OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 Crashing Constantly

The crash symptom is the screen goes black. Holding the power button down does nothing. The only recovery is to unplug, wait for SMC to reset, and restart. It has happened at least half a dozen times today with no apparent provocation (i.e. making a text update to my blog). The problem can be duplicated in Final Cut Pro X 10.2 by editing a complex video (i.e. lots of transitions and layers, etc). That will crash the system in milliseconds and it's consistent. Every other crash seems random.

It's maddening as that video is a red-hot development for me and productivity is finished until this is fixed. Any ideas?

Posted on Apr 26, 2015 1:51 PM

55 replies

May 30, 2015 3:52 PM in response to edubra

I agree with your estimation but this won't fix it. You may want to get in touch with AppleCare as mine has been through Apple hardware diagnostics multiple times and there's just nothing wrong with it. Yosemite 10.10.3 is bugged. Through AppleCare you can get in touch with someone who can pull diagnostics directly from your machine and the information goes to their Engineering, possibly generating a fix. I'm in that pipeline too. It's slow and it's a drag but at least this could lead to resolving the problem for real. The only other answer I know is to go back to 10.10.2.

edubra

Level 1

0 points

Jun 5, 2015 3:54 PM in response to Silas Scarborough

I disagree, complains and conclusions like that will alert Apple. This will help to fix it. We are talking about damage and responsibility here. I´m not a kid. An Apple computer in Brazil costs 3 times more than US, including Apple care, so do your job fast before Windows 10 for free start to be more interesting.

Jun 5, 2015 4:35 PM in response to edubra

Disagree all you like but complaints get ignored, facts get problems resolved. In working with AppleCare, it's now determined the crashes are being caused by a sudden power drop. Thus far, Engineering has not determined why it happens but review is ongoing. It's a late-2013 iMac and it's running nothing other than Yosemite 10.10.3. Whether the solution for this will resolve problems for other late-2013 iMacs is not clear but it seems likely. AppleCare has been extremely responsive and effective. I recommend it highly.

Jun 6, 2015 12:35 AM in response to Silas Scarborough

This trick solved my problem:

go to System Preferences--->Startup Disk--->Clicking on my internal drive then--->Restart.

Jun 6, 2015 3:32 AM in response to princecaspied

Tip: eliminate professional comedian from your list of career choices.

edubra

Level 1

0 points

Jun 6, 2015 3:43 AM in response to Silas Scarborough

Thank you indeed, you have just give the tool I´ve been waiting for.

Jun 24, 2015 3:59 PM in response to edubra

I think there are some serious issues with 10.10.3. I have had three computers all crash with 10.10.3 in last two weeks. None had a drive problem although all used SSD drives.

One fix was to turn off file vault. My wife's MBA 13" first starting crashing and when I took it to Genius Bar, they turned it off and crashes went away. (I have been back to GB four more times since this experience and every single Apple employee is telling me to turn off file vault.)

Next my iMac 27" crashed with logs starting in Safari. Computer eventually would not boot. A week later my MBP 15" experiencd crash logs first on safari, then mail, then message and finally finder failed. Failed to boot.

This cannot be a coincidence and in all cases disk utility found no Issues. Only difference was MBP starting flickering screen before crash logs showed up.

WHy why do I continue to believe it's related to software? Last night I rebuilt my iMac from scratch loading all new software on a clean build of 10.10.3. I did not want to use my backup and relied on Cloud for data retrieval. I was literally two hours in and running Senuti to get my music back from my iPad when I got my first crash log. There continues to be no problems repouted on disk utility.

Convinced Apple has a problem.

Jun 28, 2015 1:23 AM in response to Silas Scarborough

I have the same problem: my Imac frequently freezes after recovering from standby. This situation occurs frequently after last OS X upgrade: i don't know if it is a coincidence or what. I run a old imac ( late 2009 ) but I never had such problem and it has always been smooth and fast for my needs.

I have recently installed a third party SSD drive but I don't think this is the cause. Anyone knows relations between SSD and these issues?

