48 Bugfixer apsd-ft[204]: <APSCourier: 0x1022076f0>: Stream error occurred for <APSTCPStream: 0x102103e00>: Error Domain=kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork Code=2 UserInfo=0x10223f400 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork error 2.)"
Oct 27 19:31:49 Bugfixer ntpd[25]: bind() fd 25, family 30, port 123, scope 4, addr fe80::cabc:c8ff:fe89:f4b8, in6is_addrmulticast=0 flags=0x11 fails: Can't assign requested address
Oct 27 19:31:49 Bugfixer ntpd[25]: unable to create socket on en0 (7) for fe80::cabc:c8ff:fe89:f4b8#123
Oct 27 19:31:52 Bugfixer configd[13]: network configuration changed.
Oct 27 19:31:52 Bugfixer configd[13]: Sleep: Success - AC - Software Sleep
Oct 27 19:31:52 Bugfixer configd[13]: Wake: Success - AC - EHC2
Oct 27 19:31:52 Bugfixer configd[13]: Hibernate Statistics
Oct 27 19:32:02 Bugfixer SoftwareUpdateCheck[351]: Checking for updates
Oct 27 19:32:05 Bugfixer apsd-ft[204]: <APSCourier: 0x1022076f0>: Received connected response OK
Oct 27 19:32:08 Bugfixer ntpd[25]: time reset -0.514471 s
Oct 27 19:32:22 Bugfixer loginwindow[35]: no spins reported for this wake
Oct 27 19:32:22 Bugfixer [0x0-0x31031].backupd-helper[343]: Not starting Time Machine backup after wake - failed to resolve alias to backup volume
Oct 27 19:33:59 Bugfixer SoftwareUpdateCheck[351]: SWU: scan found 0 products:
Oct 27 19:33:59 Bugfixer com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.suhelperd[352]): Exited with exit code: 2
Oct 27 19:33:59 Bugfixer com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[164] ([0x0-0x33033].SoftwareUpdateCheck[351]): Exited with exit code: 102
Oct 27 19:48:58 Bugfixer com.apple.backupd-auto[369]: Not starting scheduled Time Machine backup - time machine destination not resolvable.
Oct 27 19:52:50 localhost com.apple.launchd[1]: * launchd[1] has started up. *
Oct 27 19:52:56 localhost blued[17]: Apple Bluetooth daemon started
Oct 27 19:52:56 localhost DirectoryService[15]: Improper shutdown detected
(VI)
Oct 29 20:35:23 Bugfixer [0x0-0x6c06c].com.google.Chrome[650]: objc[704]: Class TaskOperation is implemented in both /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../Google Chrome Framework.framework/Google Chrome Framework and /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Framework.framework/Internet Plug-Ins/PDF.plugin/Contents/MacOS/PDF. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 29 20:35:23 Bugfixer [0x0-0x6c06c].com.google.Chrome[650]: objc[704]: Class WorkerPoolObjC is implemented in both /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../Google Chrome Framework.framework/Google Chrome Framework and /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/7.0.517.41/Google Chrome Framework.framework/Internet Plug-Ins/PDF.plugin/Contents/MacOS/PDF. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 29 20:35:23 Bugfixer [0x0-0x6c06c].com.google.Chrome[650]: [650:24579:7185168778315:ERROR:/b/slave/chrome-official-mac/build/src/net/socke t/clientsocket_poolbase.cc(935)] No pending request for backup job.
Oct 29 20:37:14 localhost com.apple.launchd[1]: * launchd[1] has started up. *
Oct 29 20:37:18 localhost DirectoryService[15]: Improper shutdown detected
(VII)
Nov 21 13:01:27 Bugfixer Safari[523]: Error: Embedded profile header length is greater than data length.
Nov 21 13:01:27 Bugfixer [0x0-0x43043].com.apple.Safari[523]: Sun Nov 21 13:01:27 Bugfixer.local Safari[523] <Error>: Error: Embedded profile header length is greater than data length.
Nov 21 13:01:27 Bugfixer Safari[523]: Error: Embedded profile header length is greater than data length.
Nov 21 13:01:27 Bugfixer [0x0-0x43043].com.apple.Safari[523]: Sun Nov 21 13:01:27 Bugfixer.local Safari[523] <Error>: Error: Embedded profile header length is greater than data length.
Nov 21 13:03:17 Bugfixer SafariSyncClient[535]: LightweightMallornLoginSession is registered.
Nov 21 13:03:17 Bugfixer [0x0-0x46046].com.apple.Safari[532]: 2010-11-21 13:03:17.506 SafariSyncClient[535:903] LightweightMallornLoginSession is registered.
Nov 21 13:06:43 Bugfixer mDNSResponder[26]: Double NAT (external NAT gateway address 10.35.235.89 is also a private RFC 1918 address)
Nov 21 13:37:19 localhost bootlog[39]: BOOT_TIME: 1290343027 0
Nov 21 13:37:08 localhost com.apple.launchd[1]: * launchd[1] has started up. *
Nov 21 13:37:21 localhost fseventsd[31]: event logs in /.fseventsd out of sync with volume. destroying old logs. (9521 14 10864)
Nov 21 13:37:21 localhost fseventsd[31]: log dir: /.fseventsd getting new uuid: ACDF7605-4E75-445B-8081-3DBAA31EE377
Nov 21 13:37:22 localhost DirectoryService[36]: Improper shutdown detected
Thanks for your attention.

