My iMac Freezes-Up When Using Safari (No application memory)

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Level 1

12 points

My iMac Freezes-Up When Using Safari (No application memory)

My iMac (OSX v10.9.5, 2.7 GHz, Intel core i5) freezes up frequently (more than once a week) while using Safari (v9.1). Safari will suddenly stop working and the dreaded spinning beach ball of death begins. Force quitting sometimes works but the majority of the time, the whole computer freezes up and I have to do a hard reboot by turning off the computer power and restarting it from scratch.

I have left my Activity Monitor open and when it froze again today, I was able to see that the Web Content seems to be the problem area. The Force Quit Applications window says that my system has run out of application memory.

When the computer eventually unfreezes after the restart, it runs fine for a while then just suddenly stops working when Safari freezes up. It has done it when I am on Safari surfing the internet or when it is in sleep mode. Doesn't matter.

One other thing, lately partial images show up on the screen and then disappear. Pixelized images from somewhere else but my desktop. Makes me feel like the hard drive is getting ready to crash.

Wondering what could be hogging the memory? Web Content? How do I fix it so I can use my computer without having to restart it several times a week? Thanks for your help.

HotHunt

iMac, OSX v10.9.5

Posted on Apr 4, 2016 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

Apr 4, 2016 11:25 AM in response to HotHunt

How much memory do you have installed? The image you posted shows nothing about what is using memory and how much. For that you need to use Activity Monitor.

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,516 points

Apr 4, 2016 11:45 AM in response to HotHunt

As mentioned you may be using all the RAM, if you have a habit of having many tabs open these all use RAM so you can either upgrade the RAM or keep less tabs open. It is easier to simply upgrade the RAM.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Apr 4, 2016 11:47 AM in response to HotHunt

Please quit and relaunch Safari after taking each of the following steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.

Back up all data before making any changes.

Step 1

The issue can be caused by web pages in the Favorites list that sometimes or always prompt for access with a CAPTCHA. If you know that there are such pages among your Favorites, remove them and see whether there's an improvement. Otherwise bookmark and remove all Favorites, then restore them one or a few at a time until you find the culprits. There may be more than one.

Credit for this observation to ASC member ethereum.

Step 2

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

~/Library/Safari

Right-click or control-click the line and select

Services ▹ Open

from the contextual menu.* A folder named "Safari" should open. Quit Safari if it's running. One or more files in the open folder should have a name beginning in "History". Move those files, and only those, to the Desktop, leaving the window open. Relaunch the application and test. If there's no change, quit again and put the files you moved back where they were, overwriting the ones that may have been created in their place. Otherwise, delete the files you moved. The browser history will be empty. If possible, restore the deleted files from a backup that predates the problem.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

Step 3

Open the iCloud preference pane and uncheck the box marked Safari. Test. Then check the box again, if you wish.

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Answer 4

HotHunt Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2016 12:52 PM in response to theratter

You're correct. I was just trying to get the conversation started.

I have 16 GB of memory in two DDR3 cards of 8 GB each. The RAM is maxed out for this iMac.

Here's a screen shot of my current Activity Monitor:

Thanks for you're help.

HotHunt

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Answer 5

HotHunt Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2016 1:00 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Well, I've always used Safari with multiple windows open and some tabs within is existing windows open. But this freezing-up problem just started within the last month or two. I haven't changed my internet usage with the Safari browser.

I have 16 GB of RAM memory in two DDR3 cards of 8 GB each. That maxes out the RAM for this iMac so no upgrade possible.

I'll try the reducing the TABs but it "feels" like something else is going on recently to cause this problem. But I don't know.

Thanks for your help.

HotHunt

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Answer 6

HotHunt Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2016 1:27 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for the advice. Not sure if I followed all of your instructions but I tried. The iCloud part was not clear since I don't know what iCloud or how to access it. I did uncheck a box in the Systems Preferences iCloud pane that mentioned Safari.

So I can add my favorite sites back onto my Bookmarks Bar under Favorites one by one and wait and see if a problem occurs?

I'll see if that solves my problem.

Thanks for your help.

HotHunt

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Answer 7

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Apr 4, 2016 2:08 PM in response to HotHunt

Please remove "Rapport," also known as "Trusteer Endpoint Protection," by following the instructions on this page.

Back up all data before making any changes.

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Answer 8

HotHunt Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2016 4:07 PM in response to Linc Davis

Sorry but I have no idea where the .dmg install folder is for this application. Probably was trashed after installation. My bank sent me this application to protect my online banking.

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Answer 9

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Apr 4, 2016 4:18 PM in response to HotHunt

I have no idea where the .dmg install folder is for this application.

Then I suggest you download it again. I don't have a link. If you can't remove the software in any other way, you'll have to erase the startup volume and restore everything except Rapport from a backup. That will be a full day's work, at least.

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Answer 10

HotHunt Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2016 4:23 PM in response to Linc Davis

Okay. I'll contact my bank for a new instal file. Then I'll try the uninstall.

But why is this application a problem? Does it have a history or reputation for causing problems?

Thanks

HotHunt

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Answer 11

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Apr 4, 2016 4:30 PM in response to HotHunt

Does it have a history or reputation for causing problems?

Yes.

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Answer 12

HotHunt Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Linc Davis

Okay, Linc Davis. I have uninstalled the Trusteer application from my system. I'll restart to make sure it takes.

Then I'll wait to see if the freezes continue or stop.

Thanks again for your help. I'll be back if I continue to have problems.

HotHunt

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Answer 13

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

Apr 4, 2016 8:17 PM in response to theratter

i did not have a chance to help you. Most of the higher level point hunters beat me to it. I'm sure they will do better than I solving your issue. Good luck. 😀

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Answer 14

HotHunt Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 4, 2016 8:23 PM in response to theratter

You did highlight my Activity Monitor and I noticed that Flash Player was sucking up lots of memory so I deleted it. I will see if the freezes go away.

Thank you. I appreciate your help.

HotHunt

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Answer 15

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

Apr 4, 2016 8:42 PM in response to HotHunt

I saw nothing in your Activity Monitor suggesting that Trusteer was causing a problem for you. It has been known to cause some problems for some users. Your bank may require it in order to verify you are a legal customer for access to the bank's private data. Before you trash it please check whether it is something the bank requires. I think Mr. Davis may be incorrect in his assessment.

If you cannot find the uninstaller then you could download the freeware, Easy Find, to locate the files that need to be removed. The places you need to search include:

/Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. Check if the application has created a folder then delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder.
Applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item. Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder or the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Users & Groups preferences. Open it inSystem Preferences, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Select the item from the list and click on the Delete [-] button to remove it.
Some software use startup daemons or agents. Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.

For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

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