OS X freezing (trackpad & keyboard don't respond) - startup cleaning time?

[Dpscc]

I have a fairly new MacBook Pro (3 month old), running OS 10.5.5

For about a month now, my mac has frozen up on me every now and then, for no reason. More interesting, the software keeps running, but the keyboard and trackpad become unresponsive.

I also found out that, by closing the monitor and putting it to sleep, when I reopen it, the keyboard and trackpad start working again - for a little while, until it freezes again.

My logic, based on that, is that it's a software problem, rather than hardware. But it has happened when the only actual software running was Firefox, for example, or just Word.

I started thinking it could be the programs that were being loaded during Startup, but there's nothing listed there as of now (under System Pref>Accounts>My user name>Login Items).

However, I remember from the times when I used Windows XP, that Windows loaded quite a lot of processes that were not listed in the list of programs, only when you dug a little deeper...

Is there something like that on Mac OS X? Could it be causing these problems? If so, how could I check a list of those hidden startup processes, and clean then up?

I do notice that, by using Activity Monitor, there are quite a few processes running, while no actual software is. Maybe one of those could be causing the problem. I can stop them now, but how can I stop them from actual loading during boot, if that could indeed be the case?

Thanks in advance!
D.

[hayne]

1) I don't think the problem is likely to be related to any ordinary (application-level) software. Such wouldn't affect your trackpad & keyboard like that.

2) But it might possibly be caused by some third party software that installed a kernel extension or other driver-level software.

3) I've experienced what sounds like exactly the same thing on my MacBook Pro (purchased ~ April 2008) running OS X 10.5.5
There are two things that I've been suspecting might be involved:
- 3rd-party RAM that I installed
- drivers for VirtualBox

4) One thing that would be interesting would be to plug in an external mouse when the problem occurs and see if that mouse works (responds).

[Dpscc]

But how should I proceed, then, to find and remove that extension or driver?

I have not installed any memory since receiving the computer from factory, so it's not an "alien RAM" issue.

I'll try the USB mouse approach next time it freezes up on me.

Thanks.

[benwiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dpscc I do notice that, by using Activity Monitor, there are quite a few processes running, while no actual software is.

No actual software? You are including the OS in that? I wouldn't go around killing processes in Activity Monitor unless you know what they are. OS X doesn't really launch processes until they are needed.
If you have got third-party stuff that you've installed causing a problem, you're better off uninstalling it so that it doesn't launch in the first place.

Check whether the problem persists in a new user account (NB, this is a test, not a solution!).
Also, check if the problem persists after rebooting whilst holding down <shift>. This forces many system extensions and startup launch agents not to run.

[hayne]

To see what third-party kernel extensions you have installed, run the following command in a Terminal window:

kextstat | grep -v com.apple

[RaceTripper]

I have also had this problem on a 17" MBP (C2D 2.33 GHz) from 2007. It works fine with a wireless Mighty Mouse, but the trackpad freezes randomly. Very annoying.

[allardmax]

Hi,

My brother has a MacBook Pro 15" (last year model) and it had the same problem few months ago. He was already under warranty. So he went at an apple retail store and they have replaced the top case of the MBP. That's solve the problem. So it's an hardware problem.

Few weeks ago, the same problem began with my MBP (april model) too. I plan to go at the store too. It seem to be a widespread problem.

Max

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by hayne I've experienced what sounds like exactly the same thing on my MacBook Pro (purchased ~ April 2008) running OS X 10.5.5

I was having the problem quite often - sometimes several times a week. Putting the machine to sleep by closing the lid would fix the problem for while (sometimes a day or so, sometimes only a few hours or less).

I took my MacBook Pro into the Apple Store shortly before its one year warranty expired (about 6 months ago) and they replaced the whole top panel (presumably including the keyboard). I've not had any kind of freezing problem since then. They also replaced the left fan which was sometimes sticking and hence not running. There's a possibility that the fan problem contributed to the keyboard/trackpad problem.
Anyway, it seems to have been a hardware problem and is now completely fixed.