Q: OSX Lion + 2011 iMac 27'' + Video = Freeze

I wonder if anyone with this video problem would indulge me in trying something... Just want to see if this is my particular computer or a result of the larger problem:

Go to Youtube and watch a video until the video starts to skip and your mouse starts to freeze up.  Then scroll down (toward the comments area) until the video disappears from the screen, but it's still playing!

What happens?

On my computer, the video still continues playing, with only the audio heard (because the video is out of view) but the skipping and freezing stop.

I also was just experiencing some skipping while playing music in iTunes, but when I navigated away from iTunes but was still running the song the skipping totally stopped and the mouse returned to normal.

I'm starting to think there is some kind of disconnect between the audio and the video. Almost like they can't sync with each other and they're trying to compete with each other which is locking up the system.

Can anyone try this, or if you have can you verify the same response?

Thanks!

For me when it "crashes" I lose the entire screen.  If I had access to another monitor I could test to see if the OS is still going and just the primary screen is the issue.  I have a video of it crashing while I was using it.  But here are some pics.  Generally I get a black screen but every other "crash" it could be any combination of these.  As of right now it crashes on every boot-up so this iMac is completely useless.  It has crashed at the login screen, opening the Application folder, clicking around on Safari, launching a game, and even when it sits there and I stare at it.

@ Gandalf..  Yeah, I was being a smartazz.  ;-)    Apple has known for a LONG time they let this "cat" out of the bag WAY before they should have. 

I lost all my data too during a sync session between iMac, iClown and Time Machine.  What a disaster.

I am now back to running Leopard on my iMac and my MacBook Pro..  And it's purring along like the OLD RELIABLE workhorse I am used to.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think my 3 year old computer would be "obsolete" in such a short period of time.  Greed will KILL this company.  Too many of us are looking at alternative solutions since APPLE has NOT stepped up to the plate.  The very least they can do is acknowledge the issue, and let us know that they are working on it.  

On my PC laptop, when I considered upgrading to WINDOWS 7, they offered a free scan to let me know if my PC was capable (which it is) and if my current hardware would need updating.. and if my current software would need updating.  I was able to balance the need for the new bells and whistles against the cost of updating all my current software and hardware drivers.  There is a report at the end you can print off and make that upgrade determination.. 

Apple offered no such service.  I would have clearly seen that the programs that I HAVE to use for work were not compatable at this time.  (Nevermind the fact that Apple isn't even compatible with it's own self.) 

I am wondering WHY Leopard couldn't work on the Mac Mini..  Seems to me that if Lion is an upgrade for all MACS, that tells me the basic hardware is the same in all the computers.  If LION does make changes to drivers etc while upgrading, how come we can go back to Leopard on some machines and not the others? 

I am forced to stay with Leopard, and I'm quite happy with that.  Shame..

Helen

iMac, MacBook Pro, 2 iPads, 2 iPhones, 1 PC Desktop, 1 PC Laptop

I still have the original MACINTOSH computer I bought in the mid 80's.  It has "Oregon Trail" on it.  The computer is up at my parent's house.. I'm thinking it would start right up if I tried it.  LOL!

Just curious.  Has anyone run a maintenance program such as TechToolPro?  Wondering if TTP might pick something up.

2rodee: Don't get me started on Windows based machines as this thread will get 10X longer and we will get way off topic. Just like Leopard was to Apple, Window XP is old reliable. I have a Dell touch screen for my kids and it has Windows 7 on it and it breaks down and doesn't function quite right on a daily basis.

As far as your iMac and Macbook Pro goes, how old are the machines? I was told my Mini needs to have Lion on it via Apple, no idea. Now my older Mac Mini came with Leopard so I am thinking of redoing that machine.

Marjean54: I have it, basically works well but even though some times things check out with that software there still could be some thing wrong.

I'm in agreement with you on Windows..  BUT, they did offer that scan prior to the upgrade, which Apple could have easily done.  We would have been forewarned of the requirements and changes to our current software and hardware.  I haven't seen Win 7 in action actually,

My iMac is 2008 model, MacBook Pro is 2009.  Let me ask you, now that you are on Lion on the replacement Mac Mini, are there any particular programs or Leopard features you miss? 

I have no doubt Apple will fix this problem (behind the scenes..) and all of this will be swept under the rug.  Meanwhile, us guniea pigs are pulling out our hair.  (Well, I'm not... I'm back to Leopard.)  The only issue I currently have is when I "upgraded" I had to change my printer driver for my Brother Laser Printer.  Now that I have gone back to Leopard, I have to manually "wake" the printer when I want to print from either the MBP or the iMac.  I tried removing the printer from both machines and reloaded them both.. to no avail.   Ah well.

2rodee,

My Dell Studio computer for my kids came with Vista(far worse then Lion) and they did a scan and said my my Studio would have zero issues with Window 7 upgrade. Well, they were wrong and I been dealing with a kids computer that never works right for the last year, far worse than this situation for me.  At least Apple gave me credit to buy new computers, I am sure Dell will never do this.

I totally agree with you, most of the people in this thread are the guinea pigs and I had to use my lovely iMac i7 as a scacrifical lamb!

