My Mac has become very slow and I would like to know how I can rectify it
Please download and run Etrecheck It is a diagnostic tool that's very useful to us in finding problems. Also it will give us further specs on your Mac. After it runs post the log file here. It will contain no personal information. Allowing full drive access will improve the quality of the report.
To post the log file click on share report and use the Page icon in your reply window.
Hi
Does this help?
GaryEtreCheck version: 6.1.8 (6B056)
Report generated: 2019-12-21 08:04:29
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime: 16:13
Performance: Poor
Problem: Computer is too slow
Major Issues:
Anything that appears on this list needs immediate attention.
Time Machine backup out-of-date - The last Time Machine backup is over 10 days old.
Failing hard drive - This machine has a hard drive that appears to be failing.
Minor Issues:
These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems or opportunities for improvement.
Upgradeable RAM - This machine has upgradeable RAM that would help its performance.
Out of RAM - This machine is running short on RAM and has a mechanical hard drive, reducing the speed of the virtual memory system.
Clean up - There are orphan files that could be removed.
Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed. They appear to be legitimate but should be reviewed.
System modifications - There are a large number of system modifications running in the background.
32-bit Apps - This machine has 32-bits apps will not work on macOS 10.15 “Catalina”.
Hardware Information:
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)
iMac Model: iMac12,1
1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-2400S) CPU: 4-core
4 GB RAM - Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0 - 2 GB DDR3 1333
BANK 1/DIMM0 - 2 GB DDR3 1333
BANK 0/DIMM1 - Empty
BANK 1/DIMM1 - Empty
Video Information:
AMD Radeon HD 6770M - VRAM: 512 MB
iMac 1920 x 1080
Drives:
disk0 - ST3500418AS 500.11 GB (Mechanical - 7200 RPM)
Internal SATA 3 Gigabit Serial ATA
disk0s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB
disk0s2 - Macintosh HD (Journaled HFS+) 499.25 GB (447.31 GB used)
disk0s3 - Recovery HD (Journaled HFS+) [Recovery] 650 MB
disk1 - Generic Flash Disk 8.18 GB
External USB 480 Mbit/s USB
disk1s1 (MS-DOS FAT32) 8.18 GB (299 MB used)
You should post the entire report using the Additional Text icon as explained. It does appear you have a failing hard drive however and that can be most of the cause. You also only have 4GB RAM which is minimal. It could use at least another 4GB.
Etrecheck is reporting a failing hard drive. You can use DriveDx to confirm, it's more robust than disk utility. If it is failing you'll need to replace it, or run from an external hard drive. Post the results of the Drive Dx scan.
And if you plan on keeping it 4 GB of RAM is nothing but slow today, + you'd want at least a 1 TB SSD...
https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/imac-21-5-inch-mid-2011-2.5-ghz/memory
Trash these files & restart...
~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-***@***-SharedServices.Agent.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.ARM.***.plist
~ tilde indicates hidden Home Library.
Apple hid the Users' Library folders...
Method 1:
1 From the Finder, select the Go menu at top of the screen, and choose Go to Folder.
2 In the window that opens, enter ~/Library, and click Go.
Method 2:
1 Go to the Finder (or desktop).
2 Hold the Option key on your keyboard, and click the Go menu at the top of the screen.
3 With the Go menu open, you'll notice that pressing and releasing Option will display or hide the Library choice in this menu.
4 Select Library from the Go menu (while holding down Option) to access the hidden folder.
Method 3:
1 Click anywhere on the desktop so Finder is the name of the foreground app shown at the upper left.
2 Press Command+Shift+H
3 With your home folder open, press Command+J. This the only place you'll see a check box to Show Library Folder. Turn it on.
Method 4: Press ⇧⌘. —the command-shift-period chord—to toggle the display of the hidden files, and the Library folder will then become visible in your home directory. And will become invisible, when you press that chord again.
From now on, your user account Library folder will be visible without having to use special keys or commands to get there.
Please create your own topic and post the Etrecheck report. That way your post will get more attention and you won't create cross-currents here.
What Mac? What version of macOS?
Writing an effective Apple Support Commun… - Apple Community
I have this same issue. Programs are slow to load. Sometimes even a lag when typing.
21 inch iMac, 1 TB HD, 8 GM RAM running Mojave 10.14.6
Hi
It's a 21.5 inch, mid 2011 iMac
MacOS High Sirerra
Processor 2.5 Hc Intel Core i5
Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Many thanks for responding to me.
Gary
You're welcome. You should post an EtreCheck report as macjack explained.
Again, Failing hard drive! You need to replace it, an SSD will make a dramatic improvement in speed. I'd advise a clean install to get rid of all the junk.
slow mac
