iMac stability issue

Question

iMac stability issue

I have the following iMac: 24", late 2006, 2,33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM running Mac OS Lion 10.7.3. (new HD fitted 1 year ago)

For some timeI I have endured 'frozen' applications, particularly the native applications Mail and Safari. I re-installed Lion recently but there has been no improvement. At prresent I am lucky if I can run Mail for more than 3 minutes without the system freezing (quitting the application doesn't really help, but a re-start will briefly).

My question is this: is my iMac just too old; is this a software or hardware issue; should I consider erasing the disk and starting again...?

iMac Intel 24", Mac OS X (10.6.6), iPad, MacBook Air, iPhone 4

Posted on Apr 16, 2012 11:59 PM

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Answer 1

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Apr 17, 2012 12:41 AM in response to Edward Staines1

Repair/verify your drives with Disk Utility on your installer DVD.

Run Apple Hardware Test from your 2nd installer DVD. Maybe include the extended memory tests.

You may be able to do these operations from your recovery partition with Lion.

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Answer 2

Apr 18, 2012 12:24 AM in response to X423424X

Thanks. I have run Disk Utility and use MacKeeper: both all clear.

Where exactly do I find Apple Hardware Test? Both OSX Leopard and Snow Leopard are single disks. Do I need to use Panther Install Disk 2?

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Answer 3

Chamar

Level 4

2,169 points

Apr 18, 2012 12:27 AM in response to Edward Staines1

For details of Apple Hardware Test look here.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

238,973 points

Apr 18, 2012 12:51 AM in response to Edward Staines1

Yikes!!! MacKeeper... quick get rid of it, but don't use their uninstaller that'll cause more problems!

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3868569

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3027

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Answer 5

Apr 18, 2012 1:49 AM in response to X423424X

Found and ran Apple Hardware Test: all clear though the extended test locked up twice before completeing.

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Answer 6

Apr 18, 2012 1:49 AM in response to BDAqua

Removed MacKeeper though my problems as described above began before MacKeeper was installed.

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Answer 7

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Apr 18, 2012 2:16 AM in response to Edward Staines1

Found and ran Apple Hardware Test: all clear though the extended test locked up twice before completeing.

Locked up?

Try running Rember and see what happens with it.

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Answer 8

Apr 19, 2012 4:40 AM in response to X423424X

Locked up, frozen, stopped working...

Interesting you suggest loading Rember as the last software I was recommneded on here was MacKeeper! But I loaded Rember and no faults were shown.

So, given all the above, can anyone please make a suggestion as what's wrong with my old iMac friend, and should he be sent off to 'Shady Pines' to while away his days?

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Answer 9

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Apr 19, 2012 11:50 AM in response to Edward Staines1

Interesting you suggest loading Rember as the last software I was recommneded on here was MacKeeper!

Huh?

I hope you didn't install MacKeeper.

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Answer 10

Apr 20, 2012 3:51 AM in response to Edward Staines1

Given the lack of replies, can I assume I have done all that is possible?

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Answer 11

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,346 points

Apr 20, 2012 7:04 AM in response to Edward Staines1

Probably not, I didn't see the capacity of your HD noted and how much is currently being used. OS X tends to like a minimum of 10-15% of the HD available. If you are not sure how to check locate the HD in Finder's sidebar, highlight it and type Command I (I as Ivan) and you will see a graphic similar to:

If the HD is the original it also may be failing, in Disk Utilitly look for it's S.M.A.R.T. status. It should indicate Verfified, if it says anything else then it's in trouble.

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Answer 12

Apr 20, 2012 7:24 AM in response to rkaufmann87

S.M.A.RT. status Verified.

Disk Utility check as below:

Verifying partition map for “WDC WD5000AAKS-00V1A0 Media”

Checking prerequisites

Checking the partition list

Checking for an EFI system partition

Checking the EFI system partition’s size

Checking the EFI system partition’s file system

Checking all HFS data partition loader spaces

Checking Core Storage Physical Volume partitions

The partition map appears to be OK

Verifying volume “xxx”

Checking file systemPerforming live verification.

Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.

Checking extents overflow file.

Checking catalog file.

Checking multi-linked files.

Checking catalog hierarchy.

Checking extended attributes file.

Checking volume bitmap.

Checking volume information.

The volume xxx appears to be OK.

Capacity: 499,25GB

Available: 131,29 GB

Suggestions...?

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Answer 13

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,346 points

Apr 20, 2012 7:32 AM in response to Edward Staines1

You have plenty of HD space. To check it's health you should run Apple Hardware Test in Extended Mode. If no errors appear after the first pass (30-60 minutes) run it another 2--3 times, AHT doesn't always pick up errors so you should run it multiple times to be sure.

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Answer 14

a brody

Level 10

82,841 points

Apr 20, 2012 7:41 AM in response to rkaufmann87

That has already been done. If Apple Hardware Test (AHT)locks up when there is nothing attached besides Apple keyboard and mouse, that means there is a hardware issue with the machine that only Apple can look into, except for possible RAM failure*:

http://www.macmaps.com/badram.html

RAM failures do not always show up with Rember or AHT, but if they do, they are believable.

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Answer 15

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,346 points

Apr 20, 2012 7:49 AM in response to a brody

Thanks I came in late on the chain and didn't carefully read the whole thread. I agree though it sounds like a hardware issue.

To the OP RAM issues can be:

1. Failed RAM

2. Incorrect RAM

3. Unseated RAM

Obviously #3 is the easiest to troubleshoot by simply removing and reseating the RAM, and you can test #1 by a series of trial and error by removing/replacing each DIMM and Incorrect RAM is unlikely if the issue is was not present with the current RAM configuration prior to the troubles surfacing.

I agree the machine probably should be taken into an Apple Store or AASP to be professionally checked.

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