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HELP: System crashing randomly on Yosemite

Hello everyone.


I recently purchased a used iMac (Mid 2011, 21.5 inch, 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 11 GB, 1333 MHz DDR3) and everything ran well.

Once i purchased and installed the Adobe Creative Cloud, things got a little awkward.

At random times, it can be when editing or when browsing the web, the computer would crash.

By that I mean freeze, screen turns black, physically restart itself, pop up with an error message, which informs you to press any key to resume the restart process.


I used an app called EtreCheck to find out what may be wrong, and I got these stats:


Problem description:

Random Computer Crashes when editing photos or videos or simply browsing online.


EtreCheck version: 2.4.2 (142)

Report generated 9/19/15, 11:19 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: (What does this mean?)

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac12,1

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core

11 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

1 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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


Video Information: (What does this mean?)

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 512 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080


System Software: (What does this mean?)

OS X 10.10.5 (14F27) - Time since boot: less than an hour


Disk Information: (What does this mean?)

WDC WD5000AAKS-402AA0 disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

OSX (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (342.17 GB free)

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


OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5690H ()


USB Information: (What does this mean?)

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Mitsumi Electric Apple Optical USB Mouse

Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Thunderbolt Information: (What does this mean?)

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Configuration files: (What does this mean?)

/etc/sudoers, File size 2299 but expected 1275


Gatekeeper: (What does this mean?)

Mac App Store and identified developers


Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

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

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: (What does this mean?)

[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist [Click for support]

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


User Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

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

[running] com.spigot.ApplicationManager.plist [Click for support]


User Login Items: (What does this mean?)

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

uTorrent UNKNOWN (missing value)


Internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.232 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.232 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10


3rd Party Preference Panes: (What does this mean?)

Flash Player [Click for support]


Time Machine: (What does this mean?)

Time Machine not configured!


Top Processes by CPU: (What does this mean?)

4% QuickTime Player

3% WindowServer

2% VTDecoderXPCService

2% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)

1% coreaudiod


Top Processes by Memory: (What does this mean?)

1.08 GB Adobe Lightroom

688 MB kernel_task

338 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)

90 MB Adobe CEF Helper

79 MB mdworker(5)


Virtual Memory Information: (What does this mean?)

6.51 GB Free RAM

4.49 GB Used RAM (1.55 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information: (What does this mean?)

Sep 19, 2015, 11:08:10 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-19-110810_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 19, 2015, 11:08:00 AM Self test - passed

Sep 17, 2015, 08:39:23 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-17-083923_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 16, 2015, 08:35:44 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-16-203544_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 16, 2015, 08:30:59 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-16-203059_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 16, 2015, 06:44:45 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Word_2015-09-16-184445_[redacted].crash

Sep 16, 2015, 06:44:23 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Word_2015-09-16-184423_[redacted].crash

Sep 16, 2015, 06:44:18 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Word_2015-09-16-184418_[redacted].crash

Sep 16, 2015, 06:42:41 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-16-184241_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 15, 2015, 02:12:55 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-15-021255_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 13, 2015, 06:54:37 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-13-185437_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 13, 2015, 01:43:46 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-13-134346_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 11, 2015, 11:45:00 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-11-234500_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 11, 2015, 10:12:49 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-11-221249_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 11, 2015, 08:54:42 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-11-205442_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 11, 2015, 08:26:29 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-11-202629_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 11, 2015, 12:49:07 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-11-124907_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 10, 2015, 08:20:11 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-10-082011_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 10, 2015, 08:12:13 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-10-081213_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

Sep 10, 2015, 02:10:26 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-09-10-021026_[redacted].panic [Click for details]



If anyone has any idea what the error may be, please help. Thank you. I'm a film student and I can't afford to replace or pay for major repairs at the moment...

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Sep 19, 2015 8:27 AM

Reply
4 replies

Sep 19, 2015 9:17 AM in response to InfamouzMediaGroup

Post some of the system panic reports

<http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2546>


Looking at your EtreCheck output, I see you have 3rd party RAM installed. That is always a suspect in kernel panics. I you have your original RAM try reinstalling that, and see if the problem continues (this is an experiment). Try removing first the smallest RAM and moving up (again as an experiment).