iMac 3.6Ghz i5,8Gb - iPhone 3G, iPad, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Nov 21, 2010 12:30 PM

Reply
135 replies

Nov 27, 2010 10:15 AM in response to Bugfixer

Another freeze just in this moment.

27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 000000009833 0x5ac 0x8403 0x9833
27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel AppleBCM5701Ethernet: 0 0 start - failed to find Ethernet Low Power ACPI methods
27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel jnl: unknown-dev: journal replay done.
27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel hfs: Removed 12 orphaned / unlinked files and 0 directories
27/11/10 14:54:30 com.apple.launchd[1] * launchd[1] has started up. *

Nov 28, 2010 12:29 AM in response to navginrau

navginrau wrote:
Another freeze just in this moment.

27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 000000009833 0x5ac 0x8403 0x9833
27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel AppleBCM5701Ethernet: 0 0 start - failed to find Ethernet Low Power ACPI methods
27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel jnl: unknown-dev: journal replay done.
27/11/10 14:54:33 kernel hfs: Removed 12 orphaned / unlinked files and 0 directories
27/11/10 14:54:30 com.apple.launchd[1] * launchd[1] has started up. *


navginrau,

Is this log before or after the freeze? I've searched these messages inside my system log, but I don't see anything similar.

From what I see, the freeze has produced an inconsistency in the hd journal, nothing serious, it has been repaired; normally these messages happen after a crash; can you copy and paste the syslog just before the freeze?

Nov 28, 2010 1:30 AM in response to Bugfixer

This log is after freeze, but only I have the front to turn off the system. If you want to get a little more than register before freezing.

I think the problem resides on the airport, because when the computer was being repaired has not been freezing, and I assume during the test made the Imac would not be connected to any wifi network. And when I'm working on my home wifi always freezing.

Thank you for your dedication.

