iMac 24 C2D freezing, beach ball, pinwheel

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iMac 24 C2D freezing, beach ball, pinwheel

Hello wonderful user community!

I am helping my wife with this issue, she's never posted on the ASC before.

In the last two weeks my iMac has started behaving strangely. It doesn't seem to matter whether running Spotify, Chrome, Firefox, or other applications, I will get beach balls, seemingly at random intervals. If watching a video on Youtube or Netflix, the picture will freeze the but the audio will continue. You can't Force Quit or make any commands in other applications, so it seems to be system wide. If someone is playing a video from my hard drive from the LAN, their video playback will freeze. After 15 secs to a minute or more, the machine will resume normal operation.

What I've tried:

The OS was installed less than a year ago from 10.6 disk and updated to OS 10.6.8 using Combo Updater.

Disk Repair Permisions

Disk Repair (boot from external drive)

reset PRAM

Take to Genius Desk at Apple store (results inconclusive, no hardware issues)

Activity Monitor shows no app in particular hanging

I'm about to cut and run on this thing, put it on Craigslist, and move on.

Any light shed on this would be incredibly helpful. I work from this iMac while my daughter watches videos on a 2nd monitor throughout the day. At night it's our TV and we watch movies on it. Needless to say it's an integral part of our lifestyle.

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac9,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 6 MB

Memory: 8 GB

Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

Boot ROM Version: IM91.008D.B08

SMC Version (system): 1.45f0

Serial Number (system): YD9*****0TG <Serial Number Edited by Host>

Hardware UUID: 93EC2F20-E293-50E4-9EC3-F0401B5D8D65

Console sample taken during time period of several hangs:

2/20/12 8:56:32 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 20:56:32 2012:405406] [info] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [Start syncing /sc/5000]
2/20/12 8:56:47 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 20:56:47 2012:405079] [info] [datastore.volumerelayclient] [0xb0617000] [getBucketChangeId timed out. bucket id: 5000]
2/20/12 8:56:47 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 20:56:47 2012:405145] [error] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [ScVolumeSyncer.cpp:1644 getBucketChid failed for path /sc/5000]
2/20/12 8:56:47 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 20:56:47 2012:405168] [info] [datastore.sync.manager] [0xb0617000] [restartWithDelay. syncPath = /sc/5000, delay = 600 sec]
2/20/12 9:01:54 PM	[0x0-0x25025].com.spotify.client[317]	05:01:54.340 I [social_presence.cpp:120] Presence: A track was played
2/20/12 9:01:55 PM	[0x0-0x25025].com.spotify.client[317]	05:01:55.352 I [snd:517] 64k-Latency: 2 ms. Play latency: 184 ms (ap)
2/20/12 9:06:47 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:06:47 2012:405283] [info] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [Stop syncing /sc/5000]
2/20/12 9:06:47 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:06:47 2012:405353] [info] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [Start syncing /sc/5000]
2/20/12 9:07:02 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:07:02 2012:404888] [info] [datastore.volumerelayclient] [0xb0617000] [getBucketChangeId timed out. bucket id: 5000]
2/20/12 9:07:02 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:07:02 2012:404974] [error] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [ScVolumeSyncer.cpp:1644 getBucketChid failed for path /sc/5000]
2/20/12 9:07:02 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:07:02 2012:405016] [info] [datastore.sync.manager] [0xb0617000] [restartWithDelay. syncPath = /sc/5000, delay = 600 sec]
2/20/12 9:08:15 PM	[0x0-0x25025].com.spotify.client[317]	05:08:15.352 I [social_presence.cpp:120] Presence: A track was played
2/20/12 9:08:16 PM	[0x0-0x25025].com.spotify.client[317]	05:08:16.228 I [snd:517] 64k-Latency: 3 ms. Play latency: 195 ms (ap)
2/20/12 9:14:26 PM	[0x0-0x25025].com.spotify.client[317]	05:14:26.646 I [social_presence.cpp:120] Presence: A track was played
2/20/12 9:14:33 PM	[0x0-0x25025].com.spotify.client[317]	05:14:33.708 I [snd:517] 64k-Latency: 2 ms. Play latency: 6179 ms (ap)
2/20/12 9:15:36 PM	[0x0-0x25025].com.spotify.client[317]	05:15:36.315 I [offline-mgr:2144] Storage has been cleaned
2/20/12 9:17:02 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:17:02 2012:405144] [info] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [Stop syncing /sc/5000]
2/20/12 9:17:02 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:17:02 2012:405274] [info] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [Start syncing /sc/5000]
2/20/12 9:17:17 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:17:17 2012:405045] [info] [datastore.volumerelayclient] [0xb0617000] [getBucketChangeId timed out. bucket id: 5000]
2/20/12 9:17:17 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:17:17 2012:405155] [error] [datastore.sync.syncset] [0xb0617000] [ScVolumeSyncer.cpp:1644 getBucketChid failed for path /sc/5000]
2/20/12 9:17:17 PM	[0x0-0x13013].com.SugarSync.Manager[262]	[Mon Feb 20 21:17:17 2012:405181] [info] [datastore.sync.manager] [0xb0617000] [restartWithDelay. syncPath = /sc/5000, delay = 600 sec]

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 8GB Memory, 1TB HD, 2.66ghz C2D

Posted on Feb 20, 2012 9:08 PM

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Answer 1

meow3cjc Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 24, 2012 10:51 AM in response to meow3cjc

I have more light to shed...

