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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

Oct 15, 2016 11:19 AM in response to Jerboer

I'll try 'sudo shutdown -r now' to see if it in fact shuts down (I usually have to hit the power button).

I've been a few days without a crash as I have switched to using Firefox. I hope they can solve this because I much prefer Safari.

Oct 15, 2016 11:45 AM in response to Jerboer

@Jerboer,

It was a good idea to limit WebGL....unfortunate that it didn't work.

I'm still waiting a reply from the Apple bug report, i submitted this bug two weeks ago. 😠

Mike K

Level 2

228 points

Oct 15, 2016 7:01 PM in response to riadfromhabsheim

Same problem. 2011 MacBook Air, fresh install of Sierra, no extensions running in Safari, WebGL turned off, complete mouse freeze at least once a day, sometimes more. Usually freezes as soon as I do something in safari (click a link, etc.) but occasionally in other apps.

Oct 16, 2016 8:17 AM in response to Mike K

I wonder if your problem is different to the one 'riadfromhabsheim' initially posted about. The original problem showed a complete freeze EXCEPT for the mouse pointer (and many background tasks continue to work, such as iTunes playing music).

In your case, when the mouse freezes do any other tasks continue? (music keeps playing, clock updates, etc.)

Oct 16, 2016 10:31 AM in response to riadfromhabsheim

Same here iMac late 2009

First idea was to use a usb mouse and seperate mouse and keyboard from the mac.

But usb mouse also doesnt work. Only mouse pointer is moving. Hard reset ist the only way.

Oct 16, 2016 10:57 AM in response to michael.pulm

I recommend that you restore your system back to El Capitan, if you are using Time Machine. My problem got worse over the weeks, up to the point where my Mac would get into Finder-beachball mode every time after waking from sleep.

I'm actually not that surprised, my Mac is "old" as well - late 2009 - which is right at the macOS Sierra hardware cut-off.

Oct 16, 2016 11:00 PM in response to hendrix1975

"I'm actually not that surprised, my Mac is "old" as well - late 2009 - which is right at the macOS Sierra hardware cut-off."

This has nothing to do with age of hardware, and people with more recent macs too posted here reporting the same problem.

Also, i have no problem at all with El Sierra if i just neglect Safari - using latest Opera instead.

It's a webkit problem i think, don't know whether it's related to ATI drivers but possible.

Is anyone willing and able to somehow install Safari 9 in El Sierra and check if the freezing still occur?

Oct 17, 2016 5:21 AM in response to already_here

Since I couldn't find the root cause of the problem, I'm merely guessing at this point. And yes, you are correct, users with newer Macs are facing the same problem.

Oct 17, 2016 9:13 AM in response to already_here

I´ll try this:

Safary Technology Preview 10.12. Maybe it works fine.

Oct 17, 2016 10:48 AM in response to michael.pulm

No it doesn't, it uses the same webkit engine as Safari 10 (tried it myself and the same freezing occured).

That's why i think trying to somehow install Safari 9.x (from El Capitan), which is using an earlier version of webkit, would help pinpoint the problem - if Safari 9 works fine, then Safari 10 with its new webkit is causing the troubles somehow.

Oct 17, 2016 10:57 AM in response to already_here

Me too, I have tried the Safari tech preview and the freeze still occurs.

Nevertheless, in the same line of what already_here proposed, someone could also test Safari 10 in El Capitan to check whether the problem is specific to a combination of the browser with a OS version.

Jerboer

Level 1

4 points

Oct 17, 2016 11:26 AM in response to riadfromhabsheim

I did have Safari 10 installed under El Capitan before upgrading. I think I used it for about 10 days (give of take) and never experienced any issues.

Oct 17, 2016 1:05 PM in response to already_here

Alas, I don't think it's the latest version of Webkit that is the issue.

I have had this same problem since I bought the Mac in 2009. But only about once per year (or even less). It happened so infrequently, I never thought to investigate further and just chalked it up to 'that's life'

Unfortunately, since Sierra, it happens about daily if I use Safari.

Oct 19, 2016 10:29 AM in response to riadfromhabsheim

Exactly the same for me !!!

Sierra (same problem with El Capitan before)
iMac 27 (I replaced the original HDD with SSD Samsung 850 EVO...)
Many hardware tests passed with no errors :-(

Oct 19, 2016 2:35 PM in response to riadfromhabsheim

I've the same problem on my iMac too and it's really annoying...

I'm testing my computer without the use of apps like "Caffeine", "Amphetamine" or any other which keep the Mac awake and zero freezes for the moment (but it's only been 2-3 days since this test).

macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta 5 has been released today. Well, we shall comment on the novelty as it continues.

Good luck to all those affected by this serious error.

macOS Sierra freeze on iMac late 2009 using Safari