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macOS Sierra freeze on iMac late 2009 using Safari

Hey guys,

Since the installation of macOS Sierra on my iMac 27 inch late 2009, I'm experiencing freezes of the computer with the following symptoms:

- the freeze occurs when I scroll a webpage in Safari.

- The mouse cursor still moves but I can't click and manipulate the system ; the keyboard doesn't work, as well.

- A force reboot is mandatory to recover.

- I can establish a ssh connection from my MacBook to the iMac, suggesting that Darwin is still running well.

- The log indicates "userspace_watchdog_timeout.spin report for WindowServer version", suggesting that the problem is related to a crash of the WindowServer.

Somebody here with the same machine has the same problem?

Thanks!

VIN,iMac (27-inch Late 2009), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 28, 2016 11:13 AM

Top-ranking reply

riadfromhabsheim Author

Level 1

91 points

Posted on Feb 3, 2017 2:50 AM

Hey guys,

I have a good news. I asked through my bug report when this problem is supposed to be fixed.

Bug report team told me that the bug is still under investigation BUT they say also that I should test this issue on macOS 10.12.5.

Hopefully, a fix will be proposed in the coming macOS 10.12.5 update. 🙂

View in context

473 replies

ottoo

Level 1

16 points

Jan 19, 2017 9:25 AM in response to ottoo

A: Duh.... Change the 1 to 0 in the string.

Meigs

Level 1

4 points

Jan 20, 2017 3:26 PM in response to Wim Bakkeren

Now the computer just froze

Jan 21, 2017 1:37 AM in response to Meigs

Try running MlWareBytes:

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/

Try the fix suggested above and if that doesn't help perhaps try using a different browser like Firefox.

Meigs

Level 1

4 points

Jan 23, 2017 8:59 AM in response to Matt_Robinson

I ran Malware....that was the first thing I did. but it is not just Safari freezing, I tunes, Mail....Apple needs find the glitch that is causing this.

I will give Firefox a try.

Jan 24, 2017 1:21 PM in response to johndoe5703

I confirm, macOS 10.12.3 does not fix this issue. 😢😠

What is Apple doing?

Jan 25, 2017 1:39 AM in response to riadfromhabsheim

Your fix cured it for me, not had a problem since

Feb 1, 2017 3:32 AM in response to riadfromhabsheim

That fix worked for me as well, thanks very much!

Feb 21, 2017 3:27 PM in response to Meigs

Still doesn't work for me. I can create the freeze at any time. I just go to Yahoo.com and scroll down a bit and it is a hard freeze. Oh well, Chrome for me I guess...

Feb 22, 2017 12:22 AM in response to Daniel Reilly

Same for me, I will not use safari again until they announce a fix. Seems crazy that such an obvious problem is not addressed by Apple. Chrome is fine, no lock ups for a few weeks now

Mar 7, 2017 4:30 AM in response to riadfromhabsheim

This worked for me! No freezes in over two weeks! Thanks!

QuinnB73

Level 1

4 points

Mar 14, 2017 4:44 AM in response to Hans Jacobsson

After you disable the full page accelerated drawing you should then be able to select the disable canvas accelerated drawing

QuinnB73

Level 1

4 points

Mar 16, 2017 6:22 AM in response to QuinnB73

As an FYI to everyone, I have not had one freeze since making this change 2 days ago, and I was freezing at least 3-5x a day prior when using safari

Mar 16, 2017 11:31 AM in response to QuinnB73

After my 3:rd freeze, I have now made it also! Hope it will fix the issue!

Mar 27, 2017 12:25 PM in response to riadfromhabsheim

Any reports if Sierra 10.12.4 will solve this issue?

rolfvg

Level 1

25 points

Mar 29, 2017 3:00 AM in response to ddminter

What is the procedure to uninstall the work around? The work around has worked well. Hardly any freezes. Now I want to see how it behaves after installing MacOs 10.12.4.

Thank you

macOS Sierra freeze on iMac late 2009 using Safari