Spinning wheel

Question

Spinning wheel

Every time i start up the coloured spinning wheel shows up and just slows or stops my computer

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 21, 2020 5:05 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

padams35

Level 4

3,445 points

Sep 21, 2020 6:15 AM in response to donfromcanning

A common problem with 2012-2019 21.5"/4K iMacs that shipped with the 1TB 5400rpm HDD default storage option. Those drives are notorious for being exactly fast enough to run a clean install of 10.15 and unable to cope with I/O demanding 3rd party applications.

The Fix: Get an external USB 3 SSD and reinstall MacOS onto that.

To check for other issues download and run Etrecheck from either the App Store or the developer's website then post the results here. (It's a long report, so either use Pastebin or the 'additional text' postiong option'.

Reply

Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

143,598 points

Sep 22, 2020 7:15 AM in response to donfromcanning

Well your computer has a Fusion drive but it is also 8 years old which means the Fusion drive is pretty old. I would recommend buying an external USB 3 SSD and clone your internal drive to the SSD using either SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner and then use the SSD as your primary drive.

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 24, 2020 11:55 AM in response to donfromcanning

I appreciate your suggestions as what would help. I have been trying to check the different USB 3 SSD's , but as usual my computer keeps freezing up with the coloured spinning ball. Which drive would you suggest and would work the best with an iMac as some of the reviews I have been able to see are confusing as some are for or against the same drive.

Reply

Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

245,117 points

Sep 24, 2020 2:58 PM in response to donfromcanning

In Sys Prefs>Users & Groups>Login Items, highlight this & click the tiny minus icon below...

Mac Game Store Helper.app

I'd recommend the USB3 version of this...

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/external-drives/OWC-Envoy-Pro

Reply

Answer 5

Sep 25, 2020 1:23 PM in response to BDAqua

I have ordered one of the drives suggested and when it arrives hopefully i will be able to set it up. Let you know how it goes or may have to ask for more help. My children have told me i know enough about computers to be dangerous to them.

Reply

Answer 6

Nov 4, 2020 7:31 AM in response to donfromcanning

The drive arrived in less than two weeks after I ordered it. It was another week before I felt comfortable enough and when my computer did not immediately "beac balling". I down loaded Carbon Copy Cloner, installed the drive and followed the instructions placed my finger on the Enter key, closed my eyes , pressed the key when all was done and the computer came on WOW what a difference with the SSD as the startup drive.. Faster start, could bring up different apps one after the other with no "beach balling" , did not loose anything , which made my wife happy and so far everything has been OK. Do apologize for not getting back sooner but did want to make sure all was ok.. My children say that when I have expert help and follow it, I'm not so computer dangerous. Thank you for your help and advice. And in the future will definitey turn to this community

Reply