Apple Studio Freezing Up

Question

Level 1

16 points

Apple Studio Freezing Up

In the last several weeks, my Mac Studio has stopped responding after it goes to sleep. I have had to do a hard shutdown (pushing the "on" button for several seconds) and hard start up. On a few occasions, minutes after I shut down the computer using the menus, the computer turned itself back on. A couple of times recently, after I start the computer, the computer stops responding at the black screen just before the desktop should appear. I have had to do a hard shutdown and start over again. Any thoughts on resolving the problem?

Mike

(Mac Studio, M2 Max chip, 64GB, Sequoia 15.3.1, Apple Studio Display 27")

Posted on Mar 1, 2025 02:42 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

88,762 points

Mar 2, 2025 08:13 AM in response to shadow2350

EtreCheckPro is an excellent tool for finding software and hardware problems.

Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

88,762 points

Mar 2, 2025 10:19 AM in response to shadow2350

Looks like BitDefender is about to claim another unsuspecting Mac victim with junk-ware.

Disable and Uninstall all traces of BitDefender as per the developers directions.

Then Startup in Safe Mode followed by a normal Restart and test.

see > Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

You're good, without any third-party junk-ware.

see > macOS - Security - Apple

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

88,762 points

Mar 2, 2025 11:06 AM in response to shadow2350

1) Temporally disconnect the 16T and 4T external drives.

2) Be sure to use the Safe Mode instructions for Silicone Mac's.

If that does not help, startup in macOS Recovery Mode and repair your Startup Disk,

as per > Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

88,762 points

Mar 2, 2025 07:58 PM in response to shadow2350

shadow2350 wrote:

Hello Den,

I am not using WD software to manage the hard drives. The 16TB is a WD Elements drive used exclusively for Time Machine. I did erase and format the drive some time ago. The first backup went fine. The updates did not. I am willing to try it again. What format do you recommend for the hard drive?

Follow the steps at > Initialize an external storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

After formatting, you should be prompted to use that drive for Time Machine.

The 4TB external drive is a Sandisk Professional SSD drive.

Ah' OK, it looks like a WD in the EtreCheckPro Report.

The drive itself is where I store all of my documents, videos, and photos.

Storing documents, photos, music and videos on an external drive is OK, if it is done properly.

Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

Change where your music files are stored on Mac - Apple Support

Move your iMovie for Mac library - Apple Support

All software programs are on the HD drive.

It is not clear which drive...

Applications and software programs should be kept on the main drive with macOS.

Out of curiosity, what do you think of the quality of this particular drive?

If you are referring to the 4T drive, then that should work fine if it is formatted correctly.

Do you have a preferred external SSD drive?

I use a combination of pre-built and DIY SSDs.

I just ordered another SSD external drive, the SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB.

Format the new 2T Samsung T9 as per > Initialize an external storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Copy your documents, photos, music and vides from the 4T drive to the new 2T Samsung.

Remove the 4T drive and test the Libraries on the 2T Samsung.

Your thoughts?

Then if all is well with your Libraries on the new 2T Samsung.

I would re-format the 4T drive and repurpose it as a backup for the Libraries on the T2 Samsung and keep it off-line.

If the 4T drive is still not working properly, then I would check and see if the manufacture is willing to do a warranty exchange.

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Answer 5

den.thed

Level 10

88,762 points

Mar 1, 2025 02:57 PM in response to shadow2350

Automatic Computer Sleep Mode is causing a problem for some.

As a test:

Turn On "Prevent automatic sleeping when display is off"

Set "Turn display off when inactive" to 5 or 10 minutes

Leave the Mac Studio On and only allow the display(s) to turn Off

Do not manually select Sleep from the Apple Drop Down menu

Leave the Display on and allow it to go into standby mode

Only Shut Down the Mac when away for a day or more

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Answer 6

shadow2350 Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 2, 2025 04:42 PM in response to den.thed

Hello Den,

I started in Recovery Mode and ran the Utility Disk/First Aid. The MacOS Base System was fine. The Mac HD Volume was fine. The external Backup 16TB drive was fine (although Time Machine cannot complete a backup. Error message: Backup Not Completed. Time Machine couldn't backup to "Backup."). The external SSD 4TB drive failed. An ID Tree Error.

