m4xwl

Q: Really slow Mac Mini on first start up

I bought my Mac Mini because older PC took an age to start up. Now my Mac Mini is even worse. I also have an old laptop (2010) which I installed Windows 10 on, and it is much faster than my Mac! W10 is up and running on browser/email before Mac even gets to user log in page!

 

From advice on other posts, I ran EtreCheck and uncovered a printer issue with HP software. Got that sorted and it really helped. But its gone just as bad, ran EtreCheck again, results below, albeit this was when the Mac was still loading up, but done intentionally to see if I can find what's holding it up. There is nothing obvious in this, can anyone see something I'm missing please.

 

(Conscious there are other posts like this but saw someone getting a telling off for adding their isses to the same post accusing them of "thread-jacking")

 

EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)

Report generated 2016-09-17 08:11:02

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 11:48

Performance: Poor

 

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:

    Mac mini (Late 2012)

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

    Mac mini - model: Macmini6,2

    1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core

    4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

        BANK 0/DIMM0

            2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

        BANK 1/DIMM0

            2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

    Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

 

Video Information:

    Intel HD Graphics 4000

        S236HL 1920 x 1080

 

System Software:

    OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: less than an hour

 

Disk Information:

    APPLE HDD HTS541010A9E662 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (607.22 GB free)

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

 

USB Information:

    Apple, Inc. IR Receiver

    Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

 

Thunderbolt Information:

    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

 

Gatekeeper:

    Mac App Store and identified developers

 

Kernel Extensions:

        /Library/Application Support/Avast/components/fileshield/unsigned

    [loaded]    com.avast.AvastFileShield (3.0.0 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-08-18) [Support]

 

        /Library/Application Support/Avast/components/proxy/unsigned

    [loaded]    com.avast.PacketForwarder (2.1 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-08-18) [Support]

 

System Launch Agents:

    [not loaded]    7 Apple tasks

    [loaded]    154 Apple tasks

    [running]    77 Apple tasks

 

System Launch Daemons:

    [failed]    com.apple.security.syspolicy.plist (2015-08-23)

    [not loaded]    45 Apple tasks

    [loaded]    155 Apple tasks

    [running]    90 Apple tasks

 

Launch Agents:

    [failed]    com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

    [running]    com.avast.secureline.update-agent.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.secureline.userinit.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

    [running]    com.avast.update-agent.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.userinit.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

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

    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]

 

Launch Daemons:

    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-29) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.init.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.secureline.init.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.secureline.uninstall.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.secureline.update.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.uninstall.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.update.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2014-02-26) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]

 

User Launch Agents:

    [failed]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-09-02) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.home.userinit.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.avast.secureline.home.userinit.plist (2016-07-05) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.f-secure.sync.BTCloud.plist (2015-07-31) [Support]

    [failed]    com.lastpass.LastPassHelper.plist (2015-04-14) [Support]

    [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-09-11) [Support]

 

User Login Items:

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

    Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

 

Internet Plug-ins:

    FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) [Support]

    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-22)

    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

    AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

    Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) Outdated! Update

    Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-22)

    SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.7 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-25) [Support]

    nplastpass: 3.1.89 - SDK 10.10 (2015-04-14) [Support]

    Silverlight: 5.1.41105.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-12-21) [Support]

    JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-08-23) Check version

 

User internet Plug-ins:

    WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-07-17) [Support]

    Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]

 

Safari Extensions:

    LastPass - LastPass - https://lastpass.com (2015-09-04)

 

3rd Party Preference Panes:

    Flash Player (2016-06-29) [Support]

    Java (2016-06-22) [Support]

 

Time Machine:

    Time Machine not configured!

