System hangs

Question

System hangs

Hello, community!

I often experience issues with my computer. Sometimes my computer's monitor simply freezes. However it appears that the system is not completely hung or unresponsive, because I am still able to open the alt+cmd+esc windows and even able to to force quit apps there with my keyboard, I am also able to perform the gesture on the mouse with two fingers (changing between desktops) and music continues to play etc. But the mouse cursor doesn't work and the dock bar freezes (for example my uTorrent's constantly changing speed stops changing) as well as the top bar with time etc.

What I usually do in these situations is try to restart my computer with the Ctrl+Cmd+Eject combination and most of the times it restarts successfully.

I suspect that it must be some particular application that does that to my system, because after I use that key combination and applications start closing themselves, at a certain point my computer will "unhang" and continue to operate normally while the rest of the programs continue to close (or if some application cancels the restart -- I can continue to use my computer).

My question is: is there any way to troubleshoot this? Could some certain logs be analyzed? If so, which ones and how?

I was thinking of opening a support case, however my warranty has recently added. Although I think I could buy the AppleCare Pack to prolong it for another 2 years. Do you know, if such issues fall into Apple's support responsibility?

Hardware: iMac 27-inch, 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7OS: Mountain Lion 10.8.2

Thanks in advance!

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 3, 2013 7:04 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Feb 3, 2013 10:02 AM in response to MentalPROblem

The next time you have the problem, note the exact time: hour, minute, second.

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.

Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left.

Scroll back in the log to the time you noted above. Select any messages timestamped from then until the end of the episode. Copy them (command-C) to the Clipboard. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.

When posting a log extract, be selective. In most cases, a few dozen lines are more than enough.

Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 4, 2013 8:34 AM in response to Linc Davis

Okay, thanks!

I shall do that next time it happens.

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 20, 2013 12:14 PM in response to Linc Davis

Okay, today I applied the 10.8.3 software update and these issues began again. Not sure if it's related to the update.

At this particular case, the screen and mouse "froze" at 22:48:14 Then I hit the ctrl+cmd+Eject keyboard shortcut in order to initialize a graceful restart, the system started closing the apps and after short while at a certain point the system has "unfroze"

Here is a part of the log (provided a bigger portion via a pastebin link at the end of the post):

3/20/13 10:47:56.525 PM ath[1659]: _NotificationSocketReadCallbackGCD (thread 0x7fff75bd3180): Unexpected connection closure...

3/20/13 10:48:00.943 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1748]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:48:00.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1748 [SleepServicesD]

3/20/13 10:48:01.663 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1702]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:48:01.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1702 [cfprefsd]

3/20/13 10:48:08.200 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[373]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1701]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:48:08.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1701 [cfprefsd]

3/20/13 10:48:12.535 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1749]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:48:12.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1749 [SleepServicesD]

3/20/13 10:48:19.285 PM Skype[719]: NSExceptionHandler has recorded the following exception:

NSPortTimeoutException -- connection timeout: did not receive reply

Stack trace: 0x19a567e 0x926a952e 0x9380761b 0x99c9b79b 0x99c9abc0 0x937f4030 0x937f3c42 0x916ba6da 0x916bab0f 0x926b6586 0x916b60be 0x99c5e4cf 0x937bf416 0x937bedb5 0x937a3bc2 0x937a302a 0x937a2e9b 0x91409f5a 0x91409bf5 0x91409b44 0x95ef49aa 0x95ef41dc 0x95eea63c 0xd478b 0x7c215 0x2

3/20/13 10:48:19.285 PM Skype[719]: [IMKInputSession activate] exception caught.

IMKInputSession: <IMKInputSession: 0x4db5260> --

NSPortTimeoutException : connection timeout: did not receive reply

3/20/13 10:48:30.647 PM Skype[719]: NSExceptionHandler has recorded the following exception:

NSPortTimeoutException -- connection timeout: did not receive reply

Stack trace: 0x19a567e 0x926a952e 0x9380761b 0x99c9b79b 0x99c9abc0 0x937f4030 0x937f3c42 0x916bafac 0x916618c7 0x91660c58 0x9165525e 0x9379ef00 0x91428ca7 0x914287ea 0x914286d7 0x960c751a 0x95ef6ceb 0x95de9be4 0x99c49152 0x93869861 0x937b4e9a 0x99c31c88 0x99c41a27 0x95fd0663 0x95eea69c 0xd478b 0x7c215 0x2

3/20/13 10:48:30.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:48:30.648 PM Skype[719]: [IMKInputSession deactivate] exception caught.

IMKInputSession:<IMKInputSession: 0x4db5260> --

NSPortTimeoutException : connection timeout: did not receive reply

3/20/13 10:48:30.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:49:00.000 PM kernel[0]: AppleBCM5701Ethernet: 0 a BCM5701Enet::replaceOrCopyPacket timedout

3/20/13 10:49:15.099 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1753]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:49:15.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1753 [cfprefsd]

3/20/13 10:49:15.687 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[373]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1752]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:49:15.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1752 [cfprefsd]

3/20/13 10:49:31.554 PM WindowServer[129]: MPAccessSurfaceForDisplayDevice: Set up page flip mode on display 0x042801c0 device: 0x10a244b90 isBackBuffered: 1 numComp: 3 numDisp: 3

3/20/13 10:49:31.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:49:31.594 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfa1

3/20/13 10:49:31.598 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfa0

3/20/13 10:49:31.598 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xf9f

3/20/13 10:49:31.599 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xf9e

3/20/13 10:49:31.599 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xf9d

3/20/13 10:49:31.599 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xf9c

3/20/13 10:49:31.600 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xf9b

3/20/13 10:49:31.600 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xf9a

3/20/13 10:49:31.600 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xf99

3/20/13 10:49:31.614 PM WindowServer[129]: CGXRegisterWindowWithSystemStatusBar: window 22 already registered

