Dim Screen, freezing, mouse issues

My macbook just started doing all of this today, with no prior warning. First, the mouse would stop working for no reason. i would unplug it and plug it back in, and it would work for anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes, then just quit again. a few hours later, my computer froze. I restarted it and it promptly froze again 5 minutes later. I swap out the RAM and run an apple hardware test, neither showing that anything is amiss. the last problem to arize was that the screen would dim until you ALMOST couldnt see anything. in the right light, you can still make out whats on the screen. What is the world is going on? normally i am pretty good at diagnosing computer problems, but the symptoms for this issue are all over the place. has anyone had any similar experiences? what is the problem?

This sounds like a hardware issue to me. You should be able to prove it shough by booting up with the install DVD and operating it for a period of time. Run the Apple hardware Test. Not that it can necessarily find your problem because it cannot find all hardware problems. But it is a way you can run the computer for a period of time and see what it does, WITHOUT the computer running on your normal software, i.e. your hard drives OS.
You could also run the Disk Utility app after booting with the Installation DVD, for the same reasons above. It will eliminate the hard drives OS install as a possible culprit of your problem.

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Mac screen freezes, mouse cursor still works, audio as well

mac screen freezes, mouse cursor still works, audio as well

Option key>Finder>Go>Library>Preferences. Trash the com.apple.finder.plist file, repair permissions & restart your computer.

Weird gray screen/freeze boot issue with 2008 Macbook Pro

Early 2008 MBP. Gray boot screen with apple logo and spinning gear freezes. Now for the odd part. In the background I can hear iChat log in, and I can see the associated account as available via Bonjour so I know that behidn the scenes, the laptop is indeed logging in and launching the desktop. I also managed to remote in and can see the desktop normally. The screen remains frozen.
I was able to initially get it working by resetting PRAM and NVRAM but that is no longer working either. Also tried an SMC reset.
Can't boot from CD or recovery partition (same result..gray Apple Logo boot screen freeze).
Booting it in target disc mode allows full access to the HD without issue. HD was checked (no issues) as well as permissions the one time I did get a desktop.
Any ideas?

Was able to pull this info from the kernel log.
Feb 8 21:02:38 Username kernel[0]: NVDA: rmStart failed
Feb 8 21:02:38 Username kernel[0]: NVDA,Display-B: Not usable
Any suggestions? It appears that the video is not initializing properly. Not sure at this point if it's a hardware failure or not. I tried reinstalling when I managed to get to recovery console, but that doesn't seem to have helped either. That only overlayed the files on the partition though. Perhaps I should just try a complete reformat?

Screen or mouse issues

Not sure how to even describe this issue. It happens when I am working mostly in Excel but does happen on web browsers and other programs as well.
Excel: Working in excel - go to type in something and then the screen turns a really light blue and then looks like it is being sucked in. The only way to get out of this is to click the mouse. I have changed batteries in the blue tooth mouse. Keyboard is wired.
Any ideas?
Thanks

This may be an MS Office issue and you may want to repost in the Office for Mac Product Forums

Screen freezes, mouse can still move

When I tried to upgrade yesterday, I had a conflict with xorg-server. After a bit of searching I stumbled onto http://www.archlinux.org/news/436/. So I did that and my system updated perfectly.
When I booted this morning I could log in just fine (slim) but when my XFCE session loads, my screen just freezes at a random point (sometimes I can see pidgin being loaded, sometimes my screen is all black with just my mousepointer showing). I can always move my mouse pointer though.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

looks similar to this problem : http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=68709

Screen Freezes -- Mouse still moves though.

Over the past week I have had an odd thing happening with my Mac.
The computer freezes up, I can't do anything, except the mouse pointer moves. I can open any programs or effect anything on the screen. The only way to get the computer to work again, it to shut it off with the button on the back, and reboot. It has been happening a lot lately.
Also, a few times the screen has gone completely black or to colored bars.
I have Norton Anti-Virus installed and have done a few scans with updated virus definitions, but have found nothing.
Anyone have any ideas what might be going on?

You might want to uninstall any anti-virus program.
Boot from the operating system Install DVD and go into Tools -> Disk Utility. Select your internal drive and Verify Permissions, Repair Permissions (may need to do a few times), Verify Disk, Repair Disk.
Reboot from the internal drive.

I have an issue where coloured dots (small squares) appear on my screen and it gets to the point where the entire screen freezes although the mouse still moves but nothing works and I need to turn the computer off at the switch. Any ideas?

I have an issue where coloured dots (small squares) appear on my screen and it gets to the point where the entire screen freezes although the mouse still moves but nothing works and I need to turn the computer off at the switch. It doesn't happen all the time but is very annoying. Any ideas?

