Unexpected random shutdown

Question

Computer unexpectedly shuts down (immediate, no warning). Not doing anything special. Only symptom of possible problem is when running, Safari access is often inordinately delayed (eventually the site is opened) with fairly regular crashes of elements internal to Safari. Have checked for any known (or unknown) timers, etc. Have gone through the SMS reset drill. Turned off Time Machine. Have 4T WD Cloud on LAN. Attached EtreCheck report.EtreCheck version: 2.1.6 (109)Report generated 28 January 2015 at 14:19:54 ESTDownload EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheckClick the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.Click the [Adware] links for help removing adware.Hardware Information: ℹ️  iMac (24-inch, Early 2009) (Verified)  iMac - model: iMac9,1  1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core  4 GB RAM Upgradeable  BANK 0/DIMM0  2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok  BANK 1/DIMM0  2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok  Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported  Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/nVideo Information: ℹ️  NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 - VRAM: 512 MB  iMac 1920 x 1200System Software: ℹ️  OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Time since boot: 10:54:9Disk Information: ℹ️  ST1000DM003-9YN162 disk0 : (1 TB)  EFI (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB   FW (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (377.12 GB free)  Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;  [Recovery]: 650 MB   HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GA11N  USB Information: ℹ️  Apple Inc. Built-in iSight   Western Digital My Book 1 TB  EFI (disk1s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB   ALP (disk1s2) /Volumes/ALP : 999.86 GB (343.99 GB free)  Fitbit Inc. Fitbit Base Station   Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver   Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub   Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller Gatekeeper: ℹ️  Mac App Store and identified developersKernel Extensions: ℹ️  /Applications/  Apps - Video/Toast 11 Titanium/Spin Doctor.app  [not loaded] com.hzsystems.terminus.driver (4) [Support]  /Library/Application Support/MacKeeper/AntiVirus.app  [not loaded] com.zeobit.kext.AVKauth (2.3.3 - SDK 10.8) [Support]  [not loaded] com.zeobit.kext.Firewall (2.3.3 - SDK 10.8) [Support]  /System/Library/Extensions  [not loaded] com.palm.ClassicNotSeizeDriver (3.2) [Support]  [not loaded] com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6) [Support]  [not loaded] com.wdc.driver.1394HP (1.0.5) [Support]  [not loaded] com.wdc.driver.USBHP (1.0.2) [Support]  /Users/[redacted]/Library/Services/ToastIt.service/Contents/MacOS  [not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0) [Support]Launch Agents: ℹ️  [loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist [Support]  [loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist [Support]  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Support]  [running] com.rosettastone.rosettastonedaemon.plist [Support]Launch Daemons: ℹ️  [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]  [running] com.fitbit.galileod.plist [Support]  [running] com.memeo.WDMemeod.plist [Support]  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Support]  [loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Support]  [running] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.AntiVirus.plist [Support]  [failed] openbase.plist [Support]User Launch Agents: ℹ️  [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]  [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]  [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]  [running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Support]  [running] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist [Support]  [failed] UEMusicLibrary.plist [Support]User Login Items: ℹ️  GrowlHelperApp UNKNOWN  (missing value)  .VirexLogin UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)  iTunesHelper UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)  Mail Application  (/Applications/Mail.app)  Safari Application  (/Applications/Safari.app)  iCal UNKNOWN  (missing value)  SOHONotesService Application  (/Applications/SOHO Notes.app/Contents/MacOS/SOHONotesService.app)  apple-scc-20120116-150959 UNKNOWN  (missing value)  SpeechSynthesisServer Application  (/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)  Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper Application  (/Applications/Fitbit Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper.app)  Dropbox Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)  AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)  WDDriveManagerStatusMenu UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)  WDQuickView Application  (/Library/Application Support/WDSmartware/WDQuickView.app)Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️  JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 75 Check version  Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 6.0 [Support]  Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10  Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16   - SDK 10.8 [Support]  CouponPrinter-FireFox: Version: Version 1.1.5  OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.2.9 [Support]  AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Support]  FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.296 - SDK 10.6 [Support]  DivX Web Player: Version: 3.2.4.1250 - SDK 10.6 [Support]  OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 [Support]  Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.296 - SDK 10.6 [Support]  iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8  QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3  RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown  AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Support]  CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: Version: 3.1.0.2 [Support]  Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]  VLC Plugin: Version: 1.0.3 [Support]  DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.0.0r458 [Support]User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️  Unity Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 1.6.2 [Support]  Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Support]3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️  Flash Player  [Support]  Flip4Mac WMV  [Support]  Iomega Active Delivery  [Support]  Java  [Support]  Squeezebox  [Support]  Kensington MouseWorks  [Support]  OpenBasePreferences  [Support]  Perian  [Support]  UE Smart Radio  [Support]  WDQuickView  [Support]Time Machine: ℹ️  Skip System Files: YES - System files not being backed up  Mobile backups: OFF  Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off  Volumes being backed up:  ALP: Disk size: 999.86 GB Disk used: 655.87 GB  FW: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 622.23 GB  Destinations:  Swift [Network]   Total size: 2.00 TB   Total number of backups: 53   Oldest backup: 2014-10-31 19:53:29 +0000   Last backup: 2015-01-27 21:01:41 +0000   Size of backup disk: Too small  Backup size 2.00 TB &lt; (Disk used 1.28 TB X 3)Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️     12% Finder      6% WindowServer      3% com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64      1% Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper      0% com.apple.WebKit.NetworkingTop Processes by Memory: ℹ️  113 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent  99 MB WindowServer  82 MB Finder  77 MB Mail  64 MB SafariVirtual Memory Information: ℹ️  163 MB Free RAM  1.01 GB Active RAM  861 MB Inactive RAM  898 MB Wired RAM  6.98 GB Page-ins  565 MB Page-outsDiagnostics Information: ℹ️  Jan 28, 2015, 02:08:00 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SOHO Notes_2015-01-28-140800_[redacted].crash  Jan 28, 2015, 08:58:20 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-01-28-085820_[redacted].crash  Jan 28, 2015, 04:58:09 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-01-28-045809_[redacted].crash  Jan 28, 2015, 03:26:27 AM Self test - passed  Jan 27, 2015, 09:28:48 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FindSystemFiles_2015-01-27-092848_[redacted].cr ash  Jan 26, 2015, 07:14:34 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-01-26-191434_[reda cted].crash  Jan 26, 2015, 05:05:24 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-01-26-170524_[reda cted].crash  Jan 26, 2015, 12:30:17 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-01-26-003017_[redacted].crash  Jan 25, 2015, 07:11:09 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/calibre_2015-01-25-191109_[redacted].cpu_resour ce.diag [Details]  Jan 25, 2015, 05:45:07 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-01-25-174507_[redacted].crash