@Gandalf

I have Windows Vista  on my PC that I only use for certain programs.   Sometimes it's a month before I even turn it on.   My Win7 prelim report listed 12 things that I would have to update in order for Win7 to work.   I didn't bother upgrading to 7.  As long as my Macs are up, I'm a happy camper. 

Sorry about your iMac i7.. that really stinks.  But at least Apple did try to make it right with you.  I really do love the iMac concept..

Helen

OFF TOPIC:  Do you have an African Grey Parrot?  Just curious.  It's not very often I see "Grey" spelled that way.

Best of luck to you, I just hope they get this resolved soon. Only reason I have "Grey" in my name is "Gandalf The Gray" was already taken.  No African Grey Parrot, just young boys and a dog. I also did a paper on LOTR when I was in college long before the movies became popular. Here is hoping that Apple gets the issues fixed with the iMac so I can use 2 27" displays.  

Under the guidance of the Apple senior tech, I wiped the entire system clean.  Yup started from scratch.  Went through the 1 hour Lion OS X install from recovery and did not restore anything from Time Machine.  I left it as it would be straight out of the box.  Lauched Safari.  After 3 page views on google and yahoo searches, it black screened.  All of this was to prove that it wasn't something I installed or a particular game or 3rd party app was responsible for.  All in all I spent 8-9 hours of troubleshooting and backing up and going on 2 months with no computer.

Gandalf: I sent a reply back to my sr. tech that I am done with troubleshooting.  I went through the "hoops" and playtime is over.  I am now demanding a replacement/store credit and probably will opt for the latter.  I still need a 27" high-res screen so a MBP+Cinema might do the trick.  I would rather wait for the 2012 iMac though because I want the simplicity and desk saving space and already own a notebook computer.

Side note: my place of work has a marketing department that uses Macs.  Guess what, they are having the same issue!  I talked to the PC guys to get some advice and they laughed at me because they are dealing with the same problem.  Since they bought their equipment from a VAR they are getting the full logicboard replacement which will be serviced by their field techs.  I should pop in to see those guys do the replacement and ask them what the deal is and if they've done more of these elsewhere.

Rentu, I am so sorry you are also having problems... 

So your PC guys are having issues too?  My PC's are not having "issues"  but I dont have iTunes or anything APPLE downloaded on the PC.s   Decided to keep them separate.  PC's are working as  they always have... crappy.  BUT, no freezes, just     S L O W.

I only work in the Windoze envirment when I HAVE to.  Lately I've had to. 

I am a MAC girl..  It's a matter of time before they get their     &^%$#@&*()(&%$#@@#%^*)    together .

2rodee: I meant the Tech guys at my work are reporting that mac users in my building are having the same issues that I am experiencing.  I agree though, use Winblows when you have to and a lot of us probably use one for work.  I feel like a fool though.  I replaced all my old Dell PCs with this one iMac, getting on the bandwagon and now I'm the one with an unreliable system!  All my friends are online playing games and I'm on the effing sidelines. 

hello.

I know you in the US can ask for in store credit or something like that. But how is it in Europe, Estonia.

Here are just resellers, and the service, not the original apple vare or anything else. Can i ask for a new machine also.

Problem is like you have, hangs allways

Installed a new clean lion, and after it booted up, few second, and a crash again

it is worse then my PC was.I cant play any games, i cant watch youtube, or do anything with graphic.

Best

Timo

Rentu/TimoAbram: I have a local Apple Store not too far from me. I spent hours on tech support and did the same thing you did Rentu, cleaned my computer off and started from scratch. I should have some how went back to the first versions of SL and just stayed there, but some time Apple forces you to upgrade in order to get new programs to work. I went to Lion and all **** broke loose, I have my unit in 2 times for repair and the second time they could not repair it. I politey said I been a customer since 2003 with very little issues, I would like Store credit, they said no problem, so I bought the newest Mac Mini/Apple Display and a new Macbook Pro for my wife, of course I put Apple Care on all of them.   The Sliver Apple Card looks like a CC Card and the Apple store just loaded on my Credit and I went shopping.  So far things running smoothly with my Mac Mini i7 with SSD and 750HD dive and 16gig of memory and yes the new Mini will work on 16gigs. I just wish I had the Quad Core, hopefully they will slap one in a Mini with a better graphics card. So far so good.  The cool thing is the Macbook Pro charges and hooks up to the Apple Display and I can run 3 displays at once. I hope Apple gets there crap together with the iMac as I would love to run 2 27" displays.

Rentu wrote:

'Side note: my place of work has a marketing department that uses Macs.  Guess what, they are having the same issue!  I talked to the PC guys to get some advice and they laughed at me because they are dealing with the same problem.  Since they bought their equipment from a VAR they are getting the full logicboard replacement which will be serviced by their field techs.  I should pop in to see those guys do the replacement and ask them what the deal is and if they've done more of these elsewhere.'

Yes, Rentu, you should find out as much as you can from these guys. That is a way we can get to the bottom of this problem where we otherwise keep going around in circles.

Though I am sorry for what you have gone through with wiping things clean, it gives us too something to keep in mind as well as direction.

Please keep us informed with your info.