You can run Rember overnight (Maximum number of loop)

<http://www.kelleycomputing.net/rember/>

Try removing all USB devices, and if using a USB keyboard and mouse, try swapping them for another set. defective USB devices and sometimes just the USB cable have been known to cause Macs to crash.

Sep 19, 2015 9:24 AM in response to BobHarris

I've switched keyboards and mice already.


I find it important to mention, because you sparked the memory...

I contacted the guy i bought it from after the first few times that it crashed.

He told me that I had 4 memory slots in use.

User uploaded file

He said that if I removed one of the 4 then I should be alright.

I have no idea what they are or where inside of the system they are.

Could this be a potential fix for the issue I'm having?

Sep 19, 2015 10:32 AM in response to InfamouzMediaGroup

Before acquiring a second-hand computer, you should have run Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, whichever is applicable.

The first thing to do after acquiring the computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You—not the original owner—must do that. Changes made by Apple over the years have made this seemingly straightforward task very complex.

How you go about it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.

It's unsafe, and may be unlawful, to use a computer with software installed by a previous owner.

1. If you don't own another Mac

a. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.4 or 10.5, you need a boxed and shrink-wrapped retail Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) installation disc from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller—not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine is very old and has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.

b. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for a MacBook Air. You should have received the media from the original owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.

To start up from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then restart the computer and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.

c. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should start up in Internet Recovery mode when you hold down the key combination option-command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a spinning globe. Note that Mac Pro tower models older than late 2014 (with the "cheese-grater" enclosure) cannot use Internet Recovery, regardless of which OS version they shipped with. The round Mac Pro (2014 or later) can use it.

d. Some 2010-2011 models shipped with OS X 10.6 and received a firmware update after 10.7 was released, enabling them to use Internet Recovery. If you have one of those models, you can't reinstall 10.6 even from the original media, and Internet Recovery will not work either without the original owner's Apple ID. In that case, contact Apple Support, or take the machine to an Apple Store or another authorized service provider to have the OS installed.

2. If you do own another Mac

If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to prepare a USB device, then start up the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can start from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.

3. Partition and install OS X

a. If you see a lock screen when trying to start up from installation media or in Recovery mode, then a firmware password was set by the previous owner, or the machine was remotely locked via iCloud. You'll either have to contact the owner or take the machine to an Apple Store or another service provider to be unlocked. You may be asked for proof of ownership.

b. Launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive—not any of the volume icons nested beneath it. In the Partition tab, select the default options: a GUID partition table with one data volume in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. This operation will permanently remove all existing data on the drive.

c. An unusual problem may arise if all the following conditions apply:

OS X 10.7 or later was installed by the previous owner

The startup volume was encrypted with FileVault

You're booted in Recovery mode (that is, not from a 10.6 installation disc)

In that case, you won't be able to unlock the volume or partition the drive without the FileVault password. Ask for guidance or see this discussion.

d. After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. If you're installing a version of OS X acquired from the App Store, you will need the Apple ID and password that you used. When the installation is done, the system will automatically restart into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.

e. Run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the original owner. He or she can't legally transfer it to you, and without the Apple ID you won't be able to update it in Software Update or reinstall, if that becomes necessary. The same goes for any App Store products that the previous owner installed—you have to repurchase them.

4. Other issues

a. If the original owner "accepted" the bundled iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band) in the App Store so that he or she could update them, then they're irrevocably linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.

b. If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.

c. When trying to create a new iCloud account, you might get a failure message: "Account limit reached." Apple imposes a lifetime limit of three iCloud account setups per device. Erasing the device does not reset the limit. You can still use an iCloud account that was created on another device, but you won't be able to create a new one. Contact iCloud Support for more information. The setup limit doesn't apply to Apple ID accounts used for other services, such as the iTunes and Mac App Stores, or iMessage. You can create as many of those accounts as you like.

HELP: System crashing randomly on Yosemite

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