Spinning beachball in 10.3.5

[Tad Wadhams]

Mac Pro (2008) running 10.11.6 with PT version 10.3.5.

I work professionally editing dialog and music for TV. The system I have has run flawlessly for years. Starting in mid December I started getting the spinning beachball almost every time I make a move: slide a clip, add a fade, audio suite for restoration, everything. The computer pauses anywhere from 5 secs to 30 secs. It is infuriating and of course it is slowing down my work flow. This started out of nowhere so I have no idea what is causing the hang up.

Since it started I have reformatted drives, restored main drive from Time Machine, upgraded the OS (from 10.9.5 to 10.11.6) Deactivated time machine back ups and unmounted all drives except the ones I am using.

I have tried moving the sessions from an external drive to the internal SSD drives. I even had a mac specialist come in and optimize my system.

Nothing has worked or even improved the issue.

I am super frustrated. Can anyone help?

[Stig Eliassen]

I have no personal experience with Time Machine, but I've seen many PT users having issues. Restoring a system drive via TM doesn't seem like a good idea.

Personally, I install everything from scratch. Have you tried that? I use Carbon Copy Cloner to create system backups. It's been working great for many years.

[Tad Wadhams]

Originally Posted by Stig Eliassen

I have no personal experience with Time Machine, but I've seen many PT users having issues. Restoring a system drive via TM doesn't seem like a good idea.

Personally, I install everything from scratch. Have you tried that? I use Carbon Copy Cloner to create system backups. It's been working great for many years.

Hi and thanks for your response, yes, using time machine was just a first step, thinking something had "infected" the computer. That didn't work so I did a full clean reinstall using 10.11.6 and then created a Carbon copy cloner back up of the fresh drive for safety.

no help.

[Tad Wadhams]

Any Admin gurus able to help with this?

the slowdown is infuriating!

Will doing a PT uninstall and then reinstall be of any help?

[Stig Eliassen]

Given the problems you're having, I'd install everything clean from scratch. But you've already tried that, right?

If a previously working system starts to fail without changing any software, I'd look at the hardware. RAM is a natural place to start. A bad stick can create havoc. I've had it happen to me.

[Tad Wadhams]

Thanks Stig, I have 10 gigs of ram spread over 6 slots.

I have reinstalled everything except the Protools. Now that I have completed today's edit I am going to reinstall PT.

Fingers crossed!

[musicman691]

Tad:
Your problem stems from the fact you're trying to run PT10.3.5 on a totally unsupported OSX version. There are plenty of known issues with this combo, chief amongst which is blank insert select menus until you hover over them. And if you try and do a clean install you won't be able to unless you muck about with the PT10 installer.

The last known completely workable combo was OSX 10.9.5 and PT10.3.10 (which was the last PT10 version put out). The only reason PT10 isn't on Avid's compatible list for OSX 10.9.5 is the uninstaller doesn't work. But there are manual steps to counter that.

[Tad Wadhams]

Much thanks. This is enlightening as I am having the pull down menu problem. I wish I could go back to OS 10.9.5 but they wiped it from the Apple site and try as I may I was unable to find a downloaded copy (that worked)

Having said all this, I have to say the problem STARTED before I upgraded and the only reason I did upgrade was because there is no 10.9.5 installer available anymore.

I guess I am just screwed.

I am also investigating the ram this morning. Trying to run a hardware test on it but the damn Mac won't boot up to the diagnostics screen.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Tad Wadhams

Much thanks. This is enlightening as I am having the pull down menu problem. I wish I could go back to OS 10.9.5 but they wiped it from the Apple site and try as I may I was unable to find a downloaded copy (that worked)

Having said all this, I have to say the problem STARTED before I upgraded and the only reason I did upgrade was because there is no 10.9.5 installer available anymore.

I guess I am just screwed.

I am also investigating the ram this morning. Trying to run a hardware test on it but the damn Mac won't boot up to the diagnostics screen.

Someone here may be willing to help you with the OSX 10.9.5 installer. A word of advice: if you do get a copy of the installer save it off to a disk drive or flash drive so you have it in the future. And another helpful hint: once you get your system up and running again get a program like Carbon Copy Cloner and a spare drive to make a working clone so when something goes awry you have a backup to go to. CCC has saved my butt on many the occassion. Clones are inexpensive insurance just like ZDT on your iLok.

You may well want to get the PT10.3.10 update as that is the latest PT10 version.

[Tad Wadhams]

Much thanks, Yes I will do as you suggest. Already did the carbon cloner but it has 10.11.6 on it.

Anyone out there who can help with a 10.9.5 system? Updaters only direct you to the Apple store where you get the message "not available at this time"