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System Freezing - 2015 MacBook Pro

M

MalagLagoon

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 19, 2019
157
56
This is just never going to get fixed. I've experienced Freezing on two different and identical 2015 MBP machines - both running Mojave. I have reinstalled one machine from scratch and have only added the following: Parallels Desktop, VPN (PIA), Yamaha USB audio driver (Steinberg), dspFxMx (Steinberg mixer for audio interface), Logic Pro X (Apple), Final Cut Pro X (Apple), Pages (Apple), Zoom (for meetings), iReal (from Apple App Store), Finale (music notation software).

There's no point in using a Mac if it's freezing periodically and if I'm afraid to add any software to it. Calling Apple for help is a road to absolutely nowhere. This is just depressing.
 
Have you tried a more modern operating system. Big Sur runs well on these machine (although I would check that all your plugins are compatible)
 
MalagLagoon said:
This is just never going to get fixed. I've experienced Freezing on two different and identical 2015 MBP machines - both running Mojave. I have reinstalled one machine from scratch and have only added the following: Parallels Desktop, VPN (PIA), Yamaha USB audio driver (Steinberg), dspFxMx (Steinberg mixer for audio interface), Logic Pro X (Apple), Final Cut Pro X (Apple), Pages (Apple), Zoom (for meetings), iReal (from Apple App Store), Finale (music notation software).

There's no point in using a Mac if it's freezing periodically and if I'm afraid to add any software to it. Calling Apple for help is a road to absolutely nowhere. This is just depressing.
Click to expand...
Did you check your machine after every install? Sometimes it's that one program/app that causes freezes.
 
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jav6454 said:
Did you check your machine after every install? Sometimes it's that one program/app that causes freezes.
Click to expand...
No, I checked when I had the following installed (but half are Apple programs). I got the freezing with the following installed: Parallels Desktop, VPN (PIA), Yamaha USB audio driver (Steinberg), dspFxMx (Steinberg mixer for audio interface), Logic Pro X (Apple), Final Cut Pro X (Apple), Pages (Apple).

I've been careful to fully shut off Parallels (just a guess it was Parallels). But, that doesn't seem to stop the dreaded freezing.
 
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Apple_Robert said:
OP, I highly suggest you download Entre Check. It should help you narrow down which app(s) are causing the freezing.

https://etrecheck.com You can also find it on the App Store although I prefer to use the website.
Click to expand...
I don't believe etrecheck is on the App Store - I've never seen it there - but I hear etrecheck was in the App Store at one point - so it sounds like it got taken down from the App Store for some reason. However, I did buy etrecheck (some time ago) from the website - quite possibly for this very problem of random freezing (which I've had for years now). I'll have to locate the install file and give it a go. I hope that helps in some way.
 
ssmed said:
Have you tried a more modern operating system. Big Sur runs well on these machine (although I would check that all your plugins are compatible)
Click to expand...
I'm so desperate that I'm considering the unthinkable - Windows. However, Big Sur is less drastic. Unfortunately, I'm afraid to upgrade because I probably do not have the ability to restore back to my current operating system - Mojave. Also, I've heard that upgrading the operating system can brick your computer and Apple will just tell you to buy a new machine. And, speaking of operating systems - I got the freezing after an upgrade many years ago. So, yeah, I'm scared to upgrade.
 
MalagLagoon said:
No, I checked when I had the following installed (but half are Apple programs). I got the freezing with the following installed: Parallels Desktop, VPN (PIA), Yamaha USB audio driver (Steinberg), dspFxMx (Steinberg mixer for audio interface), Logic Pro X (Apple), Final Cut Pro X (Apple), Pages (Apple).

I've been careful to fully shut off Parallels (just a guess it was Parallels). But, that doesn't seem to stop the dreaded freezing.
Click to expand...

Then you need to do a reinstall but a stepped one. Meaning delete everything app-wise and reinstall each app while checking to see if the freezing happens. Yes, it's tedious, but it's the only way to know for sure which app is causing the freezing.