3/20/13 10:49:32.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:49:32.451 PM WindowServer[129]: MPAccessSurfaceForDisplayDevice: Set up page flip mode on display 0x042801c0 device: 0x10a244b90 isBackBuffered: 1 numComp: 3 numDisp: 3

3/20/13 10:49:32.522 PM WindowServer[129]: MPAccessSurfaceForDisplayDevice: Set up page flip mode on display 0x042801c0 device: 0x10a244b90 isBackBuffered: 1 numComp: 3 numDisp: 3

3/20/13 10:49:32.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:49:33.246 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc8

3/20/13 10:49:33.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:49:33.249 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc7

3/20/13 10:49:33.250 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc6

3/20/13 10:49:33.251 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc5

3/20/13 10:49:33.251 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc4

3/20/13 10:49:33.251 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc3

3/20/13 10:49:33.251 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc2

3/20/13 10:49:33.252 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc1

3/20/13 10:49:33.252 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfc0

3/20/13 10:49:33.252 PM Dock[420]: CGSGetWindowTags: Invalid window 0xfbf

3/20/13 10:49:33.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:49:36.665 PM prl_client_app[404]: IMKClient: exception caught trying to get the rootProxy for connection ((** NSConnection 0x10944e7c0 receivePort <NSMachPort: 0x1182f9160> sendPort <NSMachPort: 0x11829d360> refCount 7 remoteUsesKeyedDO: 0 **)):

NSPortTimeoutException : connection timeout: did not receive reply

3/20/13 10:49:36.666 PM prl_client_app[404]: This exception was thrown inside thread: <NSThread: 0x10780db50>{name = (null), num = 1}. This thread is the main thread.

3/20/13 10:49:37.000 PM kernel[0]: IOHIDSystem cursor update overdue. Resending.

3/20/13 10:49:40.727 PM loginwindow[86]: IMKClient: exception caught trying to get the rootProxy for connection ((** NSConnection 0x7f875266e0f0 receivePort <NSMachPort: 0x7f8752667a80> sendPort <NSMachPort: 0x7f8752667ba0> refCount 7 remoteUsesKeyedDO: 0 **)):

NSPortTimeoutException : connection timeout: did not receive reply

3/20/13 10:49:40.729 PM loginwindow[86]: This exception was thrown inside thread: <NSThread: 0x7f875140b770>{name = (null), num = 1}. This thread is the main thread.

3/20/13 10:49:41.351 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[373]: ([0x0-0x182182].com.apple.inputmethod.ironwood[1751]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:49:41.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1751 [DictationIM]

3/20/13 10:49:41.670 PM prl_client_app[404]: IMKClient: exception caught trying to get the rootProxy for connection ((** NSConnection 0x113ce4990 receivePort <NSMachPort: 0x113cc7b90> sendPort <NSMachPort: 0x11829d360> refCount 7 remoteUsesKeyedDO: 0 **)):

NSInvalidReceivePortException : connection went invalid while waiting for a reply because a mach port died

3/20/13 10:49:41.671 PM prl_client_app[404]: This exception was thrown inside thread: <NSThread: 0x10780db50>{name = (null), num = 1}. This thread is the main thread.

3/20/13 10:49:42.597 PM loginwindow[86]: IMKClient: exception caught trying to get the rootProxy for connection ((** NSConnection 0x7f8753910080 receivePort <NSMachPort: 0x7f875393e3e0> sendPort <NSMachPort: 0x7f8752667ba0> refCount 7 remoteUsesKeyedDO: 0 **)):

NSInvalidReceivePortException : connection went invalid while waiting for a reply because a mach port died

3/20/13 10:49:42.598 PM loginwindow[86]: This exception was thrown inside thread: <NSThread: 0x7f875140b770>{name = (null), num = 1}. This thread is the main thread.

3/20/13 10:49:47.501 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[373]: (com.apple.tccd[1759]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:49:47.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1759 [tccd]

3/20/13 10:49:48.700 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1758]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:49:48.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1758 [cfprefsd]

3/20/13 10:51:20.288 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[373]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1757]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:51:20.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1757 [cfprefsd]

3/20/13 10:51:20.622 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1750]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/20/13 10:51:20.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1750 [SleepServicesD]

3/20/13 10:51:51.988 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1762]) Exited: Killed: 9

http://pastebin.com/j6zrfwd1

I'm not sure if I was selective enough, but I pasted the messages that occured starting from when the issue has occured until I think a minute before it ended.

Would appreciate any help! Thanks in advance.

Reply

Answer 4

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Mar 20, 2013 1:49 PM in response to MentalPROblem

This issue is caused by a bug in OS X. I know of one way to trigger the bug, but you seem to have found another. Is Skype always running when it happens?

You can clear the condition temporarily by rebooting. Some have reported that disabling tap-to-click in the Trackpad preference pane helps.

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 21, 2013 2:22 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for the answer, Linc!

I think that Skype was always running when it happened, yes. I too have have guessed from the log that it was Skype that was causing the hang, because there is an error at the exact time of a hang. I decided to check whether there were any Skype updates available — there were, so I updated Skype and so far that system hang issue hasn't troubled me. I did a quick search for Skype changelog to see if there is anything related, but it didn't appear to be easily findable. I shall see if the problem persists in future.

I'm not using a trackpad, so I think that an option of disabling tap-to-click is not applicable in my case.

Reply