When I tried to start the computer, it once again froze at startup twice. I disconnected the SSD 4TB external drive and there was no problem at startup.

My system settings are as you first recommended:

So, any thoughts?

Regards,

Mike

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Answer 7

Mar 2, 2025 10:14 AM in response to shadow2350

these things need to GO -- never to return:

Antivirus software: Apple and Bitdefender

Unsigned Files:

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper.plist

Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper

Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK

Apps: 1

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Answer 8

shadow2350 Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 2, 2025 10:47 AM in response to den.thed

Hello Den,

I removed Bitdefender from the computer using the developer uninstall Bitdefender app. However, the computer is freezing at startup still. I had to try three times to get the computer to startup in safe mode. I have not gotten so far as to see if the computer freezes when it goes into sleep mode. Any other thoughts?

Mike

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Answer 9

shadow2350 Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 2, 2025 12:04 PM in response to den.thed

Hello Den,

I disconnected the two external drives. As per Grant Bennet's suggestion, I think I deleted the file /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper.plist

Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper. I believe this was an analytical tool from Western Digital for their 16TB external hard drive.

With both external drives removed, I was able to restart the computer five times without incident. I connected the 4TB external drive and was able to restart the computer five times without incident. I connected the 16TB external hard drive and restarted the computer five times without incident. I do not know if it recovers properly from sleep mode yet.

As a side note, I have had problems backing up the 16TB drive. I get the error message Backup Not Completed. Time Machine couldn't back up to "Backup." I do not know if this plays into the problems I am having.

I am going to allow the computer to sit until it goes into sleep and see if it freezes or not. Do you have any thoughts at this time?

Regards,

Mike

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Answer 10

den.thed

Level 10

88,762 points

Mar 2, 2025 12:43 PM in response to shadow2350

shadow2350 wrote:

Do you have any thoughts at this time?

Good work.

If it acts up after a wake from automatic or manual sleep mode..?

Then use the settings and recommendations that I suggested in my first reply and re-test.

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Answer 11

den.thed

Level 10

88,762 points

Mar 2, 2025 06:20 PM in response to shadow2350

shadow2350 wrote:

The external Backup 16TB drive was fine (although Time Machine cannot complete a backup.

The startup froze twice before working with the SSD 4TB external hard drive not attached. It seems I am back to square one.

Are you using WD software to manage these external drives..?

The WD software is known to cause problems with macOS.

------

If the 16T external drive is being used exclusively for Time Machine..?

If yes, then erase and format it using Disk Utility, then start new Time Machine backup.

------

What enclosure is the 4T WD_BLACK SN850XE NVMe drive install in..?

What data is stored on the 4T WD_BLACK SN850XE..?

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Answer 12

shadow2350 Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 2, 2025 07:06 PM in response to den.thed

Hello Den,

I am not using WD software to manage the hard drives. The 16TB is a WD Elements drive used exclusively for Time Machine. I did erase and format the drive some time ago. The first backup went fine. The updates did not. I am willing to try it again. What format do you recommend for the hard drive?

The 4TB external drive is a Sandisk Professional SSD drive. The drive itself is where I store all of my documents, videos, and photos. All software programs are on the HD drive. Out of curiosity, what do you think of the quality of this particular drive? Do you have a preferred external SSD drive? I just ordered another SSD external drive, the SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB.

Your thoughts?

Regards,

Mike

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Answer 13

shadow2350 Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 3, 2025 07:39 PM in response to den.thed

Den,

I will get on your suggestions for the external drives. Thank you very much for all the help you have given me. You went above and beyond. It was an enlightening experience. Live long and prosper.

Kindest regards,

Mike

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