jmacbookpro

Q: OS X Lion freezes at login screen + App Store is slow

I installed OS X Lion in my Mac Book Pro (Mid 2010) and have two issues:

 

- Login screen freezes sometimes. "Colored rotating disc" appears, text cursor stops blinking and I can not do anything; I can not click anywere, I can not enter my user name/password... Only option is to hard-reboot the computer, which is not a pleasant thing to do.

 

- App Store is very slow. It takes about 30 seconds of "rotating colored disc thinking" every time a page has to be loaded!

 

I first installed OS X Lion via Mac App Store and login screen freezes happened about 50% or more of the times I turned on the computer! Also random freezes happened during computer work. Computer was almost unusable under these circumstances, so I reinstalled OS X Lion by doing a clean install (from DVD). After this clean install everithing seemed to run smoothly at first, but now login screen freezes happen again and Mac App Store is very slow as I explained.

 

I did not have any of these problems with Snow Leopard. I have checked permissions, and I have not installed too many apps yet.

 

Anybody with these same issues? Any idea of a solution? Somebody at Apple working to solve these problems?

 

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 25, 2011 3:47 AM

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Q: OS X Lion freezes at login screen + App Store is slow

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  • by Terry Mahoney,

    Terry Mahoney Terry Mahoney Mar 20, 2012 11:32 AM in response to BasementJack
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Mar 20, 2012 11:32 AM in response to BasementJack

    BasementJack: (sequel to my previous reply): I shall definitely try replacing the RAM in that MBP6,2 when I next have contact with it (it has a new owner who is sticking to SL but has dual-boot capability with an applied kext-fix for the Lion compound). So thanks for your suggestion.

     

    However, I do think that the onus is on Apple to either provide software that works (with its officially-blessed hardware), or else come right out and acknowledge that the latest software will not work on specific pladforms. Then we would at least know where we stand. ~TM

  • by brianwilson71,

    brianwilson71 brianwilson71 Mar 23, 2012 2:51 AM in response to jmacbookpro
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 2:51 AM in response to jmacbookpro

    Some news:

     

    Apple were in contact with me yesterday via email but they wanted also to get in contact via telephone.

     

    They basically wanted to know if the 10.7.3 update had fixed the issue for me. As I did not have to reapply the kext fix after the 10.7.3 update, but I DID after previous updates I told them that it seemed to be fixed for me.

     

    So,

     

    a) They are aware of the issue and this thread

    b) They have been trying to fix it

    c) Looks like they have fixed it in 10.7.3 for at least some users. I imagine though that there are still a lot of people out there who still do not have a fix.

     

    BTW... apart from this issue and the problem where certain apps like TextEdit where getting spinning beachball due to loading up loads of txt files in the background (now solved), I have found Lion a joy to use. Don't think I could go back to SL as Mission Control and Launchpad have become such a big part of everyday Mac life.

     

    Regards,

     

    /Brian

  • by Paceymac,

    Paceymac Paceymac Mar 23, 2012 10:44 AM in response to brianwilson71
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 10:44 AM in response to brianwilson71

    In my case, as I wrote before, 10.7.3 did NOT solve the problem. Only the Kext fix has worked for me. If I try to install the 10.7.3 combo update, which overwrites the kext, the freeze is back again!

  • by anothersmurf,

    anothersmurf anothersmurf Mar 23, 2012 12:52 PM in response to brianwilson71
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Mar 23, 2012 12:52 PM in response to brianwilson71

    I just updated a "mid-2010" (as it seems we're calling them) laptop to Lion today. I wasn't previously aware of this issue, but, well, now I am... What's consistent is: On boot, when the login window shows, if I move the mouse over either of the text-entry fields (un or pw), or if I try to click on one of the buttons (shutdown, restart) I get SPOD. If I don't touch the mouse and just type the un, tab, pw, return, login works and from there the computer seems OK.

     

    This issue did not occur in Snow Leopard, and is present (not fixed) in 10.7.3.

     

    What is this "kext fix" that some people keep mentioning? (This thread is 58 pages long, kind of a lot to search through!)

