menu bar refreshes every X seconds

Question

Level 1

7 points

menu bar refreshes every X seconds

Just noticed after updating itunes, my menu bar is refreshing every 7 or 8 seconds. It's neither the individual programs, ituneshelper (which I disabled) or Spotlight (I think) which I re-indexed.

Ive attached a video of the issue and you can view on my dropbox.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cnl8j49456k56uc/menubar.m4v

Im running 10.8.4. Verified and Repaired Disk Permissions. Verified Disk and no issues.

I have noticed that when the menu bar refreshes, there is activity in the activity monitor, but what exactly is crashing, I dont know.

I know I can count on these forums for some help.

Thanks

Chris

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Aug 19, 2013 11:33 AM

Reply

Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Aug 19, 2013 1:13 PM in response to chpeak

Start your MBP in Safe Mode and see in the problem persists.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

Ciao.

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Answer 2

chpeak Author

Level 1

7 points

Aug 19, 2013 2:01 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

It does persist.

Thanks.

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Aug 19, 2013 3:36 PM in response to chpeak

That suggests that third party software is not responsible for this issue. My thoughts are a reinstall of the OS.

Before you do that, post an image of Activity Monitor selecting ALL PROCESSES and set %CPU to show values from high to low. Maybe there is a clue.

Ciao.

Reply

Answer 4

chpeak Author

Level 1

7 points

Aug 19, 2013 3:38 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

InterCheck	13.1	209.3 MB	root	64
mdworker	12.3	33.0 MB	chrispeak	224
mds	11.4	144.8 MB	root	40
coreaudiod	8.6	10.5 MB	_coreaudiod	162
SystemUIServer	7.2	18.2 MB	chrispeak	5130
kernel_task	3.9	489.5 MB	root	0
Activity Monitor	2.3	18.1 MB	chrispeak	5107
launchd	1.4	2.4 MB	root	1
Boom	1.1	21.3 MB	chrispeak	215
WindowServer	1.1	39.0 MB	_windowserver	92
coreservicesd	1.0	43.3 MB	root	73
hidd	0.8	3.0 MB	root	48
activitymonitord	0.6	1.4 MB	root	5108
Safari Web Content	0.3	1.24 GB	chrispeak	4531
smcFanControl	0.2	14.4 MB	chrispeak	216
SophosUIServer	0.1	11.4 MB	chrispeak	202
configd	0.1	4.3 MB	root	17
SophosAntiVirus	0.1	3.6 MB	root	63
UserEventAgent	0.0	10.8 MB	chrispeak	148
fseventsd	0.0	4.9 MB	root	49
cfprefsd	0.0	8.9 MB	chrispeak	151
tccd	0.0	3.2 MB	chrispeak	5070
ReportCrash	0.0	97.8 MB	chrispeak	5129
AppleSpell.service	0.0	7.1 MB	chrispeak	313
cfprefsd	0.0	1.3 MB	root	4996
Flash Player (Safari Internet plug-in)	0.0	53.1 MB	chrispeak	4560
notifyd	0.0	1.6 MB	root	14
powerd	0.0	2.0 MB	root	16
warmd	0.0	5.8 MB	nobody	28
mDNSResponder	0.0	3.2 MB	_mdnsresponder	41
distnoted	0.0	3.6 MB	chrispeak	149
CIJScannerRegister	0.0	7.0 MB	chrispeak	294
loginwindow	0.0	18.7 MB	chrispeak	44
CVMServer	0.0	1.3 MB	root	94
ntpd	0.0	1.3 MB	root	118
Safari	0.0	148.3 MB	chrispeak	4530
securityd	0.0	9.1 MB	root	15
KernelEventAgent	0.0	1.0 MB	root	46
Alfred	0.0	18.8 MB	chrispeak	217
launchd	0.0	1.5 MB	chrispeak	145
Dropbox	0.0	69.0 MB	chrispeak	221
Dock	0.0	30.8 MB	chrispeak	158
Finder	0.0	22.3 MB	chrispeak	161
fontd	0.0	5.9 MB	chrispeak	211
Notification Center	0.0	13.8 MB	chrispeak	191
opendirectoryd	0.0	10.7 MB	root	21
revisiond	0.0	4.9 MB	root	35
qmasterd	0.0	7.3 MB	root	70
lsboxd	0.0	2.9 MB	chrispeak	2793
cupsd	0.0	3.2 MB	root	119
pbs	0.0	3.7 MB	chrispeak	5113
kextd	0.0	4.0 MB	root	12
syslogd	0.0	1.4 MB	root	19
appleeventsd	0.0	2.7 MB	_eppc	54
privoxy	0.0	4.1 MB	_privoxy	61
com.freemacsoft.appcleanerd	0.0	1.8 MB	root	68
dbfseventsd	0.0	316 KB	root	287
networkd	0.0	1.1 MB	_networkd	110
aosnotifyd	0.0	7.7 MB	root	124
logind	0.0	1.8 MB	root	138
talagent	0.0	10.1 MB	chrispeak	159
locationd	0.0	6.5 MB	_locationd	45
autofsd	0.0	1.9 MB	root	59
BoomDaemon	0.0	5.0 MB	chrispeak	257
licenseDaemon	0.0	3.5 MB	root	66
netbiosd	0.0	3.2 MB	_netbios	87
CVMCompiler	0.0	21.0 MB	chrispeak	2824
diskarbitrationd	0.0	1.8 MB	root	22
GeekTool Helper	0.0	12.8 MB	chrispeak	220
com.apple.dock.extra	0.0	14.7 MB	chrispeak	262
Quick Look Helper	0.0	9.8 MB	chrispeak	4683
coresymbolicationd	0.0	1.9 MB	root	5079
cron	0.0	824 KB	root	120
storeagent	0.0	7.5 MB	chrispeak	169
taskgated	0.0	4.5 MB	root	13
dbfseventsd	0.0	2.3 MB	root	288
usbmuxd	0.0	1.6 MB	_usbmuxd	2799
cookied	0.0	1.6 MB	chrispeak	4532
accountsd	0.0	5.2 MB	chrispeak	5126
usernoted	0.0	3.8 MB	chrispeak	167
CalendarAgent	0.0	17.9 MB	chrispeak	181
imagent	0.0	5.7 MB	chrispeak	195
NetworkBrowserAgent	0.0	3.0 MB	chrispeak	209
helpd	0.0	2.2 MB	chrispeak	4609
stackshot	0.0	1.3 MB	root	32
distnoted	0.0	2.1 MB	root	18
apsd	0.0	7.9 MB	root	60
UserEventAgent	0.0	4.1 MB	root	11
Image Capture Extension	0.0	10.5 MB	chrispeak	293
SleepServicesD	0.0	1.6 MB	root	5075
mdworker	0.0	6.3 MB	chrispeak	5103
filecoordinationd	0.0	2.2 MB	root	186
dynamic_pager	0.0	776 KB	root	51
SophosAutoUpdate	0.0	3.0 MB	root	65
ocspd	0.0	2.8 MB	root	5052
dbfseventsd	0.0	160 KB	chrispeak	291
pboard	0.0	940 KB	chrispeak	156

