RujusMacBook
Member
For the past several months, my 27" iMac has been sporadically freezing and crashing with no discernible pattern (except that it happens at least once a day, usually more). Not sure what to do because I can't force a crash - it just happens without any noticeable patterns. Please help.
I have collected the following facts about the lockup:
Just before freezes, the most common applications running are:
We have tried the following things to diagnose the problem:
Here are the console logs from some of the crashes, in case they are useful:
iMac Setup
Parallels Setup
Software
Video
Hard Drive
Networking
Sound
USB
Processor/RAM
Settings
I have collected the following facts about the lockup:
- Each time it freezes, Parallels 5 (latest version) is always running
- The freezing occurs while I'm working as well as while the iMac is idle (overnight).
- If the iMac is idle during the freeze, then it continues to run (I can hear it), but it will not turn the screen on or respond to mouse or keyboard input.
- If I am using the iMac during the freeze, the computer continues to run (I can hear it) but the screen is fully frozen, not responding to mouse or keyboard input. No warning, no beach ball.
- iMac runs fine (no errors) after restart, but USB Printers (all 3, see below) must be rechecked in Parallels USB options and put back online in Windows Printers & Faxes
Just before freezes, the most common applications running are:
- Parallels
- Postbox (Mac)
- Safari or Chrome (Mac)
- AutoCAD 2007LT (Windows)
- Microsoft Word 2007 (Windows)
- Microsoft Excel 2007 (Windows)
- Adobe Acrobat Professional 9 (Windows)
We have tried the following things to diagnose the problem:
- suspected it might be Safari: switched to Chrome, freezing continued
- had printer issues: spooler subsystem would crash, printers would disappear - followed manual directions on MS Knowledgebase, whitelisted spooler for DEP protection, enabled automatic spooler service restart on crash: problem seems fixed but freezing continued
Here are the console logs from some of the crashes, in case they are useful:
iMac Setup
- 27" iMac (late 2009)
- Processor: 2.66GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
- RAM: 4GB
- Mac OSX 10.6.2 with latest software updates
- Parallels 5.0.9310.546799
- Time Machine enabled
- Nightly incremental SuperDuper backups
Parallels Setup
Software
- Windows XP SP2
- All Windows Updates installed
- AVG Pro antivirus (latest updates, no viruses)
Video
- 256 MB
- 3D Acceleration Enabled
- Vertical Synchonization Enabled
Hard Drive
- 64GB expanding disk
Networking
- Shared Networking
Sound
- Default Sound
USB
- HP LaserJet 1022 (shared back to the Mac via networking)
- HP ScanJet 2200C
- IEEE-1284 Controller (parallel to USB connector for HP DesignJet Plotter)
Processor/RAM
- 1 Processor
- 1536 MB RAM
Settings
- Adaptive Hypervisor: Enabled
- Autocompress Enabled
- Tune Windows for Speed Enabled
- Optimize Performance for Virtual Machine
- Power consumption (Longer Battery Life)
- Time: Synchonize with Mac
- Security Settings: not enabled
- Sharing: Home Folder (access windows folder from Mac) (mount virtual disks to desktop)
- Shared Profile: Enabled (all)
- Shared Aplications (yes, smart select enabled, mac osx apps shared with windows
- Smart Mount: Enabled (all)
- Smart Guard (disabled)
- Undo disks (disabled)
- Crystal & Coherence (do not use dock area, show windows system tray icons)
- Gestures Enabled, Apple Remote Enabled