Q: Mountain Lion keeps logging user out...

I spoke with Apple last Friday about this, and we ran some diagnostics together.

Fortunately this happened while I was on the phone with him, and was able to send a Capture Data session immediately after.

Like some others here, I went to using a single card (and two monitors as opposed to three), and so far so good. It's a little crimp in my workflow, but admittedly not as bad as going from two to one.

Will report back in a day or two whether using a single graphics card seems to be a workaround.

-Jason-

I did this and to no avail.  Instead of logging me out completely, it seems it quickly logs me out and back in again. 

I was able to replicate the issue by attempting to use the Twitter share in the notication side-panel.  When I clicked on that, MacOS would do the logout/login thing.  I deleted my Twitter account from System Prefs and the problem seemingly went away.

Later, however, I clicked on an app that went to a different Space and on the transition to the other space, the problem occurred again. 

I think this is defintely related to MacPro graphics cards and Core Animation or something, because it only seems to happen when changing Spaces or during some sort of desktop transition. I use a MacPro with 3-displays with two factory graphics cards.

Jonnygreen65 wrote:

 

I have also just been digging around System Preferences and found this:

System Preferences, Security & Privacy, click 'Advanced' button at the bottom, uncheck 'Log out after 60 mins of inactivity' (you may need to click the little padlock bottom left to change settings)

I'm trying that and will report back, but looks promising. Although doesn't account for it mostly being present on Mac Pros.

Just also checked my MBPro, and it wasn't checked, so this might be my issue.

I have exactly the same configuration and exactly this quick logoff problem.  Has to be related to MacPro architecture and CoreAnimation.

imyrvold wrote:

 

I checked now my configuration. My Mac Pro is a late 2009 model, 16 GByte RAM, two 2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Xe, 2x NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512 MB.  I have 1 TB drive original with the machine, and 3 drives at 3TB each.

I just did the same thing and so far so good.  One of the telltales for me was to add my Twitter account to the Notification sidebar, which with two video cards activated definitely crashed/logged out on click, but now when I click the "click to Tweet" in the sidebar, no more logout.  It must be an issue with dual-card incompatibilty with CoreAnimation on MacPro.  Live with 1 less monitor until they fix it is my advice!

JayLP wrote:

 

I spoke with Apple last Friday about this, and we ran some diagnostics together.

 

Fortunately this happened while I was on the phone with him, and was able to send a Capture Data session immediately after.

 

Like some others here, I went to using a single card (and two monitors as opposed to three), and so far so good. It's a little crimp in my workflow, but admittedly not as bad as going from two to one.

 

Will report back in a day or two whether using a single graphics card seems to be a workaround.

 

-Jason-

I was experiencing random logouts and freezing in Firefox. I'm using a Macbook Pro 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. 8Gb Mem.

This morning I downloaded the latest copy of Firefox and replaced the existing file in the Applications folder. I haven't had a logout all day.

It's clearly an issue with mutliple graphic cards.  My office system is a late 2009 MacPro with two GeForce GT120 cards.  I brought a newer ATI 5770 with dual mini ports to the office and installed.  Same machine, running two monitors from the single card vs the two cards from yesterday... yesterday logged me out about once every 15-20 minutes.  Today, not a single logout since I've been here..

Running with only two monitors today off of one graphics card.  Not a single log out.

Never realized how much I really use the third monitor until it's not available.  Really miss it.  Hope this gets fixed soon.

Same/Similar configuration with me.  ML loggine me out and my system is an Early 2009 with /28Gb ram/2 Quad Core Intel Xeon with dual NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512Mb of memory.

I also have this issue on an eight core Mac Pro with dual graphics cards with a clean install of Mountain Lion.

The issue appears to be related to Spaces and animation. Animated events on non-visible Spaces may be triggering this.

As a WORKAROUND: go into Expose and delete all Desktops except one

This should prevent switching to a different Space when you switch apps assigned to different desktops.

This issue is all about running two monitors through (or using, I guess) two graphics cards. Since i've plugged my monitors into one of my cards, instead of two, the issue has completely disappeared.

I have tried each card, plugging both monitors into each separately, and had no issues. Only when I have two separate monitors operating on two separate cards do I get this annoying log-out issue, and only when I'm engaging the card somehow - either switching spaces, doing something processor intensive, or launching a new application.

So, Apple, we've diagnosed the issue - now you need to freakin' fix it.

I agree.  I was having all the issues listed here, and as a test I removed my two original GT120 cards from a 2009 work Pro, and replaced with an ATI 5770 from my home Pro (late 2011)... with both monitors plugged into the single card... every problem vanished and I've been working on the system without problem for two days now. 

Clearly a problem with dual cards...

I can confirm that the workaround I outlined worked for me: no crashes or logouts for a day and a half now.

For the record my dual cards are also GT120s with 512MB.

Mac Pro Early 2009

Dual NVIDIA GeForce GT 120s, two monitors on one, one on the other.

Random logouts, a handful in an 8 hour day.

Unplugged the solo monitor from the second card, no more problems.