OS X 10.11.4 freezing and/or crashing while using Safari

Similar stuff happens for me in OS X 10.11.5. This morning the cursor would still move but nothing on the screen was responsive. Had to hold in the power button for a Restart.

Hi OP, and all,

I've had this problem for about a year - crashing up to 3 or 4 times a day, and rarely lasting more than 2 days without a crash. This continued after update to 10.11.5, and also increasing RAM to 8GB (I have a late 2009 iMac, BTW). I thought it might be a Safari problem, though a change to Chrome made little difference. Crashes would either be preceded by graphics corruption, or most often things would just grind to a halt for little apparent reason and require a hard restart. This was without any particular heavy lifting in the processing department. Wildly frustrating, especially since I also have a 2009 MBP which has had no problems at all.

After reading all 16 pages of this thread, I decided to try the fix involving the fans, and downloaded Macs Fan Control. I'm currently running the fans at about twice their minimum settings - 1200 for ODD (even though it doesn't work), 3,000 for HDD and 2,500 for CPU. Yes, it's a little noisier, but I have to say that so far (knock on wood...), the system has become far more stable and hasn't crashed for the 4 days since I installed the software.

Anyway, can I take the liberty of thanking everyone who has contributed to this thread, especially those who suggested the fan fix. I'm not saying this will work for everyone, but it certainly did for me (so far...), and has saved me a great deal of cursing.

Cheers,

BB

Also download and run Etrecheck. Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here (and recommended by Apple Support personnel) in the ASC to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

I have exactly the same problem with my MacBook Pro 8.2 Model running El Capitan 10.11.5. It is especially horrible, (crashing much more often) when I have my secondary monitor attached.

My problem didn't start until updating to El Capitan 10.11.5. Until now I am unaware of a fix and have taken a huge productivity hit.

Come on Apple! This is a bug that we're depending on you to fix.

@SriShunyata

Have you tried the fix that has worked for me? Planning on getting logic board replaced by Apple recall.

In the meantime turning OFF "Automatic Graphics Switching" under Energy Saver Preference has stopped the freezing for me for 3 weeks running now.

Tom

I already had Apple replace my logic board some 6-9 months ago. Actually, it had passed all the hardware tests that Apple ran it through. They were't obliged to replace it, but did so anyway.

All was fine until after the 10.11.5 Update... but the issue began again while using ServerPress. Not sure if ServerPress had anything to do with triggering it though.

Eventually, I gave up trying to use my second monitor and while the problems persisted it wasn't nearly as bad. I was able to put in about 4 days of work without the dreaded Freeze and Hellish restart process.

Safari had nothing to do with it. I turned off the "Allow Web GL" in Safari Preferences and the problems persisted.

Even though I knew the suggested 'Fan Fix' was out in left field, I tried it anyway. Didn't help. In fact, it seemed to make matters worse.

I also disabled the automatic graphic switching but it also failed to improve the situation. The problems continued to degrade. Instead of crashing every day or two, it began crashing every couple of hours.

I did several system reinstalls and finally installed El Capo on one of my external disks to use as a start up. Didn't help. In fact, the continuos crashes caused my external disk to fail. I've just reformatted it and am now resting data from the cloud.

Ok, because I was able to work without mishap in Safe Mode when everything else was bottoms up, I figured that the problem had to be related to an extension conflict.

So, I performed a clean install. Instead of using the migrated to move the apps over from my Backup Disk, I'm installing them all again.

So far so good. I'm now using both monitors again. The computer is behaving much better! It arrises from the system communicating with the monitor. S, I figure the problem is related to a dodgy driver. It may not be completely faulty, but is most certainly fragile.

Hope that helps

10.11.6 final has been released yesterday. Today morning my machine crashed again, same symptoms. I had to send the 32nd bug report out to Apple for the same **** problem they have been unable/unwilling/too incompetent to fix since early April when 10.11.4 was released. Bootcamp Windows 10 runs stable on the same machine. A big middle finger to those responsible at Apple, you just lost a customer.

Did you ever try this on a clean install of EC (any version)?

If it just happens (and while it may not be the case here, it often is) that the problem lies elsewhere (a software conflict), sitting back and waiting for an OS update will end in frustration.

