DipDab
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Mac keeps freezing

I am having trouble with my mac.

It is not one of the newer, lighter ones, its quite heavy.

Although there are issues with the disk entry I managed to get an external one however if I am working on something and

have maybe 5 tabs open its freezing up.

When I say freezing , I don't see no wheel and I can move the mouse cursor but I cannot interact with the mac via the mouse or keyboard.

I have absolutely no idea what could be wrong.

Only time it doesn't crash is if you are browsing the internet which is kinda no good to me.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Feb 7, 2016 7:25 AM

by Mike Sombrio,Solvedanswer
Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio
Level 6 (17,234 points)
Apple Watch
A:

Your biggest problem is that you're running AV software. Uninstall the eSet software per the developers instructions, restart and test. You don't need it and it's hurting performance.

You could easily upgrade your ram as 4Gb is a little low for El Capitan but by not having a lot of applications running at once you may be able to get away with it. Since you don't have Time Machine backups set up hopefully you have another back up strategy or one day you could be back here asking how you can recover your files from a crashed drive.

Posted on Feb 7, 2016 9:22 AM

Close
DipDab

Q: Mac keeps freezing

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Feb 8, 2016 12:21 PM in response to DipDab
    Level 7 (29,298 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 8, 2016 12:21 PM in response to DipDab

    Hello DipDab,

    In your EtreCheck report, look for the line that reads:

    4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

    and click on the "[Instructions]" link. That will take you to Apple's instructions for upgrading your RAM.

     

    I am a bit confused about what your anti-virus software was actually doing. It seems to have renamed your adware so that neither MalwareBytes for Mac nor EtreCheck would actually detect it. But then, it left it running. Otherwise, either MalwareBytes for Mac or EtreCheck would have been able to deleted it for you.  Plus, your EtreCheck report shows the AV software was repeatedly crashing.

     

    Otherwise, it looks like you are getting pretty typical performance for a machine of that vintage upgraded to El Capitan. El Capitan and Yosemite before it were designed for SSD drives. If you can't easily upgrade your hard drive (as is the case with an iMac), then the best you can do is upgrade your RAM.

  • by DipDab,

    DipDab DipDab Feb 9, 2016 10:46 AM in response to etresoft
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 9, 2016 10:46 AM in response to etresoft

    AV software is gone. It crashed again this evening at 17.12.

    I have ordered 8gb ram from a source recommended on here (thanks again)

    I wonder is it simply related to the ram or is there malware because its still slow, just not as slow as when I had the AV

    Also does anyone know where I could find a replacement Memory Access Door thingy?

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Feb 9, 2016 11:59 AM in response to DipDab
    Level 7 (29,298 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 9, 2016 11:59 AM in response to DipDab

    Hello DipDab,

    With more RAM and without the AV, it should run faster. There are some limits to host fast El Capitan is ever going to get without an SSD.

     

    Why do you ask about the Memory Access Door?

  • by DipDab,

    DipDab DipDab Feb 9, 2016 12:08 PM in response to etresoft
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 9, 2016 12:08 PM in response to etresoft

    I just noticed I don't seem to have one, the Mac was my brothers and only God knows where that could have ended ip

    so I was wondering where I could buy one to replace it

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Feb 9, 2016 2:07 PM in response to DipDab
    Level 7 (29,298 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 9, 2016 2:07 PM in response to DipDab

    Hello again DipDab,

    I say don't worry about it. You would have to contact an Authorized Apple Repair Centre or maybe a place like OWC (http://macsales.com). It is not a part that breaks so you might have a hard time finding one.

Previous Page 2