26/11/10 19:57:32 com.apple.launchctl.LoginWindow[124] launchctl: Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
26/11/10 19:57:32 com.apple.launchd[1] (com.parallels.vm.prl_naptd) Unknown key for boolean: SuccessfulExit
26/11/10 19:57:32 com.apple.WindowServer[114] Fri Nov 26 19:57:32 WindowServer[114] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
26/11/10 19:57:43 com.apple.launchctl.Background[161] launchctl: Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
26/11/10 19:57:43 com.apple.launchctl.Aqua[162] launchctl: Dubious permissions on file (skipping): /Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
26/11/10 19:57:43 com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[160] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
26/11/10 19:57:45 com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[160] (com.parallels.desktop.client.launch[185]) posix_spawn("/Applications/Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/PD Starter.app/Contents/MacOS/prl_clientapp", ...): No such file or directory
26/11/10 19:57:45 com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[160] (com.parallels.desktop.client.launch[185]) Exited with exit code: 1
26/11/10 19:57:45 com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[160] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[182]) Exited with exit code: 1
26/11/10 19:57:45 apsd-ft[196] APS daemon launched
26/11/10 19:57:46 apsd-ft[196] Successfully got client identity
26/11/10 19:57:47 GrowlHelperApp[193] It appears that at least one other instance of Growl is running. This one will quit.
26/11/10 19:57:47 GrowlHelperApp[193] WARNING: could not register GrowlNotificationCenter for interprocess access
26/11/10 19:58:02 apsd-ft[196] <APSCourier: 0x1001147e0>: Received connected response OK
26/11/10 20:20:23 AppleMobileBackup[260] WARNING: Backing up 60d99040da8122c25580bcb46af59ebc7b0f9f33
26/11/10 20:20:23 [0x0-0x16016].com.apple.iTunes[226] 2010-11-26 20:20:23.394 AppleMobileBackup[260:903] WARNING: Backing up 60d99040da8122c25580bcb46af59ebc7b0f9f33
26/11/10 20:28:07 AppleMobileBackup[281] WARNING: Backing up 60d99040da8122c25580bcb46af59ebc7b0f9f33
26/11/10 20:28:07 [0x0-0x16016].com.apple.iTunes[226] 2010-11-26 20:28:07.215 AppleMobileBackup[281:903] WARNING: Backing up 60d99040da8122c25580bcb46af59ebc7b0f9f33
26/11/10 20:45:01 iChatAgent[310] [Warning] JConnection: Error: Error Domain=XMPPErrorDomain Code=10 "No se ha podido completar la operaciĂłn. (XMPPErrorDomain error 10.)"
26/11/10 20:45:14 [0x0-0x2b02b].com.skype.skype[320] Main starting with pid 320 parent pid 160
26/11/10 20:45:15 Skype[320] SkypeApplication::init called
26/11/10 21:57:49 com.apple.backupd-auto[420] Not starting scheduled Time Machine backup - time machine destination not resolvable.
26/11/10 22:40:45 apsd-ft[196] <APSCourier: 0x1001147e0>: Stream error occurred for <APSTCPStream: 0x1030014e0>: Error Domain=NSPOSIXErrorDomain Code=57 UserInfo=0x100135910 "The operation couldn’t be completed. Socket is not connected"
26/11/10 22:40:45 apsd-ft[196] <APSCourier: 0x1001147e0>: Stream error occurred for <APSTCPStream: 0x1006227d0>: Error Domain=kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork Code=2 UserInfo=0x10062da90 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork error 2.)"
26/11/10 22:41:03 apsd-ft[196] <APSCourier: 0x1001147e0>: Received connected response OK
26/11/10 22:46:14 apsd-ft[196] <APSCourier: 0x1001147e0>: Stream error occurred for <APSTCPStream: 0x1006208a0>: Error Domain=NSPOSIXErrorDomain Code=57 UserInfo=0x100135910 "The operation couldn’t be completed. Socket is not connected"
26/11/10 22:46:14 apsd-ft[196] <APSCourier: 0x1001147e0>: Stream error occurred for <APSTCPStream: 0x1006208a0>: Error Domain=kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork Code=2 UserInfo=0x102023b10 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork error 2.)"
26/11/10 22:46:30 apsd-ft[196] <APSCourier: 0x1001147e0>: Received connected response OK
26/11/10 22:46:44 [0x0-0x5f05f].backupd-helper[492] Not starting Time Machine backup after wake - failed to resolve alias to backup volume
26/11/10 22:46:45 com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[160] ([0x0-0xd00d].com.google.GmailNotifier[194]) Exited: Killed
26/11/10 22:46:52 imagent[188] Unable to create APS daemon connection: (ipc/send) invalid destination port
26/11/10 22:46:52 imagent[188] Unable to set enabled topics: (ipc/send) invalid destination port

Nov 28, 2010 2:21 AM in response to navginrau

Ok, that's interesting.

I've read somewhere that Growl can cause some problems, so my suggestion is to try to uninstall. I tried once when I had my beloved iMac G5, but it was not only annoying, it gave me some problems.

I've always thought that an OS should be used as is, without third party extensions.

Second, I see that you're using Parallels, it exited with code 1. You closed the app or it just died? Is the iMac freezing when Parallels is running?

It seems also there are some problems with permissions. Check again and maybe repair booting from installation DVD.

Nov 28, 2010 7:06 AM in response to navginrau

navginrau wrote:
I'll try uninstalling Growl, to see if that is the cause. I had Parallels installed but I uninstalled it, but there are still processes running. How I can uninstall it completely? AppCleaner I used to remove it.


