Computer Crashed During Game

Twelve Motion · 11-26-2012, 12:55 AM

I am using a 27" iMac with OS 10.7.5

About a month ago I downloaded the free game Heroes of Newerth. I played it with my co-workers and everything was fine. Over thanksgiving weekend the game began crashing, like the video would get all messed up and the computer would freeze. I tried force-quitting, but it didn't work I had to hold power till restart.

I tried to play a few more times with the same thing happening, on the last time the computer booted into a grey screen and after many restarts it wouldn't load the system. I tured unplugging all peripherals, safe-booting, nothing worked until I zapped the PRAM. Then it seemed to work.

Now the computer will periodically just freeze. 100% lock up and I have to restart. Often it wont fully restart and I need to safeboot to get it online. Is there anything I can do to diagnose this problem?

chabig · 11-26-2012, 01:06 AM

There is a good troubleshooting list on this forum:

http://hintsforums.macworld.com/showthread.php?t=13846

Twelve Motion · 11-26-2012, 06:53 AM

What do you do if you don't have a CD? The latest system I downloaded from the app store and I have lost any originals I got with my iMac long ago...

chabig · 11-26-2012, 07:25 AM

You boot to the recovery partition. Hold down the option key during startup and you'll see it as a choice. Or hold cmd-R at startup to go straight there. Once there, you can try to troubleshoot your hard drive, or reinstall Lion.

Twelve Motion · 11-26-2012, 07:59 AM

How would I test if my video card is defective?

DeltaMac · 11-26-2012, 08:33 AM

You should be able to boot to the hardware diagnostics -
(assuming you have not replaced the original hard drive, or have not re-partitioned your drive)
restart holding Command-D
Run both the standard and extended tests.

Twelve Motion · 11-27-2012, 06:42 PM

Ok here is my progress based on the "check list"

- repair permissions. (done, from recovery drive)
- check the filesystem. (this is done by holding shift on startup yes? Done.)
- disable Application Enhancer, if you're running it. (N/A)
- create a new user account, and see if the problem persists there. (Problems didn't occur however the new account doesn't do the stuff I do so it's hard to recreate. I did surf the web and watch some youtube videos though and it went ok)
- check that there are no system StartupItems in /Library/StartupItems/. (None)
- unplug all USB, Firewire, and 3rd Party PCI cards. (Tried)
- reinstall the combo updater. (Not sure how to do this?)
- check the hard drive for bad blocks. (Done, from recovery drive)
- take out 3rd party RAM. (Did not do)
- run the Apple hardware diagnostic CD.
- reinstall the system from scratch. (I reinstalled Lion from recovery drive)
- send the machine back to Apple.

Currently the computer works mostly fine, however it freezes for no apparent reason. The mouse can still be moved, but nothing is interactive it's just frozen. Usually a restart fixes it, but sometimes it takes several restarts. Does anyone have anymore insight?

DeltaMac · 11-28-2012, 08:28 AM

Did you really try the hardware diagnostics?
That should be on your hard drive, by restarting while holding Command-D (for Diagnostics

)
The diagnostics will show you choices to run a standard, or extended test. Try both tests.
One way this won't work is if you have replaced, or partitioned (completely erased) your hard drive.

11-26-2012, 12:55 AM	#1
Twelve Motion All Star Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 966	Computer Crashed During Game I am using a 27" iMac with OS 10.7.5 About a month ago I downloaded the free game Heroes of Newerth. I played it with my co-workers and everything was fine. Over thanksgiving weekend the game began crashing, like the video would get all messed up and the computer would freeze. I tried force-quitting, but it didn't work I had to hold power till restart. I tried to play a few more times with the same thing happening, on the last time the computer booted into a grey screen and after many restarts it wouldn't load the system. I tured unplugging all peripherals, safe-booting, nothing worked until I zapped the PRAM. Then it seemed to work. Now the computer will periodically just freeze. 100% lock up and I have to restart. Often it wont fully restart and I need to safeboot to get it online. Is there anything I can do to diagnose this problem?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

11-26-2012, 01:06 AM	#2
chabig Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,930	There is a good troubleshooting list on this forum: http://hintsforums.macworld.com/showthread.php?t=13846

11-26-2012, 06:53 AM	#3
Twelve Motion All Star Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 966	What do you do if you don't have a CD? The latest system I downloaded from the app store and I have lost any originals I got with my iMac long ago...

11-26-2012, 07:25 AM	#4
chabig Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,930	You boot to the recovery partition. Hold down the option key during startup and you'll see it as a choice. Or hold cmd-R at startup to go straight there. Once there, you can try to troubleshoot your hard drive, or reinstall Lion.

11-26-2012, 07:59 AM	#5
Twelve Motion All Star Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 966	How would I test if my video card is defective?

11-26-2012, 08:33 AM	#6
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,950	You should be able to boot to the hardware diagnostics - (assuming you have not replaced the original hard drive, or have not re-partitioned your drive) restart holding Command-D Run both the standard and extended tests.

11-27-2012, 06:42 PM	#7
Twelve Motion All Star Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 966	Ok here is my progress based on the "check list" - repair permissions. (done, from recovery drive) - check the filesystem. (this is done by holding shift on startup yes? Done.) - disable Application Enhancer, if you're running it. (N/A) - create a new user account, and see if the problem persists there. (Problems didn't occur however the new account doesn't do the stuff I do so it's hard to recreate. I did surf the web and watch some youtube videos though and it went ok) - check that there are no system StartupItems in /Library/StartupItems/. (None) - unplug all USB, Firewire, and 3rd Party PCI cards. (Tried) - reinstall the combo updater. (Not sure how to do this?) - check the hard drive for bad blocks. (Done, from recovery drive) - take out 3rd party RAM. (Did not do) - run the Apple hardware diagnostic CD. - reinstall the system from scratch. (I reinstalled Lion from recovery drive) - send the machine back to Apple. Currently the computer works mostly fine, however it freezes for no apparent reason. The mouse can still be moved, but nothing is interactive it's just frozen. Usually a restart fixes it, but sometimes it takes several restarts. Does anyone have anymore insight?

11-28-2012, 08:28 AM	#8
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,950	Did you really try the hardware diagnostics? That should be on your hard drive, by restarting while holding Command-D (for Diagnostics ) The diagnostics will show you choices to run a standard, or extended test. Try both tests. One way this won't work is if you have replaced, or partitioned (completely erased) your hard drive.