Sounds like a hardware issue of some sort. The hard drive is probably the most likely culprit. Time to upgrade to an SSD?
Have you ever taken a look through the system log, maybe get some clue as to what’s happening during startup?
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Nothing obvious when I did check but I’ll do more indepth investigations tomorrow.
So, it being Amazon Prime days, a large 2 TB external SSD is on its way here, due to arrive on Saturday which locally means Monday. I’ll install Catalina on it, move my stuff over to it and see how it goes.
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Today’s Update:
System log file has a lot of these messages
Oct 14 06:42:40 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.mdworker.shared.0A000000-0600-0000-0000-000000000000[9971]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by mds[133]
And I mean a LOT as in hundreds. all through the night not just at bootup
Other odd things in the log file
Oct 14 06:42:57 oogies-2013-imac EPSON Software Updater Agent[9980]: objc[9980]: Class NWInterface is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Network.framework/Versions/A/Network (0x7fff91cf1238) and /Applications/Epson Software/EPSON Software Updater.app/Contents/EPSON Software Updater Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/EPSON Software Updater Agent (0x100068f40). One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:09:20 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.pid.backupd.10184): Failed to bootstrap path: path = /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/backupd, error = 2: No such file or directory
Oct 14 07:09:22 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.pid.WakeToSyncTool.10190): Failed to bootstrap path: path = /Library/Application Support/ChronoSync/WakeToSyncTool, error = 2: No such file or directory
Oct 14 07:09:24 oogies-2013-imac remindd[10201]: objc[10201]: Class REMCDChangeTrackingState is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ReminderKit.framework/Versions/A/ReminderKit and /usr/libexec/remindd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:09:53 oogies-2013-imac syncdefaultsd[10208]: objc[10208]: Class SYDClient is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Versions/A/SyncedDefaults and /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Support/syncdefaultsd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:09:53 oogies-2013-imac syncdefaultsd[10208]: objc[10208]: Class SYDJournal is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Versions/A/SyncedDefaults and /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Support/syncdefaultsd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:10:18 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.pid.fud.10214): Failed to bootstrap path: path = /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileAccessoryUpdater.framework/Support/fud, error = 2: No such file or directory
Oct 14 07:19:12 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.Finder[397]): Service exited due to SIGTERM | sent by Dock[395]
Oct 14 07:19:14 oogies-2013-imac Finder[10236]: assertion failed: 19H2: libxpc.dylib + 92759 [3E243A41-030F-38E3-9FD2-7B38C66C35B1]: 0x89
Oct 14 07:19:14 oogies-2013-imac syncdefaultsd[10243]: objc[10243]: Class SYDClient is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Versions/A/SyncedDefaults and /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Support/syncdefaultsd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:14 oogies-2013-imac syncdefaultsd[10243]: objc[10243]: Class SYDJournal is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Versions/A/SyncedDefaults and /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SyncedDefaults.framework/Support/syncdefaultsd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:14 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.getdropbox.dropbox.garcon.755247C4-442D-4E7C-B80C-3BF29997023F[10244]): Caller wanted oneshot behavior for pre-existing instance: caller = Finder
Oct 14 07:19:14 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.google.GoogleDrive.FinderSyncAPIExtension.7FA8201F-C1E6-44E1-93D6-2B02F81D3A7D[10245]): Caller wanted oneshot behavior for pre-existing instance: caller = Finder
Oct 14 07:19:15 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.getdropbox.dropbox.garcon.7F484F47-D1F5-4E5E-953F-0ECBE8EA69E4[10247]): Caller wanted oneshot behavior for pre-existing instance: caller = Finder
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.TextInputMenuAgent[580]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.noticeboard.agent[2911]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.accessibility.AXVisualSupportAgent[377]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.CoreLocationAgent[481]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.locationmenu[432]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword7-helper[564]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.xpc.launchd.user.domain.501.100008.Aqua): Caller not allowed to perform action: loginwindow.179, action = service removal, code = 150: Operation not permitted while System Integrity Protection is engaged, uid = 0, euid = 501, gid = 20, egid = 20, asid = 100008
