NewbMacUser

Q: *PLEASE HELP* Spinning beachball keeps coming up…

Hey guys, even though I've got 500mb of RAM available for OSX to use the spinning beachball comes up every now and again and when it appears I’m unable to do anything other than move my mouse. Im running latest version of OSX Mavericks.


Thanks!

Posted on Sep 5, 2014 5:52 AM

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Q: *PLEASE HELP* Spinning beachball keeps coming up…

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Oct 4, 2014 12:57 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 6 (14,523 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 4, 2014 12:57 AM in response to NewbMacUser

    Were you able to create a complete backup of any of your created files

    in addition to or in absence of a Time Machine or external Clone copy?

     

    Though I've read through this thread a few times since its inception,

    little traction appears to have occurred. Given the kinds of issues this

    ASC site has exhibited the past few months, lack of some participation

    is of little surprise in some instances...

     

    If you have an externally enclosed, self-powered (own AC adapter) hard

    disk drive such as fine examples shown at macsales site, you could use

    CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (from either maker's sites) to see

    about creating a backup Clone that should be able to boot the Mac.

    When or if you should consider a system clone, read the info at CCC

    (bombich software) on how to do it; or, shirtpocket site for SuperDuper.

     

    With a clone, in healthy form where you have a working bootable duplicate

    of the content of the computer on hand, you could just clone it back into

    a totally erased & reformatted hard drive. Since you don't have one, you

    may be able to make one of whatever exists in your Mac, then use the

    built-in OS X utilities on the Recovery partition, to reinstall a new OS X

    and then see what you can do with it. Later, you could see about how to

    use the former system parts from a Clone (external HDD) in a new OS X.

    Maybe through a migration assistant or other means.

     

    At this point in time, since I do not run Mavericks and have most of my

    system on backup external (FW+USB2.0) HDDs, & some on USB flash;

    I can restore my computers without internet access. It is faster that way.

     

    Perhaps one of the regulars with much more experience than me can

    reply with some references or on-site methods to walk you through an

    archive and restore kind of event.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Oct 4, 2014 1:02 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 9 (51,241 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 4, 2014 1:02 AM in response to NewbMacUser

    NewbMacUser wrote:

     

    Could someone please list for me each step I need to follow to complete this quickly?

    Time for you to slow down before you make this worse.

     

    Stage 1 will be to make a complete backup (clone or TM) post back when you have done that, you can't start until you do.

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 10, 2014 12:04 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2014 12:04 AM in response to K Shaffer

    Thanks a lot for your reply!!!

     

    I've already made a back-up of the entire Mac Mini HDD using an external USB HDD running Time Machine.

     

    By re-installing Mavericks from a Time Machine external USB drive, how can I be sure that I don't copy over the problem I'm trying to solve to a freshly formatted HDD?

     

    Please help!

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 10, 2014 12:24 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2014 12:24 AM in response to Csound1

    I've already made the backup to Time Machine on the external USB HDD.

     

    What do I do from here? Where can I view the steps I need to take to re-install Mavericks?

     

    How long will it take to re-install from the external USB HDD running Time Machine? My internet connection runs at 30Mbps.

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 10, 2014 12:41 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2014 12:41 AM in response to NewbMacUser

    I'm still trying to find a list of steps I need to follow to re-install Mavericks using the external USB HDD running Time Machine. I'm worried about re-installing Mavericks and still having my current 'spinning ball' issue!

     

    Thanks!

     

    Edit: I just wanted to clarify that there's nothing else I can try to resolve the current problem other than re-installing Mavericks?

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 10, 2014 4:31 PM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2014 4:31 PM in response to NewbMacUser

    Could someone please help me?

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 10, 2014 10:17 PM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 10, 2014 10:17 PM in response to NewbMacUser

    Hey guys, I was really looking forward to doing a re-install of Mavericks today so I can resolve this issue, but because nobody replied I didn't know what to do...

     

    I'm worried that I'll bring over the problem to the new install of Mavericks.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Oct 11, 2014 12:39 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 6 (14,523 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 11, 2014 12:39 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    • OS X Mavericks: Reinstall OS X - Apple Support

       

      support.apple.com › Apple Inc.

       

      Use the built-in recovery disk to reinstall OS X while keeping your files and ...
      to Mavericks OS X from Mavericks OS X Server? thanx OS X Mavericks (10.9.2) I ...
    • OS X Mavericks: Erase and reinstall OS X - Apple Support

       

      support.apple.com › Apple Inc.

       

      Erase your Mac, then reinstall OS X using the built-in recovery disk. Before ...
      I have OS X , Version 10.9 and my templates are Pages '09 version 4.3. I looked in ...
    • OS X Mavericks: Recover your entire system - Apple Support

       

      support.apple.com › Apple Inc.

       

      If you've used Time Machine to back up your Mac, you can recover your system's
      contents if your system or startup ... Topics for the OS X Mavericks 10.9 Troubles-
      hooting Exam (9L0-065) ... Explain the OS X Mavericks installation processes.

