Q: Troubleshooting slow performance an iMac 2011

Question

A Silverstone

Level 1 (13 points)

Apple TV

Q: Troubleshooting slow performance an iMac 2011

Hi

My iMac's performance seems to be slowing.

How would I go about troubleshooting the problem?

I'm running 10.11.5 with 16 GB RAM installed.

I'm using basic applications.

I feel the system is slow to respond to switching already open applications, especially from Safari to Mail, but not limited to these two.

I'm not a gamer nor do I stream videos.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jun 14, 2016 7:11 PM

I have this question too

Solved

A Silverstone

Level 1 (13 points)

Apple TV

A:

Hi,

Here's the latest Etre Check Report. In addition I am attaching a screen shot of the Disk Utility report from running First Aid on one of the drives. The summary was similar for all the attached drives. This screen shot happens to represent the FireWire drive. I can paste the other ones if you feel they will be helpful.

I appreciate your continued help with my project.

EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)

Report generated 2016-06-16 18:55:28

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:50

Performance: Excellent

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

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

Problem: Computer is too slow

Hardware Information: ⓘ

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)

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

iMac - model: iMac12,1

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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

Video Information: ⓘ

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 512 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080

System Software: ⓘ

OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Disk Information: ⓘ

ST3500418AS disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (152.04 GB free)

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

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5690H ()

ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB disk1 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

PiedPiper (disk1s2) /Volumes/PiedPiper : 999.86 GB (201.01 GB free)

USB Information: ⓘ

Verbatim USB 3.0 Desktop HD 2 TB

disk4s1 (disk4s1) <not mounted> : 32 KB

Alex's Photos (disk4s3) /Volumes/Alex's Photos : 2.00 TB (697.30 GB free)

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Card Reader

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Western Digital My Passport 0748

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Firewire Information: ⓘ

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 800mbit - 800mbit max

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

FireWater (disk2s2) /Volumes/FireWater : 999.86 GB (109.54 GB free)

Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

LaCie Rugged THB USB3

Configuration files: ⓘ

/etc/sysctl.conf - File exists but not expected

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.SAC.driver.SACPeripheralDeviceType05 (1.0.0d1 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.freecom.driver.BoulderScsi (1.0.0d1 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.joshuawise.kexts.HoRNDIS (8 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.1394.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.1394HP (1.0.11 - SDK 10.4 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.1394_64HP (1.0.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.USB.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.USBHP (1.0.11 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

[loaded] com.wdc.driver.USB_64HP (1.0.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 163 Apple tasks

[running] 67 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 43 Apple tasks

[loaded] 161 Apple tasks

[running] 87 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[running] com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (2014-10-09) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2013-08-25) [Support]

[loaded] com.paragon.updater.plist (2014-03-26) [Support]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]

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

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

[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2013-01-17) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2016-04-11) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2013-08-25) [Support]

[loaded] com.timesoftware.timemachineeditor.helper.plist (2014-07-10) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[running] com.amazon.music.plist (2016-03-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncer.plist

Other Apps: ⓘ

[running] com.brother.utility.NETserver.85152

[running] com.brother.utility.USBserver.84192

[running] com.etresoft.EtreCheck.189152

[loaded] 410 Apple tasks

[running] 171 Apple tasks

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 91 build 14 (2016-04-24) Check version

FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-19)

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.016.20045 - SDK 10.11 (2016-06-05) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 15.016.20045 - SDK 10.11 (2016-06-05) [Support]

Flash Player: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) Outdated! Update

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-19)

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.5 - SDK 10.6 (2016-06-16) [Support]

GarminGpsControl: 4.0.4.0 Release - SDK 10.6 (2012-11-02) [Support]

Silverlight: 4.1.10329.0 (2012-11-08) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-04-22)

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

eBay for Safari - eBay Inc - http://anywhere.ebay.com/browser/safari/ (2016-06-15)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

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

Java (2016-04-24) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Alex's Photos: Disk size: 2.00 TB Disk used: 1.30 TB

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 347.20 GB

Destinations:

Untitled [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 22

Oldest backup: 5/30/16, 12:23 PM

Last backup: 6/16/16, 5:46 PM

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 1.65 TB X 3)

BackUpBabyPhotos [Local]

Total size: 999.83 GB

Total number of backups: 54

Oldest backup: 12/19/15, 12:13 AM

Last backup: 6/16/16, 6:46 PM

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 999.83 GB < (Disk used 1.65 TB X 3)

