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my macbook pro is running very slow and restarts

I was working on my 2008 Macbook Pro yesterday and it restarted on its own. Now, when I log in, it loads very slow and will restart unexpectedly.

Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 24, 2012 10:32 AM

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8 replies

Dec 24, 2012 10:43 AM in response to Scot813

Reset you SMC which can fix power-related issues, and also reset the PRAM (see below). If that doesn't fix it, please post back.


  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
  3. Turn on the computer.
  4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
  5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
  6. Release the keys.


You might also run the Apple hardware test. You'll need your original OS X disks to run it.

Dec 24, 2012 2:59 PM in response to BGreg

That did not work. When I log in, I get the spinning wheel of death. After a couple of minutes, it goes to the desktop screen, but my program dock and the top status line load EXTREMELY slow. It seems that shortly after the program dock appreas on the screen, the screen goes grey and then back to the log in screen. Does it every time. Resetting the SMC and the PRAM did nothing to correct it. I need help! I'm afraid I'm going to lose everything on my hard drive.

Dec 24, 2012 6:24 PM in response to Scot813

Use your original OS X disks, find the one that says 'AHT Version x.x' in small print on the label. Insert and reboot holding the alt/option key down. Choose the Apple hardware test, and when prompted, choose the extended test. This can take 30 to 60 minutes or more, depending on the amount of memory installed.

Dec 24, 2012 7:11 PM in response to BGreg

I restarted the computer with the disc you indicated in the drive and holding the alt option key. Upon start up, I got an icon with the Macintosh HD and an arrow button to click underneath it. I clicked the arrow and it went right back to the log in screen. No hardware test option came up. What now?

my macbook pro is running very slow and restarts

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