Reset the SMC and PRAM, if the issue continues then you likely have a failing GPU (hardware) that requires repair. To be sure take it in and have it professionally assessed.
Intel iMac SMC and PRAM resets

Mac Pro Screen Freezing Issue with NVIDIA 8800 GT too

There were lots of entry in threads, where the screen freezing issue was described (disorted screen with strange lines, only reboot helps). Nearly all cases seem to be related to the ATI 2600 card.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1358062&tstart=30
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1365277&tstart=0
I opened this new thread to show, that this problems occurs not only for the ATI card but for the NVIDIA 8800 card, too.
My MacPro was delivered 8 days ago and was running without any problems. But all of a sudden, I got that screen freeze. And it wasn't the first time, I was heavely working 2-3 hours with that computer.
In total, 2 screen freezes showed on my computer. The first one during working with the computer. The second one during booting into MacOS X. The screen freeze occured during the boot phase with the grey screen and the spinning wheel.
My configuration:
MacPro 2.8, Dual Quad Core
6 GB RAM
3 harddisks, 1 standard from Apple, 2 Samsung with 750GB
MacOS 10.5.2
Formac 20" Monitor
Perhaps others have this problem, too? Than we should emphasize, that this is not an ATI related problem.

I've actually been having the freezing issue for a while now but I didn't have the know-how to troubleshoot it (PC tech trying to support the only Mac lab in the building).
MacPro will freeze randomly (no trend in time, system strain, or open programs). The mouse will operate but will not interact with anything.
Specs:
MacPro - Model 1,1
Dual Core Xeon 2.66
2gb RAM
nVidia GeForce 7300 GT
Mac OS 10.4.11
The machine always has 2 displays connected to it so the workaround that was discussed for the ATI 2600 doesn't apply. I had 1 display connected here in my shop and it froze for that as well.
Message was edited by: DocturKnowles

Random screen Freeze, but mouse is responsive

Hi,
For the last month, I have been having random screen freezes , requiring me to hard-boot the computer. During this freeze the mouse is responsive. I wait 15 minutes to see if the freeze goes away before rebooting.
I have re-formatted the disk and installed Mountain Lion, again , but it did not help. Most of the time it seemed to happen when I am using Safari, but this is not always the case.
The hardware tests came clean.
I have isolated the console logs to the following just before the issue happens. Any suggestions on how to proceed?
9/20/13 5:24:58.068 AM
com.apple.backupd-helper[891]
Not starting scheduled Time Machine backup - time machine destination not resolvable.
9/20/13 5:25:06.836 AM
Safari[205]
CGContextClipToRect: invalid context 0x0
9/20/13 5:28:03.257 AM
fseventsd[51]
disk logger: failed to open output file /Volumes/NO NAME/.fseventsd/0000000001329d08 (No such file or directory). mount point /Volumes/NO NAME/.fseventsd
9/20/13 5:28:03.257 AM
fseventsd[51]
disk logger: failed to open output file /Volumes/NO NAME/.fseventsd/0000000001329d08 (No such file or directory). mount point /Volumes/NO NAME/.fseventsd
9/20/13 5:28:03.257 AM
fseventsd[51]
failed to unlink old log file /Volumes/NO NAME/.fseventsd/0000000001329d08 (No such file or directory)
9/20/13 5:28:03.257 AM
fseventsd[51]
failed to unlink old log file /Volumes/NO NAME/.fseventsd/0000000001329d08 (No such file or directory)
9/20/13 5:28:03.257 AM
fseventsd[51]
unmounting: failed to remove log dir /Volumes/NO NAME/.fseventsd (No such file or directory)
9/20/13 5:28:03.258 AM
fseventsd[51]
disk logger: failed to open output file /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/.fseventsd/0000000001329af1 (No such file or directory). mount point /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/.fseventsd
9/20/13 5:28:03.258 AM
fseventsd[51]
disk logger: failed to open output file /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/.fseventsd/0000000001329af1 (No such file or directory). mount point /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/.fseventsd
9/20/13 5:28:04.419 AM
DiskImages UI Agent[906]
*** -[NSMachPort handlePortMessage:]: dropping incoming DO message because the connection is invalid
9/20/13 5:28:05.565 AM
CoreServicesUIAgent[903]
Error: qtn_file_apply_to_path error: Read-only file system
9/20/13 5:28:06.687 AM
Installer[929]
CoreAnimation: warning, deleted thread with uncommitted CATransaction; set CA_DEBUG_TRANSACTIONS=1 in environment to log backtraces.
9/20/13 5:33:35.000 AM
bootlog[0]
BOOT_TIME 1379680415 0

Back up all data immediately as your boot drive may be failing.
If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator. I've tested them only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, they may not work as described.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
syslog -k Sender kernel -k Message CReq 'Channel t|GPU D|I/O|n Cause: -' | tail | open -ef
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C).
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V).
The command may take a noticeable amount of time to run. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear.
A TextEdit window will open with the output of the command. Normally the command will produce no output, and the window will be empty. If the TextEdit window (not the Terminal window) has anything in it, post it — the text, please, not a screenshot. The title of the TextEdit window doesn't matter, and you don't need to post that.