 

Top Processes by CPU:

        17%    update_dyld_shared_cache

         8%    kernel_task

         6%    WindowServer

         1%    systemstatsd

         1%    com.avast.daemon

 

Top Processes by Memory:

    905 MB    update_dyld_shared_cache

    421 MB    kernel_task

    152 MB    Safari

    147 MB    Dropbox

    127 MB    mdworker(10)

 

Virtual Memory Information:

    137 MB    Free RAM

    3.86 GB    Used RAM (1.10 GB Cached)

    67 MB    Swap Used

 

Diagnostics Information:

    Sep 17, 2016, 07:50:32 AM    Self test - passed

Mac mini, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 17, 2016 12:36 AM

Close

Q: Really slow Mac Mini on first start up

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Paul_31,Solvedanswer

    Paul_31 Paul_31 Sep 17, 2016 2:44 AM in response to m4xwl
    Level 6 (13,925 points)
    Sep 17, 2016 2:44 AM in response to m4xwl

    I would suggest removing the Avast software according to the developers' instructions. You don't need anti-virus software on your Mac and going by other reports on here Avast often seems to figure as a potential cause of problems.

    If you do remove it, restart the Mac and test. If it makes no difference once Avast is removed, you can always re-install it if you feel you need it (even though you don't ).

  • by m4xwl,

    m4xwl m4xwl Sep 17, 2016 2:43 AM in response to Paul_31
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2016 2:43 AM in response to Paul_31

    Many thanks Paul, I have done this and re-run EtreCheck, now showing Excellent and the runtime alone shows the difference! See below.

     

    I had installed Avast after some website managed to put adware in my Mac, and every page I went on suddenly had little links showing against certain words linking to sales websites etc, and that managed to get past the existing OS protection. It stopped that happening, so I will just watch and see if that comes back.

     

    EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)

    Report generated 2016-09-17 10:30:57

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 2:57

    Performance: Excellent

     

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

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

     

    Problem: No problem - just checking

     

    Hardware Information:

        Mac mini (Late 2012)

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

        Mac mini - model: Macmini6,2

        1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core

        4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

        Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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

     

    Video Information:

        Intel HD Graphics 4000

            S236HL 1920 x 1080

     

    System Software:

        OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: less than an hour

     

    Disk Information:

        APPLE HDD HTS541010A9E662 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (608.85 GB free)

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

     

    USB Information:

        Apple, Inc. IR Receiver

        Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

            Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

     

    Thunderbolt Information:

        Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

     

    Gatekeeper:

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    System Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    7 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    157 Apple tasks

        [running]    74 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons:

        [not loaded]    45 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    165 Apple tasks

        [running]    81 Apple tasks

     

    Launch Agents:

        [failed]    com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

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

        [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons:

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-29) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2014-02-26) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents:

        [failed]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-09-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.f-secure.sync.BTCloud.plist (2015-07-31) [Support]

        [failed]    com.lastpass.LastPassHelper.plist (2015-04-14) [Support]

        [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-09-11) [Support]

     

    User Login Items:

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

        Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) [Support]

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-22)

        AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

        AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

        Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) Outdated! Update

        Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-22)

        SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.7 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-25) [Support]

        nplastpass: 3.1.89 - SDK 10.10 (2015-04-14) [Support]

        Silverlight: 5.1.41105.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-12-21) [Support]

        JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-08-23) Check version

     

    User internet Plug-ins:

        WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-07-17) [Support]

        Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]

     

    Safari Extensions:

        LastPass - LastPass - https://lastpass.com (2015-09-04)

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

        Flash Player (2016-06-29) [Support]

        Java (2016-06-22) [Support]

     

    Time Machine:

        Time Machine not configured!

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

             5%    WindowServer

             2%    mds

             2%    kernel_task

             2%    mds_stores

             1%    fontd

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

        562 MB    kernel_task

        233 MB    mds_stores

        213 MB    Safari

        172 MB    Dropbox

        164 MB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

     

    Virtual Memory Information:

        459 MB    Free RAM

        3.54 GB    Used RAM (898 MB Cached)

        0 B    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information:

        Sep 17, 2016, 10:18:30 AM    Self test - passed

        Sep 17, 2016, 09:26:15 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/App Store_2016-09-17-092615_[redacted].crash

            /Applications/App Store.app/Contents/MacOS/App Store

  • by Paul_31,

    Paul_31 Paul_31 Sep 17, 2016 2:51 AM in response to m4xwl
    Level 6 (13,925 points)
    Sep 17, 2016 2:51 AM in response to m4xwl

    You're welcome - glad things have improved.