MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Got an iMac, it keeps dicking about and freezing and I have to restart it with the power button. It's been doing this for a while but now I'm fed up with it.
The other day I installed Snow Leopard which I assume replaced Leopard that it came with. (It was being an arse long before this so I don't think that's it).
Am I right in thinking I can go through the erase and reinstall process using the Snow Leopard disk, as I can't find the Leopard one that came when I bought the thing?
Secondly, I've got everything backed up onto a hard drive using Time Machine. Apparently this back ups applications as well, whereas do I think I only want to put my music, photos and documents on, right?
Would prefer to avoid completely wrecking my computer if possible!
If the Snow Leopard is a legit CD you should be fine to use a reinstall.
As you get to the end of the installation process, it will ask you if you want to restore from a time machine backup. You can do a selective restore of the bits you want.
Before all that, have you tried Repairing Permissions and had a clear out?
It's from Apple so should be legit!
Do you mean a clear out of unwanted documents or unused applications, or both?
If repairing permissions is the first aid thing in teh disk utility application then yeah, I've tried that. Made no difference.
I have Intego antivirus software running on it. I know antivirus can sometimes make computers slower but that wouldn't make applications freeze would it?
I'd get rid of the AV to begin with. You can do all you need with AV with some very simple terminal commands once a month or once a year.
Not necessarily enough to cause it to freeze but get rid of it anyway. Anti Virus for mac's in the current world of WWW is a waste of money and memory.
How old is it?
Is this just about the OS software? Need more info for anyone to give you an answer to the freezing.
It's coming up for 4 yrs old.
Sometimes safari is the only program running, and it'll just freeze, sometimes force quit works, sometimes not.
iTunes will do the same thing from time to time as well.
iPages is about the only other thing that we use on it. Can't say I've noticed it happen on that.
Seems worse/more likely to happen the more stuff that's running eg. open safari, open itunes, open iPhoto in short succession and it's like it can't cope.
Could be RAM failing.
Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling your OS? That would eliminate your OS pretty much completely in my eyes as it sounds like a hardware issue. Faulty processor or maybe faulty RAM or something.
Try what people have been saying about your OS though, and if no juju then take it to a mac shop and they can probably tell you on the spot what it will be. Tell them it's not the OS because you re-installed etc.
Has it been bumped or dropped at all?
Do a quick whizz round on google to search for hardware tests, do a PRAM reset as well.
Check all your applications are up to date too. Sometimes not doing so can cause problems with new OS's but this is unlikely.
Total IT spaz myself, but is the fan running alright? Not filled up with fluff?
How full is the HD? Less than 10% free space can cause problems. Also run permissions check and a verification of the HD starting from the install disc. (Put disc in drive and restart holding down the C key or use the StartUp Disc system preference).
I'll set about it with the hoover then do a reinstall, and report back in due course...
Got an iMac, it keeps dicking about and freezing and I have to restart it with the power button.
I don't believe you. Not given how all the iFans tell us that Apple stuff just works.
It's true, I never lie.
I don't believe you. Not given how all the iFans tell us that Apple stuff just works.
Every single thread about apple... a windows fanboy has to jump in and attempt to slate mac's. You're all more obsessed with mac's than apple users.
So do us all a favor and just shut up and bug off. Your PC probably needs maintenance. Go do it.
Aaaaaand... back OT.
Yes, take the back off with the computer and plug socket off but leave the plug in (important) so it's earthed. See if the fan's are gunked up, check to make the sure the RAM is sitting properly, check for scorch marks on any bare circuitry too.
My ironyometer just exploded.