graphics hardware failing, or software problem?

Question

Level 1

5 points

graphics hardware failing, or software problem?

Hello. Since some time, and increasingly now, I get windows of any application jumping about when trying to resize them, flyout menus not appearing where they should, files can't be moved to folders manually in finder, even on this very text field mouse can't place the curseur and so on. Imaginably a software problem, or would it be likely to be failing hardware ? Needless to say restarting individual applications or the computer itself isn't helping.

Thanks

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion, 6 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 Memory, ATI Radeon HD 4870

Posted on Mar 2, 2015 1:35 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,417 points

Mar 2, 2015 2:35 PM in response to esa ceduti

Start with running this and posting the results here;

EtreCheck

have you tried a wired mouse if you are using s wireless one

Also run Apple Hardware Test

Using Apple Hardware Test

Reply

Answer 2

esa ceduti Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 2, 2015 3:24 PM in response to lllaass

Hello lllaass, thanks for your reply.

I am using a wired mouse. Here's the EtreCheck, for the moment. Hardware Test will be next.

EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated 3. März 2015 00:06:49 MEZ

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.

Click the [Adware! - Remove] links for help removing adware.

Hardware Information: ℹ️

Mac Pro (Early 2009) (Technical Specifications)

Mac Pro - model: MacPro4,1

1 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon CPU: 4-core

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

DIMM 1

Empty

DIMM 2

Empty

DIMM 3

4 GB DDR3 ECC 1066 MHz ok

DIMM 4

Empty

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en2: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ℹ️

ATI Radeon HD 4870 - VRAM: 512 MB

4613 FA 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.9.5 (13F34) - Time since boot: 11:56:43

Disk Information: ℹ️

HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GH41N

Corsair CSSD-F120GB2 disk2 : (120,03 GB)

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

a0_ai004-44ai-01840 (disk2s2) / : 119.17 GB (50.27 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk2s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

WDC WD6400AAKS-41H2B0 disk0 : (640,14 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

aa_A221ab3044300 (disk0s2) /Volumes/aa_A221ab3044300 : 639.79 GB (253.61 GB free)

Hitachi HDS723030ALA640 disk1 : (3 TB)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

scratchdis[redacted] (disk1s2) /Volumes/scratchdisk : 73.48 GB (71.68 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Boot OS X (disk1s5) <not mounted> : 134 MB

lager (disk1s6) /Volumes/lager : 870.61 GB (2.20 GB free)

iTunesLibrary (disk1s7) /Volumes/iTunesLibrary : 1.05 TB (802.78 GB free)

dev (disk1s8) /Volumes/dev : 144.14 GB (126.55 GB free)

timemachine (disk3) /Volumes/timemachine : 859.32 GB (138.33 GB free)

Core Storage: disk1s4 859.66 GB Online

USB Information: ℹ️

Seagate GoFlex Slim Mac 500,11 GB

EFI (disk4s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

[redacted]ha_pt-AAIAOAACCGT (disk4s2) /Volumes/kha_pt-AAIAOAACCGT : 499.76 GB (487.43 GB free)

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Mitsumi Electric Apple Optical USB Mouse

Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Configuration files: ℹ️

/etc/hosts - Count: 47

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Anywhere

Adware: ℹ️

Geneio [Adware! - Remove]

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/SoundTap.app

[not loaded] com.NCHSoftware.driver.SoundTapVirtualAudioDevice (1.0.0d1 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

/Applications/Toast 10 Titanium/Toast Titanium.app

[not loaded] com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (1.7) [Click for support]

/Library/Extensions

[loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (4234 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.0 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[failed] com.apple.installd.plist

[failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

Launch Agents: ℹ️

[running] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.maintain.Coc[redacted]tailSystemEvents.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

[running] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] org.glimmerbloc[redacted]er.updater.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[running] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.barebones.bbedit.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtas[redacted].14DF6D50-FBDD-4BDF-A5CE-A8BD65F80AD7.plis t [Click for support]