  • by cellulit,

    cellulit cellulit Mar 23, 2012 1:52 PM in response to brianwilson71
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 1:52 PM in response to brianwilson71

    I just got a call from the other side of the pond, from Apple. They  investigate it for sure and they look here for ideas. We spent 30 mins gathering different statistics. I felt like abducted by aliens

  • by crapplestout,

    crapplestout crapplestout Mar 23, 2012 1:54 PM in response to jmacbookpro
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 1:54 PM in response to jmacbookpro

    I'm sorry to throw a wrench in the array of diagnostics that have taken place, but since disabling my WiFi adapter (formerly AirPort), I have not had one freeze at the login screen or during fast user switching. I don't know exactly what the correlation, if any, there is, and I'd be curious to see if this does anything for anybody else.

     

    I am by no means claiming a solution here, because it's the furthest thing from one. I would like to know if anybody else, by disabling WiFi and using ethernet, continue to experience the sbbod or freezing.

     

    Model Name: iMac

      Model Identifier: iMac12,2

      Processor Name: Intel Core i7

      Processor Speed: 3.4 GHz

      Memory: 12 GB

  • by BasementJack,

    BasementJack BasementJack Mar 23, 2012 2:07 PM in response to Neos76
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 2:07 PM in response to Neos76

    Neos 76, in my case, I did have errors before Lion, they started in SL, but as I stated, I was getting full on gray screens of death.

     

    I believe the spinning beachball at startup issue has a well documented path for correction on this forum, Clearly memory isn't responsible for that one.

     

    I shared my experinces with the hope that those who had tried that already might have one more avenue to try. With 58 pages of posts, we've picked up a few strays here and not everyone has the spinning problem at startup on the macbook pro 6,2.

     

    With my bad ram, snow leopard was stable, until I taxed the system, which usually mean vmware. With Lion the system Gray screened more frequently, and It wasn't necessary to have VMware loaded to get it to crash. I think the random code location allocation introduced in Lion explains this a bit.

     

    I'm sure my problems aren't exactly the same as eveyone's here, but I shared my experiences with the hope of helping someone.

     

    In my case, my Macbook Pro 6,2 hasn't had a single gray screen since the new ram, and not a single Beachball lockup since the kext fix outlined in this forum.

  • by Neos76,

    Neos76 Neos76 Mar 23, 2012 2:33 PM in response to BasementJack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 2:33 PM in response to BasementJack

    Hi BasementJack,

     

    thanks to share your theory and experience; I think that ram could be one of reasons for the Lion freeze, but in my opinion could not be pointed as the main reason.

     

    I used my MB with SL for more than one year and experienced just one crash this is my first mac and this score is terrific for me).

    I'm persuaded that the Lion problem is a design problem and may be even a commercial choice (not "we make a new OS not working on older machines" but something like "we make a new OS and if don't work on older machines...blah... it's not my business"); how many people with this kind of issues are already in an Apple store buying a new and a native Lion MB?

     

    I waited to downgrade to SL to undestand what I'm going to miss: launchpad and mission control are not a big problems for me, but in the near future SL won't be supported and probably I'll have a problem because Im not going to buy a new MB having one still up-to-date (i7 2.66 ghz and 4g of ram)

     

    Bye

    Neos

  • by Terry Mahoney,

    Terry Mahoney Terry Mahoney Mar 24, 2012 12:05 AM in response to BasementJack
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Mar 24, 2012 12:05 AM in response to BasementJack

    BasementJack: Hi Jack. Just to jet everybody know - I have also had a (surprise) email from a Senior Applecare Advisor -  to request phone contact and interactive troubleshooting with their engineers, for my Lion login freeze (SBBoD) problem on my MBP6,2. I would like to feel part of the eventual solution but unfortunately I no longer ownt that machine . But I believe that Apple are now getting serious about trying to systematically diagnose the bug(s). If we give them as much information as we can, they should be able to understand and the problem(s) and come up with software fixes.

     

    I agree, Jack, that bad RAM might be one of the causes, and I will try having the new owner replace the RAM with "spec" RAM as soon as possible.

     

    cellulit: I liked you comment about feeling like "being abduced by aliens".