Old Toad · Answer

You&#x27;ve installed one of the more destructive malware apps out there:  MacKeeper.  Remove it via the developer&#x27;s instructions but many have found that they don&#x27;t do the job thoroughly.  There&#x27;s a new  3rd party app, DetectX,  that is dedicated to removing MacKeeper.  I&#x27;ve run it to see if it found any aberrant files on my Yosemite iMac without any ill effects.

Eddie Jasmine · Answer

Unfortunately, the iMac 9,1&#x27;s with the 512 mb GT130 card have been plagued with Sudden Shutdown Syndrome (I have one, so I know).  Have you booted into Safe Mode?  If yes, have any shutdowns occurred there?I have been working on this issue with my own iMac ever since Mavericks.  Most people will point to a hardware problem (which you could have) but I think it&#x27;s a driver conflict, namely, that either the graphics card or CPU is receiving false information to shutdown.  That could be due to outdated thermal or cpu state/graphics card parameters in the kexts...or the graphics card drivers.  I find that graphics-intensive apps will usually trigger the shutdown.  I don&#x27;t get any shutdowns in Safe Mode because most of the nVidia graphics suite isn&#x27;t loaded.One thing that I did that mitigated some of the shutdowns (but not all) was to remove AppleGraphicsPowerManagement.kext from /System/Library/Extensions folder.  But this is a drastic solution and it comes with a big PROCEED WITH CAUTION warning.  It&#x27;s helped me but I can&#x27;t guarantee that it will do the same for you.Anyway, that is my experience.  If you somehow find a permanent solution to this problem (including hardware replacement), please come back and tell us.

Michael Parker11 · Answer

I removed all ADWARE I could identify, including MacKeeper, and have only had one unexpected shutdown in the last week. It&#x27;s still there but much less prevalent. I haven&#x27;t run in Safe mode, though. I suspect you are right that it seems like a conflict that occurs when there are graphics running. Of course with today&#x27;s internet and browsers, when are graphics not running?

Old Toad · Answer

Have you rerun Etrecheck again to confirm that all MacKeeper files have been removed?

Michael Parker11 · Answer

Yes and it said it was all removed. I also removed four or five other AdWare that was indicated and took all DIVX off the computer. Seems to be running fine now but I did have that one shutdown after about a week of smooth sailing so there&#x27;s probably something else in there I should remove.

rkaufmann87 · Answer

Post another EtreCheck report please, on your first in addition to MacKeeper you had another antivirus apps installed. I want to look for additional clues too.Thx.