[running] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtas[redacted].27EA7D42-0C57-4AEA-AFB9-7273C50BAFD9.plis t [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtas[redacted].4CE56A0F-70D3-4386-8166-E8720C7D4CF9.plis t [Click for support]

[running] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtas[redacted].6CAB2EE5-E60E-4EFF-B2C8-50CB5C948288.plis t [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtas[redacted].9C7731EF-F12B-42AE-A52C-EA13B5228B24.plis t [Click for support]

[running] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtas[redacted].A77E8A99-03A7-425A-B73F-688219AE7784.plis t [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtas[redacted].E42479A5-07B3-438D-B447-17EE4C2C0D46.plis t [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] phonostarTimer.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.genieo.completer.download.plist [Adware! - Remove]

[loaded] com.genieo.completer.ltvbit.plist [Adware! - Remove]

[failed] com.genieo.completer.update.plist [Adware! - Remove]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.dis[redacted]SpaceWatcher.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.scheduledScan.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.trashWatcher.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

Butler Application Hidden (/Applications/Butler.app)

Default Folder X Helper Application Hidden (/Users/[redacted]/Library/PreferencePanes/Default Folder X.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Default Folder X Helper.app)

FontExplorerXAutoload Application Hidden (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/Linotype/FontExplorer X/FontExplorerXAutoload.app)

Calendar Application Hidden (/Applications/CalendarFree.app)

phonostarTimer UNKNOWN (missing value)

DEVONthink Sorter Application (/Applications/DEVONthin[redacted] Pro.app/Contents/PlugIns/SorterPlugin.bundle/Contents/MacOS/DEVONthink Sorter.app)

K9-MacOptimizer UNKNOWN (missing value)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.0.2r122 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 75 Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Image Block

Turn Off the Lights

TrafficLight

Type-To-Navigate

avast! Online Security

Clip to DEVONthink

ClickToFlash

Facebook Cleaner

Clip to DEVONthink

AdBlock

Deanimator

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

RCDefaultApp

Default Folder X [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) [Click for support]

GlimmerBlocker [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]

Logitech Control Center [Click for support]

Shades Preferences [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

dev: Disk size: 144.14 GB Disk used: 17.59 GB

a0_ai004-44ai-01840: Disk size: 119.17 GB Disk used: 68.91 GB

kha_pt-AAIAOAACCGT: Disk size: 499.76 GB Disk used: 12.33 GB

Destinations:

timemachine [Local]

Total size: 859.32 GB

Total number of backups: 75

Oldest backup: 2014-03-24 01:35:11 +0000

Last backup: 2015-03-02 22:58:44 +0000

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 859.32 GB > (Disk used 98.83 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

42% PluginProcess

13% WindowServer

6% Mail

4% com.apple.WebKit.Networking

2% com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

150 MB PluginProcess

82 MB Safari

64 MB Mail

52 MB com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64

39 MB WindowServer

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

79 MB Free RAM

790 MB Active RAM

746 MB Inactive RAM

831 MB Wired RAM

5.96 GB Page-ins

301 MB Page-outs

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Mar 2, 2015, 12:09:36 PM Self test - passed

Mar 1, 2015, 02:15:28 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-03-01-141528_[reda cted].crash

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Answer 3

esa ceduti Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 2, 2015 3:26 PM in response to lllaass

oh, and I failed to mention: While I did manage to remove the genieo files, I couldn't find anything entitled gatekeeper.

Doing the AHT now, will report back.

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Answer 4

esa ceduti Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 2, 2015 3:49 PM in response to lllaass

Hello again. It seems my computer won't do an AHT. It does take longer to start up when I do (exactly) as instructed, but it then starts up as usual (no error code, no indication of anything out of the ordinary). None of the described causes for errors apply. (Tried D, cmd-D, opt-D, active wireless internet connection, inactive … )

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Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Mar 2, 2015 4:36 PM in response to esa ceduti

Please read this whole message before doing anything.

