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iMac slowed down massive after small Update to 10.15.7

Sorry for my bad english in advance!

My iMac 27 (12 GB ram - Model: End of 2013) is suddenly super slow.

I think after a small update to 10.15.7 - but I don't really know.

(I had Catalina for a while and it was all good)


Everything is super slow: Booting, starting Programms or Files (Videos etc.)

Sometimes starting "things" take 10sec or so....


I tried safe mode (with Shift at Boot). But it was also slow.

I tried checking the hard drive with the disc utility (after Boot and CMD-R): No errors were found. Did not help either.


It would be very kind if someone can give me some tipps.

I append an EtreCheck Log.


Perhaps I should try a reinstall the mac at the weekend and restore a backup from Time Machine?

But if the last update is the fault - perhaps it would not work to speed things up again.


Thank you in advance for your help.

Uwe

EtreCheckPro version: 6.3.5 (6D022) Report generated: 2020-11-18 17:40:06 Download EtreCheckPro from https://etrecheck.com Runtime: 6:40 Performance: Good Problem: Computer is too slow Description: Booting the mac, or starting apps is super slow. Even working in Finder or starting a video. Even in Safemode everything is slow. Checking the Harddrives with Disc Utility (CMD+R at start) found no er rors. Major Issues: None Minor Issues: These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems or opportunities for improvement. Time Machine auto backup disabled - Time Machine auto backups are disabled. Heavy RAM usage - Apps are using a large amount of RAM. Small backup drive - Time Machine backup drive is too small. Apps crashing - There have been numerous app crashes. Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed. Apple has said that unsigned software will not run by default in a future version of the operating system. 32-bit Apps - This computer has 32-bits apps will not work on current versions of the operating system. Kernel extensions present - This computer has kernel extensions that may not work in the future. Hardware Information: iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) iMac Model: iMac14,2 3,2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 (i5-4570) CPU: 4-core 12 RAM - Upgradeable BANK 0/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1600 BANK 1/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1600 BANK 0/DIMM1 - 2 GB DDR3 1600 BANK 1/DIMM1 - 2 GB DDR3 1600 Video Information: NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M - VRAM: 1 GB iMac 2560 x 1440 Drives: disk0 - APPLE SSD SD0128F 121.33 GB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes) Internal PCI 5.0 GT/s x2 Serial ATA disk0s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB disk0s2 [APFS Fusion Drive] 121.12 GB disk2 [APFS Virtual drive] 3.12 TB (Shared by 5 volumes) disk2s1 - M******************n (APFS) [APFS Virtual drive] (Shared - 1.72 TB used) disk2s2 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (Shared - 84 MB used) disk2s3 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (Shared - 529 MB used) disk2s4 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (Shared - 3.92 GB used) disk2s5 - Macintosh HD (APFS) (Shared - 11.33 GB used) disk1 - APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 3.00 TB (Mechanical - 7200 RPM) Internal SATA 6 Gigabit Serial ATA disk1s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB disk1s2 [APFS Fusion Drive] 3.00 TB disk2 [APFS Virtual drive] 3.12 TB (Shared by 5 volumes) disk2s1 - M******************n (APFS) [APFS Virtual drive] (Shared - 1.72 TB used) disk2s2 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (Shared - 84 MB used) disk2s3 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (Shared - 529 MB used) disk2s4 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (Shared - 3.92 GB used) disk2s5 - Macintosh HD (APFS) (Shared - 11.33 GB used) disk3 - WD Elements 10B8 2.00 TB External USB 5 Gbit/s USB disk3s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB disk3s2 - T********p (Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled)) 2.00 TB (1.84 TB used) Mounted Volumes: disk2s1 - M******************n [APFS Virtual drive] 3.12 TB (Shared - 1.72 TB used, 1.41 TB available, 1.38 TB free) APFS Mount point: /System/Volumes/Data disk2s3 - Recovery [Recovery] 3.12 TB (Shared - 529 MB used, 1.38 TB free) APFS Mount point: /Volumes/Recovery disk2s4 - VM [APFS VM] 3.12 TB (Shared - 3.92 GB used, 1.38 TB free) APFS Mount point: /private/var/vm disk2s5 - Macintosh HD 3.12 TB (Shared - 11.33 GB used, 1.41 TB available, 1.38 TB free) APFS Mount point: / Read-only: Yes disk3s2 - T********p 2.00 TB (1.84 TB used, 163.58 GB free) Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) Mount point: /Volumes/T********p Network: Interface en0: Ethernet Interface en1: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Interface en4: Bluetooth PAN Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge iCloud Quota: 963 MB available System Software: macOS Catalina 10.15.7 (19H15) Time since boot: About 3 days Security: Gatekeeper: App Store and identified developers System Integrity Protection: Enabled Antivirus software: Apple Unsigned Files: Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Executable: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/UWA/UpdaterStartupUtility -mode=scheduled Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Executable: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/UWA/UpdaterStartupUtility -mode=logon Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.amazon.music.plist Executable: /Applications/Amazon Music.app/Contents/MacOS/Amazon Music Helper Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.virtualbox.startup.plist Executable: /Library/Application Support/VirtualBox/LaunchDaemons/VirtualBoxStartup.sh restart Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK Running app: /Applications/Easy Move+Resize.app/Contents/MacOS/Easy Move+Resize Login Item: /Applications/Easy Move+Resize.app Login Item: ~/Desktop/Backup_oCloud.app Plugin: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Silverlight.plugin Plugin: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101749.plugin Apps: 26 32-bit Applications: 26 32-bit apps Kernel Extensions: /Library/Application Support/VirtualBox [Loaded] VBoxDrv.kext (6.1.4) [Loaded] VBoxNetAdp.kext (6.1.4) [Loaded] VBoxNetFlt.kext (6.1.4) [Loaded] VBoxUSB.kext (6.1.4) /Library/Extensions [Loaded] Soundflower.kext (2.0b2 - SDK 10.10) System Launch Agents: [Not Loaded] 16 Apple tasks [Loaded] 160 Apple tasks [Running] 135 Apple tasks [Other] 2 Apple tasks System Launch Daemons: [Not Loaded] 35 Apple tasks [Loaded] 170 Apple tasks [Running] 132 Apple tasks [Other] One Apple task Launch Agents: [Not Loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (? ffb65062 - installed 2018-12-03) [Other] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a23d420d.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-11-04) [Loaded] com.adobe.ElementsAutoCreator-18.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-02-15) [Running] com.adobe.GC.AGM.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-07-10) [Not Loaded] com.adobe.GC.Invoker-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-07-10) [Loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2020-10-20) [Loaded] com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2020-10-20) [Loaded] de.devolo.networkservice.notify.plist (devolo AG - installed 2020-09-25) Launch Daemons: [Loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-09-25) [Loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-09-25) [Loaded] com.adobe.acc.installer.v2.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-03-28) [Loaded] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-07-10) [Loaded] com.apple.installer.osmessagetracing.plist (Apple - installed 2019-09-19) [Loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2020-10-20) [Running] de.devolo.networkservice.plist (devolo AG - installed 2020-09-25) [Not Loaded] org.virtualbox.startup.plist (? 700b9385 - installed 2020-04-02) User Launch Agents: [Other] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (? 0 - installed 2018-06-25) [Not Loaded] com.adobe.GC.Invoker-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-07-10) [Running] com.amazon.music.plist (? 0 - installed 2017-04-04) [Running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (Spotify - installed 2017-05-05) [Not Loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist (Oracle America, Inc. - installed 2020-04-02) User Login Items: [Not Loaded] coca-helper (App Store - installed 2015-12-22) Modern Login Item /Applications/Coca.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/coca-helper.app [Loaded] DeepL Launcher (Linguee GmbH - installed 2020-11-08) Modern Login Item /Applications/DeepL.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/DeepL Launcher.app [Running] Easy Move+Resize (? - installed 2016-02-08) Application /Applications/Easy Move+Resize.app [Running] Flycut (App Store - installed 2020-02-10) Application /Applications/Flycut.app [Not Loaded] FlycutHelper (App Store - installed 2020-02-10) Modern Login Item /Applications/Flycut.