Mac user please help !!

**thementhol** · February 6, 2008

My macbook is driving me crazy!!!

I just picked up this Macbook (2.2GHz 1G Ram) during x'mas.

I was very glad with this purchase until recently.... it start to freeze like crazy !!!

By freeze I mean ... the rainbow circle thingy pop-up and freeze up everything.

Sometimes it "unfreeze" itself but most of the time I just have to force it to reset, because force quit does not work!!

At first I thought it caused by MS office, so I removed it ... nothing changed

Second guess ...

I thought it caused by my wireless router because the signal was super unstable, so my mac probably tries to reconnect to internet while processing other works.

So I plugged the cable directly and it was fine for a day

and damn !!!

It starts to freeze again tonight ....

I bet 1G ram is more than enough. All I do with this mac is procrastinate by browsing internet + log in MSN while doing my school project. Nothing fancy, I don't even listen to music while working.

btw... I saw a stop sign looking thingy instead of Apple logo when I restart my comp after force reset today ... I don't know what that mean but damn something must be wrong.

Help me guys ... I can't work like this!! My PC's power supply just died, I can't even use my PC now

**slimeberry** · February 6, 2008

Pay no attention to tiger who. Your MacBook is a great laptop. I have the Black MacBook and love it. It sounds like something is wrong w/ an application you are trying to run. Does it do this right after it is started or only after you have been using it for a while? Without more information, I really can't help though. Did you get Apple Care? If not, and it is within 90 days of your purchase, you still can. A very worthwhile investment. But, if you just got it for Christmas, it still is w/ in the 90 day window to call customer support. Call 1-800-my-apple. They should be able to help.

I have a 24" iMac at my office and a Black MacBook and a Mac Mini at home. OSX is, without a doubt, the most stable operating system out there. We also use a lot of PC's here at the office and they are always crashing. Your situation is unusual, and not the norm. Once it is resolved, I think you will be very happy.

Use your MacBook for a few months, then try to use a Windows based machine. Then you will appreciate your Mac.

Good luck!!!

***iacas*** · February 6, 2008

Problems like this are darn near impossible to diagnose on the Internet. Go visit an Apple store and get help from one of the Geniuses there.

1G of RAM may be enough, but there could be any number of other reasons why you're seeing the problems.

My wife has a 4-year-old 12" PowerBook with 768 MB RAM and it still runs great, so your problems aren't typical. They're something that can be resolved.

**catfell** · February 6, 2008

If the macbook is under warrantee, you should definitely either call applecare or go to an apple store and go to the genius bar.

If you haven't backed up your data, do so before going to the apple store, because they're not required to preserve your files when they fix anything.

That being said, I have found the "geniuses" to be of varying degrees of ability.

I've been a happy mac user for over 20 years, and since I run a small business, I'm my own IT department. I'm a photographer and not a computer technician, so I do not guarantee results.

With all versions of OS 10, there is something called permissions.

My understanding is that all files have records as to which user has how much access. Sometimes these records get a little scrambled, especially after installing new software.

Here's how to correct your permissions:

Start up from the system install CD/DVD that came with your macbook. It should be disc 1 if there are more than one disc.

Insert the disc , and when you restart, hold down the "c" button until you get the gear wheel thing onscreen.

Depending on which version of OS 10 is on the disc, you might see a window asking which language you wish to use on the computer.

Yes, this is scary looking because from here, do have the ability to wipe out everything on your computer.

Go ahead and select the language you wish.

If you didn't originally get the "choose a language" screen, follow along from here.

Use the pulldown menu from "utilities" and select "disc utilities".

After disc utilities starts up, select the startup drive on your macbook on the left hand side of the window.

There should be four buttons at the bottom of the window.

The bottom left should be "repair permissions".

Click on "repair permissions" and let the program run.

You will probably see a bunch of gobbledy gook appear, describing what permissions have been repaired.

When it's finished, select your macbook's startup disc again and repair the permissions again.

After one or two passes, you should not see any repairs performed or needed.

Repeat the permission repair until you get two consecutive no repairs necessary.

Quit the disc utility.

Quit the installer or restart the computer.

Your macbook should be working a lot better than it was before.

NB. Disc utility is located in your applications folder in the utilities folder, but running disc utilities this way is not as effective as when you startup from the CD/DVD.

I repair permissions every couple of weeks or after doing any major software installation, including updates.

I liken permission repair to burping the baby.

Hope this wasn't too long, and hope it helps.

-catfell

***iacas*** · February 6, 2008

If you haven't backed up your data, do so before going to the apple store, because they're not required to preserve your files when they fix anything.

That being said, they typically won't do anything to your data at all.

