Mike JVan

Q: iMac mid 2011 speed and Mac OS security

To all: Thanks in advance for reading this and pointing me in the right direction

 

I have an iMac 27 inch mid 2011 with 16 GB ram, using about half of the hard capacity of 1TB and have a 200GB iCloud account with about 180 GB of images. I just recently upgraded to Mac OS Sierra. I have no files stored on the desktop. I have some concerns about how the machine has slowed since I purchased it new in the late summer of 2011. I started using the "Dr Cleaner" app awhile back but using it did not speed up the machine. I have a 100MB internet connection. Btw, I do not run any extensions and use the Safari browser.

 

(1) What procedure should I use to clean up any unnecessary processes or apps that serve me no purpose?

(2) How can I check that my iMac is not infected with Malware, Virii, or Adware? if it is what countermeasures may I take?

(3) It is slowing down due to the increased number of the OS processes running on an older processor? How may I confirm or deny this hypothesis?

 

Once again thanks again for your counsel,

 

Mike Vanhala

Mount Juliet, TN

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Oct 4, 2016 2:32 PM

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Q: iMac mid 2011 speed and Mac OS security

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Oct 4, 2016 3:11 PM in response to Mike JVan
    Level 10 (271,743 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 4, 2016 3:11 PM in response to Mike JVan

    It sounds as though you have never cleaned up your computer properly since its purchase. Buying a third-party cleanup utility is a waste of money as is installing anti-malware software. It may just be time for some Fall cleaning. You will need a backup drive capable of handling the capacity of your internal Hard Disk Drive.

    Install Lion Through Yosemite from Scratch

     

      Be sure you backup your files.

     

    1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the Apple logo appears. Wait for the Utility Menu to appear.
    2. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
    3. After Disk Utility loads select the volume (this is the indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the side list. Click on the Erase tab in Disk Utility's main window.
    4. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Apply button
    5. When the process has completed quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
    6. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

     

    This will install the version of OS X you had installed.

    You can now reinstall any third-party applications from their original media. You may also restore your personal files and data from your backup. If you are satisfied that your computer is running as you would expect it to run, then it is time to upgrade OS X to Sierra. I suggest you do that before you reinstall or restore anything. Before you reinstall any third-party software check for any upgrades for Sierra compatibility. See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps.