iMac crash

Question

Level 1

8 points

iMac crash

I've an iMac that keeps crashing while using it. Light use with CS Suite etc. Other machines using the same apps and all fine. Basically it turns itself off and won't restart until you pull the power cable out for at least 5 seconds. Any ideas on what it could be?

I've erased the hard drive and reinstalled Mojave - still happening - no apparent pattern to when it crashes out.

iMac spec

27-inch late 2015 - was a refurb from Apple

3.2GHz intel core i5

32GB 1867 Mhz DDR3

AMD Radeon R9 M390 2 GB

Crash Report is attached

Anyone got any ideas - must be some sort of hardware issue??

Thanks

Crash report - Sept 19

Posted on Sep 18, 2019 6:45 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

kaz-k

Level 9

50,142 points

Sep 18, 2019 7:40 AM in response to twobelowzero

Hi,

It seems your iMac has Fusion drive trouble.

Boot in Recovery mode and use DiskUtility to repair the drive.

If it doesn't work, you would need to replace the drive.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

Reply

Answer 2

twobelowzero Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 18, 2019 7:45 AM in response to kaz-k

Hi,

I've reformatted the drive and run first aid twice before I reinstalled OS - all comes back fine, showing no errors.

I'll look at a new drive. Can I asked how you know it's the drive. What identifies this in the crash report.

Reply

Answer 3

Allan Jones

Level 9

71,816 points

Sep 18, 2019 10:48 AM in response to twobelowzero

Can I asked how you know it's the drive. What identifies this in the crash report.

Do you have a Fusion drive?. Although crash logs are rather cryptic, the several occurrences of "nvme" in the report suggests to me it is the SSD component of a Fusion drive. The SSD part has an NVMe interface.

Reply

Answer 4

Allan Jones

Level 9

71,816 points

Sep 18, 2019 12:30 PM in response to twobelowzero

I'm worried because we can't tell if that entry in the log is saying the SSD is bad or its slot is bad, or even something farther upstream. Does the computer run long enough to run Apple Diagnostics?

I think you need a more detailed diagnosis before investing in a new drive.

Also, have you investigated the take-apart for that iMac? It's not easy as you are dealing with a sealed case. Might want to watch this video before deciding you will do it yourself:

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac-27-inch-5k-2014_15-pciessd/

It's for a mid-2015 but the process should be the same.

Reply

Answer 5

twobelowzero Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 18, 2019 12:41 PM in response to Allan Jones

Hi Allan,

I can get the machine up and running, just crashes out at no particular point. I'll run apple diagnostics- is this just the disk utility? or is this a different bit of software? Disk utility first aid returns no faults.

I won't open the machine up myself, I'll get the local approved repair shop to do it. They look after all drive swaps etc - Oddly I asked them to check the machine but they say it's fine. Crashes every 10 mins so I can't see how they can say it's fine. I've swapped the leads etc in case it was the local environment causing the issue... just to be sure.

Reply

Answer 6

Wink3

Level 1

48 points

Sep 18, 2019 4:33 PM in response to twobelowzero

Disk Utility/First Aid is not reliable when it says no problems. Try DriveDX ( free for 15 days) to check your HD. I had a failing HD which Disk Utility said was OK , but it wasn't. Beachballing, Freezing were common.

Reply