Michael Parker11 · Answer

Despite having only one shutdown in over a week, I just ran ETRE and it shows a lot of red. This memory pressure problem is also posted on this forum and I&#x27;m not sure if there is really a problem or if the reporting structures are not fully compatible.EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)Report generated 05 February 2015 at 16:54:17 ESTDownload EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheckClick the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.Hardware Information: ℹ️    iMac (24-inch, Early 2009) (Verified)    iMac - model: iMac9,1    1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core    4 GB RAM Upgradeable        BANK 0/DIMM0            2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok        BANK 1/DIMM0            2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/nVideo Information: ℹ️    NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 - VRAM: 512 MB        iMac 1920 x 1200System Software: ℹ️    OS X 10.10.2 (14C109) - Time since boot: 3 days 2:6:51Disk Information: ℹ️    ST1000DM003-9YN162 disk0 : (1 TB)        EFI (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB         FW (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (375.77 GB free)        Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;  [Recovery]: 650 MB     HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GA11N  USB Information: ℹ️    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight     Western Digital My Book 1 TB        EFI (disk1s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB         ALP (disk1s2) /Volumes/ALP : 999.86 GB (389.29 GB free)    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver     Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub         Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller Gatekeeper: ℹ️    Mac App Store and identified developersKernel Extensions: ℹ️        /Applications/  Apps - Video/Toast 11 Titanium/Spin Doctor.app    [not loaded]    com.hzsystems.terminus.driver (4) [Click for support]        /System/Library/Extensions    [not loaded]    com.palm.ClassicNotSeizeDriver (3.2) [Click for support]    [not loaded]    com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6) [Click for support]    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.1394HP (1.0.5) [Click for support]    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.USBHP (1.0.2) [Click for support]        /Users/[redacted]/Library/Services/ToastIt.service/Contents/MacOS    [not loaded]    com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0) [Click for support]Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️    [killed]    com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist    [killed]    com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist    [killed]    com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist    [killed]    com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist    [killed]    com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist    [killed]    com.apple.gamed.plist    [killed]    com.apple.Maps.pushdaemon.plist    [killed]    com.apple.printtool.agent.plist    [killed]    com.apple.SafariNotificationAgent.plist    [killed]    com.apple.spindump_agent.plist    [killed]    com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist    11 processes killed due to memory pressureProblem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️    [killed]    com.apple.awdd.plist    [killed]    com.apple.ctkd.plist    [killed]    com.apple.GSSCred.plist    [killed]    com.apple.ifdreader.plist    [killed]    com.apple.nehelper.plist    [killed]    com.apple.periodic-monthly.plist    [killed]    com.apple.periodic-weekly.plist    [killed]    com.apple.spindump.plist    [killed]    com.apple.wdhelper.plist    9 processes killed due to memory pressureLaunch Agents: ℹ️    [failed]    com.divx.dms.agent.plist [Click for support]    [failed]    com.divx.update.agent.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]    [running]    com.rosettastone.rosettastonedaemon.plist [Click for support]Launch Daemons: ℹ️    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]    [running]    com.fitbit.galileod.plist [Click for support]    [running]    com.memeo.WDMemeod.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]    [failed]    openbase.plist [Click for support]User Launch Agents: ℹ️    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]    [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]    [failed]    UEMusicLibrary.plist [Click for support]User Login Items: ℹ️    GrowlHelperApp    UNKNOWN  (missing value)    .VirexLogin    UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)    iTunesHelper    UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)    Mail    Application  (/Applications/Mail.app)    Safari    Application  (/Applications/Safari.app)    iCal    UNKNOWN  (missing value)    SOHONotesService    Application  (/Applications/SOHO Notes.app/Contents/MacOS/SOHONotesService.app)    apple-scc-20120116-150959    UNKNOWN  (missing value)    SpeechSynthesisServer    Application  (/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)    Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper    Application  (/Applications/Fitbit Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper.app)    Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)    AdobeResourceSynchronizer    Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)    FastTasks 2    Application  (/Applications/FastTasks 2.app)    WDDriveManagerStatusMenu    UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)    WDQuickView    Application  (/Library/Application Support/WDSmartware/WDQuickView.app)Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    DivX Web Player: Version: 3.2.4.1250 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8    PepperFlashPlayer: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown    DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.0.0r458 [Click for support]    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    VLC Plugin: Version: 1.0.3 [Click for support]    CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: Version: 3.1.0.2 [Click for support]    Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    CouponPrinter-FireFox: Version: Version 1.1.5    OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 [Click for support]    Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 6.0 [Click for support]    Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10    Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16   - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]    JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 75 Check version    OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.2.9 [Click for support]User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️    Unity Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 1.6.2 [Click for support]    Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Click for support]3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️    Flash Player  [Click for support]    Flip4Mac WMV  [Click for support]    Iomega Active Delivery  [Click for support]    Java  [Click for support]    Squeezebox  [Click for support]    Kensington MouseWorks  [Click for support]    OpenBasePreferences  [Click for support]    Perian  [Click for support]    UE Smart Radio  [Click for support]    WDQuickView  [Click for support]Time Machine: ℹ️    Skip System Files: YES - System files not being backed up    Mobile backups: OFF    Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off    Volumes being backed up:        ALP: Disk size: 999.86 GB Disk used: 610.57 GB        FW: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 623.57 GB    Destinations:        Swift [Network]         Total size: 2.00 TB         Total number of backups: 53         Oldest backup: 2014-10-31 19:53:29 +0000         Last backup: 2015-01-27 21:01:41 +0000         Size of backup disk: Too small            Backup size 2.00 TB &lt; (Disk used 1.23 TB X 3)Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️         9%    WindowServer         1%    Opera         1%    Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper         0%    Google Chrome         0%    launchdTop Processes by Memory: ℹ️    69 MB    WindowServer    65 MB    Google Chrome Helper    52 MB    Google Chrome    52 MB    Opera    34 MB    VLCVirtual Memory Information: ℹ️    62 MB    Free RAM    752 MB    Active RAM    712 MB    Inactive RAM    1.13 GB    Wired RAM    112.10 GB    Page-ins    4.32 GB    Page-outsDiagnostics Information: ℹ️    Feb 5, 2015, 04:44:01 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-02-05-044401_[redacted].crash

