Why is Sonoma so slow to start up?

After upgrading to Sonoma from Ventura I find the start up time on my 2019 Intel iMac very slow. From turning on to complete desktop function it takes about 7 minutes. Surely this cannot be right. I have waited for several days to let things settle but it is very frustrating. Is there anything I can do?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 14.0

Posted on Oct 26, 2023 4:21 AM

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24 replies

Oct 28, 2023 7:44 AM in response to MiqsPix

Welcome


Should to decide and not suggesting it will Solve the Speed issue.


It will make a clean installation and thereby remove the AV Software etc. already mention earlier


This method will WIPE ALL Data and there is No DATA Recovery - Period.


>> Only works on Intel Based Apple Computer <<


To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer


The Bootable Installer can Only be performed on an Apple Computer 


This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer.


Example : Bootable Installer of Sonoma would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run Sonoma.


1 - Shutdown computer and disconnect all external drive Except the newly created Bootable Installer.


2- Restart and immediately hold the OPTION key until the Startup Manager appears and choose the USB Drive. 


3 - It will present options >> Disk Utilities >> View >> View ALL attached Drives. 


4 - Choose the Upper Most Drive ( not the volumes indented and list below ).


5 - The drive normally is called Apple Media or Apple SSD - that is the drive to Erase and format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map.  


6 - Once that is done >> backup out of Disk Utilities and choose install macOS. 


7 - Follow the prompts and it may automatically reboot several time. 


8 - Upon a final reboot - Setup Assist will present with the newer version of macOS.


9 - Would suggest Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.


10 - Best to only install new applications etc Directly from the Developer or the Apple Apps Store


11 - Leaving out the AV and Disk Cleaner Applications for reasons already mentioned

Oct 28, 2023 7:46 AM in response to MiqsPix

Thank you for the advice. In anticipation of your answer I had already uninstalled Malwerbytes and Dr Cleaner.

What about Avira?

You need to gut all of the garbageware you have installed and test.

It may be worth a complete nuke and pave, test, then install only what you truly need.


I can't remember which OS caused problems with the Fusion Drives, might have been Ventura, and this might be the same issue. If that is the case, cleaning up all the garbage won't solve anything. It was quite a few updates before they finally made it work. A lot of people bought external SSDs and booted from those.

Did you not suffer similarly with Ventura or did you not upgrade until later after they fixed it.

Why is Sonoma so slow to start up?

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