Appcleaner is ok. A solution could be to remove one item/app, verify, proceed an so on to see what is the reason of the freezes.

Nov 28, 2010 8:37 AM in response to Bugfixer

There have been several threads regarding Growl and for anyone interested: it appears you have to follow these steps or it won't uninstall completely (causing more problems):

http://growl.info/documentation/growl-package-removal.php

Another interesting note is that some software developers, such as Adobe, are including Growl in their software, so it gets installed without your knowledge.

Message was edited by: Barbara Daniels1

Nov 28, 2010 8:56 AM in response to babowa

Barbara Thanks for your input.

I just had another freeze starting spotify (the second time that I can think of starting this program.) The first having Growl installed, and the second removed (without having followed the advice of Barbara). I am more log lines if it helps.

28/11/10 17:45:10 kernel Got boot device = IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/SATA@1F,2/AppleIntel5Ser iesAHCI/PRT0@0/IOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlockStorageDevice/IOBlo ckStorageDriver/WDC WD1001FALS-40Y6A0 Media/IOGUIDPartitionScheme/Customer@2
28/11/10 17:45:10 kernel BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2
28/11/10 17:45:10 kernel jnl: unknown-dev: replay_journal: from: 28363264 to: 36711424 (joffset 0x1d1c000)
28/11/10 17:45:10 kernel USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 000000009833 0x5ac 0x8403 0x9833
28/11/10 17:45:10 kernel AppleBCM5701Ethernet: 0 0 start - failed to find Ethernet Low Power ACPI methods
28/11/10 17:45:10 kernel jnl: unknown-dev: journal replay done.
28/11/10 17:45:10 kernel hfs: Removed 12 orphaned / unlinked files and 1 directories
28/11/10 17:45:07 com.apple.launchd[1] * launchd[1] has started up. *


CONSOLE MESSAGES

28/11/10 17:43:57 [0x0-0x60060].com.spotify.client[528] 16:43:57.207 I [ad:986] Found ad (time = 1290962637, adclass = 'full banner', time left = 30, length = 30)
28/11/10 17:43:57 [0x0-0x60060].com.spotify.client[528] 16:43:57.411 I [mainview:6451] Load complete
28/11/10 17:43:57 [0x0-0x60060].com.spotify.client[528] 16:43:57.411 I [mainview:6452] about:blank
28/11/10 17:43:57 [0x0-0x60060].com.spotify.client[528] 16:43:57.412 I [mainview:6451] Load complete
28/11/10 17:45:07 com.apple.launchd[1] * launchd[1] has started up. *

Nov 28, 2010 9:01 AM in response to navginrau

I'm not that good at reading those; however, if your problem is Growl related, my suggestion at this point would be to install it again and then uninstall it following their directions (above link). Since it appears to mess with a lot of system files (if you want to take the time to read about all their so-called "features"), I'd personally wouldn't let it within 10' of my Macs 🙂

Message was edited by: Barbara Daniels1

Nov 28, 2010 10:05 AM in response to navginrau

navginrau wrote:
Another freeze, this time just running photoshop and wifi connected. I'm absolutely desperate ...


Barbara is right, Growl could be a problem, remove it.

What about reinstalling everything from scratch (save your docs before!)?

Regarding my freezes, I'm running ok without problems, except the freeze with Sophos, that I consider an episode related only to that software (I have removed it promptly).

In ANY case, if there is a OS call that some 3rd party apps call and make the mac crash or freeze, it will be just a matter of time (either an update of the apps or the OS). At least I hope.

Nov 28, 2010 10:47 AM in response to navginrau

navginrau wrote:
I've completely uninstalled Growl. But Spotify is freezing the system. I uninstalled too.
I'll do what I recommend, to reinstall the system and copy my documents and applications.

Bugfixes, you've uninstalled Growl and freeze no longer appear?

Thank you very much for everything. I will be reporting.


I've never had Growl installed. In my case what helped (but I don't know what fixes):

(1) Uninstalled Chrome
(2) Using Airport only and NOT ethernet
(3) Not using a US hub by D-Link
(4) Not using Sophos Antivirus software

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CTO iMac, 3.6Ghz i5, 8Gb RAM random freezes

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