Application memory issues

insch Said:

"Application memory issues: I am continually getting the following error message on my MacBook Pro. I am not running many applications and I have 16GB of RAM and have around 100GB of hard drive space remaining. I am using Mac OS 10.14.6 Any thoughts/advice? Thank you"

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Rid of Security Software:

Rid of any and all Security Software installed on your Mac.  Security Software just gets in the way. Use the uninstaller to uninstall it. If you where to just drag it into the trash, cache files will just lay about. Contact the developer of the Security Software for this.

Use MalwareBytes for Mac

This is software that searches for malware/adware. So, scan with it and then remove what is found. Once removed, uninstall MalwareBytes for Mac. Then restart the Mac. This software has been created by Long Time Users of these Forums. So, that makes it reliable for Macs.

Downloads:

1. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac
2. Malwarebytes uninstaller

insch Said:

"Thank you. I ran Malwarebytes but it didn't find anything. I also ran EtreCheck and it found quite a bit including a 'runaway process'. I have attcahed the report below. Any advice on that? I am looking for any security software but not sure I have any."

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You are welcome.

I see two major issues: Security Software and 32-Bit Apps

A. Security Software:

Trusteer is typically for PC users, which is something that gets in the way on a Mac. Lots is running in the background. And this may be one of many. Get the uninstaller here: http://www.trusteer.com/en/support/uninstalling-rapport-mac-os-x.

B. 32-bit Apps:

I see a total of 193 applications that are 32-bit. Note that if you upgrade to Mojave, only 64-bit Applications are operable on it. So, of those 193 apps, see if you can contact the developer requesting 64-bit installation version. Why so many applications?

NOTE:

Install Mojave Anew:

Are they all needed? As a workaround to troubleshooting 193 Applications, just install the Mac with Mojave anew. Then, fiddle with the applications' compatibility. Here is what you would do:

1. Backup: your Mac with Time Machine backup
2. Erase: your hard drive
3. Format: your hard drive with APFS Format
4. Install: macOS X 10.15 Mojave
5. Transfer: over apps and files from the Time Machine backup, using Migration Assistant

You get this message for 2 reasons

1. You are running out of file system storage so macOS cannot create swapfiles.
   1. This is a possibility on your system because you do not have much free space on your file system.
2. If you have an application (or several applications) which are requesting excessive virtual memory address space.
   1. A process that requests virtual memory address space requires the macOS kernel_task to create virtual memory page tables to keep track of what address space each process is using.
   2. If a process (or set of processes) requests too much virtual memory, the macOS kernel_task virtual memory page tables becomes so large that macOS would have to take all of RAM to manage the page tables and not have any left over for the applications. Then a threshold is reached, macOS issue the "Your System has run out of Applications Memory"

NOTE: It does not need to be the applications listed in the dialog box, as the guilty party could be a background launch agent, launch daemon, or other tasks running in the background.

I see from the EtreCheck you are running Avid, so I assume you are handling very large production files. Your problem could be either lack of file system storage, or using too much virtual memory.

I look at whether you are using multiple similar large data set apps concurrently each processing very large data sets. They could be combined asking for excessive virtual memory address space. EtreCheck says your RAM cannot be upgraded, so you have to live with what you have.

And also look at whether you can free up some storage on your boot drive, as it could also be you are just running out of storage for swapfiles.

Finally, see if you can reduce the number of current large memory consuming apps you are running at the same time.

I have 123GB free - I would have thought that would be enough? I have

noticed this figure jumping around a lot though which seems very strange

- it's now reading 85GB! Why would that happen?

Paging and swapping large datasets to disk, requiring additional swap space.

While I think this location will change in Catalina, you can look in

Finder -> Go -> Go to folder -> /var/vm

and you should see:

sleepimage  swapfile0  swapfile1  swapfile2  swapfile3  swapfile4  swapfile5

The sleepimage is memory written to disk when you Mac is put to sleep. If it has been put to sleep, you may not have one.

Swapfiles are created as needed, and if all the space in one is no longer being used, it may be deleted.

insch Said:

"I think re-installing Mojave could be good at some point."

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Just note that it is Catalina. Not Mojave. I typed and highlighted the incorrect name.

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Partitioning the Disk:

"[...]I am very aware of the 32 bit issue - that is why I have delayed my Mac OS update from Mojave. I'm sure I can let go of some of those 193 - they have built up over the years - but one I'd rather not lose is Adobe Creative Suite.[...]"

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With the macOS-mistype put aside, contact Adobe Acrobat, and request the installer you need. Also, with so many apps being of concern here, you could partition the disk and just reboot logging in to the Mojave partition, to use these apps. You would need user permission to the disc to perform that.

insch Said:

”I'm sure I can get a copy of Adobe Acrobat working but it's Creative Suite as a whole I won't be able to use - Photoshop, InDesign etc. [...]Partitioning my drive for the few 32 bit apps I will need to use going forward may be the way to go.“

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Typos:

I asked for the modification, to Acrobat Create Suite — the moderator didn’t let it go trough go through — the same with the macOS version name. It’s beyond my call.

Partitioning:

Partitioning seems the most ideological way to go.

Sorry but 32 bit applications do run on Mojave, it’s Catalina that will only run 64 bit apps