Old Toad · Answer

You still have serious RAM issues.  I&#x27;d start with removing all User Login Items and see if there&#x27;s any improvement.  Then add them back one at a time.  Growl isn&#x27;t needed as Yosemite has its own notifications feature. Virex isn&#x27;t needed either.  There are no known viruses for Macs. Virus software is known to slow down Macs. Also the Western Digital disk software is not needed.  Remove it.  The OS X handles disks without the WD software. Also it&#x27;s considered poorly written and inefficient. Google software is known to be a high memory user. Firefox is a better browser and more efficient.  Take a good look at the User Login Items and Internet Plug-ins and make sure each is needed.  Upgrading the RAM to 8 GB would go a long way in helping the situation (killed process wise) but probably not the crashes.

Aphoc1981 · Answer

I have the same issues with exactly the same iMac (except I got 8GB Ram). I have a thread open here: Early 2009 iMac Random Reboots.... Waiting for some answers too....

rkaufmann87 · Answer

Two major things, dump the WD installed software and upgrade your RAM. You have too little installed. Contact either OWC (www.macsales.com) or Crucial for RAM, iMacs are sensitive to RAM and installing high quality RAM from trusted sources is strongly suggested.

Aphoc1981 · Answer

I got the Crucial Ram, also uninstalled WDsoftware...problem still there

Eddie Jasmine · Answer

Well...after suffering so many shutdowns lately, I decided to break open my iMac 9,1 again.  I took a look at the power supply.  There is a swollen capacitor on it that appears to be leaking from the bottom.  Swollen or busted capacitors on the power supply, graphics card, and/or logic board are good culprits if you are experiencing sudden shutdowns or reboots.  I have ordered a new power supply so hopefully that will alleviate the problem, if not all of it.  It will certainly be one of the less costly solutions.

Michael Parker11 · Answer

The WD software is for the 4TB Cloud I use to provide wireless storage and access for my two Macs, iPad, iPhone, etc. This cloud arrangement will work without the software? I closed all applications except ETRE and the "killed" launches because of Memory Pressure still were cited. I suspect a confusion rather than a problem. ¿Running NO applications in 4 GB causes Memory Pressure? What did Apple do to give me this grief?

Old Toad · Answer

That&#x27;s OK.  Just remember that you won&#x27;t be able to store or run an iPhoto Library from that external HD.

Michael Parker11 · Answer

I thought over the sudden shutdowns and noticed that a video screen (possibly part of a browser window) was usually present when the shutdown occurred (even if I was not actively doing anything related to video). Knowing its reputation, I uninstalled Abobe Flash and have not had another unexpected shutdown for at least a week now.There are a few websites that I cannot visit effectively without Flash but this does seem to have "fixed" my problem.I intend to monitor my MacBook with Flash to see if Flash caused a problem with my 2009 iMac or if Flash is just a bad thing to have running in any Mac.