Level 1

133 points

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

135 replies

Dec 6, 2010 3:23 AM in response to Bugfixer

DVD buggy? This is incredible! And that solution has given you? How are based to say that the problem is on the DVD?

grueda

Level 1

0 points

Dec 6, 2010 3:31 AM in response to Bugfixer

never mind...systems collapsed again... a 10 day brand new state of the art computer....and it crashes....

Bugfixer Author

Level 1

133 points

Dec 6, 2010 4:03 AM in response to navginrau

The DVD is my idea at the moment; they say they have booted from an external hd with a generic installation of the OS, not that one for the iMac itself; with that disk no freeze watching the keynote; here I did the same thing, but I have used my DVD, that comes with the iMac, and booting from this newly installed OS did not change anything, it freezes anyway.

Message was edited by: Bugfixer

Dec 6, 2010 9:00 AM in response to Bugfixer

Well, I almost 2 days without turning on the wifi only to check mail and write this post ¿do you know how many I've had freezes?...0 freezes in two days! Amazing!
To test my theory I will connect airport and I will do the same tasks to see if I have freezes again. If I have, my problem is with airport sure.

I can see light at the end of the tunnel! 🙂

R Amaral

Level 1

8 points

Dec 6, 2010 9:18 AM in response to Bugfixer

People, I just had one freeze and I seriously doubt it is either Wi-Fi or Ethernet related. It's very likely to be your HD-external drive:

http://discussions.apple.com/messageview.jspa?messageID=12715956&stqc=true

That (and Chrome and Adium) are the only things in commom with all the freezes I've been having. It's not Wi-FI (I've used different connections, it's not that) or Ethernet (never used it here). It doesn't seem to be a RAM issue (mine was BTO) but there seems to be something with a USB drive re-starting after going into sleep mode. Also, simply by plugging an iPhone into the extra USB slot in my keyboard is enough to get into a "there's not enough power to this device" message. I'd seriously look into that.

Bugfixer Author

Level 1

133 points

Dec 6, 2010 10:18 AM in response to navginrau

navginrau wrote:
Well, I almost 2 days without turning on the wifi only to check mail and write this post ¿do you know how many I've had freezes?...0 freezes in two days! Amazing!
To test my theory I will connect airport and I will do the same tasks to see if I have freezes again. If I have, my problem is with airport sure.

I can see light at the end of the tunnel! 🙂

I hope you've find the solution, but after so many days struggling and trying to understand, I think the best thing to do is call Apple and let them solve the problem. In your case I don't think airport is an issue as airport itself, but simply the fact that you use the iMac less, or, at least you don't stimulate some parts of the system.

Today I have seen my iMac at the lab just connected with Ethernet freezing after 20 seconds after boot and after 40 seconds of watching the October keynote. No other peripheral connected. At home the keynote freezes in the same way using only Wifi...

Bugfixer Author

Level 1

133 points

Dec 6, 2010 10:22 AM in response to R Amaral

R Amaral,

Your problem seems to be different and USB related, but I give you the same suggestion, call Apple and pretend the problem is promptly solved; we can do no to many tests and cases as can in Apple labs. Good luck and keep us updated.

Dec 6, 2010 3:36 PM in response to Bugfixer

Ok, I wanted to thoroughly test the RAM and RAM slots before I called Apple. Took AGES but results are pretty conclusive. I tested with no peripherals plugged in expect my speaks which were turned off because I didn't want to hear that awful noise. Tested using Apple's Keynote with Safari. I wasn't using the iMac and no other apps were open through out the testing.

1) Had only 4Gb of RAM in right hand side slots- No freeze.
2) Had only 4Gb of RAM in left hand side slots-No freeze.
3) Had 6Gb of RAM in- No Freeze.
4) Had 8Gb of RAM in- FREEZE!!!