     

    Can someone else re-post the KEXT-fix details for anothersmurf? Otherwise I'll do it tomorrow. It's midnight here and I'm too bleary eyed to do it now.

  • by Atouzani,

    Atouzani Atouzani Mar 24, 2012 2:40 AM in response to anothersmurf
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mar 24, 2012 2:40 AM in response to anothersmurf

    anothersmurf: Although I do not have access to Snow Leopard's kext file anymore, I do have access to the unreleased product's kext. I have been using the unreleased product as my daily OS and have found it to be extremely stable, even more stable than Lion (which is weird as it's still in beta). Here is the code relating to the MacBookPro6,2:

     

     

    <key>MacBookPro6,2</key>

                                            <dict>

                                                      <key>LogControl</key>

                                                      <integer>0</integer>

                                                      <key>Vendor10deDevice0a29</key>

                                                      <dict>

                                                                <key>BoostPState</key>

                                                                <array>

                                                                          <integer>0</integer>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <integer>2</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                </array>

                                                                <key>BoostTime</key>

                                                                <array>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                </array>

                                                                <key>Heuristic</key>

                                                                <dict>

                                                                          <key>ID</key>

                                                                          <integer>0</integer>

                                                                          <key>IdleInterval</key>

                                                                          <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          <key>P3HistoryLength</key>

                                                                          <integer>2</integer>

                                                                          <key>SensorOption</key>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <key>SensorSampleRate</key>

                                                                          <integer>10</integer>

                                                                          <key>TargetCount</key>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_High</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>57</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>70</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>80</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_High_v</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>1</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>3</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>98</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_Low</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>0</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>68</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>75</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>95</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_Low_v</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>0</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>2</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>4</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>99</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                </dict>

                                                                <key>control-id</key>

                                                                <integer>17</integer>

                                                      </dict>

                                                      <key>Vendor10deDevice0a34</key>

                                                      <dict>

                                                                <key>BoostPState</key>

                                                                <array>

                                                                          <integer>0</integer>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <integer>2</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                </array>

                                                                <key>BoostTime</key>

                                                                <array>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                </array>

                                                                <key>Heuristic</key>

                                                                <dict>

                                                                          <key>ID</key>

                                                                          <integer>0</integer>

                                                                          <key>IdleInterval</key>

                                                                          <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          <key>P3HistoryLength</key>

                                                                          <integer>2</integer>

                                                                          <key>SensorOption</key>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <key>SensorSampleRate</key>

                                                                          <integer>10</integer>

                                                                          <key>TargetCount</key>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_High</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>57</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>70</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>80</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_High_v</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>1</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>3</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>98</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_Low</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>0</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>68</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>75</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>95</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_Low_v</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>0</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>2</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>4</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>99</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                </dict>

                                                                <key>control-id</key>

                                                                <integer>17</integer>

                                                      </dict>

                                                      <key>Vendor8086Device0046</key>

                                                      <dict>

                                                                <key>BoostPState</key>

                                                                <array>

                                                                          <integer>0</integer>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <integer>2</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                </array>

                                                                <key>BoostTime</key>

                                                                <array>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                          <integer>3</integer>

                                                                </array>

                                                                <key>Heuristic</key>

                                                                <dict>

                                                                          <key>BusyDownThresholdPercent</key>

                                                                          <integer>65</integer>

                                                                          <key>BusyUpThresholdPercent</key>

                                                                          <integer>80</integer>

                                                                          <key>DiagnosticModeDefault</key>

                                                                          <integer>0</integer>

                                                                          <key>EvaluateDownInterval</key>

                                                                          <integer>350000</integer>

                                                                          <key>EvaluateUpInterval</key>

                                                                          <integer>66000</integer>

                                                                          <key>ID</key>

                                                                          <integer>2</integer>

                                                                          <key>SensorOption</key>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                </dict>

                                                                <key>HeuristicOld</key>

                                                                <dict>

                                                                          <key>ID</key>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <key>IdleInterval</key>

                                                                          <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          <key>SensorOption</key>

                                                                          <integer>1</integer>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_High</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>50</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>75</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>96</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_High_v</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>70</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>85</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>94</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>100</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_Low</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>0</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>40</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>55</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>92</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                          <key>Threshold_Low_v</key>

