system errors : uid = 0 , services disabled, systemProcess=NULL, failed to read RGEN key, unknownMacnineID

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system errors : uid = 0 , services disabled, systemProcess=NULL, failed to read RGEN key, unknownMacnineID

hi, i've never used this forum before and have searched for answers but that has led me to more confusion. so i guess i'll start by giving some information about my mac, i don't know if i'm including too much or too little information but here goes:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac17,1

Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 4 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 4

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 8 MB

Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled

Memory: 32 GB

Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 M395 2 GB

System Firmware Version: 499.40.2.0.0

OS Loader Version: 540.120.3~22

SMC Version (system): 2.34f3

Serial Number (system): ***

System Software Overview:

System Version: macOS 12.6.2 (21G320)

Kernel Version: Darwin 21.6.0

Boot Volume: Container disk4

Boot Mode: Normal

Computer Name: iMac

User Name: James Branscum (jamesbranscum)

Secure Virtual Memory: Enabled

System Integrity Protection: Enabled

Time since boot: 1:50

i'll try to keep this brief, about a year ago i messed up some permissions in catalina and had to do a new macOS install. the process was tedious and i really didn't know what i was doing other than following some guides i found online. i was trying to stick with catalina because of app compatibility issues and accidentally updated to monterey a couple months ago. finally got through some issues by removing my apps from quarantine and not long after that my computer seemed slow and sluggish compared to usual, and i realize it's getting older but this was strange behavior. WindowServer, opendiredctoryd, launchd, logd, coreaudiod, etc. were all eating tons of CPU and at times spiking to 500% which was causing thermal throttling. i don't know exactly how i got where i am now but somehow my mac has booted to an APFS Startup Snapshot, tried running first aid and not returning any errors. then i ran system diagnostics and get weird things like: uid = 0 , services disabled, systemProcess=NULL, failed to read RGEN key, unknownMacnineID. how do i get my computer acting normal again without having to use a bunch of commands i don't understand, boot in recovery mode, safe mode, run fsck, mount/unmount drives, etc.? or if someone could just help me try to figure out what's up would be bad ***. i know just enough about the inner workings to be dangerous, if you catch my drift. i'm really trying to learn and understand all this stuff but being self taught from the internet is a bit overwhelming on top of me being a ****** teacher. any help would be greatly appreciated. i have etrecheck installed already and including that report along with a screenshots of Disk Utility. thanks!

EtreCheck Report

[Personal Information Edited by Moderator]

iMac 27″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Jan 30, 2023 7:13 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Jan 31, 2023 8:08 AM in response to mucsnarb

Must say openly, Thank you 👍 for being Pro-Active and suppling the Etrecheck Report.

It is not often a User will do this 😀

Initial review of the Report and immediately see the dreaded Application called " CleanMyMac " aka " BrickMyMac "

This specific application does things to the computer that I believe maybe a Major Contributor to the issue it is experiencing now.

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster and comprising the Operating System

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a portion on each sale. What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions

1 - Disk Cleaner

This will include CleanMyMac ,

Read some of the posting and arrive at your own conclusions.

Specific to CleanMyMac

Number 1 below is predicated on the offering Application has already been removed as per Developers Instructions

1 - Some Contributors suggest restarting in Recovery Mode and choosing to Reinstall the Operating System over the existing installation.

This may or may not replace elements of the Entire Operating System including the Home Folder ( User Account ) and replace any corrupted or removed elements of the Operating System and make thing right.

2- Then there are Other Contributors ( like myself ) would suggest from this link Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

For Intel computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Thereafter to start from scratch and install all Required Application directly from the Apple Apps Store or Directly from the Developer.

If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate things back as this will probably Re-Introduce the existing issue that existed when the TM Backup was made

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Feb 2, 2023 2:05 AM in response to mucsnarb

TM Backup will only backup what is in your User Account ( Home Folder )

It will not contain a Full and Working Copy of the Operating System.

To achieve this, have both User Account and Working Copy of the Operating System, we need to explore using a Third Party Cloning Software

I have used for many years the Carbon Copy Cloner software.