So nothing wrong with the RAM and nothing wrong with the RAM slots. There is something wrong with machines ability to handle 8Gb of RAM. Either a hardware fault or software fault.

grueda

Level 1

0 points

Dec 6, 2010 9:15 PM in response to Kal Verdi

Ok, good analysis on the RAM, I just finished my test:

1. Reinstalled the whole OS system
2. Tested a secondary monitor (which use to work fine on my previous imac), with PowerPoint, it fails, without the secondary monitor, it works ok.
3. Definitely there's also some correlation with chrome+flash, if it fails, all the system become unstable.

And with this gentlemen...time to change this new machine for other!

Bugfixer Author

Level 1

133 points

Dec 6, 2010 11:28 PM in response to Kal Verdi

Kal,

Good job. What is the manufacturer of your Ram chips? And I have to ask: you talk about "right" and "left" slots... What do you mean? If you take a look at this link

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3918

It seems that you can place the ram chips only on "top" or "bottom" slots; you also say that it's the 8Gb that it's badly managed. I don't think so; I think it's the ram itself that even if the test pass, some chips are in some way on the border in terms of working parameters. Explanation:

We know that the keynote and Safari crash, ok, with 8gb of ram; in my original configuration it took between 9 to 15 minutes to freeze. Well, swapping top and bottom chips, it freezes AFTER FEW SECONDS of playing. As you state, with 4Gb it does not freeze.

If there were a problem with the slots, it will occur very often; If Ram chips were defective, the same; if it were the operating system, we would see the problem with many other software...

Obviously I'm talking about what I saw with my iMac. When it will be back, I'll report back.

Bugfixer Author

Level 1

133 points

Dec 7, 2010 7:13 AM in response to Bugfixer

I think I have a response. A second call from the Apple service confirms that a fresh installation of snow leopard does not freeze neither blocks on the keynote. They will test the iMac until Thursday and then they'll give it back to me.

They will format the disk with the generic snow leopard os. I personally think that's not the solution, I hope I'm wrong.

Dec 7, 2010 2:22 PM in response to Bugfixer

Phoned Apple and talked to a very nice advisor. Told him everything and the RAM tests I have done. I also told him about this thread and all the other people having a similar problem to me. I asked him if I could just get a new iMac and he said it's a three strike scenario. If your iMac is still faulty after 3 repair attempts they will give you a new iMac. So my iMac is going for repair for the third time tomorrow. But I'm not optimistic that It will do any good.
BTW the iMac hasn't crashed since I've reduced the RAM to 6Gb.

null

Dec 7, 2010 4:17 PM in response to Bugfixer

We are having exactly the same trouble as you guys with an iMac i3 base model (3.06 ghz and Radeon 4670) expanded to 8 gb!
The ram is exactly the same than the one that comes with the iMac: Hynix 2 gb modules. We ran the hardware test and everything seems ok. We got the 10.6.4 system until two days ago, when I updated the system to the 10.6.5 version.
The crashes seems to happen with no reason. I´ve been working with Motion and AE on heavy projects with no problems. My wife had freezes with Safari, iTunes and Skype running. Today I experienced the first freeze running Premiere CS5 with some apps running in the background: Safari, Skype and maybe others. So it really seems to be a random problem. I also have to say that we always had a USB 2,5 harddrive connected to the computer.
It seems that this is not a problem only with i5 machines.
I hope the will solve this issue with a firmware or a system update, because I we buy macs is because we don´t want freezes. Never had problems with my MacBook Pro in 7 months. Only two freezes, probably caused by Flash player.

R Amaral

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2010 6:10 PM in response to Bugfixer

So it wasn't USB, this time - and no report was issued, and there is not even a log message to identify its causes. It was during a remote attempt to use Screen Sharing. So it might be a faulty RAM, after all, or some issue with Screen Sharing, even though it was definitely not the case some other times. You can read it here:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2662902

grueda

Level 1

0 points

Dec 7, 2010 9:42 PM in response to Bugfixer

complete clean install, of everything; system stable, I think there's some issue on MS OFFICE 11 PPT and two screens, can confirm it yet...but is not APPLE...., perhaps what a nightmare to rebuild everything again!

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