FireWater [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 51

Oldest backup: 12/22/15, 5:44 PM

Last backup: 6/16/16, 4:39 PM

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 1.65 TB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

7% mdworker(14)

2% mds

2% WindowServer

2% mds_stores

1% kernel_task

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

1.03 GB kernel_task

262 MB mds_stores

229 MB mdworker(14)

147 MB icdd

49 MB softwareupdated

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

12.00 GB Free RAM

3.74 GB Used RAM (1.55 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Jun 16, 2016, 06:50:27 PM Self test - passed

Posted on Jun 16, 2016 4:03 PM

Q: Troubleshooting slow performance an iMac 2011

All replies

Helpful answers

Page 2

by A Silverstone,

A Silverstone Jun 16, 2016 4:00 PM in response to macjack
Level 1 (13 points)

Apple TV

Jun 16, 2016 4:00 PM in response to macjack

Hi,

Here's the latest Etre Check Report. In addition I am attaching a screen shot of the Disk Utility report from running First Aid on one of the drives. The summary was similar for all the attached drives. This screen shot happens to represent the FireWire drive. I can paste the other ones if you feel they will be helpful.

I appreciate your continued help with my project.

EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)
Report generated 2016-06-16 18:55:28
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 2:50
Performance: Excellent

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Computer is too slow

Hardware Information: ⓘ
    iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)
    [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
    iMac - model: iMac12,1
    1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core
    16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
        BANK 0/DIMM0
            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
        BANK 1/DIMM0
            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
        BANK 0/DIMM1
            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
        BANK 1/DIMM1
            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
    Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ⓘ
    AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 512 MB
        iMac 1920 x 1080

System Software: ⓘ
    OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Disk Information: ⓘ
    ST3500418AS disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)
        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (152.04 GB free)
        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

    OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5690H   ()

    ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB disk1 : (1 TB) (Rotational)
        EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
        PiedPiper (disk1s2) /Volumes/PiedPiper : 999.86 GB (201.01 GB free)

USB Information: ⓘ
    Verbatim USB 3.0 Desktop HD 2 TB
        disk4s1 (disk4s1) <not mounted> : 32 KB
        Alex's Photos (disk4s3) /Volumes/Alex's Photos : 2.00 TB (697.30 GB free)
    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
    Apple Card Reader
    Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
    Western Digital My Passport 0748
    Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Firewire Information: ⓘ
    Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 800mbit - 800mbit max
        EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
        FireWater (disk2s2) /Volumes/FireWater : 999.86 GB (109.54 GB free)

Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ
    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
        LaCie Rugged THB USB3

Configuration files: ⓘ
    /etc/sysctl.conf - File exists but not expected

Gatekeeper: ⓘ
    Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ
        /System/Library/Extensions
    [not loaded]    com.SAC.driver.SACPeripheralDeviceType05 (1.0.0d1 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [not loaded]    com.freecom.driver.BoulderScsi (1.0.0d1 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [not loaded]    com.joshuawise.kexts.HoRNDIS (8 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.1394.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.1394HP (1.0.11 - SDK 10.4 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.1394_64HP (1.0.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.USB.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.USBHP (1.0.11 - 2016-06-15) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.wdc.driver.USB_64HP (1.0.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-15) [Support]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ
    [not loaded]    8 Apple tasks
    [loaded]    163 Apple tasks
    [running]    67 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ
    [not loaded]    43 Apple tasks
    [loaded]    161 Apple tasks
    [running]    87 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ
    [running]    com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (2014-10-09) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-02) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2013-08-25) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.paragon.updater.plist (2014-03-26) [Support]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ
    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-05-09) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-03-02) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2013-01-17) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2016-04-11) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2013-08-25) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.timesoftware.timemachineeditor.helper.plist (2014-07-10) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ
    [running]    com.amazon.music.plist (2016-03-22) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncer.plist

Other Apps: ⓘ
    [running]    com.brother.utility.NETserver.85152
    [running]    com.brother.utility.USBserver.84192
    [running]    com.etresoft.EtreCheck.189152
    [loaded]    410 Apple tasks
    [running]    171 Apple tasks

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ
    JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 91 build 14 (2016-04-24) Check version
    FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) [Support]
    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-19)
    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.016.20045 - SDK 10.11 (2016-06-05) [Support]
    AdobePDFViewer: 15.016.20045 - SDK 10.11 (2016-06-05) [Support]
    Flash Player: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) Outdated! Update
    Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-19)
    SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.5 - SDK 10.6 (2016-06-16) [Support]
    GarminGpsControl: 4.0.4.0 Release - SDK 10.6 (2012-11-02) [Support]
    Silverlight: 4.1.10329.0 (2012-11-08) [Support]
    iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-04-22)