                                                                          <array>

                                                                                    <integer>0</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>50</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>60</integer>

                                                                                    <integer>92</integer>

                                                                          </array>

                                                                </dict>

                                                                <key>control-id</key>

                                                                <integer>16</integer>

                                                                <key>max-power-state</key>

                                                                <integer>15</integer>

                                                                <key>min-power-state</key>

                                                                <integer>0</integer>

                                                      </dict>

                                            </dict>

     

     

    To apply this fix, go to: /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGraphicsPowerManagement.kext/Contents

    (You can simply open Finder, click on Command+G, and paste the file location link)

     

    After that open the info.plist file. (You should open it in TextWrangler, an app which works great with plist files) Scroll down (or search for) to MacBookPro6,2. You should erase all of the text under it until you get to MacBookPro7,1. Stop at the <dict/> right before the MacBookPro7,1. After that, paste the code I wrote in the area you just cleared. You will need an administrative password to save the changes.

    If the operation doesn't work for you and you need more assistance, reply to my post.

     

    Hope this works,

    Adam

     

    Message was edited by: Atouzani

  • by Paceymac,

    Paceymac Paceymac Mar 24, 2012 2:47 AM in response to anothersmurf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2012 2:47 AM in response to anothersmurf

    @anothersmurf

     

    To fix the kext, open the Finder and go to /System/Library/Extensions, locate AppleGraphicsPowerManagement.kext, control-clic and choose show package content, control-clic on info.plist and choose open with TextWrangler.

     

    Click on the pencil icon to unlock, command-f and type "MacBookPro6,2".

     

    Then under the Euristic section change the numbers as shown on page 47 in the Andrew Tallon post, or in SDG Consultant on page 45.

     

    Choose file - save

     

    Click on the pencil icon and exit.

     

    Reboot in safe mode (hold shift key).

     

    <key>Heuristic</key>

                                                      <dict>

                                                                <key>ID</key>

                                                                <integer>0</integer>

                                                                <key>IdleInterval</key>

                                                                <integer>250</integer>

                                                                <key>SensorOption</key>

                                                                <integer>1</integer>

                                                                <key>SensorSampleRate</key>

                                                                <integer>4</integer>

                                                                <key>TargetCount</key>

                                                                <integer>1</integer>

                                                                <key>Threshold_High</key>

  • by gliderjoe,

    gliderjoe gliderjoe Mar 25, 2012 10:18 AM in response to Paceymac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2012 10:18 AM in response to Paceymac

    @Atouzani & Paceymac - with this kext fix, can we all get on the same page?

     

    Questions:

    1. Shouldn't the original kext file be saved somewhere as a backup first?
    2. Exactly which part under the MacBookPro6,2 section should be changed?  If just the Heuristic section, which one?
    3. Which piece of new code should be used as the replacement?  Parameters from 10.6.8 or from the new beta per @Atouzani?  Is this 10.8 code?
    4. Shouldn't a kext tool like Kext Drop or Kext Wizard be used to do this properly?

     

    I've read that some people that have done the kext file on their own have had good success and some have experience the same issues even after doing the fix, so your mileage may very.

     

    For me I'd like to try it because it's the last thing I've come across that I have not tried yet.

     

    So, could someone please put together a good set of instructions for this?

  • by Terry Mahoney,

    Terry Mahoney Terry Mahoney Mar 26, 2012 11:13 AM in response to gliderjoe
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Mar 26, 2012 11:13 AM in response to gliderjoe

    gliderJoe: Hi Joe. To answer your questions (and hopefully clarify things a bit) …

     

    1. Yes. (I would save the original  … AGPM.kext/Contents/into.plist file just in case you need to backtrack). You probably will not need to, but insurance can be priceless.

     

    Better yet - make sure your Time Machine backup is complete and up-to-date before proceeding.

     

    Even better - have an external bootable drive (or your installation DVD) that you can use to boot your Mac if your HD becomes unbootable. :-D

     

    2. The  xml code for the MBP6,2 posted by Atouzani is the same as mine from Lion 10.7.3. (I did a file-compare of that section using TextWrangler. There were no differences. The implication is that, if this xml is from 10.8, then its AGPM info.plist is the same as that for 10.7.x. This (MBP8,3) code is different from the corresponding code on my MBP6,2.

