Mac freezing up - how to diagnose?

Hi. I have a Mac Pro running Mac OS 10.5.8 with 2GB 800 MHz of RAM.

In the past 2 years, my Mac has frozen up perhaps two times.

But in the past 48 hours, it's happened 4 times. (Do Macs have an equivalent term for the Blue Screen of Death? If so, I don't even know what it is, so seldom has it happened!)

I suspect the culprit is Mozy backup, which I installed on Sunday, though they claim that this never happens on a Mac.

Is there a way to diagnose *why* my Mac Pro is suddenly repeatedly freezing up?

What would you do if this happened to you?

thanks!

jd lasica

Have you tried removing Mozy backup to see if the problem occurs? I would start there. Freezing is usually related to video faults. It might be a good idea to check out the video card in your Mac Pro. If the card is cooled by a fan, check to see if the fan is working properly and not clogged with dirt. Might also be a good idea to clean the machine's fans while you're at it.

Regards.

And if nothing comes to light, pop in disc one of the original install discs and run Appl;e Hardware Test extended mode. Checks out hard drive, logic board, memory and graphics.

Definitely sounds like Mozy, though it's possible Mozy is just bringing the problem to light. First things first, disable Mozy for a day or so and see if the problem persists.

Then run a memory test. Apple Hardware Diagnostics has one, but I've found it unreliable, at best. I wrote about other options recently at TMO, so at the risk of self-pimpage in bad form that article is at My Mac Keeps Freezing, Is It Bad RAM? | MGG Answers | The Mac Observer.

As I've often said, when a computer is crashing in what seems to be a random pattern the culprit is often, but not always, hardware.

The first thing to do is the simple stuff here:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/93819-basic-os-x-mac-troubleshooting.html

Then, move on to the Apple Hardware Test:

Intel-based Macs: Using Apple Hardware Test

If all is well, then it's time to start removing applications and do more advanced troubleshooting (like checking the Console logs for anomalies).

Remember, if your car doesn't start, you should check to see if there's gas in the tank before you start rebuilding the engine.

Update

Thanks, all. Mozy has so far not responded to my email (after 19 hours), so we'll see what happens there.

I'll run the diagnostics as y'all have suggested. I'm braced for another freeze but hasn't happened in the past day ...

jd

Still freezing up

Well, unfortunately, a month later I'm still having problems. My Mac Pro froze twice today. I've cleaned the hardware so I do think it's a software issue.

Today, I was running Pages when it froze. Then running Firefox and Msft Word, so nothing special. Here are the 2 crash logs. Do these cast any light on the cause?

jd

panic(cpu 0 caller 0x001AB0FE): Kernel trap at 0x00b57127, type 14=page fault, registers:

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 2745512 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 7
Anonymous UUID: F9592FB4-1DC8-4B79-A950-384431ED8403

Sat May 29 16:23:43 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x001AB0FE): Kernel trap at 0x00b57127, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x00000000, CR3: 0x0101c000, CR4: 0x00000660
EAX: 0x00000000, EBX: 0x00000036, ECX: 0x0455d854, EDX: 0x0001a5e0
CR2: 0x00000000, EBP: 0x00108b18, ESI: 0x04847680, EDI: 0x00108ff0
EFL: 0x00010006, EIP: 0x00b57127, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00520010
Error code: 0x00000000

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x108918 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45f91c 0x10894c 0x13355c 0x0)
0x108968 : 0x1ab0fe (0x469a98 0xb57127 0xe 0x469248)
0x108a48 : 0x1a1713 (0x108a60 0x108ab4 0x108b18 0xb57127)
0x108a58 : 0xb57127 (0xe 0x28740048 0x10 0x10)
0x108b18 : 0xb57c6e (0x0 0x2f 0x12 0x0)
0x108b58 : 0xb57dd3 (0x0 0x0 0x0 0x528ce8)
0x108cb8 : 0xb57f31 (0x1 0x4 0xb62a48 0x0)
0x108cf8 : 0xb57d4f (0x4 0xb62a48 0x0 0x0)
0x108d38 : 0xb4c3e9 (0xb63f0c 0xb649e0 0x0 0x0)
0x108d98 : 0xb455dc (0x4cc5010 0x108e58 0x1 0x1)
0x108dd8 : 0xb47b92 (0x4cc5010 0xb6a0fc 0x108e58 0x40)
0x108e08 : 0xb47bc7 (0x4cc5010 0x8 0x108e58 0x0)
0x108e38 : 0xb447e5 (0x4cc5010 0x8 0x108e58 0x13f0e3)
0x108ea8 : 0xb53a30 (0x4cc5010 0xb68594 0x31f60 0x6)
0x108ed8 : 0xb2e0d7 (0x4888154 0x4145ef50 0xd 0xb68594)
0x108f08 : 0x667cbd (0x4847680 0x36 0x23f21000 0x0)
Backtrace continues...
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.kext.ATY_Lamna(5.4.8)@0xaf8000->0xb71fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x65d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x62f000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x640000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.2.0)@0x61b000
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x65d000->0x66afff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x62f000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x640000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: Pages

