Mac OS X forum: mac keeps locking up...wont respond to keyboard or mouse

Does this happen using the built-in keyboard and mouse or do you use external devices? Are they using Bluetooth? I sometimes have my Bluetooth mouse stop responding for no reason.

When it happens try connecting a USB keyboard and mouse and see if they respond.

You could also try logging in from another machine via ssh and see which, if any, processes are misbehaving.

More details may help.

Since it started recently can you think of any new software or updates you installed within the same timeframe?

As for logging in from another machine:

First you'll have to enable Remote Login in the Sharing Preference pane.

Once that's done you'll need the IP address of your machine and another machine on the same local network (for simplicity's sake). Any machine with a terminal will do.

From the other machine type "ssh yourusername@123.123.123.123" (don't type the quotes and use your username and IP address on your problem machine. Enter your password when prompted.

You should now be connected to your problem Mac. Try typing "ps -Axcro pid,command,%cpu" and examine the results for processes that are utilizing a large amount of processor time.

Good luck

Might have to purcase a registry repair disk (almost everyone has this problem when they first start using their machines)Manufactures should supply these registry repair disk with all new machines!

Yes I've had it for a little over a year, but this has never happened up until recently...I did download a new browser because a friend of mine told me that could be the problem (I used to use safari, now I'm using firefox)...since I've done that it hasn't happened, but there's no telling if it's fixed or not

What's a Registry? And how do you repair it?

i tried logging into my macbook pro just to make sure everything went smoothly and i typed the command you posted

it displays:

"PID %CPU COMMAND"

and then of course the info

first of all what is PID?

also, when you say examine the results which are utilizing a large amount of processor time, what exactly am i looking at?

Create a new user account and give it admin rights.

Log into the MBP using this new account.

Does the freezing and lock ups go away?


P

Have you tried to repair permissions? That helps a lot of problems. Also, the Apple site has several knowledge base topics; one of them might be useful to you. If nothing you try helps, and you can get to an Apple Store, I would suggest booking an appointment with the Genius Bar.

You'll find that ^ in the Applications/Utilities folder. You can run it from there, or from your OS installation disk.