Beach Ball of Death - Help

[louis Fashion]

iMac has been running fine for years. Recently, I am getting a Beach Ball "Freeze". The only way I can shut down the computer is to pull the plug.

What should I do to fix this problem? Thanks.

 

[jbarley]

i The only way I can shut down the computer is to pull the plug.

You do know that pressing and holding the power switch will also force a shutdown?

Usually easier then pulling the power cord.

 

[louis Fashion]

Yes, but in my case the computer just hangs with the Beach Ball and won't shut down. I am stumped.

 

[louis Fashion]

Update: I do not see anything odd in Activity Monitor.

 

[lungbutter]

I'd uninstall everything you can. Especially utilities first. Multiple reboots will be required probably. Strip your system down to the bare bones. I'll bet your beach ball doesn't appear as often. If it does, I'd go for a pave. I'd reinstall the OS then the core applications you use.

Good luck.

 

[Weaselboy]

iMac has been running fine for years. Recently, I am getting a Beach Ball "Freeze". The only way I can shut down the computer is to pull the plug.

What should I do to fix this problem? Thanks.

Assuming you have not recently installed anything causing a conflict, this really sounds like a drive failure. Try a command r boot to recovery and from the use disk utility to do a verify disk. Does that show any disk errors?

 

[romesk90]

Do you use a SSD or HDD?