There are Others what do similar but have no personal experience with then.

The Important Caveat is the Legacy Clone Function wherein bot the Operating System and the Service Accounts are Cloned to the External Drive

https://bombich.com/kb/ccc6/cloning-macos-system-volumes-apple-software-restore

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Answer 3

mucsnarb Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 31, 2023 4:36 PM in response to Owl-53

thanks for the response, i appreciate your time, i did a lot of research before posting and knew that etrecheck was usually the first thing asked for :) i had read about cleanmymac on here and figured that was coming as well, so i'll start with removing that first. i assumed this was the route i would have to take but thanks for verifying that. i agree with you about not using Startup Assist, as this was how i approached it last time and here we are. my main concern is all my vst instruments, effects, DAW's, utilities, man i get obsessive compulsive about things and have so much software it's honestly ridiculous (326GB of Kontakt instrument data alone) and have so many libraries i often forget what i actually have. and it doesn't stop with music software, i like making digital art and editing photos, photobashing and making AI art, so i won't even begin to go into all that. well hopefully some of the software won't require repurchasing and i'm going to backup what i can. i appreciate your help and the links. thank you!

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Feb 1, 2023 2:00 AM in response to mucsnarb

What follows in Only IMHO.

Any Company that develops and makes any type of Operating System.

If they believed that some type of Utility is needed to Cleanup their Operating System is required, they would have it as part of the Operating System.

Most do not.

That specific function is left to the User or Owner of the machine to be vigilant on what Third Party software is installed and used on the machine.

That said, some Third Party Companies have developed and marketed their Software ( Cleaning Software ) to create a niche for their software and to make money.

What this same software does to the computer - well it appears obvious.

Whatever direction you choose to go, good luck.

Should additional questions arise, do posted back Before rather Afterwards.

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Answer 5

mucsnarb Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 2, 2023 1:53 AM in response to Owl-53

one more quick question, if you don't mind...what is, in your opinion, the best way to backup my files? time machine makes me want to die. trying to figure out the best way to approach it online makes my eyes glaze over and my head start to throb. to me this should be such a simple thing, yet it doesn't seem to be, way too many options in my opinion. i just need quick, fast, reliable. i bought a new 2TB Toshiba and just reading about formatting it was like pulling teeth. i appreciate any advise. thanks again for your time and thoughts!

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Answer 6

mucsnarb Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 18, 2023 5:17 AM in response to mucsnarb

Well I'm on the verge of insanity. I have spent countless hours researching, reading blogs, going back to the same Apple Community questions over and over. I just want to reinstall macOS without any problems. I have wiped my hard drive, repaired the Fusion Drive, reinstalled Monterey at least four times in the last month. On every build I get errors, although it is installing the OS (I have checked and my Mac model 17,1 is compatible with Monterey). I installed using a USB bootable drive because the update kept getting stuck. Also my Fusion Drive isn't "fused" anymore, not sure why there are 8000 volumes.

Some of the errors:

During installation while viewing the log something like, "...allow scripts from external source must be set to true"

Mar 18 06:07:48 iMac mobileassetd[120]: SUPreferenceManager: Connection proxy failure with error:Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 "The connection to service named com.apple.softwareupdated was invalidated: failed at lookup with error 3 - No such process." UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=The connection to service named com.apple.softwareupdated was invalidated: failed at lookup with error 3 - No such process.}

Mar 18 06:08:52 iMac opendirectoryd[59]: [session] ODNodeCreateWithNameAndOptions failed with result 2000

Mar 18 07:57:15 mucsnarbs-iMac Installer Progress[102]: Quitting because there are no phases. There are no connected processes. The UI is not showing.

I am in the process of downloading Etre-check and will include the report shortly. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Answer 7

mucsnarb Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 2, 2023 9:00 PM in response to Owl-53

thanks again so much for the info. i have some reading to do! i appreciate you!

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system errors : uid = 0 , services disabled, systemProcess=NULL, failed to read RGEN key, unknownMacnineID

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