musicmanmu

Q: 2010 iMac running slow, programs freezing?

Hello -

I have a 27-inch Mid 2010 iMac. Here are its specs:

 

Processor  3.2 GHz Intel Core i3

Memory  4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

ATI Radeon HD 5670 512 MB

Software  OS X 10.9.5 (13F1712)

 

According to my storage info, I have 822 GB free.

 

In the last several months, the computer has begun to run slow. I will be browsing the internet or editing a document, for example, when the color wheel will just begin to spin for a while. Additionally, various programs (mainly MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Acrobat Pro) will inexplicably freeze. I have to force quit them and reopen them.

 

I downloaded some anti virus software, and it seems to indicate all is well. I've looked at my activity monitor and nothing seems to be amiss.

 

Anything else I should try or look for? Thanks!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on May 13, 2016 1:13 PM

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Q: 2010 iMac running slow, programs freezing?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by musicmanmu,

    musicmanmu musicmanmu May 13, 2016 1:14 PM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 13, 2016 1:14 PM in response to musicmanmu

    Just FYI...I also ran the SMART utility and said that it 'passed.'

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad May 13, 2016 4:26 PM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 10 (140,881 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 13, 2016 4:26 PM in response to musicmanmu

    Download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here (and recommended by Apple Support personnel) in the ASC to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

    OTsig.png

  • by CMCSK,

    CMCSK CMCSK May 13, 2016 5:45 PM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 6 (10,806 points)
    May 13, 2016 5:45 PM in response to musicmanmu

    Uninstall the anti virus software.  It is not needed.  No viruses for osx -  https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dancingsmilie.gif

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 13, 2016 7:12 PM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 10 (207,920 points)
    Applications
    May 13, 2016 7:12 PM in response to musicmanmu

    The first step is to get rid of your "anti-virus" software. All such software is worse than useless on a Mac. Remove it according to the developer's instructions after backing up all data.

    When you see a beachball cursor or the slowness is especially bad, note the exact time: hour, minute, second.  

    These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.

    Launch the Console application in any one of the following ways:

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

    ☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

    The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select

              SYSTEM LOG QUERIES All Messages

    from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select

              View Show Log List

    from the menu bar at the top of the screen.

    Each message in the log begins with the date and time when it was entered. Scroll back to the time you noted above.

    Select the messages entered from then until the end of the episode, or until they start to repeat, whichever comes first.

    Copy the messages to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.

    The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of it useless for solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.

    Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

    Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.

    Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

    When you post the log extract, you might see an error message on the web page: "You have included content in your post that is not permitted," or "The message contains invalid characters." That's a bug in the forum software. Please post the text on Pastebin, then post a link here to the page you created.

    If you have an account on Pastebin, please don't select Private from the Paste Exposure menu on the page, because then no one but you will be able to see it.

  • by musicmanmu,

    musicmanmu musicmanmu May 16, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 16, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Old Toad

    Hi - thanks for the help! I ran the program and this was the result:

     

    EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)

    Report generated 2016-05-16 08:43:07

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 3:57

    Performance: Good

     

    Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

    Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

     

    Problem: Beachballing

     

    Hardware Information: ⓘ

        iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)

        [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

        iMac - model: iMac11,3

        1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 CPU: 2-core

        4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

            BANK 0/DIMM1

                Empty  

            BANK 1/DIMM1

                Empty  

        Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

        Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

     

    Video Information: ⓘ

        ATI Radeon HD 5670 - VRAM: 512 MB

            iMac 2560 x 1440

     

    System Software: ⓘ

        OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 (13F1712) - Time since boot: less than an hour

     

    Disk Information: ⓘ

        WDC WD1001FALS-40Y6A0 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (825.04 GB free)

            Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB

     

        HL-DT-STDVDRW  GA32N   ()

     

    USB Information: ⓘ

        Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

            Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

        Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

        Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

            Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

        Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

        Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

     

    Gatekeeper: ⓘ

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

            /Library/Application Support/VirtualBox

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (4.3.30 - 2015-08-21) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (4.3.30 - 2015-08-21) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (4.3.30 - 2015-08-21) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (4.3.30 - 2015-08-21) [Support]