I started timing the freezing intervals and found a pattern. Every 15 minutes it freezes for 1 min 10 seconds or so. You can almost set your watch by it.

Does that help?

Anyone?

Beuller?

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,418 points

Feb 24, 2012 10:59 AM in response to meow3cjc

The first thing I'd look at is Activity Monitor (Applications - Utilities - Activity Monitor) to see if you have any processes that are using a large %CPU or using a large percentages of RAM. While 8GB of RAM should be adequate it's also possible it's not enough too.

I would strongly recommend studying and troubleshooting using XLab's Spinning Beach Ball of Death article, your symptom could be caused by numerous things and this article will tell you what they may be and how to troubleshoot each.

BTW I have asked the moderator to remove the serial number info, as a general rule of thumb never publish personal information such as serial numbers, e-mail addresses etc in a public forum.

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Answer 3

meow3cjc Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 1, 2012 1:39 AM in response to rkaufmann87

I did study XLab's article before posting here, and I did check the Activity monitor for oddities and found none.

Another clue: When watching a DVD disc, there are no freezes. This is the ONLY time we don't experience the 15 minute freeze cycle. Starting to think the harddrive is failing...

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Answer 4

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,418 points

Mar 1, 2012 5:43 AM in response to meow3cjc

meow3cjc wrote:

I did study XLab's article before posting here, and I did check the Activity monitor for oddities and found none.

Another clue: When watching a DVD disc, there are no freezes. This is the ONLY time we don't experience the 15 minute freeze cycle. Starting to think the harddrive is failing...

If you suspect the HD is failing then run Apple Hardware Test in Extended Mode , it is wise to run the test 2-3 times to be sure. If it picks up any error codes then you should plan on visiting an Apple Store or AASP to get it fixed and the codes interpreted. Apple does not publish what codes are interpreted as however some will give you a good idea. For example if it has HDD in it then you know the error is related to the HD however you don't know if it's the drive itself or it possible it could be fan sensor for the HD, this is why it's smart to take it in.

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Answer 5

meow3cjc Author

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Mar 1, 2012 8:42 AM in response to rkaufmann87

They ran the Hardware Test at the Apple Genius Bar, but only one time. I will try it some more...

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Answer 6

meow3cjc Author

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Mar 1, 2012 9:02 AM in response to meow3cjc

Here is what happens when I follow the Hardware Test instructions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNCTQbC1miI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Answer 7

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,418 points

Mar 1, 2012 10:30 AM in response to meow3cjc

Remember to run AHT in Extended Mode and run it 2-3 times.

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Answer 8

meow3cjc Author

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Mar 2, 2012 1:25 AM in response to rkaufmann87

As I was trying to demonstrate with my video, it doesn't make it to the AHT at all, it just shuts down...

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Answer 9

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,418 points

Mar 2, 2012 6:22 AM in response to meow3cjc

It has been awhile since I have run AHT. There are two things I noticed, first is you lifted your finger off the D key after about 40 seconds. Leave it on there for at least 2-3 minutes to give it ample time. The next thing I noticed was you pressed the D key prior to the start up tone sounding. Try pushing as soon as your hear the startup tone and contintue holding it down.

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Answer 10

meow3cjc Author

Level 1

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Mar 2, 2012 10:11 AM in response to rkaufmann87

I have tried all variations, and I get the same results each time. Time to put this iMac on Craigslist?

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Answer 11

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,418 points

Mar 2, 2012 10:38 AM in response to meow3cjc

Why not take it to an Apple Store or AASP so they can look at it, putting it on Craigslist seems like a rash decision at this point.

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Answer 12

meow3cjc Author

Level 1

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Mar 2, 2012 12:13 PM in response to rkaufmann87

That was the first thing I did before posting here.

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Answer 13

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,418 points

Mar 2, 2012 12:51 PM in response to meow3cjc

There are couple of things you can do, first is create another user account (call it TEST ACCOUNT) and leave it pristine, don't add anything or make any changes to it. Then log into that account and see if the issue is still there. If it is not that tells you there is a software problem on the primary user account.

If it's still there then again I'd take it to an AASP or Apple Store and ask them to help show you how to run AHT in Extended Mode. They will show you the correct sequence. If no errors turn up after the first pass run AHT 2-3 more times to be sure. If it still turns up OK then the chances are it's a global software problem with your system. In that case I'd recommend doing an erase and install of OS X and restore your data and applications from your Time Machine or bootable clone backup.

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