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.AppSSOAgent[458]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.dropbox.activityprovider[636]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.SystemUIServer.agent[396]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.OSDUIHelper[2957]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent[576]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.talagent[389]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager[549]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.ViewBridgeAuxiliary[390]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.photolibraryd[757]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.BKAgentService[6222]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.studentd[893]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.coreservices.uiagent[6425]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.ViewBridgeAuxiliary[339]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.imklaunchagent[435]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.epson.scannermonitor[566]): Service exited due to SIGTERM | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.UserEventAgent-Aqua[369]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.CoreSimulator.CoreSimulatorService[789]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.security.keychain-circle-notification[2760]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.epson.eventmanager.agent[420]): Service exited due to SIGTERM | sent by loginwindow[179]
Oct 14 07:19:27 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.adobe.CCXProcess.1272[600]): Service exited due to SIGTERM
Oct 14 07:19:29 oogies-2013-imac EEventManager[10254]: objc[10254]: Class NWInterface is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Network.framework/Versions/A/Network (0x7fff91cf1238) and /Library/Image Capture/Support/EPSON/Epson Scan 2/Core/Scanner.framework/Versions/A/Scanner (0x10d0a40c8). One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:31 oogies-2013-imac TVCacheExtension[10258]: objc[10258]: Class PDFToRasterImageRef is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AMPLibrary.framework/Versions/A/AMPLibrary and /System/Applications/TV.app/Contents/PlugIns/TVCacheExtension.appex/Contents/MacOS/TVCacheExtension. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:31 oogies-2013-imac MusicCacheExtension[10257]: objc[10257]: Class PDFToRasterImageRef is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/AMPLibrary.framework/Versions/A/AMPLibrary and /System/Applications/Music.app/Contents/PlugIns/MusicCacheExtension.appex/Contents/MacOS/MusicCacheExtension. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:31 oogies-2013-imac sessionlogoutd[10256]: DEAD_PROCESS: 179 console
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_SEParameters is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_SEKey is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_TKDataSource is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_TKTLVRecord is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_TKBERTLVRecord is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_TKSimpleTLVRecord is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_TKCompactTLVRecord is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class CTKClientSEP_TKTokenRefSEP is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac secd[10262]: objc[10262]: Class SecXPCHelper is implemented in both /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security and /usr/libexec/secd. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
Oct 14 07:19:32 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.pid.slodDiskLabeler.10261): Failed to bootstrap path: path = /System/Library/CoreServices/slodDiskLabeler, error = 2: No such file or directory
Oct 14 07:19:37 oogies-2013-imac com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.pid.UserEventAgent.10252): Failed to bootstrap path: path = /usr/libexec/UserEventAgent, error = 108: Invalid path
Other odd behavior. I’ve verified that I have the proper users created, sharing of folders is all set exactly as it is on the old backed up system but I no longer can go to my iMac as a location from my Laptop, sign in as a registered user and get access to the user folders to transfer files. I see the user folder on the iMac but when I look in documents it’s coming up empty.
Permissions on the iMac user folder are the the same as they were on the older system before reinsall and I’ve applied those permissions to all enclosed items too.
When I reboot I have an additional user showing up at the login screen messagebus(dbus)daemon,
That I’ve never seen before and there is no folder in users that corresponds to that username. Google has been less than helpful as to why this is happening now or what to do about it.
It’s gone from bad to worse :sigh:
I don’t see anything here that screams “hardware failure” (I realize that’s small comfort).
What I would try at this point is to boot into recovery mode, erase the disc, and reinstall macOS. Then install a user account without migrating and reboot.
Just for kicks, what’s your firmware version? You can find this in About This Mac->System Report-> Hardware. On my machine the firmware version is labeled “Boot ROM Version.” Also, on that same screen, verify your “Model Identifier” is “iMac 14,3”.
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Model Identifier: iMac14,3
Boot ROM Version: 146.0.0.0.0
Ok, that looks good.