The first troubleshooting step is to see if the same problems occur with another user. If so, it's clearly a software issue within your home folder.

My understanding is that all files have records as to which user has how much access. Sometimes these records get a little scrambled, especially after installing new software.

Repairing permissions likely won't change things, but it can, and I recommend doing it too. It can't hurt.

No real need to boot from the disc like he says, but you can. You can also just launch Disk Utility. Run the "Repair Permissions" and "Verify Disk" things. If "Verify Disk" returns any problems, THEN you have to boot from the CD/DVD.

Repeat the permission repair until you get two consecutive no repairs necessary.

One time through is enough. Not so for "Repair Disk" if "Verify Disk" turns up errors. Run that until you get no "DISK MODIFIED" messages.

NB. Disc utility is located in your applications folder in the utilities folder, but running disc utilities this way is not as effective as when you startup from the CD/DVD.

It's just as effective. Repair Disk, however, you can't run on a disk you've booted from.

I liken permission repair to burping the baby.

Repair Permissions can work in some cases - I've seen it repair systems that are seriously borked - but here are some links you may want to read:

http://daringfireball.net/2006/04/repair_permissions http://daringfireball.net/2006/04/re...issions_voodoo http://www.momathome.com/2007/10/may...old_after_all/

**thementhol** · February 7, 2008

thanks guys .....

my girlfriend's iMac runs the same program as I do, and some other junks but never had problem like that ....

but anyway I will try what you guys suggested and used my warranty later

I downloaded Onyx ... hope that "Repair Permissions" does the same thing..

**joshiemac25** · February 7, 2008

Depending on the version of Office that you have put on the computer, along with other software that may have been created for previous Macs, that could be the culprit. Only the newest version (Office 2008) was created as a Universal Binary to run natively on Intel Macs (yours).

It is possible that some of the software you are using is non-native and even though most work fine under Rosetta (Power PC emulator that allows you to run non-native software) they could be causing the issues, even after "uninstalling" them.

If you just got it, like others have said, take it to a genius bar and let them figure it out or fix it, as that is what they are there for.

When it starts working correctly, believe me you should never want to use a PC again, but if you do, just purchase whatever version of Windows you want, and run it on the MacBook through Bootcamp.

Good luck.

**slimeberry** · February 7, 2008

I totally agree w/ the previous post, save one thing. I don't like boot Camp because you have to "shut down" OSX to run XP. W/ Parallels, you can run them all together seamlessly. It works very well... better than Rosetta and much better than Virtual PC. Good luck.

puggy · February 7, 2008

Thementhol your problem sounds very out of character I agree with the suggestion of taking it to a genius .However I entirely agree with slimberry boot camp is a pain it would be nice to access either side without having to restart but still 2 million times better than a pc

**catfell** · February 7, 2008

That being said, they typically won't do anything to your data at all.

Actually, since the computer is fairly new, if the problem is the computer, apple could replace the whole computer or parts of the computer and they would perform a clean install, so actually I would not assume that the data on your computer is going to come back to you after a repair. You might not even get your original computer back.

Not to mention most folks never back up their computers until they have had a loss, so I prefer leaving people with the impression that they should back up their data.

No real need to boot from the disc like he says, but you can. You can also just launch Disk Utility. Run the "Repair Permissions" and "Verify Disk" things. If "Verify Disk" returns any problems, THEN you have to boot from the CD/DVD.

My point of starting up from the CD/DVD is twofold.

1. It's simpler than running the utility to see if anything is wrong, then restarting from the CD/DVD and then running the utility. 2. I was trying to simplify the entire process for anyone reading this thread, as my post was getting a bit long.

One time through is enough. Not so for "Repair Disk" if "Verify Disk" turns up errors. Run that until you get no "DISK MODIFIED" messages.

Technically you are correct, but I have been advised by Apple techs to get a double clean result. Yeah, it's a little computer voodoo-ish, but what is adding a few more minutes. Compared to either not performing the permission repair, or running the utility first while booted from the internal hard drive?

It's just as effective. Repair Disk, however, you can't run on a disk you've booted from.

As mentioned before, I am not an expert, but have quite a bit of experience. Disk utility states,

"To repair your startup disk, start up from your Mac os X Install disc..." And every apple tech I have spent any time on the phone with has always had me boot from the install disc then repair permissions.

**thementhol** · February 7, 2008

I repaired up my permission this afternoon and everything seems fine so far.

Freeze up twice, came back up ... so it shouldn't be the freeze freeze like couple days ago.

I have been watching my activity monitor whole night and found out that I have whole bunch of inactive processes... it's about 450MB sitting there and do nothing now and still growing ...

do I suppose to get all that ???

