Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

2007 imac crash/freezing

elf69

elf69

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jun 2, 2016
2,333
489
Cornwall UK
my imac sometimes freeze or crash.

mouse moves around screen cannot click anything.
dock does not come up if move mouse to bottom of screen.

Is there keyboard combo to bring up the monitor app?
windows has ctrl+alt+del for example.

I am forced to hold power button and turn on again.
It is fine once do this.

It usually happens on boot so not hot.
Even when running machine does not get that hot even for its age.

Does not happen all the time just now and then and it really annoying.

tonite it booted and I loaded facebook and while scrolling through my newsfeed it did this hang thing.
Some times I dont get that far it loaded desktop and hung before could not open anything.

What should I be looking at for source of problem?
 
I would suspect an application. I had an issue running excel with macros slowly crashing my iMac as you describe. Or hard drive failure or bad ram.
 
I have time machine backup.

do you think issue will remain if wipe drive and put the backup back?
 
If it is the hard drive and it's failing, you'll have the same problem again, or worse. Is it the original hard drive? You could try and replace the hard drive yourself. Check youtube for a 'how to' and see if you're up for it.
 
it is not original drive no.
unknown age though.

first aid says it ok.
is there a smart program for mac I can try?
Ram is relatively new, bought new sticks about 6 months ago.
 
You could run the apple hardware test. I believe that will be on the original install disc(s) somewhere. Or first try 'About this mac'; system report; memory and see if any ram errors reported on there.
 
It's 10 years old.
Could be time to start shopping for something more up-to-date...
 
tonight crashed again. mouse moved but unable click on anything.

could not get dock to get to monitor app.
F11 not work so not get to desktop.

Will it store crash report in system, if so where can I find it?
 
thank you, will have look tonight when get home.

hope it might help me locate the fault.

See I got bits to upgrade it but pointless if it has an under lying issue.

the crash is few and far between but still want try sort it.
Yes I know it old machine and everyone is saying bin and but new.

I cannot afford to do so and it has been fairly well behaved and the crashing is very infrequent.

A force power off and reboot it is fine so possibly just software rather than hardware.
 
how do i read the reports?

I see quite a few that says safari keychain is off yet it is turned on.
Also lots entries for my wacom tablet.

It froze and I had to hold power button.
How do I find the error?

I was using safari at the time, and from memory every time it's happened.

also see lots quicklook entries and i have not used quicklook.
[doublepost=1517168073][/doublepost]Do logs get wipe/reset up on reboot?
 
Well it is safari at fault. Opened Activity monitor first this evening then safari etc.

safari turned red and unresponsive then I was unable click anything or bring up dock.
Was forced to hold power button to shut off the I restarted, all ok.

Can I delete and reinstall safari?
If not I'll got back to firefox browser as it seems safari is not syncing on this imac anyway.
 
If it purely software issue then...

I got a new CPU and SSD to throw at it and install High sierra.

Maybe this fix the issue?
Yes I know it old as ark almost but I cannot afford replace it and i do need it really.
 
elf69 said:
Is there keyboard combo to bring up the monitor app?
windows has ctrl+alt+del for example.
Click to expand...

Command + Option + Esc

is the key combo to call for the Force Quit Window. It won't bring up the Activity Monitor, but may help to recovery from the freeze.
 
  • Like
Reactions: elf69
as task manager of windows sort of thing, thanks.

But when it freezes nothing works. no keyboard input or mouse clicks.
can move mouse around but that is it.
 
elf69 said:
Well it is safari at fault. Opened Activity monitor first this evening then safari etc.

safari turned red and unresponsive then I was unable click anything or bring up dock.
Was forced to hold power button to shut off the I restarted, all ok.

Can I delete and reinstall safari?
If not I'll got back to firefox browser as it seems safari is not syncing on this imac anyway.
Click to expand...

You may try empty Safari cache and clear history. I am not sure which version you are using, but you may have a look if the following available.
Screen Shot 2018-02-07 at 17.07.30.jpg

Screen Shot 2018-02-07 at 17.07.35.jpg

Screen Shot 2018-02-07 at 17.08.41.jpg

Or you may try the Safari Technology Preview, which usually works better (but the UI / default action etc may be slightly different than the normal Safari).

https://developer.apple.com/safari/technology-preview/
 
  • Like
Reactions: elf69
My imac just crashed and restarted.

open console to check error logs and there is no .crash file or any file with todays date on it!
under user or system reports.

Was watching a video on youtube, when screen went black also external screen. Audio was frozen too.
After 10 seconds machine restarted. all is working.

is this pointing to hardware fault?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back