Today’s update:
2 TB SSD external drive arrived yesterday (Thank you Amazon Prime Day). Reformatted and partitioned into 2 1TB sections. First one is a bootable backup of internal hard drive as of last night. BU Just finished after 10.35 hours running time.
Next up, totally clean install of Catalina on the other partition and a slow install of all my current software direct from original distributions, no migration of my system over.
Meanwhile, I am working to clean out email (the bane of my inbox zero aspirations) and archive most of it into my external DEVONThink database. Idea is that I might be able to just start with a new instance of the mail app in the clean system, add in all my email addresses and start fresh. I am on POP mail so the mac is my archive of all messages. Still debating that but at the current rate of update, backup, verify of software I won’t even be to that point for at least a week.
Meanwhile, back on the rotating internal drive, I haven’t run it long enough to verify but bootups are still 5-7 minutes long and shutdowns about the same so no significant improvements there. I will be giving the system a workout today, I’ve got some major work to do in PyCharm along with a massive spreadsheet update/sqlite rebuild project that I am slowly plugging away at. Going back and forth between those apps has been a guaranteed way to get things to slow to a crawl. This will be the first big real-life test after the wipe and reinstall I just completed. I didn’t want to do much until I had a good backup of the system as it exists now.
OK 2 weeks into the testing process.
Cleaned, reformatted and clean install of Catalina on my internal hard drive did not make any statistically significant difference in speed over about 10 days of using it. I did the long trial to give myself plenty of time to hit most of my use cases. However, for whatever reason, the crashing does seem to be cured. No crashes overnight at all during the trial.
Next up boot from external SSD and run that way on an install that was a CCC bootable clone of my internal hard drive. I am still in this trial but so far, no crashes. Booting is now about a 2 minute operation or less. PyCharm is a boot in less than 4 minutes (it used to take about 15-20) and thing s are very snappy. Tasks that I would start on my machine and then go to the restroom or go get more coffee or water now are finished just as I’m walking away from my desk. Tasks that used to let me play 2 games of Solitaire on my iPhone are done before I can even get the phone out of my belt pouch and get it unlocked.
Only big issues are that Time Machine backups are a mess due to the switched boot drives and I don’t have a nightly backup of my SSD drive due to the time and disk space on my normal BU drives.
Next step is to get at least 2 good backups of the existing system on the SSD drive. Then test booting from the SSD on my laptop and seeing if I can run on it. If I can then I will try to schedule a time to get my iMac into a repair shop and get the internal hard drive replaced by an SSD drive. Problems to be solved include making sure I can run on the external drive with my laptop and scheduling both the drop off and delivery. It’s a 75 mile drive each way and the place says they need my machine for 4 working days and I have to make an appointment and they are pretty busy right now. That takes some actual scheduling and also looking at the weather. The road between here and there can be unpassable if we get a bad storm.
I am concerned about the fragility of SSD drives in general (when they die they die all at once and no possible recovery) but I’ll just have to up my backup system to be even more robust.
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You might want to have a look at iFixit and consider whether this is something you’d be willing to DIY.
I think it’s best to assume that’s the case even with rotational hard drives.
Already asked the resident hardware expert and was told in no uncertain terms NO! Not willing to attempt it he said. Not when it’s my main computer at stake. The glue on the display is his concern.
I have been assured by another member of this forum that this is a doable DIY project, however I consider it to be right on the edge of doable. I have dug into the guts of lots of computers including iMac’s but I wouldn’t try this one.
That was a long way of saying I agree with your resident hardware expert.
Brief update: iMac back home after a new 2TB SSD drive install. Decided to do a nuke and pave so in the process of installing SW. S0 glad that we got upgraded to gigabit speeds by our ISP. The silver lining of the COVID situation. Our county got upgraded to a higher risk level and the local internet provider has decided to upgrade all residential services to the highest level of service at no extra charge because of how many school kids have to do remote learning. Gotta love a co-op as an ISP with fiber to the farm. 
Still going to be downloading installers for a long time.
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Update number 2: Decided tog o ahead and recover from last good BU for most stuff. so far working well.
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