Cadplan Architecture Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I just wondered if anyone else is having problems with freezing? Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 (edited) I think the silence must mean it's my Mac then at fault! Edited October 10, 2011 by Cadplan Quote Link to comment
CipesDesign Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Have you tried a full restart of the computer and VW's?? Can you give us a few more details about exactly what you are doing when the "freezing" occurs and also exactly what you mean by "freezing". Are you seeing the spinning beach ball of death, or does your mouse stop moving, or??? Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 Yes I've tried full restarts as my Mac freezes completely several times a day (only) when using Vectorworks and the only way then is to restart using the power button. When it happens the dreaded spinning beach balls appears like something from out of The Prisoner. Everything is then locked, mouse & keyboard hence the restart. I'm thinking it must be a Mac issue. Quote Link to comment
D Wood Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Cadplan Have you repaired disk permissions, verified disk (HD>Utilities>Disk Utility)? Have you Secure emptied the trash? Do you have any other programs running while using VW (Time Machine, iTunes)? The files that crash - were they started in a previous version of VW? Who installed your 3GB RAM and when? Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 Cadplan Have you repaired disk permissions, verified disk (HD>Utilities>Disk Utility)? Have you Secure emptied the trash? Do you have any other programs running while using VW (Time Machine, iTunes)? The files that crash - were they started in a previous version of VW? Who installed your 3GB RAM and when? Yes I've tried the usual things that you mention like RP & VD & Secured the empty trash. I run Time Machine in the background all the time (why does it back up every hour?!), apart from that there are normally another 3 or so apps open inc Safari. The files are newly created. I installed the extra RAM about 3 years ago. The freezes started about 9 months ago maybe slightly less. It's odd as when it freezes the whole MAC stops in it's tracks, the keyboard and mouse don't function although often I hear the processor working. thanks, AJ Quote Link to comment
michaelk Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 There are some software incompatibilities to rule out. Do you have sketch up on your computer? There is a known problem w/ sketch up on older Mac OSs that can cause VW (and, I think, Illustrator) to crash... http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/sketchup/thread?tid=68211f5ba8f4ee3a&hl=en mk Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 No I don't use Sketch Up although it's in my Applications folder. I use Illustrator only rarely. Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 I've frozen up 3 times in the space of an hour this morning, it's really frustrating. Quote Link to comment
michaelk Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I just had a similar problem. Turned out it was another application's extension (or something similar) running in the background. Have you looked at the crash logs? mk Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 4th crash now. I know where the crash logs are but they are a bit confusing as there are quite a few menu options so I'm not quite sure what I should be looking for! Quote Link to comment
D Wood Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 AJ Time Machine and iTunes: I had problems with TM - it interfered with my internet connection and eventually Mail and Safari would be "unable to connect to the internet", so I stopped using TM and the connection problem has not recurred. Running iTunes causes VW to freeze - this may be because I'm using an ancient 12.5.3 version, but it might be something to try. RAM: the RAM you installed may be faulty, and also I have seen some discussion over whether RAM should be equal in all slots (3GB implies you have 2 + 1). I'm also a fan of DiskWarrior. Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Do you use spaces. I think I had issues earlier and fewer when I discontinued using spaces. Worth a try? Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 interesting to hear about TM problems. Do you use an external HDD to back up then? I might try switching TM off for a while as I find it annoying that you can'y stop it backing up continuously. I don't generally have iTunes open but I'll keep a watch and also look on the Apple communities forums. I guess it might be worth trying Disc Warrior but I think the solution could be a new Mac> I would wipe mine but as I rely on it for earning my living I will get the new one to run in tandem first then do a clean instal. Ironically over the years Vectorworks has been ultra reliable on the various Macs I've used, now sadly it is the opposite. Quote Link to comment
Benson Shaw Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I use TM in manual (OFF) mode with an external HD, so it never messes with my other operations. Turn off Time Machine in TM prefs. It's the big switch on left side of the pref dialog. Switch it back to On if automatic backups are preferred. To make a manual backup, connect to your backup drive/network and click the TM icon in the menu bar. In the drop/down dialog, click the Backup Now option. Normally I just make one weekly backup. Your needs may vary. -B Quote Link to comment
D Wood Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) AJ Yes, I use Retrospect, it is set up to back up at 10pm every night to a portable 500GB WD external hard drive. I should really have 2 and alternate them, so one is always off-site, they're pretty cheap these days. Maybe you could get one, download a free back up like Carbon Copy Cloner, do a full backup to the drive, and then try turning TM off. Or do as Benson suggests. I doubt that your problems are the fault of your Mac or Vectorworks (although I think you could do with more RAM), it sounds like some sort of corruption. Find those crash logs, get the RAM modules checked, don't give up. Edited October 27, 2011 by D Wood Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 That sounds like a very good idea Benson. Would you just run through that bit about " connect to your backup drive/network and click the TM icon in the menu bar. In the drop/down dialog, click the Backup Now option" though? ie which menu bar are you referring to? thanks! AJ Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 thanks David, I will try what Benson suggests as one back up every 24hrs is all I need. The reason for the RAM size of 3GB is that this is the max that this Imac will accept, I agree that it's odd as it means having 1GB in one slot and 2GB in the other. The extra 2GB is good quality RAM, Kingston or Fujitsu as I recall. This is one more reason for me to get a new 27" iMac which I think will accept 8GB RAM. It will cost but then it should save me time & hassle! I agree that there is poss some sort of corruption. AJ Quote Link to comment
Benson Shaw Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Oh, sorry that wasn't clear. Here is some more info Connect: I don't keep my external storage drive connected all the time. So I need to plug the cables btw external and the Mac. Networked storage may have some other procedure. TM Icon: On the right side of the Finder menu bar (not the Vectorworks menu bar) there is an icon for Time Machine - clock hands inside a circle with arrow head. Activate the Finder, click the TM icon and a drop down menu appears with choices including Backup Now and Open TM Prefs. Open the prefs to see the on/off switch. HTH -B Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 Oh yes I know what you mean now. I just had my first freeze/crash of the day TM wasn't on, Safari and Word were open so I'll try closing them and see if it recurrs. (I don't like Word or any Microsoft programmes anyway, so perhaps another reason to upgrade to a new Mac with iLife) AJ Quote Link to comment
D Wood Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 AJ Pages is good, you can download it from the Apps store. Please keep us posted on progress towards a crash-free life ............. Quote Link to comment
Cadplan Architecture Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Yes I might try Pages, I think iWork might have come with the Macbooks until fairly recently, it's now ?72. I'll see if it's on my son's Macbook first, anything to avoid Microsoft programmes! At the moment I am using VW2009ARW without any other applications open as far as possible, so far so good! AJ Quote Link to comment
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