RonniBlackford

Q: MacBook Air incredibly slow

My MacBook Air has recently become extremely slow with text lagging behind my typing, windows taking ages to open and programmes freezing regularly. It even seems to have affected my internet speeds though I'm not sure if that's possible? Chrome takes a while now to load sites and even Google takes a while longer to suggest searches or present results.

 

The mac is quite old (2010 with a new logic board and screen in 2011) and the battery life is pretty short but I need it to last for another ~10 months. It is slow when I'm using it without the charger and at its slowest when the battery is low -  it is more likely to run as normal when charging though still mostly sluggish. Last week, the disk was almost full so I cleared about 25GB of files. I now have 27GB out of 120GB free and it doesn't seem to have made a difference to the running speed - I do plan to have a more thorough sort out of my files in a few weeks but as it is running agonisingly slow at times, the prospect of a day spent doing that is not a pleasant one!

 

I was tempted by the promises CleanMyMac make but was dissuaded by some threads on here - does anyone have any better suggestions, please?

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Aug 24, 2016 4:56 PM

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Q: MacBook Air incredibly slow

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 24, 2016 5:02 PM in response to RonniBlackford
    Level 10 (120,311 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 24, 2016 5:02 PM in response to RonniBlackford

    Hi,

     

    Do not install CleanMyMac. It can do more harm than good.

     

    It would be easier to troubleshoot for you if you downloaded and ran Etrecheck then copy and pasted the results in your Reply here.

     

     

    No personal data is shared from an EtreCheck report. That should reveal what's causing your Mac to run so slow.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 24, 2016 5:14 PM in response to RonniBlackford
    Level 10 (270,283 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 24, 2016 5:14 PM in response to RonniBlackford

    Ways to help make a slow Mac faster

     

    1. 17 Reasons Why Your Mac Runs Slower Than it Should
    2. Slow Mac Performance? This Article Solves It!
    3. Fix slow start-ups in OS X | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews
    4. How to fix slow shutdown and startup times. | MacTip.net
    5. 6 Easy Tips to Speed Up OS X Yosemite on Your Mac

     

    Avoid using third-party cleanup software. Usually this software does more bad than good. You don't need it. All computers become slower over time even under normal use. Experienced users erase the hard drive and do a clean install from scratch from time to time; or whenever installing a major OS upgrade. Doing so 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 anti-malware software and any software that promises to clean your Mac. Check for runaway processes: Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime, affect performance, and increase heat and fan activity. Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on dealing with The Spinning Beach Ball of Death.

     

    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 RonniBlackford,

    RonniBlackford RonniBlackford Aug 24, 2016 5:17 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 24, 2016 5:17 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Hi Carolyn, thanks for your initial advice! Here's my EtreCheck report:

     

     

     

     

    EtreCheck version: 3.0.2 (306)

    Report generated 2016-08-25 01:14:41

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 7:07

    Performance: Below Average

     

    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:

        MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010)

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

        MacBook Air - model: MacBookAir3,2

        1 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

        4 GB RAM Not upgradeable

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

        Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

        Wireless:  en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n

        Battery: Health = Replace Soon - Cycle count = 1317

     

    Video Information:

        NVIDIA GeForce 320M - VRAM: 256 MB

            Color LCD 1440 x 900

     

    System Software:

        OS X El Capitan 10.11.3 (15D21) - Time since boot: about one day

     

    Disk Information:

        APPLE SSD TS128C disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Untitled (disk0s2) / : 120.47 GB (27.95 GB free)

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

     

    USB Information:

        Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

            Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

        Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

        Apple Card Reader

        Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

     

    Gatekeeper:

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    Kernel Extensions:

            /Library/Extensions

        [loaded]    com.sophos.kext.oas (9.5.50 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-08-24) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.sophos.nke.swi (9.5.50 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-08-24) [Support]

     

            /System/Library/Extensions

        [loaded]    com.globaldelight.driver.BoomDevice (1.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-08-01) [Support]

     

    System Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    7 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    148 Apple tasks

        [running]    56 Apple tasks

        [killed]    25 Apple tasks

        25 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

     

    System Launch Daemons:

        [not loaded]    46 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    154 Apple tasks

        [running]    73 Apple tasks

        [killed]    15 Apple tasks

        15 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

     

    Launch Agents:

        [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2015-09-29) [Support]

        [running]    com.sophos.uiserver.plist (2016-08-24) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons:

        [failed]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-16) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2015-09-29) [Support]

        [running]    com.sophos.common.servicemanager.plist (2016-08-24) [Support]

        [running]    com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist (2011-08-21) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents:

        [running]    com.amazon.music.plist (2015-05-25) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.bittorrent.uTorrent.plist (2015-11-20)

        [failed]    com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist (2014-08-11)

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

        [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-08-24) [Support]

     

    User Login Items:

        Flux    Application  (/Applications/Flux.app)

        iTunesHelper    Application Hidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

        Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

        Spotify    Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

        JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 71 build 15 (2016-01-29) Check version

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-21) [Support]

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-02-26)

        Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-21) Outdated! Update

        Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-02-26)

        Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-07-12) [Support]

        AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101749: Unknown

        iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-09-15)

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

        Flash Player (2016-04-16) [Support]

        Java (2016-01-29) [Support]

        Rapport (2011-08-21) [Support]

     

    Time Machine:

        Time Machine not configured!

