User profile for user: HABS-FAM
HABS-FAM Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Fix Beachball / Pinwheel of Death -or- Replace iMac

Hello Everyone - this is my first post.


Issue:


We see the beachball a lot. Rare for CPU to be heavily taxed (unless rendering home video). EtreCheck has highlighted Major and Minor issues (report within)


Request:


How to fix the beachball issue. If the beachball issue cannot be solved (or significantly reduced), advice on choosing an appropriate replacement.


Typical Usage:


Our late 2012 27" iMac has been a reliable machine where we manage family files, finances and the primary iPhoto/iMovie libraries. The iPhoto and iMovie libraries are about 1TB each so once family files are added in we've almost filled the internal 3TB drive.


Primary Applications Used:


MS Office for family files - no massive spreadsheets.

iPhoto for all photos and videos captured on IOS devices.

iMovie for videos to be edited eg. family holidays, nothing professional.

Parallels containing 1 Microsoft Windows with Office 365 VM.


Current Hardware Overview:


3TB Fusion HDD

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac13,2

Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 3.4 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: 16 GB

Boot ROM Version: 429.0.0.0.0

SMC Version (system): 2.11f16


Replacement Considerations:


  1. MacBook, but may not be suitable due to smaller screen size. Cost of MacBook and External monitor may be more costly than iMac or Mac Mini/Studio with external screen.
  2. iMAC 24" but even with max 2TB storage it would still require external storage to fit all our files.
  3. Mac Mini or Mac Studio + external monitor.


Memory/RAM:


  • Minimum 16GB as we have that now.
  • Weighing merits of 24GB (iMAC) or 32GB (Mac Mini/Studio)


Storage:


  • Likely need 4TB minimum.
  • Note: currently pay for a 2TB iCloud family storage plan.


Option 1:


  • Mac with 256gb or 512gb
  • Store all files on existing 6TB WD NAS on 1GB (wired/Cat5e) home network.

-or-

  • Buy external SSD or HDD connected by USB


Option 2:


  • Mac with 4TB or 8TB internal storage (expensive)


EtreCheck Report:


EtreCheck Major Issues Report




Earlier Mac models

Posted on Jan 29, 2024 8:27 AM

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User profile for user: a brody
a brody
User level: Level 10
85,308 points

Posted on Jan 29, 2024 9:14 AM

The following things from the report suggest some improvements that follow what I've quoted:


> disk1 - ST3000DM008-2DM166 3.00 TB (Mechanical - 7200 RPM)


Find Locations authorized Apple Service Cener could replace you with a 3 or 4 TB internal solid state drive that is cheaper than a new machine.


Shared values

Size: 3.12 TB

Free: 260.71 GB

----

Suggests you really need a minimum of 4 TB Also you should never let the drive become more than 85% full.



Fusion drive -

Aren't true SSDs. only the first 128 GB is SSD, the rest is platter.


A newer model with USB 3 is probably preferable. http://www.macsales.com/ can help you identify which models you can custom build with an internal 4 TB drive. And they sell refurbished Macs that run Catalina. If you get a Mac newer than Catalina, you will need to consider upgrading your software. http://www.dvwarehouse.com/ is a second place where you can get used or refurbished Macs.


Only enable File sharing if sharing with other Macs over your internal network. Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Sharing

If other Macs in the network support your printer over Airprint, and the printer has WiFi built-in Printer sharing is not needed, and slows you down.


You can remove Western Digital software if you aren't using their built-in backup software.

https://freemacsoft.net/ will remove applications that are in your Applications folder with their AppCleaner software.


Same with Blackberry as Western digital. If you don't use it, remove it.


Peerguardian Unknown if you need. If you don't recognize the software but see it in your applications folder remove it with AppCleaner.

Check your backup hard drives. If you don't have both Seagate and Western Digital remove the model you don't have.

Teamviewer is to allow other people on the internet to remote into your machine and give you a helping hand. Remove from the Applications folder with AppCleaner.

Cogeco security. Unless you have a specific reason to be using security software from a company issued perspective, remove it. FIlevault is probably the only security you'll need outside of your own Keychain and Apple Admin software.

Parallels allows you to run Windows on your Mac.

Roxio makes software for optical drive management.

Citrix is frequently used to remote into other office networks.


Many of these other programs are going to take some weeding through. Open a Notes document and print the whole Etrecheck report, and cross out what you don't need or don't know why you have it. And use AppCleaner to remove it. Boot the Mac into safe mode (holding the shift key) when you run AppCleaner to make sure all of the components are gotten.


USB 3 machines such as those from 2015 are far faster on USB.

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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: a brody
a brody
User level: Level 10
85,308 points

Jan 29, 2024 9:14 AM in response to HABS-FAM

The following things from the report suggest some improvements that follow what I've quoted:


> disk1 - ST3000DM008-2DM166 3.00 TB (Mechanical - 7200 RPM)


Find Locations authorized Apple Service Cener could replace you with a 3 or 4 TB internal solid state drive that is cheaper than a new machine.


Shared values

Size: 3.12 TB

Free: 260.71 GB

----

Suggests you really need a minimum of 4 TB Also you should never let the drive become more than 85% full.



Fusion drive -

Aren't true SSDs. only the first 128 GB is SSD, the rest is platter.


A newer model with USB 3 is probably preferable. http://www.macsales.com/ can help you identify which models you can custom build with an internal 4 TB drive. And they sell refurbished Macs that run Catalina. If you get a Mac newer than Catalina, you will need to consider upgrading your software. http://www.dvwarehouse.com/ is a second place where you can get used or refurbished Macs.


Only enable File sharing if sharing with other Macs over your internal network. Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Sharing

If other Macs in the network support your printer over Airprint, and the printer has WiFi built-in Printer sharing is not needed, and slows you down.


You can remove Western Digital software if you aren't using their built-in backup software.

https://freemacsoft.net/ will remove applications that are in your Applications folder with their AppCleaner software.


Same with Blackberry as Western digital. If you don't use it, remove it.


Peerguardian Unknown if you need. If you don't recognize the software but see it in your applications folder remove it with AppCleaner.

Check your backup hard drives. If you don't have both Seagate and Western Digital remove the model you don't have.

Teamviewer is to allow other people on the internet to remote into your machine and give you a helping hand. Remove from the Applications folder with AppCleaner.

Cogeco security. Unless you have a specific reason to be using security software from a company issued perspective, remove it. FIlevault is probably the only security you'll need outside of your own Keychain and Apple Admin software.

Parallels allows you to run Windows on your Mac.

Roxio makes software for optical drive management.

Citrix is frequently used to remote into other office networks.


Many of these other programs are going to take some weeding through. Open a Notes document and print the whole Etrecheck report, and cross out what you don't need or don't know why you have it. And use AppCleaner to remove it. Boot the Mac into safe mode (holding the shift key) when you run AppCleaner to make sure all of the components are gotten.


USB 3 machines such as those from 2015 are far faster on USB.

Reply
User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level 10
250,253 points

Jan 29, 2024 2:24 PM in response to HABS-FAM

Uninstall F-Secure.


Delete these files & restart...


/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.fujitsu.pfu.SshResident.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.fujitsu.pfu.SshSCloudWatch.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.fujitsu.pfu.SshRegister.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist

~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.memeo.Memeod.plist

~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.ARM.***.plist


~ tilde indicates your home folder

Apple hid the Users' Library folders...


Method 1:

1 From the Finder, select the Go menu at top of the screen, and choose Go to Folder.

2 In the window that opens, enter ~/Library, and click Go.

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Fix Beachball / Pinwheel of Death -or- Replace iMac

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