Slow Mac - did an EtreCheck and keen for input!

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Slow Mac - did an EtreCheck and keen for input!

I'm trying to fix my 2013 iMac, it's so slow it's a pain to use at all. I regularly clean desktop and files and cache, and there's a huge amount of free space on the hard drive (711GB out of 1TB).

We ran EtreCheck for a report. Hoping to post it here for some input - looks like the hard drive is failing according to the report, but wanted to get the Apple Community's input before spending a chunk of money!

Since purchasing back in 2013 we've never taken it anywhere to get looked at - bit hard as we're in a rural community and there's no local apple dealer or repair person.

Thank you in advance for your time :)

~ Angie

EtreCheck report

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 10, 2021 1:54 AM

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Answer 1

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Jack-19

Level 8

46,008 points

Jul 10, 2021 2:06 AM in response to angieno1

The reason your iMac is slow is because the hard drive is failing. It is also a slower hard drive model, so that doesn't help.

Please backup all data ASAP!

Your hard drive performance scores:

File system: 161.74 seconds (timed out)

Write speed: 26 MB/s

Read speed: 40 MB/s

These scores are very poor and indicate a failing drive. Since your Mac is vintage and older, Apple most likely won't service it, even if you pay. What you can do to fix this is to run the Mac and macOS from an external SSD. Not only will it fix your issue, since you'll be running from a non-failing disk, but it will also make the computer faster than it's ever been, again, since you'd be running from an SSD (externally). For more info, instructions, and what external SSD to buy, please read: How to Setup and Use an External SSD as y… - Apple Community.

-Jack

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Slow Mac - did an EtreCheck and keen for input!

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