I was tempted to say Parallels could be a cause, as it is usually a resource hog when running. However, you do not mention it was running when freezing occurs.
 
My 2015 periodically froze for seconds to minutes at a time, only the mouse cursor would move. This happened in both High Sierra and Mojave. Thankfully, upgrading to Catalina fixed the issue.
 
MalagLagoon said:
I'm so desperate that I'm considering the unthinkable - Windows. However, Big Sur is less drastic. Unfortunately, I'm afraid to upgrade because I probably do not have the ability to restore back to my current operating system - Mojave. Also, I've heard that upgrading the operating system can brick your computer and Apple will just tell you to buy a new machine. And, speaking of operating systems - I got the freezing after an upgrade many years ago. So, yeah, I'm scared to upgrade.
Click to expand...
I have taken a machine back to Mojave from Big Sur (I needed to open an old Aperture library). Its not too bad, and you will gets lots of advice on here if needed.
 
ssmed said:
I have taken a machine back to Mojave from Big Sur (I needed to open an old Aperture library). Its not too bad, and you will gets lots of advice on here if needed.
Click to expand...

I'm tempted to move to Big Sur on tenuous hopes this would actually fix the freezing issue. I'm tempted to upgrade despite, my machine being old (2015 MBP) - and the possibility of bricking my MBP (this is a very real concern and Apple absolutely will throw you under the bus leaving you high and dry should Big Sur brick your machine). All these fears aside, what exactly would I need to return my system to Mojave? That is, how should I be prepared beforehand? All I have is Time Machine - but I am under the impression that will not work (if I want to return to Mojave).
 
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I would make a backup of the whole HD onto an external as a bootable device using Carbon Copy Cloner (from https://bombich.com/download and worth every penny!)

Download Mojave from here https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211683
Make a USB installer using these instructions https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT201372

I personally wouldn't trust time machine. I want to see my files in a normal file structure when I am looking at a backup.

Hope this helps. We have installed Big Sur on four pre-2015 machines without incident.
 
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Is there some clever way to quickly log relevant processes immediately after a freeze? It would be an attempt to track what is going on to cause the freeze.
 
ssmed said:
I would make a backup of the whole HD onto an external as a bootable device using Carbon Copy Cloner (from https://bombich.com/download and worth every penny!)

Download Mojave from here https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211683
Make a USB installer using these instructions https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT201372

I personally wouldn't trust time machine. I want to see my files in a normal file structure when I am looking at a backup.

Hope this helps. We have installed Big Sur on four pre-2015 machines without incident.
Click to expand...
Actually, I do believe I bought carbon copy cloner a while back.
 
I'd recommend installing your target OS and applications to an external SSD.

I have the 2014 and 2015 MacBook Pro 15s and ran Mojave on them for two years and it was great. No problems on the operating system. The 2014 is on loan to my son because his work system has a bulging battery and he's waiting for a new system from work and it's running High Sierra right now. My other is running Mojave. I did install Monterey Dev Beta 1 and Beta 2 last month on an external SSD and ran my daily workload on it for a week and it was fine. I later switched back to Mojave which is on the internal drive. I still have the Monterey external SSD if I want to use it again.

An external SSD means that you can experiment with other operating systems.

My setup isn't as complicated as yours is.

I bought an M1 mini in July and am using that as my daily driver. The 2015 is just my living room machine now.
 
These system freezes are killing me. I have the same problem on two machines - one machine a fresh install of Mojave with VERY minimal software installed. I will never understand how impossible it is to just fix this. I'm not technical enough to spend the next three months delving into hyper detail, experimenting and troubleshooting. About all I can do is use TimeMachine. There MUST be someone I can just hire that can JUST FIX THIS. I'm so frustrated.
 
In desperation sometimes I consider pressing the "Upgrade Now" button - but live in deep fear over the morass that will likely cause. And, for what? Would this even fix the freezing issue? I kind of doubt it. I'm stuck in a circle forever - purgatory.
Screen Shot 2021-07-30 at 11.33.24 AM.png
 
OP wrote:
"I have the same problem on two machines - one machine a fresh install of Mojave with VERY minimal software installed."

