Brad Kyer

Q: Why is my iMac is running Slow?

Sure, my iMac is old (bought it around March 2006) but up until about November it was running just fine for our normal home use. Then it came to a screatching halt.  With all apps closed, it still takes 5 to 10 minutes just to open the TextEdit app. That is if it opens at all.  I hear what sounds like the hard drive running all the time.  Opening Mail, or iTunes, or iPhoto is impossible.   

 

It is running OSX 10.6.8.  Processor = 2 GHz Intel Core Duo.  Memory = 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM.

It's a 250 GB Hard Drive and has 16 GB Availale.

We have Microsoft Office for Mac installed and it does its regular Updates just like Apple does so in theory it is up-to-date.

 

I have looked at other osts here on the subject but other than deleting items from my StartupItems list under System Preferences / Accounts / Login Items, I am not sure what to do.  Someone mentioned Mac Keeper's real time antiviruse but I can not find that on my iMac.

 

Are there other files that can be deleted - i.e. Lg files?   Under \Library \ Updates there are a bunch of folders with names like "041-1570" and "zzzz041-1846" that contain .dist and .pkg files.  i.e. iTunesAccess.pkg, 041-1846.English.dist, JavaForMacOSX10.6.pkg and Safari5.1.4SnowLeopard.pkg to name a few.

Are these just log files for item installed during Software updates, and Can these be deleted?

 

What else can I do to resolve this speed issue.  Would cleaning off more Hard Drive space help?  I was thinking of moving iTunes and/or iPhoto to an external HD. But hesitate to go through that effort if it will not help solve the problem.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Brad.

iMac (20-inch Early 2006), Mac OS X (10.6.8), Mac OS X Snow Leopard, iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone3GS, Many iPod

Posted on Feb 6, 2013 6:21 PM

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Q: Why is my iMac is running Slow?

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  • by AnaMusic,

    AnaMusic AnaMusic Feb 6, 2013 6:29 PM in response to Brad Kyer
    Level 9 (57,241 points)
    Feb 6, 2013 6:29 PM in response to Brad Kyer

    Have a look here...

     

    macworld.com/mac-troubleshooting-what-to-do-when-your -computer-is-too-slow.

     

    Brad Kyer wrote:

     

     

    It's a 250 GB Hard Drive and has 16 GB Availale.

     

     

    More Free Space wouldn't hurt...

     

    Brad Kyer wrote:

     

    I was thinking of moving iTunes and/or iPhoto to an external HD. But hesitate to go through that effort if it will not help solve the problem.


    How to correctly move your media:

     

    iTunes: How to move the library to an EHD

     

    iPhoto: How to move the Library to an EHD

     

     

    It is important that the External Hard Drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended (journaled).

     

     

    And also make sure that all is working to your Satisfaction before Deleting anything.

     

     

    Brad Kyer wrote:

     

      Someone mentioned Mac Keeper's real time antiviruse but I can not find that on my iMac.

     

     

    Mac Keeper is to be AVOIDED at all costs...

     

    Beware MacKeeper

     

     

    To keep your Mac Happy...

     

    See Here...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1147

     

     

    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/maintainingmacosx.html

     

     

    Mac OS X: About background maintenance tasks



  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Feb 6, 2013 6:29 PM in response to Brad Kyer
    Level 10 (271,755 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 6, 2013 6:29 PM in response to Brad Kyer

    Deleting files won't make it run faster. That only provides more disk space in case you don't enough free space - at least 20 GBs.

     

    Try this to start:

     

    Boot into Safe Mode and repair the HD and permissions.

     

    Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions

     

    Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list.  In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive.  If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.

     

    If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.


    When the above is finished restart the computer. If this hasn't helped then create a new user account. Log into and use the new account for a while. Did this help?