If Kernel task suddenly takes up CPU processes due to the Mac mini overheating and making the fan work overtime, how can you prevent this? This activity makes the Mac mini lag, especially the mouse, it hangs up for a second or two then works then hangs up again in cycles.
BobLakeBob wrote:
The security and Mac OS updates are disabled but are actually up to date. I manually update them.
TheLittles is spot-on, you need to completely uninstall Norton.
Other than that, 8GB of RAM is a bare minimum and running less (User App. Process) at the same time would help.
The next time it acted hot and/or the fan kicked up, I would look at the CPU usage with Activity Monitor.
Sounds like a run away or failed Process is causing high CPU usage, which is causing the CPU to heat up, which is then causing the fan to speed up in order to keep the CPU from overheating.
The first thing to do, is to figure out which Process is run away or failed.
To check you can use Activity Monitor, as per > Activity Monitor User Guide for Mac - Apple Support
Or better yet, run EtreCheck on the Mac Mini and post back here with the Report.
Apparently, Apple agreed with me that my original suggestion could be dangerous. The community hosts have edited my reply to remove that information. That’s a good thing though. This is a difficult situation without any easy way out.
If I recall correctly, you did post another EtreCheck report in reply and the Norton system extension was still listed. So in addition to that suggestion from the Norton support forums being dangerous, it is also ineffective.
Here is the only safe, effective way to remove an orphan system extension:
1) Back up your computer with Time Machine;
2) Boot into the Recovery volume (see About macOS Recovery - Apple Support);
3) Use Disk Utility to erase your disk (see How to erase a disk for Mac - Apple Support);
4) Reinstall the operating system (see How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support);
5) Restore from your Time Machine backup (see Restore your Mac from a backup - Apple Support);
6) When you configure the restore, you have to make sure to restore only your user account files. Do NOT select Applications, Other files and folders, or Computer and Network settings.; and
7) After the restore, manually reinstall only the software you really need.
That’s a fair amount of work. That’s why I didn’t suggest it in the first place. However, the only way to uninstall the new System Extensions that Apple introduced in macOS Catalina is to drag the containing app to the trash. If you try to use and uninstaller or an “app zapper” on these files, you will be left with a low-level system modification, still running, but running out of control. Apple is now warning people that kernel extensions are being deprecated. We can expect to see lots more system extensions in the future. Uninstalling was always a can-o-worms before, and it is getting worse.
I deleted Paragon NTFS Mac, reinstalled Mac Firewall, cleaned trash.
Thank you very much for all your assistance. After having done all of the previous recommendations, it seems that my problem with the mouse lagging when there is a high cpu usage of the kernel_task has dissipated or disappeared.
After the EtreCheck , I reinstalled the Mac Firewall. Earlier last week I removed the Norton Security App because I thought that it was causing the problem.
Thank you very much for your recommendations/suggestions. I have uninstalled Norton Security but maintained Norton Safe Web Plus for its Password manager features. I am still looking for a reliable replacement to Norton's Password manager since I have greatly relied on this for several years on my PC and on my Mac.
The Malware byte reported not threats not infections. Thanks.
The SIP status is enabled (ever since). Thanks.
You mentioned that my 8GB of RAM - much is being used. Doest that mean I have to lessen my Apps that are open simultaneously?
I personally use Dashlane. I really like it. https://dashlane.com
You can follow this Dashlane article to help you get started:
https://support.dashlane.com/hc/en-us/articles/202625132-How-to-import-passwords-in-a-CSV-file
The security and Mac OS updates are disabled but are actually up to date. I manually update them.
Correction - The Malware byte reported no threats nor infections. Thanks. (auto-spell I guess).
BobLakeBob Said:
"how to control kernel task If Kernel task suddenly takes up CPU processes due to the Mac mini overheating and making the fan work overtime, how can you prevent this? This activity makes the Mac mini lag, especially the mouse, it hangs up for a second or two then works then hangs up again in cycles."
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Seems Malware is Installed:
8GB of RAM - Much is being used - and as things are running, RAM places items aside (i.e. caches). Only 222MB remains usable.
Uninstall Norton. It is likely running in the background, causing overheating. Use the uninstaller - get it directly from the Developer, as getting it elsewhere may install Malware or Spyware.
Scan your Mac with Malwarebytes for Mac:
Once uninstalled, on your Mac, try ridding of transferred items that may have transferred over once plugged in - see where things go from there. Malwarebytes searches for malware(short for (malicious software) and spyware. Those make your Mac act in a mislead manor. So scan with it, and remove what is found from the quarantine. It is created by longtime users of these forums making it the only reliable Security Software for a Mac.
Downloads:
See if SIP (System Integrity Protection) is Enabled:
csrutil status
5. Look: for this result:
System Integrity Protection status: enabled.
If it is ended with "disabled." instead of "enabled.", then you need to enable it.
Your kernel_task usage is more or less fine. Sometimes kernel_task will jump to 109% for a short time when it makes local snapshots, but this is normal. If you are having serious hardware problems, kernel_task will jump to 400-1200% CPU and stay there. When this happens, it is attempting to throttle the CPU to keep the hardware from being permanently damaged.
At 32%, your kernel_task usage it still a little bit high. I think this may be due to your Symantec/Norton antivirus. It is still partially installed. You still have some Norton Safari Extensions installed and a login item. More importantly, you still have a low-level system extension installed and running. And since this is running without the rest of Norton there to control it, it is running rogue. No one, including Symantec has any idea of what it is doing.
[Edited by Moderator]
BobLakeBob Said:
"how to control kernel task: Thank you very much for your recommendations/suggestions.[...]"
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You are welcome.
Answers in Order of your Questions:
how to control kernel task