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

            99%    Google Chrome Helper(20)

             6%    WindowServer

             4%    kernel_task

             2%    hidd

             1%    SophosScanD

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

        1.14 GB    Google Chrome Helper(20)

        496 MB    kernel_task

        156 MB    Google Chrome

        111 MB    mdworker(8)

        98 MB    SophosScanD

     

    Virtual Memory Information:

        22 MB    Free RAM

        4.23 GB    Used RAM (515 MB Cached)

        510 MB    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information:

        Aug 25, 2016, 12:58:40 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/_2016-08-25-005840_[redacted].crash

            ???

        Aug 24, 2016, 02:42:03 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-24-144203_[redact ed].crash

            /Library/Sophos Anti-Virus/SophosWebIntelligence.bundle/Contents/MacOS/SophosWebIntelligence

        Aug 24, 2016, 02:13:26 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-24-141326_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 24, 2016, 12:39:47 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-24-123947_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 24, 2016, 12:15:58 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-24-121558_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 24, 2016, 10:41:19 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Preview_2016-08-24-104119_[redacted].crash

            com.apple.Preview - /Applications/Preview.app/Contents/MacOS/Preview

        Aug 24, 2016, 10:40:15 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/deleted_2016-08-24-104015_[redacted].crash

            /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CacheDelete.framework/deleted

        Aug 23, 2016, 05:15:56 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-23-171556_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 23, 2016, 05:07:56 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-23-170756_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 23, 2016, 05:05:47 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-23-170547_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 23, 2016, 04:46:16 PM    Self test - passed

        Aug 23, 2016, 03:59:58 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-23-155958_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 23, 2016, 12:09:30 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-23-000930_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 22, 2016, 11:05:25 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Preview_2016-08-22-110525_[redacted].crash

        Aug 22, 2016, 10:42:08 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-08-22-104208_[redact ed].crash

        Aug 22, 2016, 10:39:20 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Adobe Photoshop Elements_2016-08-22-103920_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]

            /Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 8/Adobe Photoshop Elements.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Photoshop Elements

        Aug 22, 2016, 10:30:36 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosAutoUpdate_2016-08-22-103036_[redacted].c rash

            /Library/Sophos Anti-Virus/SophosAutoUpdate.app/Contents/MacOS/SophosAutoUpdate

     

     

  • by Kappy,Solvedanswer

    Kappy Kappy Aug 24, 2016 5:27 PM in response to RonniBlackford
    Level 10 (270,283 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 24, 2016 5:27 PM in response to RonniBlackford

    Uninstall Sopho AV/Web software that you don't need and that is crashing. Quit Chrome Helper and/or Chrome browser as it is causing excessive CPU usage. You need to kill the Chrome processes. Stick to Safari or Firefox. Both work more compatibly with El Capitan. Add more RAM as the amount you have now is insufficient for all the third-party software you are running. Or you must cut down on your third-party software until it is more in keeping with what can be supported by existing memory.

  • by RonniBlackford,

    RonniBlackford RonniBlackford Aug 24, 2016 5:33 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 24, 2016 5:33 PM in response to Kappy

    edit in reply to your following post: I tried to uninstall Sophos about half an hour ago and it says it's gone from my applications so I'm not sure how to get rid of what's left of it. The icon is still in my menu bar and command+drag isn't affecting any of the icons...
    How do I get rid of the Chrome Helper, please? It's not something that I can see being open. And (sorry! technical idiot here!) how do I add more RAM?

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Aug 24, 2016 5:42 PM in response to RonniBlackford
    Level 10 (270,283 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 24, 2016 5:42 PM in response to RonniBlackford

    If there is a Quit and/or Uninstall option in the menubar item, then use that option. Otherwise, you can see the following about how to hunt down components that still need to be deleted.

     

    Basics for Uninstalling Software

     

    Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash.  Applications may create preference files that are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder.  Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space.  If you want you can look for them in the above location and delete them, too.

     

    Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. If you cannot find the uninstaller then you could download the freeware, Easy Find, to locate files that need to be removed. The places you need to search include:

     

    1. /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. Check if the application has created a folder then delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. 
    2. Applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item.  Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder or the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder.  Log In Items are set in the Users & Groups preferences.  Open it inSystem Preferences, then click on the LogIn Items tab.  Select the item from the list and click on the Delete [-] button to remove it.
    3. Some software use startup daemons or agents.  Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.

     

    Some applications install a receipt in the /Library/Receipts/ folder.  Usually with the same name as the program or the developer.  The item generally has a ".pkg" extension.  Be sure you also delete this item as some programs use it to determine if it's already installed.

     

    There are many utilities that can uninstall applications.  Here is a selection:

     

    1. AppZapper
    2. AppDelete
    3. Hazel
    4. AppCleaner
    5. CleanApp
    6. iTrash
    7. AppBolish
    8. AppUninstaller
    9. Uninstaller

     

    For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 24, 2016 5:40 PM in response to RonniBlackford
    Level 10 (270,283 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 24, 2016 5:40 PM in response to RonniBlackford

    Chrome Helper may be run by the Chrome browser. It may disappear from Activity Monitor when you quit Chrome. If not then it may be started by a LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon. See my previous discussion for deleting unwanted files by searching for them manually or using: Easy Find.

  • by FishingAddict,

    FishingAddict FishingAddict Aug 24, 2016 5:43 PM in response to RonniBlackford
    Level 4 (1,542 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 24, 2016 5:43 PM in response to RonniBlackford

    Your slowness can likely be resolved by correctly and completely removing:

     

    Sophos

    uTorrent

    Trusteer Rapport

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 24, 2016 6:00 PM in response to RonniBlackford
    Level 10 (120,311 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 24, 2016 6:00 PM in response to RonniBlackford

    Looks like you're in good hands