Macbook pro 13" screen/applications freeze -- mouse continues working

hi all,
i saw a few threads similar to mine, but none of them were answered.
basically, i was using netflix on my macbook pro which is a 13" that i purchased for school back towards the end of july 2010. its version 10.6.3 and i haven't had any problems with it until today.
It has frozen twice today so far, and the first time I was using photobooth, itunes, and firefox. photobooth was taking pictures and then all of a sudden I went to click the button and it wouldn't select. I thought this was weird because the mouse was still moving. I realized I couldn't click on anything but the webcam was still showing me moving and itunes was still playing the song normally. I did a hard shutdown.
I started up my laptop again and went to play a movie on netflix (this movie had been open, but was paused when it froze the first time).
I started playing the movie and when to pause it to take a phone call when I realized that it was frozen again because I couldn't select anything. I did another hard shut down and I've been on the web with it since trying to find an answer to my problem.
any answers would be super appreciated! and if you know of a thread where this has been answered that would help a lot too! thanks so much
-sabrina.
Message was edited by: sabrina1991

there is a new development... i don't think its my screen freezing... i think it might be my mouse clicks aren't registering...
i was on a website just a few seconds ago, and i had highlighted something and as i went to click copy it wouldn't let me. but when i used two fingers it let me right click, and the mouse still moved around. Then i went over to my desk and moved my magic mouse around and low and behold it worked. I clicked a few things with my magic mouse and then thought, "hey i might as well try the trackpad" and for some ungodly reason the trackpad was clicking and working.....
i have no idea if these two events are related or if this is the reason for my other problem, but is anyone else having this problem?

I just got my Mac Pro repaired from Apple but I am experiencing the same issue: Screen freezes and shows funny rectangular bars. I shut it down manually and when I try to turn it back on it beeps 3 times. I know its the RAM but is there a way I can fix it

I just got my Mac Pro repaired from Apple but I am experiencing the same issue: Screen freezes and shows funny rectangular bars. I shut it down manually and when I try to turn it back on it beeps 3 times. I know its the RAM but is there a way I can fix it

If you just got it back and it isn't fixed or something else is wrong with it take it back and have them do the repair correctly.

Power Mac G5 PPC Screen Freeze Turbo Fan Issue

Hello...
I've read most, if not all of the related posts; however, I have not seen any definitive answer to this issue.
My, almost mint condition, Power Mac G5 PPC has recently started the screen freeze, turbo fan, won't boot issue that seems to be prevalent with these models. I've tried almost all of the suggested troubleshooting fixes and have had no luck. My most recent attempt was to try and start in single-user mode (holding SHIFT + S at startup) and I received the following error screen then turbo fans: http://www.thishateofmine.com/Assets/photos/appleCPUpower.jpg
Remember...this is a PPC, so why am I getting an error referencing Intel CPU Power Management? This leads me to believe the OSX 10.5.8 I've been running has installed system resources for non-existent CPU's and is causing a conflict. This would be a major coding error on Apple's behalf, would it not?
I never had this issue when running any previous OS version and this computer had been running spectacularly.
It has only been used in my clean, smoke-free, home recording studio and if it werent' for a few blemishes left by external HDD's, this computer could pass as brand new. There is very little internal dust and I have kept it clean with electronics approved compressed air. I have not removed anything to get at the PSU area for cleaning, though.
If I could get it to boot from the original DVD's and install up from Panther, I would. Based on the error message I'm receiving, I do not believe this is a logic board, RAM, CPU, etc... issue. The computer will boot into open firmware and function fine, but not the OS; therefore, this would be an OS problem, right? Is that not a logical mental path?
This HAS to be a known issue and have a resolve that is NOT logic board and/or CPU replacement related.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
BTW...please read this as a positive communication from a frustrated (knowledgeable enough to be dangerous) user. I just want my G5 back.