Here there is my EtreCheck report:

Problem description:

Imac freezes 6 times in a day after coming back from standby.

EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 6/28/15, 10:13 AM

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.

Hardware Information: ℹ️

iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac10,1

1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ℹ️

ATI Radeon HD 4670 - VRAM: 256 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440

S19B150 1366 x 768 @ 60 Hz

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.3 (14D136) - Time since boot: 0:12:42

Disk Information: ℹ️

ST31000528AS disk1 : (1 TB)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Dati (disk1s2) /Volumes/Dati : 999.86 GB (696.87 GB free)

OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD disk0 : (120,03 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 119.17 GB (77.47 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Configuration files: ℹ️

/etc/sysctl.conf - Exists

/etc/hosts - Count: 9

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Anywhere

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/Toast Titanium.app

[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.Pluto2 (1.1) [Click for support]

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

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

/Applications/Transmit.app

[not loaded] com.panic.TransmitDisk.transmitdiskfs (4.0.0 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

/Library/Application Support/VirtualBox

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (4.3.26) [Click for support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (4.3.26) [Click for support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (4.3.26) [Click for support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (4.3.26) [Click for support]

/Library/Extensions

[loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (4240 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.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.teamviewer.Helper.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.startup.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

iTunesHelper Applicazione (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

TransmitMenu Applicazione (/Applications/Transmit.app/Contents/MacOS/TransmitMenu.app)

Google Chrome Applicazione (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.194 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.194 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 Check version

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Safari Extensions: ℹ️

1Password

Pins Extension

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Destinations:

Time Machine [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 5

Oldest backup: 2015-04-26 17:55:21 +0000

Last backup: 2015-06-20 16:45:22 +0000

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk size 0 B X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

22% WindowServer

13% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

10% Safari

9% com.apple.WebKit.Networking

2% nsurlstoraged(2)

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

813 MB kernel_task

606 MB Google Chrome Helper(9)

442 MB phpstorm

164 MB mds_stores

164 MB Google Chrome

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

9.31 GB Free RAM

6.69 GB Used RAM

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Jun 28, 2015, 10:00:19 AM Self test - passed

Jun 27, 2015, 08:17:25 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent_2015-06-27-201725 _[redacted].crash

Jun 27, 2015, 08:11:20 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent_2015-06-27-201120 _[redacted].crash

Jun 27, 2015, 08:10:51 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-06-27-201051_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Jun 27, 2015, 12:45:11 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Spotify Helper_2015-06-27-004511_[redacted].crash

I am seriously thinking about downgrade my system to Mavericks waiting for El Capitain, hoping Apple will investigate and fix those really frustrating issues.

Rudy

Jun 28, 2015 3:45 PM in response to rudyfromferrara

Configuration files: ℹ️

/etc/sysctl.conf - Exists

/etc/hosts - Count: 9

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Anywhere

Config files suggest software could be involved.

Genieo could be involved.

Blocking Adobe to stop activation

Are you still using VirtualBox? What about Roxio software?

Have you verified all your software is Yosemite compatible and updated.

If you restart in Safe Boot mode do the crashes go away? see below

With GateKeeper set to Anywhere you have left your Mac open to install of malware. Set to default "Mac App Store and identified developers".

See OS X: About Gatekeeper - Apple Support

Have you considered doing a clean install of Yosemite to see if you crash? Use an external drive to backup your current install or create a small partition on your internal drive.

Safe boot

* shutdown

* start the Mac and *wait* for the startup chime to sound

* after the sound, press and hold down the shift key

* keep holding and *wait* until the grey  Apple logo appears

* now release the shift key and just wait (it could take a few minutes)

* eventually the login screen appears with the words SAFE BOOT

* continue to login to see if the problem goes away.

Jul 1, 2015 10:24 AM in response to Silas Scarborough

The problem with the system was finally determined to be a power supply failing in a highly-erratic manner. The timing in combination with installing Yosemite 10.10.3 was unfortunate and unrelated. After replacement of the power supply, Yosemite 10.10.3 ran without flaw and no more black screen crashes.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 Crashing Constantly