MacOS Big Sur Unstable

To verify it's not a 3rd party software issue Apple had me do the following:

1 - make sure I had a full and current backup of my hard drive, either Time Machine or a full clone.

2 - Boot into the Recovery volume, erase the drive and reinstall the system without migrating any files from my backup. Run and see if the crashing continues. If it does it's hardware or the system. If it doesn't then the user files are the culprit.

You might try the above to verify that it's no any of your files or 3rd party apps that the culprit.

Download and run Etrecheck. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

IMPORTANT:

Before running Etrecheck assign Full Disk Access to Etrecheck in the Etrecheck's Privacy preference pane so that it can get additional information from the Console and log files for the report:

Also click and read the About info to further permit full disk access.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to include the report in your reply.

Then we can examine the report and see if we can determine what might be causing the problem.

Update on the problem.

I tried to do a test downgrade from my Macbook Big Sur to a clean install of Catalina on an iMac (to test before I do the same on the Macbook that is actually seeing the freeze and crash issues. This test failed because Migration Assistant does not work with OS downgrades. A manual migration is just messy and insufficient for my needs on my primary Macbook.

So I sought more suggestions and rather than risk downgrade I went for a "dirty" re-install of Big Sur. In preparation I had already removed all the likely suspects - Chrome, Keystone, 3rd Party apps. etc. None of these seemed to cure the problem. I then did a straight internet re-install of the Big Sur. 3 weeks later I have not had a crash nor freeze. I still get the fans kicking in and Console still is full of :

getattrlist failed for /Library/GPUBundles/AppleIntelHSWVA.bundle/Contents/MacOS/AppleIntelHSWVA: #2: No such file or directory

and

com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.mdworker.shared.0): Service exited due to SIGKILL

To trouble shoot further you can:

—Try a SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5-15 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc. Login and test. Reboot as normal and test as caches get rebuilt.

In Safe mode third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled, it removes malware, etc hampering smooth operation, however a reboot will put it back to normal mode.

This test will tell you if third party interference; extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode.

—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204443

This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 

Download and run Etrecheck. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to include the report in your reply.

IMPORTANT:

Before running Etrecheck assign Full Disk Access to Etrecheck in the Etrecheck's Privacy preference pane so that it can get additional information from the Console and log files for the report:

Also click and read the About info to further permit full disk access.

Then we can examine the report and see if we can determine what might be causing the problem.

I had the issue of my new MacBook Pro freezing when just using Mail and Safari (Big Sur 11.01). I then upgraded to 11.1 and ran ETREcheck and deleted all AV/VPN and any old software that I did not need any more. Quite a manual work but ETREcheck tells you, where all the old 32bit apps, KernelExtensions etc. are.

After I did this a few weeks ago, my MacBook Pro had not a single issue. I believe that the clean-up was the real reason.

I would expect that you would not have to do all this, but apparently the OS is not yet as stable as it should be and I thought that my experience with removing all old and potentially conflicting stuff (CleanMyMac, AV, VPN) could be useful to others.

Good luck with solving your BigSur issues and have a nice Sunday.

Good Lord, I did not expect this topic to explode as it did.

Let's go back to the original issue which is why I contributed to this thread.

The main issue I've been having (which I believe I have traced this down to NordVPN's latest release) is that after a short amount of time, the Internet will just stop. This includes the following symptoms.

• Safari and basic internet calls will just STOP. If I try to go to a new page, Safari will just pause on loading.
• I can open an application but they will not quit.
• Can not Force Quit Apps or Reboot the Machine from the Apple Menu.
• Pulling up the Network Console in Preferences and all my networks are gone. Completely blank.

When this happens I usually will go to the NordApp and switch to another VPN (say United States to Canada.) If it successfully connects then everything continues as normal. If not, then the whole machine is basically locked. Only a hard boot will return stuff to normal.

I switched to ExpressVPN (competitor) and the issue has seem to gone away. I've worked with nord this morning to delete all the Application parts and reinstall the VPN software but the issue still remains.

The major concern I have with this is WHY ARE THE APPLICATIONS NOT CLOSING? It's as if they need to report home that the applications are closed before they fully quit. An application should not need an Internet call to close, that makes no sense and tells me Apple is not being clear about the data they sending. If I quit or force quit an application the network should have nothing to do with it.

For example Quicken will continue to say 'backuping up file before close' message. Until the Internet is available it will just hang there.

I am not a network engineer but I would love for someone to do a scan on my ports and tell me what is happening when an application closes. Once again all signs point to an internet calls is attempting to be made, and unless that call is finalized the applications will not close and hang the machine. Either way the Networking protocol should not be integrated with the basic functionality of the Operating System. If so, that is just devious programming.

