Q: Mid 2011 Mac Mini running slow/lots of beachballs/hard drive searching&writing
I have a Mid 2011 Mac Mini that is running slower than a snail's pace. I'm getting frequent beachballs as I type this message. Boot time is very long, and the hard drive is often writing/searching/accessing for several minutes randomly throughout the day.
This seemed to start after I updated to El Capitan 10.11.6. I decided a couple weeks ago to reinstall OS X without doing a complete wipe. It didn't help the situation, so I then proceeded to install the latest beta of macOS 10.12 to see if that helped. Nope. I don't think I have a bad hard drive, either.
I've just run an EtreCheck and copied it below. Any ideas? I'd rather not have to run my computer to the Apple Store. Thanks!
EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)
Report generated 2016-09-19 13:40:01
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 8:54
Performance: Below Average
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Beachballing
Description:
Very slow performance, frequent beachballs for varying lengths of time, hard drive accessing/writing
Mac mini (Mid 2011)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
Mac mini - model: Macmini5,2
1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core
16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
AMD Radeon HD 6630M - VRAM: 256 MB
SyncMaster 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
macOS 10.12 (16A313a) - Time since boot: about 2 hours
Hitachi HTS545050B9A302 disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (57.03 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Seagate BUP BK
USB2.0 External Mass Storage Device
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Lexar USB Flash Drive
Microsoft Microsoft Trackball Optical®
Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Mac App Store and identified developers
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-[redacted]@me.com-SharedSer vices.Agent.plist
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/OSServices.framewo rk/Versions/A/Support/CSConfigDotMacCert -l /Users/jazztrpt43/Library/Logs/CSConfigDotMacCert.log -u jazztrpt43@me.com -t SharedServices -s
One unknown file found. [Check files]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse (8.2 - 2016-09-14) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftMouse.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseBluetooth (8.2 - 2011-07-27) [Support]
[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseUSB (8.2 - 2011-07-27) [Support]
[loaded] com.apple.bluetooth.PacketLogger.plist (2016-08-19) [Support]
[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks
[loaded] 163 Apple tasks
[running] 99 Apple tasks
[not loaded] com.apple.jetsamproperties.Mac.plist (2016-08-25) [Support]
[failed] com.apple.mobile.keybagd.plist (2016-08-05) [Support]
[not loaded] 41 Apple tasks
[loaded] 164 Apple tasks
[running] 99 Apple tasks
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2013-05-06) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (2016-09-07) [Support]
[not loaded] com.makemusic.finale.installer.cleanup.plist (2011-12-05) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2013-05-06) [Support]
[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-[...]@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist (2012-03-05) [Support]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (2016-09-07)
iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
MicrosoftMouseHelper Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Microsoft Mouse.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MicrosoftMouseHelper.app)
FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-18) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-08-30)
Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-18) Outdated! Update
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.0.0.126 - SDK 10.8 (2012-10-01) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-07-20) Check version
Facebook Cleaner - Sonny Fazio - http://sonstermedia.com (2013-05-03)
Ka-Block! - David Graham & Josh Peek - http://kablock.com (2016-08-27)
Flash Player (2016-06-28) [Support]
Flip4Mac WMV (2012-09-14) [Support]
Java (2016-07-20) [Support]
Microsoft Mouse (2012-03-05) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 442.22 GB
Destinations:
Eric [Local]
Total size: 1.00 TB
Total number of backups: 0
Oldest backup: -
Last backup: -
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 1.00 TB < (Disk used 442.22 GB X 3)
5% kernel_task
3% Brother_MFC_7840W(2)
3% DrCleaner
3% WindowServer
2% launchservicesd
1.58 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(7)
1.20 GB kernel_task
180 MB Safari
180 MB mdworker(6)
164 MB Finder
9.56 GB Free RAM
6.44 GB Used RAM (3.65 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used
Sep 19, 2016, 10:59:20 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/cloudphotosd_2016-09-19-105920_[redacted].cras h
/System/Library/CoreServices/cloudphotosd.app/Contents/MacOS/cloudphotosd
Sep 19, 2016, 10:41:15 AM Self test - passed
Sep 19, 2016, 09:45:23 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Mail_2016-09-19-094523_[redacted].hang
/Applications/Mail.app/Contents/MacOS/Mail
Sep 18, 2016, 09:27:08 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.CloudPhotosConfiguration_2016-09-18- 212708_[redacted].crash
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CloudPhotoServices.framework/Versions/A/Frame works/CloudPhotosConfigurationXPC.framework/Versions/A/XPCServices/com.apple.Clo udPhotosConfiguration.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.CloudPhotosConfiguration
Sep 18, 2016, 09:23:41 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/World of Tanks Blitz_2016-09-18-212341_[redacted].crash
/Applications/World of Tanks Blitz.app/Contents/MacOS/World of Tanks Blitz
Sep 18, 2016, 08:11:28 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/cloudphotosd_2016-09-18-201128_[redacted].cras h
Sep 17, 2016, 09:01:46 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/iTunes_2016-09-17-210146_[redacted].hang
/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunes
Mac mini
Posted on Sep 19, 2016 11:51 AM
"Cleaning" apps are scams. 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.
To remove CleanMyMac 3 itself, use its Uninstaller module, followed by these additional steps:
Remove the file ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist
- To navigate to that file, copy and paste the following line into the Finder's Go menu > Go To Folder...
~/Library/LaunchAgents/
- Locate the following file and drag it to the Trash:
com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist
- Then, open (Apple menu) > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.
- Select the item CleanMyMac3 Menu
- Click the [—] (minus) button.
- Restart your Mac.
Beware that reinstalling OS X alone will have no effect on either removing CleanMyMac or reversing the damage it is capable of inflicting upon a system. To recover from the effects of having used it to modify OS X, the additional software you require and the essential files you need, follow the applicable recovery procedure below:
- If you have a backup that you created prior to using CleanMyMac, now is the time to use it. For Time Machine, boot OS X Recovery, and at the Mac OS X Utilities screen, choose Restore from Time Machine Backup. Choose a date preceding the installation of CleanMyMac.
- If you do not have a backup that predates the use of CleanMyMac, create one now. To do that read Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac.
- The recovery procedure will require that you erase the Mac using OS X Recovery, and then create a new User Account whose contents will be empty. You will then be able to use Setup Assistant to migrate your essential documents including photos, music, work products and other essential files.
- To erase and install OS X read How to reinstall OS X on your Mac.
- Follow Step 2 to completely erase that Mac's internal storage: Disk Utility (El Capitan): Erase a volume.
- Then, follow the procedure in Move your content to a new Mac.
- When asked how you want to transfer your information, select Transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.
- Under Select the Information to Transfer, select only your previous User account and do not select "Applications", "Computer and Network Settings" or "Other files and folders". De-select those choices.
- Subsequent to using Setup Assistant, you will need to reinstall the essential software you may require, once again remembering to install software only from their original sources, and omitting all non-essential software.
- "Non-essential software" is a broad category that includes but is not limited to third party "cleaning", "maintenance", and "anti-virus" products.
3% Brother_MFC_7840W(2)
If you were not printing anything at the time that report was generated, there may be a print job stuck in its queue. To address that possibility please read Resolve printer issues on your Mac - Apple Support.
Posted on Sep 19, 2016 10:22 PM