2 year stable system (Mavericks) suddenly freezing after login

[toddo]

I posted another thread last week and user Violet Dragon attempted to help me, but to no avail. I built my system two years ago using iBoot, Multibeast following instructions on the tonymac site and had a fully functioning system for the last two years. Suddenly last week, after typing my password in the login screen, the system freezes, no mouse, no keyboard and have to restart. The only way I can get into the system is to use a -f boot command (which I don't even know what it means, for some reason using this I get no freeze, have internet access and working mouse and keyboard, however, my firewire (Presonus Firestudio) does not connect. I use this computer exclusively for connecting musical instruments and playing through Studio One or Garageband. Without the firewire device working I may as well not have a computer. Holding shift key during boot does not boot into safe mode, nothing happens at all, just login screen, then freeze. I am an extreme newbie, but am smart enough to follow clear instructions and would appreciate any help. Violet Dragon suggested power management, although didn't know if this was my problem or not. Since the instructions for power management look extremely daunting to me, I don't want to pursue this until I know root cause of problem. If my system ran for two years without power management, seems like that is not root cause of my problem.

 

[jrii]

Since you can boot with -f flag (which rebuilds kernel cache) I believe it is somehow connected with drivers i.e. kexts.
The conflicting driver could be the one for Firestudio. Have you done any updates recently? Firewire card broken?

PS. Holding shift key during boot has no effect in hackintosh (use -s flag for safe mode)

 

[toddo]

Since you can boot with -f flag (which rebuilds kernel cache) I believe it is somehow connected with drivers i.e. kexts.
The conflicting driver could be the one for Firestudio. Have you done any updates recently? Firewire card broken?

PS. Holding shift key during boot has no effect in hackintosh (use -s flag for safe mode)

Thank you for your reply. The only updates I've done recently was iTunes and Safari. I tried booting with -s, got to a root command prompt, typed exit, got to login screen, typed password, and system froze. I rebooted with the -f, login, and now the firestudio is connected (solid blue light vs. flashing red and blue light during system freezes). This makes no sense. I didn't change anything, sometimes system works, most of the time freezing. This is second time I've had solid blue light of countless boots in the last week, seems no rhyme or reason as to why. Are there any console messages or files I could upload that would help you determine what may be going wrong?

 

[jrii]

Remove firewire card and see if you can boot normally (though use -f first time booting as you might need to build cache).

Do you have a possibility to try another firewire card? Firewire cable?

If you boot with -v do you get any error messages?

 

[jrii]

You say that the system boots ok but freezes after login. It could be a broken control panel item for Firestudio.

Try this --> http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-an-Item-from-System-Preferences-on-a-Mac and see what happens.
Then reinstall Firestudio software.

 

[toddo]

You say that the system boots ok but freezes after login. It could be a broken control panel item for Firestudio.

Try this --> http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-an-Item-from-System-Preferences-on-a-Mac and see what happens.
Then reinstall Firestudio software.

Here is what I did:

1. Went to system preferences, but nothing related to Presonus or Firewire there
2. Shut down computer
3. Removed Firewire cable from card, kept card in computer
4. Restart with -f (all OK except obviously no Presonus working)
5. Restart with no -f, all OK
6. Shut down computer, then restart with no -f, everything OK
7. Plug in cable and restart with no -f, system froze and presonus not connected
8. Restart with cable still plugged in, used -f, system up, no presonus
9. Reboot with -v, no error messages observed, flies by so fast hard to read, then to login screen.

So it seems something with Presonus causing problem, either cable or other. If card was in computer but not used, no problems. I looked around for another firewire cable but no luck yet. Sometimes I get a good connection and presonus works, most times not.

 

[toddo]

Going to Presonus site now to download updated driver with Mavericks compatibility and will uninstall/reinstall Firestudio and see what that does.

 

[toddo]

Going to Presonus site now to download updated driver with Mavericks compatibility and will uninstall/reinstall Firestudio and see what that does.

Download and installed Universal Control from Presonus with Mavericks compatibility. Rebooted after install and tried -f, went to apple splash screen and text appeared with panic (cpu 1 caller 0xfffff80006681a8) Rebooted without the -f, login, no freezing and presonus is working.

 

[toddo]

Rebooted and no problems at login but Presonus blinking and not connected. Rebooted again and no freezing and Presonus connected. I have a feeling at this point it may be as simple as a bad firewire cable. If you have any other thoughts let me know, but thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction with very clear instructions, Extremely Helpful!!!!!

 

[zipb]

Well. If everything works when your Presonus is not connected it think the culprit has been found. 1. replace FW cable. Problem not solved? Replace Presonus.