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/FlycutHelper.app [Running] Magnet (App Store - installed 2020-11-13) Application /Applications/Magnet.app [Running] Telephone (App Store - installed 2020-11-02) Application /Applications/Telephone.app [Not Loaded] PhotoStreamAgent (App Store - installed 2015-03-21) Modern Login Item /Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/PhotoStreamAgent.app [Running] SpeechSynthesisServer (Apple - installed 2020-09-26) Application /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app [Loaded] Backup_oCloud (? - installed 2017-01-04) Application ~/Desktop/Backup_oCloud.app Internet Plug-ins: Silverlight: 5.1.50428.0 (? - installed 2016-08-10) AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 17.012.20098 (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-11-04) AdobePDFViewer: 20.013.20064 (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2020-11-04) AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101749: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 (? - installed 2014-08-10) Safari Extensions: Dynamo (App Store - installed 2020-09-18) Ka-Block! (App Store - installed 2020-06-24) Save to Pocket (App Store - installed 2019-11-13) Backup: Skip System Files: No Mobile backups: No Auto backup: No Volumes being backed up: Macintosh HD: Disk size: 3.12 TB - Disk used: 1.75 TB Destinations: B*****o [Local] (Last used) Total size: 2.00 TB Total number of backups: 41 Oldest backup: 2020-08-09 15:40:04 Last backup: 2020-11-12 21:36:48 One local snapshot Oldest local snapshot: 2020-11-12 21:32:08 Last local snapshot: 2020-11-12 21:32:08 Performance: System Load: 2.09 (1 min ago) 1.58 (5 min ago) 1.46 (15 min ago) Nominal I/O speed: 0.14 MB/s File system: 27.07 seconds Write speed: 108 MB/s Read speed: 418 MB/s CPU Usage Snapshot: Type Overall System: 4 % User: 7 % Idle: 89 % Top Processes Snapshot by CPU: Process (count) CPU (Source - Location) system_profiler (2) 54.46 % (Apple) trustd (5) 20.02 % (Apple) WindowServer 7.12 % (Apple) EtreCheckPro 5.32 % (Etresoft, Inc.) kernel_task 3.60 % (Apple) Top Processes Snapshot by Memory: Process (count) RAM usage (Source - Location) com.apple.WebKit.WebContent (16) 3.07 GB (Apple) system_profiler (2) 632 MB (Apple) EtreCheckPro 548 MB (Etresoft, Inc.) MTLCompilerService (44) 480 MB (Apple) Safari 282 MB (Apple) Top Processes Snapshot by Network Use: Process (count) Input / Output (Source - Location) mDNSResponder 34 MB / 1 MB (Apple) netbiosd 2 MB / 22 KB (Apple) apsd 56 KB / 264 KB (Apple) Mail 257 KB / 38 KB (Apple) cloudd 8 KB / 3 KB (Apple) Top Processes Snapshot by Energy Use: Process (count) Energy (0-100) (Source - Location) WindowServer 4 (Apple) Telephone 1 (App Store) mds 0 (Apple) fseventsd 0 (Apple) AppleSpell 0 (Apple) Virtual Memory Information: Physical RAM: 12 GB Free RAM: 878 MB Used RAM: 9.42 GB Cached files: 1.72 GB Available RAM: 2.58 GB Swap Used: 82 MB Software Installs (past 30 days): Install Date Name (Version) 2020-10-21 JDK 15.0.1 (15.0.1.0.) 2020-10-22 Mini Motorways (1.2.2) 2020-10-22 PS Remote Play (4.0.0) 2020-10-31 No Way Home (1.2.2) 2020-11-02 Telefon (1.5.2) 2020-11-04 ARMDC Agent Installer (1.0.0) 2020-11-04 Inmost (0.994) 2020-11-04 Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (20.013.20064) (20.013.20064) 2020-11-05 Pinball Wizard (1.0.16) 2020-11-05 Skate City (2.2) 2020-11-06 Agent Intercept (2.0) 2020-11-08 Ergänzungsupdate macOS Catalina 10.15.7 2020-11-08 Gatekeeper Compatibility Data (1.0) 2020-11-11 Mobilgerät (1.0.0.0) 2020-11-13 Magnet (2.5.0) 2020-11-13 Numbers (10.0) 2020-11-13 Exit the Gungeon (2.1.0) 2020-11-13 iMovie (10.2.1) 2020-11-13 XProtectPlistConfigData (2135) 2020-11-13 MRTConfigData (1.72) 2020-11-13 Safari (14.0.1) 2020-11-14 Xcode (12.2) 2020-11-14 Pages (10.0) 2020-11-14 Keynote (10.0) Diagnostics Information (past 7-30 days): 2020-11-17 23:20:47 logd Crash (7 times) Executable: /usr/libexec/logd Details: dyld3 mode 2020-11-15 16:34:27 Adobe Elements 2020 Organizer.app High CPU Use Executable: /Applications/Adobe Elements 2020 Organizer.app 2020-11-15 15:37:59 Sonos S1 Controller.app Hang Executable: /Applications/Sonos S1 Controller.app 2020-11-13 15:12:12 installd High CPU Use Executable: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/PackageKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/installd 2020-11-13 13:38:05 RemotePlay.app Crash Executable: /Applications/RemotePlay.app Details: abort() called terminating with uncaught exception of type std::__1::system_error: mu tex lock failed: Invalid argument 2020-11-12 17:13:06 PTPCamera.app Crash Executable: /System/Library/Image Capture/Devices/PTPCamera.app Details: dyld3 mode End of report


iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 18, 2020 9:27 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 18, 2020 10:14 AM

Thank you for posting the EtreCheck file. That is a big help. Someone else may have some further suggestions to offer, but here are my comments.You have only 12GB of RAM installed and you are running Catalina, which should have a minimum of 16 GB RAM. I would upgrade your RAM to 32 GB since you appear to use a number of RAM intensive apps. It is important to only get RAM from a reliable source. We recommend crucial.com or mac sales.com. Otherwise it often does not work. You also have an internal slower mechanical hard drive which is slower than an SSD. Additionally, there are some things you can do which will help. I hope the following is helpful to you in dealing with a slow computer. Often times there is a specific cause for slowness and other times any of the following actions may be helpful. They are “maintenance” steps which are often ignored by many people.

·      It is important to occasionally restart a Mac. Ideally, once a week or more often. This does some system cleaning.

·      Regularly clearing the history of your browsers can help as all the data is stored in RAM. Clearing frees up RAM for system use.

·      Some people seldom empty their trash. If you haven’t, then do so. Also empty your email trash.

·      Some programs use a lot of RAM. (Like many Adobe apps and games.) When using them, close any other apps not being used. This step is important.

·      Doing a restart in the Safe Mode can clear a number of problems. This is done by holding down the Shift key at start up. This process can take up to ten minutes while the computer is doing its maintenance and cleans the cache. You may then restart normally.

·      It is also a good idea to periodically run the Disk Utility app. If it reports some issues, then rerun it repeatedly as needed until the final report is ok.

·      On some computers such as yours the problem is simply that there is not enough RAM installed for RAM hungry programs that are being used. fortunately, you can upgrade your RAM. Be sure to order it is module sets.

