Late 2009 i7 27" iMac Crashed after Yosemite

Question

Late 2009 i7 27" iMac Crashed after Yosemite

I purchased a late 2009 27" iMac from a friend of mine earlier this year. It ran beautifully...until I installed Yosemite. It started off just fine, then slowly began to become glitchy and occasionally freeze. Then came the serious freezing. It would freeze and then would not boot up into OS X. It gets the start up chime, then either gets stuck in a reboot loop or stays frozen on a white/grey screen indefinitely. Safe boot works...sometimes. I've talked to Apple support multiple times and I am now in contact with a senior advisor, however, nothing seems to work. I reset SMC, PRAM, reinstalled OS X, reverted to Mavericks, restored from Time Machine...everything. If I erase the hard drive and completely reinstall everything from scratch, it will SOMETIMES work...for about a day, or until I try to restart and then the problem starts all over again.

I took it to the Apple store and they thought it was my hard drive...it isn't because I replaced it. One of the associates claimed that he inserted Apple RAM and it worked just fine, then put my Crucial RAM back in and it still worked. I got it home and it worked for about a day until I decided to restart and then nothing again.

I replaced my hard drive, ran diagnostics on the RAM (Crucial) and have tried every test I can think of. I used MemTest for the RAM and I even downloaded NovaBench from the App Store to see if it could find anything. It ran and seemed to pass every test EXCEPT the GPU test. The app claims that my video card (Radeon HD 4850 512mb) may not be compatible, although their website shows data for that exact video card. I can't seem to find any other app that will run GPU diagnostics. Even the network diagnostics that the Apple store runs passed every test. Holding "D" at startup does not run the Apple hardware test. I have a bluetooth keyboard, could that be why?

I'm thinking it could be hardware, but I have no data to support that assumption. Could it be firmware? I would love to hear if anyone else is having this problem because I've been dealing with it for about a month with no light at the end of the tunnel. I am incredibly disappointed and I sincerely hope it's simply a coincidence that upon installing Yosemite my computer craps out.

Posted on Dec 3, 2014 12:58 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 3, 2014 1:32 PM in response to sickfrusciante

I purchased a late 2009 27" iMac from a friend

Holding "D" at startup does not run the Apple hardware test.

You need to use the system DVD that originally came w/the comp to run the hardware test. Should have been part of the purchase from your friend. Older Macs are not to be sold w/o them per Apple's license. Ask your friend for them if you do not have them.

Another alternative:

You can get replacement System Install & Restore CD/DVDs from Apple's Customer Support - in the US, (800) 767-2775 - for a nominal S&H fee. You'll need to have the model and/or serial number of your Mac available.

If you're not in the US, you may need to go through the regional Apple Store that serves your location to find the contact number. Here's a list of links to all of those - http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/intlstoreroutingpage.html Another resource: International Support Phone #s.

It ran beautifully...until I installed Yosemite.

Uninstall Yosemite & go back to the OS you had when you purchased the comp since that OS ran beautifully.

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Answer 2

Dec 3, 2014 2:20 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

I Have the CD. AHT fails to read an "env" file. My computer immediately shuts off after it gives me that pop up. Mavericks ran beautifully...but that doesn't work either. And the install disk doesn't work either. It freezes after attempting to boot from it.

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Answer 3

Dec 3, 2014 2:31 PM in response to sickfrusciante

sickfrusciante wrote:

I Have the CD. AHT fails to read an "env" file.

You have a hardware problem.

My computer immediately shuts off after it gives me that pop up. Mavericks ran beautifully...but that doesn't work either.

And the install disk doesn't work either. It freezes after attempting to boot from it.

See KB Article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2000Mac doesn't start up from install disc

Lug your iMac back to the repair shop & advise them of the hardware test results.

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Answer 4

Dec 3, 2014 4:32 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Does this mean anything to anybody?

*** Panic Report ***

panic(cpu 4 caller 0xffffff8003e1e80a): Kernel trap at 0xffffff8003d79bb3, type 13=general protection, registers:

CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x00007fff9223dc23, CR3: 0x00000000069bf000, CR4: 0x0000000000002660

RAX: 0x0000000000000018, RBX: 0x0000000000000001, RCX: 0x0000000000000002, RDX: 0xffffff8021f64c38

RSP: 0xffffff81eccd39c0, RBP: 0xffffff81eccd39f0, RSI: 0xffffff81eccd3a6c, RDI: 0xffffff8021f64be0

R8: 0x00bfbfbf00bfbfbf, R9: 0x0000000000000298, R10: 0x00000000000002b8, R11: 0x00000007a9921f13

