System Menu Bar and Clock Freezing

[GovornorPhatt]

I have been having this issue since I updated to 10.3.5. The right hand side of the menu bar at the top of my screen, with the clock, user menu, and display settings, has frozen. It is unresponsive. The clock doesn't update. I get a spinning beachball when I move my cursor to that portion of the screen. The only way to fix it is to reboot. Any ideas to remedy this?

[apple_iBoy]

Originally Posted by GovornorPhatt

I have been having this issue since I updated to 10.3.5. The right hand side of the menu bar at the top of my screen, with the clock, user menu, and display settings, has frozen. It is unresponsive. The clock doesn't update. I get a spinning beachball when I move my cursor to that portion of the screen. The only way to fix it is to reboot. Any ideas to remedy this?

Do you have an iPod? I have a 40GB 3rd generation iPod that is notorious for locking up my mac in the manner you're describing. It happens every couple months or so. Can't figure out if it's an issue with the iPod itself or the firewire on my Power Mac. Unplugging the iPod unfreezes the clock.

On the other hand, if the trouble only started when you did a system update, have you tried repairing your permissions?

[wrldwzrd89]

Originally Posted by GovornorPhatt

I have been having this issue since I updated to 10.3.5. The right hand side of the menu bar at the top of my screen, with the clock, user menu, and display settings, has frozen. It is unresponsive. The clock doesn't update. I get a spinning beachball when I move my cursor to that portion of the screen. The only way to fix it is to reboot. Any ideas to remedy this?

I had this problem too - it hasn't come back since I unplugged my iPod. Maybe it's a firmware bug in the iPod?

[GovornorPhatt]

Yes, in fact, I do have an iPod. Maybe the last firmware update could fix it?

[nbaker756]

i have the same problem, even when my ipod is unplugged. i called tech support several times and they dont seem to have a clue whats happening. i did a clean install but then my dad did software update and the problem came back. must be an apple update

[nuclearwinter]

i have the same problem. I also have an iPod (3G 15gig). I seem to experience freezing at any time, whether the iPod is plugged in or not. I even get it when running on just battery with nothing else plugged in, so it might not be anything to do with that, I really can't say for sure. Talk about annoying though.
I had a doctors appointment an hour away from home which i was late for. I was on my PB and time seemed to stop altogether... oh wait, my clock was just frozen. Dang.

[Bluefusion]

I have gotten this exact problem for quite some time, and it only would happen when my iPod was plugged in.

The scary part is it's happened no matter what iPod is plugged in. I've had a 1st and 3rd gen, both replaced over 4 times each due to various issues (including this one), and they've all still done it. Replaced FireWire cables, Docks, everything. No rhyme or reason to it. This problem's dated back to late 2002 for me. It's definitely gotten less frequent, but it's still really, really annoying.