***iacas*** · February 7, 2008

Actually, since the computer is fairly new, if the problem is the computer, apple could replace the whole computer or parts of the computer and they would perform a clean install, so actually I would not assume that the data on your computer is going to come back to you after a repair. You might not even get your original computer back.

It's highly unlikely to be a hardware problem. And if it's that new, there's likely not much personal data on it.

The OP's MacBook comes with a SuperDrive, so to him I say: burn a disc with your data. Reformat the hard drive and reinstall the OS if you can't get any of the other "quick fixes" to work. It seems as though you have. And most geniuses (high 90%) won't just willy nilly format the disk without giving you a chance to back things up. It can happen, and backing up is never a bad idea, which is why I didn't disagree with you. I was a Mac Genius, then I worked to do several other things with the Mac Genius portion of Apple Retail, including training and writing of some of the manuals. Mac Geniuses are "Tier 2.5" techs and, given that they see 10-20 non-working Macs a day, pretty extensively knowledgeable in the area of troubleshooting. I also write software for Mac OS X, and have for several years. You say you're not an expert. I am. Simple statement of fact there, so don't think I'm all superior just because I've spent the better part of my life working with computers made by Apple.

Rebooting for "Repair Permissions" is 100% unnecessary. Just quit all of your apps and run it from your login. A "double clean" result is unnecessary - even a single clean result is. You just have to run it once. If "Verify Disk" finds problems, you have to reboot. The odds of it finding problems are low, so you can keep this to a 3-minute process instead of one that takes 15 (rebooting from the optical drive). We wouldn't even boot from the optical drive in the store unless we had to (and even then we'd rather just boot from a Firewire drive with the OS and some utilities on it). You seem a bit reactionary. If you want to waste time getting double-positives and booting from the optical drive, go ahead. They are, no doubt, a way to guarantee your results. I'm just saying that, in my experience and knowledge, it's just a good way to waste time.

I have been watching my activity monitor whole night and found out that I have whole bunch of inactive processes... it's about 450MB sitting there and do nothing now and still growing ...

Right now I have 448 threads and 96 processes. 21 of the threads are from Safari, and 68 are from kernel_task. No problems. I typically sort by the "CPU" column. It lets me see which of the processes is using the most CPU at the moment. Sometimes one will get stuck, skyrocket to 100% (or more on multi-CPU systems), and forcing it to quit is all that's necessary.

1 GB of RAM is about the bare minimum I'd use on a modern computer. If you do get RAM eventually to supplement what you've got, don't buy from Apple. Look at a place like OWC or RAMJET or something.

**thementhol** · February 8, 2008

I typically sort by the "CPU" column. It lets me see which of the processes is using the most CPU at the moment. Sometimes one will get stuck, skyrocket to 100% (or more on multi-CPU systems), and forcing it to quit is all that's necessary.

I have been monitoring my CPU column whole night (again) ....

Every time when I start to watch videos on YouTube, %CPU jumps up around 50 ~70% range. It freeze up a twice while I am watching some clips without opening up any other application but it came back up again. No doubt why my comp. freeze like crazy couple days ago because I was listening to music on YouTube while doing whole bunch things in the same time. I reset Safari and the CPU% stays stable around 40~50%, hope that solve the problem ...

***iacas*** · February 8, 2008

Yeah, Flash videos are fairly resource intensive, unfortunately. A bit less so on Windows. It's an annoying thing, to be sure.

My CPU hits about 50%... but that's on one CPU. I have three others.

**mkoreiwo** · February 10, 2008

You need to post on the Mac forums... Try macosxhints or macosg. They are very helpful. You will need to provide a bit more info though. You may need to collect some logs for the gurus to decipher.

BTW, if you have an Apple store within driving distance, you should also considier going there and visiting their genius bar.

If you don't have a lot of data on the HD, you can always do a clean install. That would rule out a software problem....

**thementhol** · February 11, 2008

You need to post on the Mac forums... Try macosxhints or macosg. They are very helpful. You will need to provide a bit more info though. You may need to collect some logs for the gurus to decipher.

ah !! Thanks I was looking for one !!

If you don't have a lot of data on the HD, you can always do a clean install. That would rule out a software problem....

I did reinstall twice and the problem still there

but like I said earlier I did whole bunch stuffs and watch YouTube in the same time and that probably is the main cause of the whole problem. My mac didn't freeze in the last two days since I get rid of the "listen music on YouTube" thing

and I don't use wireless no more ... damn the stupid router or I should say mac is too picky cause my PC's wireless connection seems fine while mac tries to reconnect to the Internet. oh yeah one more thing ..... does 4G ram make whole lotta different? It doesn't cost that much different so what the heck I will buy 4G instead of 2G

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