Same experience as Broozar. This problem -- USB mouse freeze, then after about 20 seconds the system shuts down, then reboots by itself -- became much worse after I updated to 10.11.6. just a little while ago. Crash. Crash. Crash. The only difference is, there's a new and chiding error message telling me my computer shut down because of a problem. NS. I'll be surprised if I make it through this comment/complaint. Please, Apple, FIX THIS. I lose everything I'm working on every two minutes. I don't have time or energy or knowledge to do a clean install of the operating system. I just want the darn thing to work and it doesn't.

Haven't updated to 10.11.6 yet (still on 10.11.5). Yesterday started my Macbook Pro without Macs Fan Control, it freezed and restarted after ~ 1 hour. With Macs Fan Control I haven't seen any freezes for 2 months! To fix freezing problem, download Macs Fan Control and configure it, not just start it (check page 15). If your system hangs with all fans at top RPM - I will eat my hat.

Luis, no; i wish i could simply go back to 10.11.3 and be done with it. thanks to apple's wisdom however, it is neither possible to downgrade, nor get a clean 10.11.3 image for dvd/usb thumbdrive.

i hope you came with a lot of appetite. it crashed 3 times on me today alone with full fan speed regulated by MFC. as i have said so many times before, this has nothing to do with temperatures.

i feel you. what does the error message say? anything interesting in the logs? because I am getting nothing at all, no messages, no popups, and nothing suspicious in the logs from what I can tell.

Hi. No problems with Safari (16 hours a day none stop with 30 or more tabs, each two windows) when my GPU is working right and not garbled- it's damaged but could be remedied with heating the GPU they say which I'm doing now- just waiting for the 1.5mm thermal pads replacement. Damage most likely caused by OS X's frugal fan speeds even if CPU, GPU, ODD (may also been damaged by same OS X's frugal fan speed and climate- it won't read CDs, DVD's only) aren't in the optimal temp on idle and global warming which was a history record high last summer (I disassembled the iMac to remedy with GPU with heat but it should be replaced, though it's better to just buy new coz' replacing the GPU is expensive and hard to find a good working one with warranty).

If it becomes normal again and the 200 Celsius for 10 minutes work & reflowed the GPU's solder, set the die again inside the GPU, I'll set the rpm to 2000rpm, no more fan auto even if I buy a new Mac. It actually shortens the life of the fan if it's not at constant speed like hot and cold weather alternating too rapidly. Apple should just set it to 2000rpm at least by dedault (seems to cool the GPU CPU ODD & HDD at optimal temp on idle without being that noisy- sweet spot), the fans are set to last for 5 years at full speed 24/7 365 days, 2000rpm's just using 50 to 30% of that which means it'll go further than 5 years 365 days 24/7 (the dust accumulation isn't that bad at least for the iMac even without monthly to yearly cleaning).

Heat can coz' things to become corrupted and crash things. I used to have Safari crash on me and Mail as well but not anymore with. Best way to find out is to use Chrome and perhaps set rpm to 2000rpm if your GPU doesn't garble (coz' fans have motors and motors do create a spike in voltages too much rpm could exceed the Macs wattage, especially if it's not that new causing the Mac to turn off when the wattage, 300w usually is exceeded-also if you have a motor appliance connected to your avr or power strip). When I used Chrome when Safari was crashing four OS X versions (updates) ago, it was stable- Safari is stable with the new last 3 versions (updates). I use Safari again.

2000rpm at least and Chrome or non-Safari browser (try the new one Brave browser) + not mixing any motor driven gadget like desk fans in the avr or powerstrip) for stability may be a good combo. Also if your aircon is mixed with your electrical outlet's circuit (have it checked by electrician- air con coz' of it's powerful motor will create a huge voltage spike should be on a separate circuit direct to the circuit breaker. You know it's separate when you switch off the breaker for that particular room and everything is off but the air con is still ON).

God bless, Proverbs 31

broozar wrote:

Luis, no; i wish i could simply go back to 10.11.3 and be done with it. thanks to apple's wisdom however, it is neither possible to downgrade, nor get a clean 10.11.3 image for dvd/usb thumbdrive.

I did not mean a clean install of 10.11.3. I mean a clean install of 10.11.6.

You assume it is a bug in 10.11.4 and newer. I think it may be a software conflict with something else you have installed. I know some people have tried a clean install without success, but it has worked for others.