I have seen an increase in the regularity of freezes, black screen, 10 seconds of runaway fan noise and then auto shutdown. This is since the latest upgrade to 11.3.1 Looking in Console and System log there is a lot of repeating lines. Here is a small sample of the best bits:

SIGKIL is often seen. Aimersoft repeated 3000+ times. I have now cleared out all I can find of aimersoft iMusichelper. Chrome is a common factor too, and in Activity monitor I often see multiple Chrome renderers. Anyone else got these in your system log?

There is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This user tip describes what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community   

Well, there's your problem. CleanMyMac is considered by the more experienced contributors to these forums to be akin to malware. It should be uninstalled according to the developer's instructions. Sophos is also totally unnecessary and should be uninstalled accordingly.

You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running Find Any File to search for any files with the application's name  and the developer's name in the file name.  For the mentioned software you'd do the following search(es): 

1 - Name contains cleanmymac

2 - Name contains macpaw

3 - Name contains sops

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  

Also download and run Etrecheck. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to include the report in your reply.

IMPORTANT:

Before running Etrecheck assign Full Disk Access to Etrecheck in the Etrecheck's Privacy preference pane so that it can get additional information from the Console and log files for the report:

Also click and read the About info to further permit full disk access.

Then we can examine the report and see if we can determine what might be causing the problem.

I have had significant issues and contact with Apple Support due to a frozen OS after the Big Sur upgrade. After having removed the AV tool and the upgrade to Version 11.1, I have had no issues any more. Yes these only happened about once a week. As soon as the problems reoccur, I will post a message. But maybe removing certain tools, which deeply interact with the OS could be worth a try for others too...

I have also had this problem and, reading this thread, decided to remove Sophos. 24 hours later and there is a noticeable improvement.

Looking on the Sophos site there appear to be a number of known issues on Big Sur, but none that I noted that affect performance and stability.

I am going to wait a few weeks, re-check the Sophos site and, if the number of issues have diminished, perhaps reinstall.

Download and run Etrecheck. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance. The report gives us a totally anonymous view of your Mac, system and software to see if there's any 3rd party software that might be contributing to the problem.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to include the report in your reply.

IMPORTANT:

Before running Etrecheck assign Full Disk Access to Etrecheck in the Etrecheck's Privacy preference pane so that it can get additional information from the Console and log files for the report:

Also click and read the About info to further permit full disk access.

Then we can examine the report and see if we can determine what might be causing the problem.

Download and run EtreCheck and see if it notes any issues, especially kernel extensions you may not remember you installed.

If you like you can post your results here and I or someone else can check over them for you.

See the article If an app freezes or quits unexpectedly on Mac - Apple Support

Click on finder , take cursor on top menu bar > click on Go and hold option key , click on library delete the contents from folders Caches , cookies , saved application state , also input methods , internet plugins folder should be empty , restart the Mac , and browse new contents will be created in those folders .

Uninstall all safari extensions .

Avoid using vpn services , third party softwares / apps / anti virus in Mac Install and uninstall apps from the Internet or disc on Mac - Apple Support

Contact apple support senior advisors Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Go to system preferences and click on users and groups open the pad lock by entering admin name and password ( in case if it is an admin account ) , select login items , if you see app select it and click on minus sign to get deleted .

In system preferences itself click on Security and privacy , click on Accessibility then privacy select the suspicious app click on minus sign to get deleted .

Click on finder and search in Applications and download folder . 

The next step would be enter in System Library .

Click on Finder , take cursor on top menu bar click on Go - Computer - Macintosh HD - Library 

You have to manually search app in some folders where they reside .

1.Application Support 

2.Caches 

3.LaunchAgents

4.LaunchDaemons

5.Logs 

6.PriviledgedHelperTools

7.Startup-items

8.Receipts

9.Preferences - the plist of app is to be removed , if there is com.apple .xxxx .plist it could also be com.apple.xxx.plist 

10.Extensions

11.Frameworks

12.internet Plug -ins

13.Input Methods

14.ScriptingAdditions

Then enter in User library ( click on finder and take cursor on top menu bar , hold option key and click on library ) .

Search in folders 

1.Application Support 

2.Caches

3.Cookies

4.Safari

5.Logs

6.Saved Application State

7.LaunchAgents

8.Internet Plug -ins

9.Input Methods

10.Preferences - com.apple.xxx.plist .

11.Containers are also to be checked .

Then again click on Finder - Go - Macintosh HD - System - Library - Frameworks - search the app remnants in Framework folder .

Right click on remnants from the above folders and move to the bin , restart the computer and empty the bin .

Another method is open finder , right click on clean my Mac and eject it ( shown with arrow under locations in finder side bar ) .

You can also click on finder , take cursor on top menu bar > file > new finder window Open folders in new Finder tabs or windows on Mac - Apple Support, in its spotlight type clean my Mac 3 , select this Mac , if any folder named with app will be shown , select them and click on cross sign .

See this article also Go directly to a specific folder on Mac - Apple Support

Note : consult apple care senior advisors , if you are experienced and recognise the folder / file names of the app then do it by your own , otherwise first take suggestions from them .