     

    System Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    5 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    148 Apple tasks

        [running]    31 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    48 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    135 Apple tasks

        [running]    65 Apple tasks

     

    Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-09-29) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.mcafee.menulet.plist (2009-09-17) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.mcafee.reporter.plist (2009-09-17) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-04-15) [Support]

        [running]    jp.co.canon.CUPSCMFP.BG.plist (2012-11-21) [Support]

        [running]    jp.co.canon.CUPSPS2.BG.plist (2010-04-22) [Support]

        [running]    jp.co.canon.UFR2.BG.plist (2012-11-21) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-05-09) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist (2014-11-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.mcafee.ssm.Eupdate.plist (2009-09-17) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.mcafee.ssm.ScanManager.plist (2009-09-17) [Support]

        [running]    com.mcafee.virusscan.fmpd.plist (2009-09-16) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-04-15) [Support]

        [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.startup.plist (2015-08-21) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2010-12-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2011-02-10) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2015-12-14) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.diskSpaceWatcher.plist (2014-11-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.scheduledScan.plist (2014-11-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.trashWatcher.plist (2014-11-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist (2015-08-21) [Support]

     

    User Login Items: ⓘ

        Microsoft Database Daemon    Application  (/Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Office/Microsoft Database Daemon.app)

        rgc2$    Volume Hidden (/Volumes/rgc2$)

        rgc$    Volume Hidden (/Volumes/rgc$)

        AdobeResourceSynchronizer    Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)

        Microsoft Database Daemon    Application  (/Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Office/Microsoft Database Daemon.app)

        EvernoteHelper    Application  (/Applications/Evernote.app/Contents/Resources/EvernoteHelper.app)

        Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

        Box Sync    Application  (/Applications/Box Sync.app)

     

    Other Apps: ⓘ

        [running]    [0x0-0x36036].com.etresoft.EtreCheck

        [running]    com.box.sync.63744

        [running]    com.evernote.EvernoteHelper.35232

        [running]    com.getdropbox.dropbox.14464

        [running]    com.microsoft.entourage.database_daemon.29952

        [running]    com.microsoft.outlook.databasedaemon.32416

        [running]    jp.co.canon.cijscannerregister.12704

        [running]    org.mozilla.firefox.12528

        [loaded]    448 Apple tasks

        [running]    259 Apple tasks

     

    Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

        Default Browser: 537 - SDK 10.9 (2014-09-26)

        Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 2.4.4.2 (2012-10-12) [Support]

        OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-03-13) [Support]

        AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-09-29) [Support]

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-13) [Support]

        AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 11.0.16 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) [Support]

        Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-01-19) [Support]

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-03-28)

        Flash Player: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-13) [Support]

        iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2010-08-10)

        SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.4.4 - SDK 10.6 (2014-09-12) [Support]

        AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.16 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) [Support]

        CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: 3.2.0.1 - SDK 10.6 (2012-04-26) [Support]

        JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 91 build 14 (2016-05-10) Check version

     

    User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

        CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-25) [Support]

        WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-07-15) [Support]

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

        Flash Player (2016-05-09) [Support]

        Flip4Mac WMV (2012-05-15) [Support]

        Java (2016-05-10) [Support]

        TeXDistPrefPane (2015-09-16) [Support]

     

    Time Machine: ⓘ

        Time Machine not configured!

     

    Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

             7%    mdworker(4)

             3%    fontd

             2%    WindowServer

             1%    kextcache(3)

             1%    Canon CMFP BackGrounder

     

    Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

        676 MB    firefox

        433 MB    kernel_task

        201 MB    kextcache(3)

        168 MB    com.apple.IconServicesAgent(2)

        139 MB    Dropbox

     

    Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

        435 MB    Free RAM

        3.57 GB    Used RAM (1.46 GB Cached)

        0 B    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

        May 16, 2016, 08:29:16 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_stores_2016-05-16-082916_[redacted].crash

            /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Metadat a.framework/Versions/A/Support/mds_stores

        May 16, 2016, 08:26:56 AM    Self test - passed

        May 13, 2016, 04:46:15 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Mue_InUse_2016-05-13-164615_[redacted].crash