After plugging in the G5 PPC, as it had been unplugged for several days, here are last night’s efforts:
With only the original, main Hitachi Deckstar 400GB HDD in slot 1, I attempted to boot normal, boot holding SHIFT + COMMAND + V, boot holding COMMAND + S and boot to the original install DVD, all with no joy. In my original post I incorrectly stated I was attempting to boot into single-user mode by holding SHIFT + S, which resulted in the screen displaying the OP’s linked image. In attempting to boot into (actual) single-user mode and verbose mode, I get two different text messages – and have taken screen photos, but have not been able to upload yet – both of which stop with “DART enabled” and then do nothing else with no cursor capability, only to result in turbo fans and having to hold the power button down to shut down.
Next I ran (again) the Apple Hardware Test from the original install DVD and everything passed.
Feeling confident the hardware is all in working order, I used my brother’s Macbook Pro 3.1 (OS v10.6.8) as the host to mount the G5 PPC in target disk mode. The PPC’s HDD mounts up with no issues and everything is accessible, so I shut down and swapped the original HDD with a 500GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 that did not have an OS on it, restarted to AHT DVD and ran test again with everything passing.
Now I reconnected the target disk mode setup, formatted the PPC’s WD HDD and installed Leopard on it while in TDM from the MBP3.1. Everything installed, restarted will still TDM connected, MBP3.1 started up with the PPC’s HDD as the startup disk, went through all the typical initial install information and registration and voila I’m back in target disk mode with the PPC’s HDD as my boot disk and MBP3.1’s HDD on the desktop. Everything’s accessible, functions and looks good.
Keeping in mind I’m only dangerously knowledgeable regarding computers, I’m thinking I should be able to shut everything down and now boot the G5 PPC from the internal WD HDD I just installed the OS on, right? Wrong. All I get is the infamous folder with a flashing question mark.
Help!!! (…please???)
BTW…as it has been mentioned in a few posts, but is one thing I have not done yet, I thought it worth mentioning. I have not replaced the internal battery, but the last time I was able to get the computer to boot to the internal HDD and run for a short period of time, after being unplugged for several days, I did have to re-enter time, date, location, etc… info. The actual last time I got it to boot, I did not do this, as it only got as far as loading the desktop before freezing, but the time was correct. Didn’t get a chance to check date and location, as it froze almost instantaneously.

I use photoshop elements 12 on Macbook air and the screen freezes when I try to use the tools. Then i have to force quit so i lose my work. anyone know how to fix this issue?

I use photoshop elements 12 on Macbook air and the screen freezes when I try to use the tools. Then i have to force quit so i lose my work. anyone know how to fix this issue?

What version of OS X are you using? If Yosemite, you need to update to 10.10.1 or higher.
In any case, start by going to the editor preferences>general, clicking this button and restarting the editor:

Screen Freezes but Mouse Still Moves

Hey I have an iMac with a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors and I am running OS 10.6.7 and my screen freezes (sometimes goes to a black screen or many lines repeated) but my mouse is still able to move, then I have to shut down manually with the power button to reboot. It happens mostly when I am gaming with games such as starcraft 2 but sometimes with Word or Safari.
I have cleared my cache, vacuumed my computer, reinstalled OS X, tried regulating the temperature with smcfan but nothing works. I also took it to futureshop on my warranty and they couldnt help me, nor could multiple Mac Phoneline assistants.
Any solutions?

I added some Crucial Ram to my late '07 iMac (Aluminum, 20", 2.4 ghz),
Apple did some warranty work on it for me, a year or so ago, but.
I jumped up the Ram from 2-4. It's only showing 3 Gb's now.
And, the fans were ALL running at Full Speed! Wow, vacuumed my desk!
Anyway, I came here, and was advised to do several things, but the one that worked,
was 'Resetting the System Managements Controller" SMC.
1 Shut down the computer.
2 Uplug the computer's power cord.
3 Wait fifteen seconds. (HMM, what couldja do?)
4 Attache computer's power cord.
5 Press the power button, to turn computer back on.
I heard a high pitched 'Chong', (Higher than the start up sound), then, the start up sound.
Now, I'm in my comfort zone again!
Dam, if that didn't work wonderfully?!!!
It did!
I hope that this may work for you!
Be well.
PS btw, I still can't get my 2nd stick of Ram to work.
I'm still working on that.
And, my third, Western Dig, 2 TB external HD!
What's with these third party suppliers?
They suck!
Apple has to bring some control back in!
I bought the WD @ a Mac Store, (Cherry Hill, NJ)
The Memory, through Amazon.
Grrrrrrrr!
Hope this works for you, let us know, OK?
Pete

My MBP (early2008,10.7.1) freezes on wakeup. even black or gray screen appearing, mouse is moving but no reaction. is there any fix?

do you have also freezing os issue with safari/flash ?

Hi w,
You may have the NVIDIA issue. First, go to System Profiler > Hardware > Graphics/Displays and see if you have the GeForce 8600M GT GPU. This is the GPU covered under the free repair program. While there, also look at PCIe Lane Width. If it says anything other than x16, the GPU has issues (but this is only one potential symptom). If you have the 8600 GPU, bring the MBP to an Apple Store or AASP for free testing. If Apple's free test confirms the issue, repair is free. Read all about it here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377

Dim Screen, freezing, mouse issues

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