This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

Step 1

The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.

Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”

While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your documents or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this behavior; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.

Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?

After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.

*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.

Step 2

The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.

Please take this step regardless of the results of Step 1.

Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.

Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.

The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of Steps 1 and 2.

Reply

Answer 6

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 3, 2015 3:15 AM in response to esa ceduti

you said 6GB RAM?

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

DIMM 1

Empty

DIMM 2

Empty

DIMM 3

4 GB DDR3 ECC 1066 MHz ok

something wrong here?

AdwareMedic

The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide Genieo

Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 7

Mar 3, 2015 6:09 AM in response to The hatter

As The hatter says, there is something wrong with your RAM memory. If Mac OS X detects that DIMMs have Errors at Startup, their slots are declared "empty" You appear to have at least two such slots. Those failed DIMMs should be removed, and you should probably add some more memory for better performance.

Your Hosts file looks to have been hacked:

Configuration files: ℹ️

/etc/hosts - Count: 47

Fixing a hacked /etc/hosts file

You have turned off GateKeeper, and allow downloads from any source to install without giving you any kind of warning. This is dangerous. You have been sloppy about downloading third-party Utilities, most of which are useless, and slow down your Mac. You still have Genio and CleanmyMac installed, and they should be completely removed.

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Answer 8

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Mar 3, 2015 6:51 AM in response to esa ceduti

esa ceduti wrote:

I couldn't find anything entitled gatekeeper.

Gatekeeper is the name of the technology, but it is not referred to as such in the user interface. Go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy and look in the General tab. There will be a control labeled "Allow apps downloaded from" with three radio buttons. Yours is set to "Anywhere," which essentially means Gatekeeper is off and not protecting your Mac. Change this to one of the other settings. (You may need to click the lock icon in the lower left corner of the System Preferences window to change the setting.)

Note that if you come across a legit app that Gatekeeper will not allow you to open, there is no need to change this setting. Simply control-click the app and choose Open. After confirming that you want it to open, the app will then be cleared, and can be opened normally from then on.

It seems my computer won't do an AHT.

Your computer should have shipped with gray system install disks. AHT for your Mac is found on the Applications install disk, which is disk 2. See the instructions for computers with 10.7 or older here:

Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 9

esa ceduti Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 15, 2015 8:04 AM in response to thomas_r.

Dear Linc, hatter, Grant, and thomas,

Thanks for all your generously extensive answers and advice. My reply comes so late because the problem itself seemed unstable, then others occured, and I thought it better to observe a little more.

Linc, the problems I described back then usually occured only after some hours of operating. I worked in guest account for about two hours without occurences of any kind.

As for step 2, it seems there is a firmware password set indeed, and yes, further instructions on the matter would be welcome.

hatter, if I set up ram in any other way, the computer won’t start up. Clearly, this is a hardware problem, but one that has been present for years now. I was told that a repair would exceed the time vaule of the machine itself, and since all ran well otherwise, I decided to leave it as it is. However, maybe it has now withered further.

Grant, my stating of 6GB Ram is dated and wrong. I had overlooked it, and set it right now. The reason for using so little RAM is the one I describe in the preceding paragraph.

I fixed the other two issues as well. Thanks for your advice.

Thomas, I wasn’t aware of the name nor that I had turned it off. Thanks. As for the AHT however, I bought the machine refurbished by Apple, and they failed to ship a proper install disk set along with it. Instead, they sent me a replacemend dvd not containing the required applications. Short of a visiting the store, do you know of any other way to do that test?

Thanks again to all of you.

Reply

Answer 10

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 15, 2015 8:13 AM in response to The hatter

A, Clean install system on nww driveB. Buy new set of memory - EEC DDR3 3 x 4GB

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Answer 11

Mar 15, 2015 8:58 AM in response to esa ceduti

my stating of 6GB Ram is dated and wrong. I had overlooked it, and set it right now.