     

    3. The differences (in boldface) between Lion and Snow Leopard for the MBP6,2 are.

     

    4. A special purpose tool is not necessary but it helps. I used Bare Bones Software's free TextWrangler editor and I happen to be comfortable with HTML/XML. XCode has a Property-List Editor, if you have XCode and know how to use it. Commercial 3rd-party editors may also work for you.

     

    And remember to do a "safe boot" after all this - to flush the caches of any old kext parameters, etc.

     

    And if you later do another clean install, you'll need to repeat this procedure.

     

    The code for both devices, 0a29 and 0a34, is identical. For the sake of completeness, I made the same changes (fragments shown below) for both devices (Vendor10deDevice0a29 and Vendor10deDevice0a34)

     

    Lion 10.7.3: (Vendor10deDevice0a29 fragment shown)

     

                        <key>Heuristic</key>

                        <dict>

                                  <key>ID</key>

                                  <integer>0</integer>

                                  <key>IdleInterval</key>

                                  <integer>100</integer>

                                  <key>P3HistoryLength</key>

                                  <integer>2</integer>

                                  <key>SensorOption</key>

                                  <integer>1</integer>

                                  <key>SensorSampleRate</key>

                                  <integer>10</integer>

                                  <key>TargetCount</key>

                                  <integer>1</integer>

                                  <key>Threshold_High</key>

                                  <array>

                                            <integer>57</integer>

                                            <integer>70</integer>

                                            <integer>80</integer>

                                            <integer>100</integer>

                                  </array>

     

     

    Snow Leopard 10.6.8: (Vendor10deDevice0a29 fragment shown)

     

                        <key>Heuristic</key>

                        <dict>

                                  <key>ID</key>

                                  <integer>0</integer>

                                  <key>IdleInterval</key>

                                  <integer>250</integer>

                                  <key>SensorOption</key>

                                  <integer>1</integer>

                                  <key>SensorSampleRate</key>

                                  <integer>4</integer>

                                  <key>TargetCount</key>

                                  <integer>1</integer>

                                  <key>Threshold_High</key>

                                  <array>

                                            <integer>57</integer>

                                            <integer>70</integer>

                                            <integer>88</integer>

                                            <integer>100</integer>

                                  </array>

  • by Terry Mahoney,

    Terry Mahoney Terry Mahoney Mar 26, 2012 11:27 AM in response to Terry Mahoney
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Mar 26, 2012 11:27 AM in response to Terry Mahoney

    gliderJoe: Point 3. (above) should read

     

    3. The differences between Lion and Snow Leopard for the MBP6,2 are shown in boldface, below.

  • by quantum-flux,

    quantum-flux quantum-flux Mar 28, 2012 12:37 PM in response to jmacbookpro
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2012 12:37 PM in response to jmacbookpro

    Thought I'd butt in with my with my issue to add to the corus...

     

    Setup

    MacBook Pro (Mid 2010)

    mbp_15_mid_10

    Factory: W8 (Shanghai China)

    2.66 GHz Intel Core i7

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M 512 MB

    OSX 10.7.3

    27'' Cinima Display

    Wired keyboard through display

    Wireless mouse through display

     

    Problem

    On boot with the MBP shut the login screen appears.  The mouse is responsive but the buttons are not and neither is the keyboard.  As a result I'm unable to login.  Opening the MBP while still connected to the display results in the gray hatched background appearing on the MBP display and a slightly faded login screen on the cinema display.  The keyboard and tarckpad on the MBP are un responsive.  Only option is to hold down the power button and try again.  This is an inconsistent issue as it does boot up fine sometimes.  I have been able to start up by disconnecting the cinema display and starting the MBP with no peripherals attached.

     

    IMHO

    This seems like a software issue rather than the hardware issue alluded to with the mid 2010 machines here.  This also seems to be an issue with driving the cinima display at startup.  If I find this happening with MBP in standalone mode I'll update this post.

     

    Solution?

    If anyone knows whats wrong and how to fix please let me know.

     

    Cheers

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