Do BOTH of these Macs have the VPN installed?
I'm thinking that could have something to do with it...
 
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Fishrrman said:
OP wrote:
"I have the same problem on two machines - one machine a fresh install of Mojave with VERY minimal software installed."

Do BOTH of these Macs have the VPN installed?
I'm thinking that could have something to do with it...
Click to expand...
Yes. I think I've tried turning that off (not sure). I hate this.
 
MalagLagoon said:
Yes. I think I've tried turning that off (not sure).
Click to expand...
IMHO there are so many possible causes for this issue, that I'd start troubleshooting methodically, as suggested by others.

If you install Big Sur , you'll lose all 32-bit apps , so that would be my first consideration (checking compatibility).
Mojave is known as one the most stable OSes , so personally I would do the following:

- install Mojave on an erased disk, update to the latest version/security update and keep it clean and bare bones : just a name for a user account and Wifi password, that's all.
Test if the issue occurs. If Yes: problem is not software related . If No: problem is software related.
- if all is good: start adding one by one your additional software and check with every install if issue occurs.
- checking activity monitor(set to "show all processes") i.e. CPU and RAM usage in case of issues might give some clue too
- I dont know the capacity and usage of the disk , but maintain min ~ 20% free space.

I understand your frustration, but remember : there's only one app necessary to cause this issue so without keeping your head cool and working methodically and analytically, I'm afraid it's very unlikely this will be solved (and I doubt installing Big Sur will change anything)
 
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IMHO, the 11,5 MacBook pros are the top of the heap for the design that was continued from 2013.
I'm sure this design was pushed by apple as far as they could before they switched in 2016 to a different design.

It is also 6 years old and has seen a good life already. So, it may be at least partially a maintenance issue.

Thermal paste is getting old, may have dust partially clogging the fans and they tend to run hotter anyway.
I would try checking thermals with something like iStats and Intel Power Gadget.

I'm getting ready to repaste mine and clean in the next week before I considering a replacement internal HD. It didn't look too hard to me. I have a 2015 2.8GHz with R9 M370X running Mojave with 427.140.8.0.0 bootrom

It can't hurt.

 
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Two thoughts: 1:Dropbox always made my machines lurch until I tossed it. 2: I upgraded my 2015 to Big Sur, and the pauses I thought came from the 3rd party NVME went away.
 
KeesMacPro said:
IMHO there are so many possible causes for this issue, that I'd start troubleshooting methodically, as suggested by others.

If you install Big Sur , you'll lose all 32-bit apps , so that would be my first consideration (checking compatibility).
Mojave is known as one the most stable OSes , so personally I would do the following:

- install Mojave on an erased disk, update to the latest version/security update and keep it clean and bare bones : just a name for a user account and Wifi password, that's all.
Test if the issue occurs. If Yes: problem is not software related . If No: problem is software related.
- if all is good: start adding one by one your additional software and check with every install if issue occurs.
- checking activity monitor(set to "show all processes") i.e. CPU and RAM usage in case of issues might give some clue too
- I dont know the capacity and usage of the disk , but maintain min ~ 20% free space.

I understand your frustration, but remember : there's only one app necessary to cause this issue so without keeping your head cool and working methodically and analytically, I'm afraid it's very unlikely this will be solved (and I doubt installing Big Sur will change anything)
Click to expand...
It'd be hard to argue against the methodical approach - but, the issue I have is how infrequent the freezing occurs. But, at the same time, when I'm recording and the freezing happens then that introduces an unfixable glitch into the recording. Also, it would be a serious hassle to have an external hard drive hanging off the end of my MacBook Pro for a few months as I slowly remove software. It would make a lot of sense to design software to catch system freezes - something you could run 24/7 while collecting statistical data on how many freezes over a given period.
 
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