I was not relying on your statement. Your report above shows slot 1 empty, slot 2 empty, and slot 3 with a 4GB DIMM. That is not a recommended configuration. If you had done that deliberately, you would get a system message each time you start up. If the DIMMs in those two slots have failed the Power-On Self test, which I assume they have, they would be declared "empty". As of the date of that report, your RAM needed some new, compatible modules.

There are many readily available DIMMs that will fit in the slots, but not work in your Mac Pro. Some will work OK by themselves, but do not 'play nice with others'. Readers here are full of advice about how to obtain the right modules for your Mac Pro silver tower. Just ask.

The advice that an Industrial-strength Mac Pro silver tower is "not worth repairing" when the individual components are all replaceable and it is still working (but perhaps not optimally) is some of the worst nonsense I have ever heard. Only an abject failure to start due to a Motherboard failure should condemn this model, and even those motherboard parts are becoming quite affordable on the used market.

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Answer 12

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 15, 2015 9:27 AM in response to The hatter

These: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/85MP3W4M12GK/

Or http://www.datamemorysystems.com/dm61-758-x-3/

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/dm61-768-x-3/

(any of the memory for 2009-2012 should be fine)

Your system can easily:

take a faster 6-core processor, more memory (32 or 48GB), as well as faster and larger hard drives, SSDs, and PCIe SATA III, SSD-PCIe, USB3, eSATA III along with something to replace the ATI 4870 (it was aging in 2008 when it was a BTO option).

Hard to kill off or bring Mac Pro down totally. Even the daughter card for the processor can be replaced.

Used 4,1 2009s are available on craigslist and ebay etc for $495, fully functional.

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Answer 13

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Mar 15, 2015 10:46 AM in response to esa ceduti

esa ceduti wrote:

I bought the machine refurbished by Apple, and they failed to ship a proper install disk set along with it. Instead, they sent me a replacemend dvd not containing the required applications. Short of a visiting the store, do you know of any other way to do that test?

No, Apple's the only one who can help with that, either at the store or by sending you that disk.

Reply

Answer 14

esa ceduti Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 15, 2015 4:45 PM in response to The hatter

hatter, Grant

Thanks for your detailed information again. Very encouraging and helpful.

I opened the machine and found myself wrong once more. In fact, lots 3 and 4 are equally occupied with modules marked

DDR3 1066 4GB 256M*8

PC-8500 ECC DIMM

I was equally wrong in assuming the machine wouldn’t start up in any other configuration. Not only does it start up nicely with an empty slot 4, it does so equally when putting the operational module into slot 1 where it belongs. The second and previously unrecognised module however remains unrecognised when installed in slot 2, which obviously suggests it’s own failure.

I will run and test the machine for a while now and see how it behaves, and then either report back with more questions or follow your upgrading suggestions.

For the moment, have all my thanks.

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Answer 15

Mar 15, 2015 5:01 PM in response to esa ceduti

Your Mac pro features Error Correcting Code memory, and the Xeon Processor has Hardware memory error correction built-in.

If a single-bit error occurs in a word, it is corrected on the fly with essentially no slowdown. A Background process harvests the error occurrences and they can be presented in a snapshot form. The STATIC report looks like this:

This graphic is from an older Mac pro that uses Riser-cards and FBDIMMs and requires paired modules, from Anandtech.com

 menu > About this Mac > More Info > Report > Memory

A double-bit error will cause a very distinctive kernel panic, machine check, detected by multiple processors at once.

At startup, the error-correcting logic is used differently. At that juncture ANY errors that occur in the first few seconds of testing will cause the module slot to be declared "empty".

So the slots declared "empty" failed in their first few seconds of testing. They should be removed and marked Bad. If they have the original Retail Vendor's sticker like Crucial (not the manufacturer, like Hynix) they may be replaceable under warranty.

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