R12: 0xffffff81eccd3a6c, R13: 0xffffff8021f64be0, R14: 0xffffff80241c3fd8, R15: 0xffffff7f80000000

RFL: 0x0000000000010287, RIP: 0xffffff8003d79bb3, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010

Fault CR2: 0x00007fff9223dc23, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x4

Backtrace (CPU 4), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff81e1f9de10 : 0xffffff8003d3a811

0xffffff81e1f9de90 : 0xffffff8003e1e80a

0xffffff81e1f9e050 : 0xffffff8003e3a443

0xffffff81e1f9e070 : 0xffffff8003d79bb3

0xffffff81eccd39f0 : 0xffffff8003d78de7

0xffffff81eccd3b20 : 0xffffff80041eb60c

0xffffff81eccd3ba0 : 0xffffff80041ea4a9

0xffffff81eccd3c60 : 0xffffff8004205339

0xffffff81eccd3c90 : 0xffffff80040db81f

0xffffff81eccd3e40 : 0xffffff8003fd68c9

0xffffff81eccd3e70 : 0xffffff8003fb36be

0xffffff81eccd3e80 : 0xffffff8003fad87e

0xffffff81eccd3f40 : 0xffffff8003fb0dce

0xffffff81eccd3fb0 : 0xffffff8003e192c7

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:

14B25

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Sep 19 00:26:44 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2782.1.97~2/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: 89E10306-BC78-3A3B-955C-7C4922577E61

Kernel slide: 0x0000000003a00000

Kernel text base: 0xffffff8003c00000

__HIB text base: 0xffffff8003b00000

System model name: iMac11,1 (Mac-F2268DAE)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 32909812896

last loaded kext at 32857513474: com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.70 (addr 0xffffff7f85488000, size 32768)

loaded kexts:

com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.70

com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver 1.0.2d2

com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.14.37

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.3.1f2

com.apple.driver.AppleOSXWatchdog 1

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0

com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124

com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 267.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.5d0

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 267.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 267.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.6.1

com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.1

com.apple.kext.AMDFramebuffer 1.2.8

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothUSBDFU 4.3.1f2

com.apple.ATIRadeonX2000 10.0.0

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess 1

com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.1f2

com.apple.kext.AMD4800Controller 1.2.8

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHV 1

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.3

com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.7.21

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.4.12

com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.2.10

com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 327.5

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 3.0.1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.BootCache 35

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.7.0

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.6.5

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 705.4.1

com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 10.1.2b3

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 5.5.2

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Atheros40 700.74.5

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 3.0.7

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 705.4.14

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 656.4.1

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 3.1

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 3.1

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 218.0.0

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 161

com.apple.security.quarantine 3

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 218.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 11

com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0

com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 267.0

com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.15

com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 200.6

com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 97

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.1f2

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.3.1f2

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.6

com.apple.kext.AMDSupport 1.2.8

com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.7.21

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.9

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 267.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 267.0

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.8.0d49

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 705.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.7.21

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.1.0

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.4.1

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.13d1

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.4.1

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 705.4.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.7.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 705.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 705.4.9

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 2.6.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.3b3

com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.5.6

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 700.52

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 705.4.14

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.security.sandbox 300.0

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2

com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5

com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager 1.0

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 389.1

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 31

com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 3.1

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0

com.apple.kec.Libm 1

com.apple.kec.pthread 1

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Answer 5

Dec 4, 2014 6:30 PM in response to sickfrusciante

I've had similar problems with Mavericks. The issue is the gfx card. The driver that Mavericks uses freezed the system frequently. There has been no solution provided for this by apple so far. Try the link below if it works for you:

http://www.pauloamgomes.net/blog/fix-weird-os-x-freeze-imacs-late-2009

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Answer 6

Dec 16, 2014 5:30 PM in response to loveimacs

my 2009 27" iMac was crashing/freezing before Maverick was release. Yes I was told it was graphic card too. So I think I will buy a graphic card and wait until I return from 3 month vacation before I have it installed. WHY? The apple staff have already confirmed that this "graphic card" will be obsolete sooner than later.

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Answer 7

Dec 30, 2014 1:56 PM in response to sickfrusciante

still having this issue...

random freezes of the entire screen (but the cursor)...

My 2009 iMac 27 i5 has an ATI HD4850

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Answer 8

Jan 3, 2015 1:55 PM in response to sickfrusciante

Update:

I fixed the issue. It was the video card. I replaced it myself and now everything works fine. I bought it from Newegg.com and they offer a 1-year warranty.