            /Library/McAfee/*/Mue_InUse

  • by musicmanmu,

    musicmanmu musicmanmu May 16, 2016 8:16 AM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 16, 2016 8:16 AM in response to musicmanmu

    Just to update...I uninstalled any malware/security program I had downloaded, along with some other things I had amassed over the years but didn't need. I also updated my VirtualBox app (needed to run MS Access), then restarted my computer. It seems to be running much better now, oddly enough!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad May 16, 2016 8:26 AM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 10 (140,881 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 16, 2016 8:26 AM in response to musicmanmu

    You have some serious "bad" software installed:

    Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [loaded]    com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist (2014-11-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.mcafee.ssm.Eupdate.plist (2009-09-17) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.mcafee.ssm.ScanManager.plist (2009-09-17) [Support]

        [running]    com.mcafee.virusscan.fmpd.plist (2009-09-16) [Support]

    Both are know to mess up system and application performance in Macs.  Remove CleanMyMac2 and all mcafee software according to the developer's instructions.  A simple Google search can get you those. 

     

    You can check to see if you've removed all of the files by downloading and running Find Any File to search for any files with the application's name  and the developer's name in the file name.  For example for CleanMyMac you'd do two searches:

     

    1 - Name contains cleanmymac

    2 - Name contains macpaw

     

    Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop for deletion.

     

    FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.

     

    FWIW there's no reason to ever run any "cleaning" or "optimizing" apps on a Mad nor run anti virus software on it.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt May 16, 2016 8:32 AM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 8 (48,385 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 16, 2016 8:32 AM in response to musicmanmu

    musicmanmu wrote:

     

    ... It seems to be running much better now, oddly enough!

     

    There is nothing odd about a Mac that runs well, after removing needless third party garbage claiming the ability to make it do that. "Anti-virus" and "cleaning" products are in that category.

  • by musicmanmu,

    musicmanmu musicmanmu May 16, 2016 9:00 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 16, 2016 9:00 AM in response to Old Toad

    Thanks! Totally glossed over those. They've been removed.

  • by musicmanmu,

    musicmanmu musicmanmu May 16, 2016 9:02 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 16, 2016 9:02 AM in response to John Galt

    Fair point. I guess my initial thought was a 6-year-old computer might just be naturally sluggish. But I'm happy to see that it was simply my ignorance

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt May 16, 2016 9:10 AM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 8 (48,385 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 16, 2016 9:10 AM in response to musicmanmu

    Assuming the passage of time itself makes a computer slow is a common misconception.

     

    Garbage "cleaning" apps are also extremely popular. They might even help Apple sell new Macs, when unsophisticated users install them and conclude their Mac is too old. The use of certain products can accelerate hardware's eventual failure.

     

    Non-Apple "anti-virus" software also serves no beneficial purpose. Excerpted from Effective defenses against malware and other threats:

     

    • Never install any product that claims to "clean up", "speed up", "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.
      • Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.
      • They generally operate on the flawed premise that a Mac accumulates "junk" that needs to be routinely "cleaned out" for optimum performance.
      • Trial versions of those programs are successful because they provide the instant gratification of greater free disk space.
      • That increased space is the result of irreversible destruction of files, programs, or operating system components normally protected from inadvertent alteration or deletion. The eventual result will be unreliable operation, poor performance and random crashes that may not become evident for months or even years after their use, when updates to programs or OS X are eventually released.
      • Memory "cleaners" that circumvent OS X's memory management algorithms work by purging inactive memory contents to mass storage, which can only result in degraded performance and accelerated hardware failure.
  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM May 16, 2016 9:12 AM in response to musicmanmu
    Level 6 (13,584 points)
    iPad
    May 16, 2016 9:12 AM in response to musicmanmu

    I would seriously consider installing more RAM.

    Newer versions of OS X, typically, need more than 4 Gbs of RAM.

    Your year and model iMac can take up to 16 GBs of RAM.

    Correct and reliable Mac RAM can ONLY be purchased from online Mac RAM sources Crucial memory (crucial.com) or OWC (macsales.com).

     

    Good Luck!