WillyL

Q: How can I tell what is using up my memory?

Very often my iMac seems to be running very slow.  I have MacKeeper and bring up "Memory Cleaner" and when it is slow Mackeeper says something like 7.6 GB of 8GB are in use.  I can use the cleaner function and usually recover maybe 2 to 3 GB memory back.  I've set the advanced options to recapture up to 90% of memory when it can.  But, I rarely - even upon reboot and nothing but Mackeeper is running - do I see more than 4GB of my 8GB available.  What is using all my memory, and is there a way to see where the log jam might be? 

Using iMac Retina 5K 27in. Late 2014

3.5Ghz Intel Core i5

8 GB 1600 MH DDR3

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Mar 12, 2016 3:41 PM

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Q: How can I tell what is using up my memory?

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  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Mar 12, 2016 3:55 PM in response to WillyL
    Level 4 (3,917 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 12, 2016 3:55 PM in response to WillyL

    Remove MacKeeper and its other applications by using the Uninstaller option. That is a perfectly worthless program you surely have no need for. if you also are using anti-malware software you should uninstall it, as well.

     

    OS X El Capitan- If your Mac runs slowly.

     

    Ways to help make a slow Mac faster

     

    17 Reasons Why Your Mac Runs Slower Than it Should

    Slow Mac Performance? This Article Solves It!

    Fix slow start-ups in OS X | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews

    How to fix slow shutdown and startup times. | MacTip.net

    6 Easy Tips to Speed Up OS X Yosemite on Your Mac

     

    Avoid using any third-party software that claims to clean up your computer. Usually this software does more bad than good. Furthermore, you don't need it. Note that all computers will become slower over time even under normal use. Experienced users typically erase the hard drive and do a clean install from scratch at least once a year or whenever installing a major OS upgrade. Of course doing so also means you must maintain regular and multiple backups.

     

    Add more RAM or cut back on the number of concurrently running applications and utilities. Remove unnecessary software such as anti-malware and software that promises to clean your Mac. Check for runaway processes: Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime, affect performance, and increase heat and fan activities  Also see:

     

    Pre-Mavericks

     

    Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder.  Select All Processes from the Processes dropdown menu.  Click twice on the CPU% column header to display in descending order.  If you find a process using a large amount of CPU time (>=70,) then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar.  Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process.  See if that helps.  Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.

     

    Mavericks and later

     

    Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder.  Select All Processes from the View menu.  Click on the CPU tab in the toolbar. Click twice on the %CPU column header to display in descending order.  If you find a process using a large amount of %CPU, then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar.  Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process.  See if that helps.  Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.

     

    The Ultimate Fix

     

    Backup everything, erase the drive, reinstall OS X, and restore your data from the backup. Reinstall third-party software from original media/scratch.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 12, 2016 4:44 PM in response to WillyL
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Mar 12, 2016 4:44 PM in response to WillyL

    The first step, and maybe the only one, is to get rid of "MacKeeper."

    "MacKeeper" is a scam with only one useful feature: it deletes itself.

    If you have incompletely removed MacKeeper—for example, by dragging the application to the Trash and immediately emptying—then you'll have to reinstall it and start over.

    Note: These instructions apply to the version of the product that I downloaded and tested in early 2012. I can't be sure that they apply to other versions.

    IMPORTANT: "MacKeeper" has what the developer calls an “encryption” feature. In my tests, I didn't try to verify what this feature really does. If you used it to “encrypt” any of your files, “decrypt” them before you uninstall, or (preferably) restore the files from backups made before they were “encrypted.” As the developer is not trustworthy, you should assume that the "decrypted" files are corrupt unless proven otherwise.

    Please back up all data before making any changes.

    In the Finder, select

              Go Applications

    from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-A. The "MacKeeper" application is in the folder that opens. Quit it if it's running, then drag it to the Trash. You'll be prompted for your login password. Click the Uninstall MacKeeper button in the dialog that appears. All the other functional components of the software will be deleted. Restart the computer and empty the Trash.

    Quit MacKeeper before dragging it to the Trash.

    Let MacKeeper delete its other components before you empty the Trash.

    Don't try to drag MacKeeper from the Dock or the Launchpad to the Trash.

    Don't try to remove MacKeeper while running in safe mode.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Mar 12, 2016 4:56 PM in response to WillyL
    Level 7 (32,127 points)
    iPad
    Mar 12, 2016 4:56 PM in response to WillyL

    Additionally, FYI, the newer OS versions are designed to use all the RAM available as the thought is: unused RAM is wasted RAM.

     

    And, of course, get rid of that worthless software.