Level 2

152 points

File system very slow; applications appear normal

When I first start up my Mac Studio and start to move files in the Finder, everything works well, but within minutes, moving, renaming and otherwise doing anything with files in Finder windows slows down. The sluggishness increases quickly to the point where I can move nothing -- no file, however small -- without a long wait. The system hangs with the "Preparing to move [filename] dialog on the screen.

Applications appear to work normally: the problem appears to be limited to manipulating files in the Finder.

The Mac Studio is running MacOS 14.4.1 (23E224). I ran a diagnostic of the HD and SSDs and all passed.

Any ideas?

Mac Studio, macOS 14.4

Posted on Apr 26, 2024 6:02 AM

25 replies

Apr 28, 2024 10:27 AM in response to Zardon

you also have. a lot of stuff "phoning home" while scanning all your files for any changes. Any third-party file sync-er will be much slower and much more resource intensive than iCloud sync-ing, because it ignores the Mac File System Event store and feels obligated to look at every file to see if it has changed.

You show OneDrive and DropBox launching at login and running continuously. the preferred method is launch when needed, and quit when sync is completed.

also, it appears Day One is constantly 'on the phone' sending stuff to/from the web. That slows everything down.

Zardon Author

Level 2

152 points

Apr 28, 2024 11:02 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yes. I saw that. I removed everything that ran in the background, calling to the Web, and it made no noticeable difference.

I was on the phone today with Apple Support, who confirmed the problems I described, but could not figure out the cause.

This time, I created a new account without first reinstalling the OS, etc., but this time I did not import anything from Time Machine, so the account is brand new and empty; it is tied only into my Apple account and iCloud. The new account works fine.

I will need to reinstall Dropbox eventually.

Reinstalling and Reconfiguring everything is most slow and irritating, but I must get it done by tomorrow.

Zardon Author

Level 2

152 points

Apr 27, 2024 11:34 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

EtreCheck 6.8.4 (68040): 2024-04-27 14:17:37

Here's the report. I figured it out.

I note that MacOS 14.4.1 installed the night before these problems arose. Coincidence?

Apr 28, 2024 12:45 AM in response to Zardon

1. Run Apple Diagnostics for your Mac.

2. Check the system disk for file file-system errors.

Zardon Author

Level 2

152 points

Apr 27, 2024 8:07 AM in response to LexxDataRecSolutions

Problem exists, regardless of the source or the destination (e.g., moving a file from the Documents folder to the Desktop - from folder A to folder B on the MacIntosh HD - is distressingly slow).

Zardon Author

Level 2

152 points

Apr 27, 2024 8:08 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

No, I am not -- at all.

Zardon Author

Level 2

152 points

Apr 27, 2024 8:10 AM in response to Servant of Cats

I have 1.49TB of 2TB available on the system SSD.

Apr 27, 2024 12:29 PM in response to Zardon

you said no VPNs, but Etrecheck says this one:

VPNs:

NetworkProtectionAppExtension - /Applications/DuckDuckGo.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/DuckDuckGo VPN.app

Zardon Author

Level 2

152 points

Apr 28, 2024 2:40 AM in response to LexxDataRecSolutions

Thank you. Those are the first things I did when I first realized the problem was serious. Both reported that the Mac and the system disk were, respectively, fine.

Zardon Author

Level 2

152 points

Apr 28, 2024 2:41 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I don't know. If DuckDuckGo installs a VPN, that's news to me. I had one but I deinstalled it months ago.

File system very slow; applications appear normal