iMac: Slow start-up, Magic Mouse, and Dock issues

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allenz Author

Level 1

10 points

iMac: Slow start-up, Magic Mouse, and Dock issues

iMacProblems. Slow start-up. Magic mouse problems and Bouncing dock

iMac 27″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Feb 5, 2026 4:53 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

91,924 points

Feb 5, 2026 8:13 AM in response to allenz

Your iMac is over burdened with third-party App's, Extensions, Blockers and other Junk.

What you need to do is sort your valuables into one pile, junk everything else and start over.

To do that:

1) Copy all of your important data (pictures, document, music, movies) onto an external drive.

2) Erase the iMac as per > Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

3) Reinstall and update the macOS as per > How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

4) Then copy all of your (pictures, document, music, movies) back into the iMac.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

103,507 points

Feb 6, 2026 2:06 AM in response to den.thed

den.thed wrote:

Your iMac is over burdened with third-party App's, Extensions, Blockers and other Junk.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/88aa33a0-e966-4a0b-acd0-0a6974f0bda0

What you need to do is sort your valuables into one pile, junk everything else and start over.

To do that:

1) Copy all of your important data (pictures, document, music, movies) onto an external drive.

2) Erase the iMac as per > Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

3) Reinstall and update the macOS as per > How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

4) Then copy all of your (pictures, document, music, movies) back into the iMac.

👍

🦉-53

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Answer 3

allenz Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 5, 2026 5:07 AM in response to allenz

From an earlier discussion back in November 25. iMac 2019 experiencing slow startup and app issues

I'm having big problems lately.

Items in the dock keep bouncing for a long time before opening.

So I tried to restart my iMac 2019 (sequoia 15.7.2). For a long time now re-starting my iMac takes 30 minutes or longer.

The bouncing problem has been going on for a long time now.

I thought one of my problems was my magic mouse. it’s an old one with the Thunderbolt connection. So I got a new one from Amazon. USB-c connection?? EEKS.

Well I thought it solved my problem but after a few minutes, same trouble as my old magic mouse. Returned it.

I contacted Apple support, would up getting a specialist. First we went to disk utilities and ran first aaid on every disk part tht was there from Fusion Drive right down the line. Then we re-installed the operating system. No change.

This morning something with Safari. Went to check financials and Safari would not let me log in to 3 sites. One site said sorry we're having problems, please try again later. (camething last night). Okay I have a backup. Went to Brave Browser and WALA logged right into all 3 sites.

Before posting here I got a new version of EtreCheck. I’ll wait for any replies here, then I'm going to re-connect with Apple support.

Could my main Fusion drive failing?

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

103,507 points

Feb 6, 2026 2:05 AM in response to allenz

Respectfully,

I’m curious, what makes you think the answer should be different from what my good colleague @den.thed has already provided?

Looking at the current Etrecheck report, I don’t see a significant difference from the previous reports, which were quite a few.

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Answer 5

allenz Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 6, 2026 5:55 PM in response to allenz

Hello Owl-53

Honestly I was scared(Sorry I'm 85 and sometimes don't think straight).

I was getting conflicting statement from Apple Support also. this past thursday I was on the phone with an Apple senior Advisor for over 3 hours doing different procedures.One was mentioned to wipe the drive and start over but not as detiled instructions I just got here.

Then I was told i'd only get about $100 trade-in at an Apple store earlier. Thursday she told me since I had Apple Care I could send in my iMac and they would sent me back a comperable iMac for free. If I cold do without my computer for a few weeks. HECK NO! It's getting close to Tax time. Also I have tons of personal stuff I'm afraid of loosing.

Today on the waay home from the Hospital (volunteer there 11 years) I stopped at Walmart and got a 5TB Seagate hard drive and now I"m cleaning out first Dropbox and presently Documents. Not bad 5TB for $125.

I can't believe how much stuff (junk)I got. Photos and stuff from1998 to 2005 EEKS!

May tke me a few days to delete(junk) and move the rest. then I'll spenda day wiping the drive and reinstalling.Im going to DL the Instructions you gave me before.

I apprecite your help. thank you I'll let you know how it comes out.

Allen

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Answer 6

allenz Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 5, 2026 5:11 AM in response to allenz

2/5/26 EtreCheck Report - Allen Zagel

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