I would also recommend purchasing iStat. It is an app that appears in the top tool bar. It monitors just about everything you can think of related to your Mac hardware. It shows CPU usage, memory and HD usage, displays the temperatures of all of your Mac's sensors and even allows you to change the fan speeds of your Mac. It is cheap and in my opinion, well worth it.

I hope this is helpful.

Late 2009 27" iMac, 2.8 GHz Quad-core i7 CPU, ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB

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Answer 9

MsChok

Level 1

8 points

Feb 12, 2015 9:06 AM in response to sickfrusciante

I just came home from apple store, my 27" iMac late 2009 having some kind of the same issue.

1. I'm trying to erase my HD but said couldn't unmount.

2. Bring the iMac to apple store, they erase my HD and reinstall the Yosemite.

3. When restart, display having problem.

4. Erase again and install Mavericks, display still have problem.

5. Technician advise to change the graphic card, and not to upgrade to Yosemite.

Do you have problem with the Yosemite? How much do you pay for the graphic card? Thank you!

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Answer 10

Feb 12, 2015 3:08 PM in response to sickfrusciante

@sickfrusciante, I have the same box, same specs, same issue-- had Apple replace the video card and all is well now. However the temps seem a little higher than what I remember. GPU Diode - 69 C and GPU heatsink - 66 C. What are your temp?

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Answer 11

Mar 13, 2015 9:19 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

I have the exact same symptoms and problems with my Late 2009 i7 iMac. If this is a hardware problem then its a factory flaw in the hardware that's causing it. My iMac worked great until the update then ground to a halt over the course of a few weeks. Now I can only boot in safe mode despite all system recovery attempts.

If the hardware is damaged then it's likely due to poor power management code or excessive strain on the cpu/gpu. I'm not happy with the responses Ive received so far as well. I'm not willing to lose all my data with a hd swap either. Diagnostics on my confirm the file system is in tact and fine yet it wont boot except in safe mode.

Apple, this seems to be a common issue, please provide a solution.

Thanks

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Answer 12

Mar 13, 2015 9:22 PM in response to Lostspook

Just for reference:

OS X Yosemite cersion 10.10.2

Processor: 2.8GHz Intel Ccore i7

Memory: 8 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB

HDD: 2 TB (300GB free)

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Answer 13

Mar 13, 2015 11:03 PM in response to Lostspook

Lostspook wrote:

I have the exact same symptoms and problems with my Late 2009 i7 iMac. If this is a hardware problem then its a factory flaw in the hardware that's causing it. My iMac worked great until the update then ground to a halt over the course of a few weeks. Now I can only boot in safe mode despite all system recovery attempts.

In that case, take your iMac to your local AS or an AASP. Diagnostic testing is FREE!

If the hardware is damaged then it's likely due to poor power management code or excessive strain on the cpu/gpu. I'm not happy with the responses Ive received so far as well. I'm not willing to lose all my data with a hd swap either. Diagnostics on my confirm the file system is in tact and fine yet it wont boot except in safe mode.

Check out the following links:

Mac Basics: Time Machine

User Tip: Most commonly used backup methods

Emergency backups you didn't know you had!

Apple, this seems to be a common issue, please provide a solution.

These are user-to-user forums where everyday folk (volunteers) post questions and offer answers (technical support) to each other.

Apple involvement. Apple may respond to questions but does not formally provide technical support on the Site. Any information that is provided by Apple or Apple employees is offered on an "AS IS" basis without warranties of any kind.

Post your concerns on Apple's Product Feedback website.

Thanks

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Answer 14

Mar 14, 2015 9:53 AM in response to Lostspook

I left my iMac at the Apple Store as I was going south for 3 months. I said, take sometime to run this computer and see it "crash". Well they called a month later and said no crashes. I said, "are you kidding me, you have 3 months to run it". A week later they called back to confirm it crashed. It was the video card. I then requested that they use my iMac everyday to ensure its not just the "video card". Every few weeks I call and ask if they are using it... They say yes. But maybe now I should call again and ask if its "heating up".

Thanks for replying my issue>

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Answer 15

Mar 14, 2015 9:45 AM in response to JBogs0311

My iMac is at the apple store while i'm wintering in southwest USA. I asked them to test it, run it 24/7. After 3 weeks they said no crashes. I replied "are you kidding me, you have 3 months to test the machine". A week later they called to confirm it crashed 3 times in one day....it was the video card. Now I will call to ask if they are using everyday and requested and to watch the "temperature". Thanks for heads up.

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