Mac OS version:
9L30

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:55:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacPro3,1 (Mac-F42C88C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 688302001306715
unloaded kexts:
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse 6.2.2 - last unloaded 681582808101106
loaded kexts:
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseBluetooth 6.2.2 - last loaded 681522718845474
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse 6.2.2
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardBluetooth 6.2.2
com.AmbrosiaSW.AudioSupport 3.2
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardUSB 6.2.2
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboard 6.2.2
com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver 2.6.0
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 2.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 1.7.1a2
com.apple.kext.ATY_Lamna 5.4.8
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.1.9f10
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9d0
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 6.0.3
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 1.7.1a2
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 1.7.7
com.apple.ATIRadeonX2000 5.4.8
com.apple.driver.AppleMCEDriver 1.1.7
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 3.4.0a17
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.1.9f10
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 3.5.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.1.1
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 2.7.91
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 1.5.3
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.2.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 3.4.9
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 1.7.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleIntel8254XEthernet 2.1.2b1
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 3.9.7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 3.4.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.2.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPCI 1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.security.seatbelt 107.12
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 1.8.77
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 76.2.0
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 199
com.apple.BootCache 30.4
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 2.1.9f10
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 1.7.1a2
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 9.4
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.6.9fc5
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 1.7.1a2
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 1.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 1.7.3
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 3.4.0a17
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 2.3.1d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.1.9f10
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.1.9f10
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 3.4.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.5
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 1.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 3.4.9
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.5.6
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.2.0



===============================
3 hours later:

Interval Since Last Panic Report: -1 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 1
Anonymous UUID: F9592FB4-1DC8-4B79-A950-384431ED8403

Sat May 29 20:54:25 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x001AB0FE): Kernel trap at 0x00b57127, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x00000000, CR3: 0x0101b000, CR4: 0x00000660
EAX: 0x00000000, EBX: 0x00000036, ECX: 0x045dae54, EDX: 0x0001a5e0
CR2: 0x00000000, EBP: 0x00108b18, ESI: 0x04604da0, EDI: 0x00108ff0
EFL: 0x00010006, EIP: 0x00b57127, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00520010
Error code: 0x00000000

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x108918 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45f91c 0x10894c 0x13355c 0x0)
0x108968 : 0x1ab0fe (0x469a98 0xb57127 0xe 0x469248)
0x108a48 : 0x1a1713 (0x108a60 0x108ab4 0x108b18 0xb57127)
0x108a58 : 0xb57127 (0xe 0x28740048 0x10 0x10)
0x108b18 : 0xb57c6e (0x0 0x2f 0x12 0x0)
0x108b58 : 0xb57dd3 (0x0 0x0 0x0 0x528ce8)
0x108cb8 : 0xb57f31 (0x1 0x4 0xb62a48 0x0)
0x108cf8 : 0xb57d4f (0x4 0xb62a48 0x0 0x0)
0x108d38 : 0xb4c3e9 (0xb63f0c 0xb649e0 0x0 0x0)
0x108d98 : 0xb455dc (0x4d90810 0x108e58 0x1 0x1)
0x108dd8 : 0xb47b92 (0x4d90810 0xb6a0fc 0x108e58 0x40)
0x108e08 : 0xb47bc7 (0x4d90810 0x8 0x108e58 0x0)
0x108e38 : 0xb447e5 (0x4d90810 0x8 0x108e58 0x13f0e3)
0x108ea8 : 0xb53a30 (0x4d90810 0xb68594 0x19f10 0x6)
0x108ed8 : 0xb2e0d7 (0x4a20554 0x47ed2f00 0xd 0xb68594)
0x108f08 : 0x667cbd (0x4604da0 0x36 0x23ef6000 0x0)
Backtrace continues...
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.kext.ATY_Lamna(5.4.8)@0xaf8000->0xb71fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x65d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x62f000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x640000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.2.0)@0x61b000
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x65d000->0x66afff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x62f000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x640000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
9L30

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:55:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacPro3,1 (Mac-F42C88C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 12957058483331
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 2.1.9f10 - last unloaded 8989346537049
loaded kexts:
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseBluetooth 6.2.2 - last loaded 4562535041732
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse 6.2.2
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardBluetooth 6.2.2
com.AmbrosiaSW.AudioSupport 3.2
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardUSB 6.2.2
com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboard 6.2.2
com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver 2.6.0
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.0.2
<snip>