Q: iMac performance/cleanup utility?
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Jul 21, 2012 6:25 PMby a brody,The 2008 model was not a CoreDuo, but rather a Core2Duo. It hasn't been CoreDuo since early 2006. See my FAQ* on disk space: http://www.macmaps.com/diskfull.html and my backup FAQ*: http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html If after backing up your data at least twice and making sure you aren't over 85% full you still have trouble, come back here and we can make some suggestions. Whatever you do, do not run:
MacKeeper, MacCleaner, Macaroni, Onyx, or any system cache cleaning utility. It will only slow your system down, unless you just happen to have corrupt cache files in the right location for them to clean up.
* Links to my pages may give me compensation.
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Jul 21, 2012 6:30 PMby Michael Antenora,Excuse the omission of the number "2" in my description. The 2008 iMac has already been backed up. I just bought a new 21" iMac and migrated all of the data to that. I would like to see if I can clean the older one up and getting running a little faster for my kids.
So, suggest away......
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by Carolyn Samit,HelpfulJul 21, 2012 6:42 PM
Carolyn Samit
Jul 21, 2012 6:42 PM
in response to Michael Antenora
Level 10
(124,346 points)
Apple MusicNot enough free space on the startup disk can slow the drive down.
Right or control click the MacintoshHD icon on your Desktop. Click Get Info. In the Get Info window you will see Capacity and Available.
Make sure there's a minimum of 15% free disk space.
Try removing startup items.
Open System Preferences > Accounts (Users & Groups for Lion v10.7) > Login Items
And check HD > Library > StartupItems
Freeing Up Hard Disk Space - Mac GuidesFreeing Up Hard Disk Space - Mac Guides
As a brody suggests, avoid third party cleaning utilities. Macs run maintenance for you > Mac OS X: About background maintenance tasks
And if you have anti virus software installed, that can slow the system down.
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Jul 22, 2012 4:52 AMby Michael Antenora,Thank you Thomas and Carolyn. I will try your suggestions.
One other additional question. I have read that the Geniuses in the Apple Store use a software utility called "Drive Genius" when they are doing diagnostics and tune ups on customer systems in the store. Do you know if this is true, or it this just another marketing ploy?
Thus, if it is not true, then I presume you would not recommend it for the same reasons you do not recommend the other third party softwares, correct?
Thanks again.
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Jul 22, 2012 5:13 AMby a brody,Drive Genius isn't bad, but for starters, nothing replaces having a backed up system. Optimization, and repair utilities can only do so much if a hard drive is on its last legs, which can happen at anytime without warning. And the symptoms of a dying hard drive can be the same as one that isn't optimized. Knowing the difference takes skill, and by the time you really have a hang of it, the system can already be damaged beyond repair. So keep a good backup system in place with at least two separate copies of your data at all times.