Safari Extensions: ⓘ
    eBay for Safari - eBay Inc - http://anywhere.ebay.com/browser/safari/ (2016-06-15)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ
    Flash Player (2016-05-09) [Support]
    Java (2016-04-24) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ
    Skip System Files: NO
    Mobile backups: OFF
    Auto backup: YES
    Volumes being backed up:
        Alex's Photos: Disk size: 2.00 TB Disk used: 1.30 TB
        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 347.20 GB
    Destinations:
        Untitled [Local]
        Total size: 999.86 GB
        Total number of backups: 22
        Oldest backup: 5/30/16, 12:23 PM
        Last backup: 6/16/16, 5:46 PM
        Size of backup disk: Too small
            Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 1.65 TB X 3)

        BackUpBabyPhotos [Local]
        Total size: 999.83 GB
        Total number of backups: 54
        Oldest backup: 12/19/15, 12:13 AM
        Last backup: 6/16/16, 6:46 PM
        Size of backup disk: Too small
            Backup size 999.83 GB < (Disk used 1.65 TB X 3)

        FireWater [Local]
        Total size: 999.86 GB
        Total number of backups: 51
        Oldest backup: 12/22/15, 5:44 PM
        Last backup: 6/16/16, 4:39 PM
        Size of backup disk: Too small
            Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 1.65 TB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ
         7%    mdworker(14)
         2%    mds
         2%    WindowServer
         2%    mds_stores
         1%    kernel_task

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ
    1.03 GB    kernel_task
    262 MB    mds_stores
    229 MB    mdworker(14)
    147 MB    icdd
    49 MB    softwareupdated

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ
    12.00 GB    Free RAM
    3.74 GB    Used RAM (1.55 GB Cached)
    0 B    Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ
    Jun 16, 2016, 06:50:27 PM    Self test - passed
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by macjack,

macjack Jun 16, 2016 4:29 PM in response to A Silverstone
Level 9 (55,682 points)

Mac OS X

Jun 16, 2016 4:29 PM in response to A Silverstone

EtreCheck i still reporting a problem in the configuration files. Sometimes Disk Utility is able to flag these problems and sometimes not. I'd definitely keep my eye on it by running Disk Utility often. The rest of the EtreCheck looks OK. Your hard disk insn't full. Of course the more free space the better, but it's more than sufficient. On the other drives, it's just telling you that it is recommended to have 3X the amount of space available for data storage but for now it's fine.

Before you replace the HDD, it would be worth it to use Disk Utility to reformat the disk, then re-install the OS. Hopefully a reformat will wipe the configuration files clean.
Reply options

Link to this post

by A Silverstone,

A Silverstone Jun 16, 2016 5:50 PM in response to macjack
Level 1 (13 points)

Apple TV

Jun 16, 2016 5:50 PM in response to macjack

Hi MacJack

Thanks. Can you point me to a good set of directions on going through reformatting the internal hard drive?

I infer I will lose everything on the internal drive if I do a reformat. Please tell me if I am wrong.

Is this the section that indicates problems (see attached photo)?

Would it do me any good to find them and delete them?

Thanks for the expert help.
Reply options

Link to this post

by macjack,

macjack Jun 16, 2016 6:07 PM in response to A Silverstone
Level 9 (55,682 points)

Mac OS X

Jun 16, 2016 6:07 PM in response to A Silverstone

A Silverstone wrote:

Hi MacJack

Thanks. Can you point me to a good set of directions on going through reformatting the internal hard drive?

I infer I will lose everything on the internal drive if I do a reformat. Please tell me if I am wrong.

Is this the section that indicates problems (see attached photo)?

Would it do me any good to find them and delete them?

Thanks for the expert help.

You can follow these directions to reformat, You will lose everything on the disk, so make a good backup of your own files. First you should have a good backup of you files.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
The problem is here...
Configuration files: ⓘ
/etc/sysctl.conf - File exists but not expected
Finding and deleting them isn't the answer, there could be hundreds and you'd have to actually open them and rewrite the preferences inside them. That much programming is beyond me.
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Link to this post

Page 2

Accepted Answer · Jun 16, 2016 4:03 PM

A Silverstone

Level 1 (13 points)

Apple TV

Jun 16, 2016 4:03 PM in response to macjack