I hope these suggestions are helpful and enable you to speed up your computer somewhat.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 18, 2020 10:14 AM in response to uwenet

Thank you for posting the EtreCheck file. That is a big help. Someone else may have some further suggestions to offer, but here are my comments.You have only 12GB of RAM installed and you are running Catalina, which should have a minimum of 16 GB RAM. I would upgrade your RAM to 32 GB since you appear to use a number of RAM intensive apps. It is important to only get RAM from a reliable source. We recommend crucial.com or mac sales.com. Otherwise it often does not work. You also have an internal slower mechanical hard drive which is slower than an SSD. Additionally, there are some things you can do which will help. I hope the following is helpful to you in dealing with a slow computer. Often times there is a specific cause for slowness and other times any of the following actions may be helpful. They are “maintenance” steps which are often ignored by many people.

·      It is important to occasionally restart a Mac. Ideally, once a week or more often. This does some system cleaning.

·      Regularly clearing the history of your browsers can help as all the data is stored in RAM. Clearing frees up RAM for system use.

·      Some people seldom empty their trash. If you haven’t, then do so. Also empty your email trash.

·      Some programs use a lot of RAM. (Like many Adobe apps and games.) When using them, close any other apps not being used. This step is important.

·      Doing a restart in the Safe Mode can clear a number of problems. This is done by holding down the Shift key at start up. This process can take up to ten minutes while the computer is doing its maintenance and cleans the cache. You may then restart normally.

·      It is also a good idea to periodically run the Disk Utility app. If it reports some issues, then rerun it repeatedly as needed until the final report is ok.

·      On some computers such as yours the problem is simply that there is not enough RAM installed for RAM hungry programs that are being used. fortunately, you can upgrade your RAM. Be sure to order it is module sets.

I hope these suggestions are helpful and enable you to speed up your computer somewhat.

Reply

Nov 18, 2020 12:57 PM in response to Ronasara

Thank you for your suggestions.


More memory would, of course will be better. And you're right I sometimes close the other apps before I work i.e. with Adobe Premiere because of the low memory.


From time to time I did a reboot, and after the problems occur I did a restart in Safe Mode and checked the harddrive (Fusion Drive) with the Disc Utility. Nothing changed after this.


And some weeks ago, also with Catalina (10.15.6 or so?) everything was fine.

And suddenly everything is much slower than before. That can not be only because of the RAM.


Do you think a reinstall with backup from Time Machine could help?

Is the macOS after a reinstall and import from the backup cleaner?

Reply

Nov 20, 2020 5:34 AM in response to Ronasara

It's weekend and time for the reinstall!


I never did a (new) installation of my mac.


Should I delete the harddrives (2 Partitions) with Disk Utility before I reinstall macOS Catalina.

Are there any tips wich options I should use for the reinstall and how is the best way to backup from time machine?


Reply

Nov 21, 2020 12:06 AM in response to uwenet

I did a reinstall, after Booting and with CMD-R. But without deleting the hard-drive.

Everything works as before, but also as slow as before. Starting up e-mail i.e. takes about 15sec.

What's funny, only the first start of a program is always slow - then I can work nearly normally with the program.


And I see in the activity that there is still free memory available and it is not "swapping memory to the hd".

The same with the CPU: 90% inactive - but programs starting slow?


I think deleting the hard-drive and reinstalling macOS will not improve the situation.


Does someone has further ideas?



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Nov 30, 2020 8:33 AM in response to Ronasara

After reinstalling, it did not change anything.

I finally bought RAM end extended from 12 to 24 GB of RAM.

I can't believe it - my MAC is running fast again!!


What's really curious - It took a while till the speed was there again!

After the first boot with the new RAM installed - the 24GB showed up in About Mac, but was still slow.

The next day (I always put my Mac in sleep mode) when I used it again, probably it was fast again.


Thanks for you help

Uwe

Reply

Nov 30, 2020 9:58 AM in response to uwenet

As I understand it, often times when a new operating system is installed, there is internal work that must be completed and this often takes a day or so to complete. During that time the Mac will be slower, but this is a temporary situation. So, your situation was not all that unusual.

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iMac slowed down massive after small Update to 10.15.7

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