      {These three articles from support should be sufficient guides to use a backup
      to restore your user account info and files, since you should be able to restore
      them by use of Time Machine, without any damages the old system may have
      had, so issues in the old system would be gone if you erase and install OS X
      from Recovery; the details are rather lengthy and sometimes defer to other links
      or pages. Sorry that nobody so far has re-assessed these interrated problems or
      offered a synopsis of the likely path in a single post; that over-view lacking, the
      three Support topics should sufficice to Erase, Install and use Time Machine in
      the process of Migration. Most of the sub-topics are searchable in OS X support.}

      Though I'd asked elsewhere for someone to look in and assist, perhaps they were
      too busy with other pressing concerns on and off-line...
      By having a complete bootable clone of the entire computer content (your files &
      the system) the content could be used in conjunction; but most of this requires
      a learning curve before a problem exists, to make the clone on suitable hardware
      and also learn how to use it to troubleshoot issues, and boot the Mac from it; as
      this can save considerable headache. And trying to figure out a path after failure
      of a system without any help to resolve these tediuous problems.
      If there is an Apple Store with Genius bar, you could contact them to ask about
      setting an Appointment with a specialist who could help you use the Time machine
      backup, and any system software outside the computer. They may, or may not be
      able to personally help you to the extent required to alleviate your concerns.
      An all new installation, erasing the computer, but remembering all the correct
      account and passwords for your Backup copy, so you can access the User
      account when it is migrated into the new OS X, are just so many more details.
      This may be, of the three links above, most helpful:
      There was time I could probably have written a booklet on how to do this stuff;
      however you may need to invest in a published book such as The Missing Manual:
      Mavericks Edition to have an in-print guide that does not rely on the internet...
      Good luck in this matter!
      edited 2x -- in attempt to fix format text errors
  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Oct 11, 2014 1:04 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 6 (14,523 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 11, 2014 1:04 AM in response to NewbMacUser

    Here's another link to some fair ideas, they may or may not be in

    context to be helpful at whatever steps of a process you may be:

     

    •Apple OS X and Time Machine Tips:

    http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

     

    The above post had issues (as I see it, or maybe an issue exists

    in the ASC site in rendering what I see here?) so I had to post

    this as a separate item; and tried to fix errors in the earlier one.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 11, 2014 3:36 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 11, 2014 3:36 AM in response to K Shaffer

    Thank you so much!!!

     

    I'm about to go to bed, but I'm planning on doing the OSX Mavericks re-install tomorrow morning as soon as I wake up.

     

    Does anyone else have any tips I need to think about before I do the re-install? This Mac Mini is my main machine.

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 11, 2014 4:15 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 11, 2014 4:15 AM in response to NewbMacUser

    As the Mac Mini is my main machine, are there any other pre-cautions I need to worry about?

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Oct 11, 2014 11:31 AM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 6 (14,523 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 11, 2014 11:31 AM in response to NewbMacUser

    Other than the forward-thinking of being able to revert (go back) by having a copy/clone

    of the complete content of the computer, before attempting to change it, as mentioned

    a few times (to external drive unit capable of running a computer from the clone) there

    really isn't much else to say...

     

    There always is a chance things can work out OK, but prevention is something you get

    ready for, to fall back on, when or if the main event doesn't happen as planned...

     

    To Hope for the Best, and Plan for the Worst, has been a time proven suggestion.

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 11, 2014 8:51 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 11, 2014 8:51 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Thank you!

     

    I've got Time Machine running on a 1TB external USB drive and I just ran it again so everything from my Mac Mini is on there.

     

    I'd like to erase the Mac Mini's HDD and then re-install Mavericks and then restore all of my current OSX preferences and files from the Time Machine backup I created. If I do this, I won't be "re-installing my current spinning-beachball issue", correct?

     

    Here it says that I need to be connected to the internet to re-install Mavericks. I'd rather not expose my system to the internet and a potential virus if it isn't running OSX. Is it possible for me to re-install Mavericks from a USB key? OS X Mavericks: Erase and reinstall OS X

     

    Thanks again!

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Oct 11, 2014 11:58 PM in response to NewbMacUser
    Level 6 (14,523 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 11, 2014 11:58 PM in response to NewbMacUser

    If you already have a bootable USB key that someone created, then it could be used

    instead of the download from Apple server of Mavericks. The process to Create a Key

    is detailed and requires the use of Command-line or Terminal, so is not for novice use.

    Information in general terms about that, is given in overview in this Support article:

     

    •Creating a bootable OS X installer in OS X Mavericks

     

    There is little chance of getting a virus from the Apple download servers when you get

    the Mavericks download, they have secure internet access. However to not take excess

    hours of time, you should use an Ethernet cable instead of wi-fi, because it's much Faster

    to get downloads by wire. The Network control panel allows fairly adequate setup of the

    internet to Ethernet, from AirPort. Then Ethernet cable is much faster and more reliable.

    So are the end results.  With an all-new installation, even if you migrate your user acct

    from the backup, should not be the cause of the 'spinning color wheel' to return.

     

    Here is some more helpful information about Installer:

    •OS X Mavericks: Installer Help

     

    There are a few topics here, some may be directly applicable and others perhaps not.

     

    Other items that may be helpful to know, in these articles about:

    •Isolating issues in Mac OS X - helps in troubleshooting, etc.

    •Using Apple Diagnostics - this also covers using recovery, etc.

     

    Hopefully you can be confident even if some difficulties occur in your initial attempt.

    Sorry to not see your post until later, the time here is about 11PM...

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by NewbMacUser,

    NewbMacUser NewbMacUser Oct 12, 2014 1:59 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 12, 2014 1:59 AM in response to K Shaffer

    Thank you so much for your post!

     

    I have access to a Windows PC here so I can run the 'Apple Diagnostics' while I'm still online via the Windows PC.

     

    My internet is 30Mbps, but I'm guessing a re-install of Mavericks would still take more than 2 hours?

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