System unstable

Question

System unstable

If anyone can help me with this, I would be eternally grateful. I have been having problems with my system since I upgraded to Mountain Lion. Here is what is happening. When I boot up, everything goes fine. Then, eventually, I will notice that when I launch a new program, the application becomes unresponsive (as noted in the Forced Quit Application window). At this point, I will encounter a cascading series of non-responsive application, requiring that I do a hard shut-down (pull the plug or press and hold the power button). Over time, the interval between startup and shutdown has been getting shorter. It was two days; now, it is less than 6 hours.

I have run the system through Tech Tools 6. I have rebuilt the volume; I have done a system's test using Tech Tools; I have done a surface scan; I have eliminated most of the old extensions; I have repaired permissions. What is left to do?

My system is a MacPro built in May 2008. Is this time to get a new computer? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Oct 27, 2012 6:08 AM

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Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Oct 27, 2012 6:41 AM in response to Steven Melnyk

Steven Melnyk wrote:

I have run the system through Tech Tools 6. I have rebuilt the volume; I have done a system's test using Tech Tools; I have done a surface scan; I have eliminated most of the old extensions; I have repaired permissions. What is left to do?

All of that doesn't really touch anything inside your Home folder.

I'd suggest starting in Safe Mode and see if the problem still occurs, but because of the length of time it takes to begin happening, that's probably not a viable alternative.

Instead, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login items and delete all login items (-), you can always add them back with the (+). Also look in /Library/Startup Items. Nothing is put in that folder by default, so anything in there is yours.

Test and see if the issue reoccurs.

Another thing it could be is permissions or ACLs within your Home folder. Boot up holding command-r keys into your Recovery Volume.

From the menu bar choose Utilities then select Terminal.

At the prompt type resetpassword

Press return

The Password reset utility will launch (do not reset password)

Instead, click your Mac hard drive.

Then from the drop-down select the user account you want to repair. At the bottom of the window, you’ll see an area labeled ‘Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs’. Click the Reset button there.

The process takes a couple of minutes. When it’s done, quit the programs you’ve opened and restart your Mac.

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Answer 2

etresoft

Level 8

46,092 points

Oct 27, 2012 8:13 AM in response to Steven Melnyk

I wrote a little diagnostic program to help show what might be causing these problems. Download EtreCheck from http://www.etresoft.com/download/EtreCheck.zip, run it, and paste the results here.

Disclaimer: Although EtreCheck is free, there are other links on my site that could give me some form of compensation, financial or otherwise.

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Oct 27, 2012 8:22 AM in response to etresoft

Just ran it again... I forget, there are some that can be ignored? I remember deleting one but now I still seem to have 2.

Problem System Launch Daemons:

[failed] com.apple.emond.aslmanager.plist

[failed] com.apple.xprotectupdater.plist

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Answer 4

Nov 14, 2012 6:55 AM in response to etresoft

Sorry for the delay -- what a two week period. I ran the test (Apple will not allow me to paste results -- don't know why). I have done the following:

1. Checked all preferences to see if they are corrupt.

2. Cleared all caches.

3. Zapped the PRAM

4. Bought a new Mac Pro (mine was four years old)

5. Created new account (administrator).

some improvements. Yet, here is what is still going on. First, when the log-in screen pops up, the mouse pointer is in the upper left area of the screen where it is frozen for about 10 minutes. Then, I can log in. BTW, I have tested to see what programs are in memory. Then I next find that the notification button (upper right) and the dock does not work for about 3 minutes. Finally, occasionally, the system will not shut down properly. The only thing that is left to be done is to carbon copy the HD to a new HD in the off-chance that I have a problem with the HD.

I am stumped by what is going on.

Any help greatly appreciated.

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