Reply

Answer 5

chpeak Author

Level 1

7 points

Aug 19, 2013 3:40 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

if it means anything... opening up folders, i notice a slight delay in displaying the contents. when i say slight, i mean like .3 of a second.

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Answer 6

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Aug 19, 2013 4:38 PM in response to chpeak

Not to say that I recognize every item on that list, I can say that you do not need to have Sophos installed on a permanent basis. Personally I would uninstall it. I use NO AV software in my MBPs.

I looked at you video again and I note that only icons for items that are a part of System Preferences disappear. This is strictly a guess on my part, but delete the System preferences plist and see if that has a positive affect.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4301

If this fails, then the OS reinstall is my last arrow.

Ciao.

Reply

Answer 7

chpeak Author

Level 1

7 points

Aug 19, 2013 4:49 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks for the help. This is what I have...

....systempreferences.plist

"" "".gqcylv1

"" "".plist.lockfile

"" "".zlj9we2

delete all, delete some...?

thanks again.

Reply

Answer 8

chpeak Author

Level 1

7 points

Aug 19, 2013 5:38 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Deleting those files (and restarting) didnt work.

I can't reinstall. My entire life is on this laptop and I dont have a time machine or any other backup aside from clouding my files.

Thanks for taking a stab at it. It's appreciated.

Can't seem to think why updated iTunes would make this happen....

Reply

Answer 9

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Aug 20, 2013 3:25 AM in response to chpeak

This is what you should delete:

'com.apple.systempreferences.plist'

chpeak wrote:

I can't reinstall. My entire life is on this laptop and I dont have a time machine or any other backup aside from clouding my files.

This statement should make the need for a backup a top priority for you. All HDDs will eventually fail. Cloud backup cannot be relied upon. One backup is good, two are excellent. I strongly urge you to think about a backup strategy.

Over all, a Time Machine backup disk and a separate disk with a clone of the internal HDD is the best combination. Time Machine has a history of changes that one can access and a clone allows one to work with minimal interruption if the internal HDD fails.

Theoretically a reinstallation has no affect on user data, nevertheless a backup should be in place.

The last option for your issue is an exorcist! 🙂

Ciao.

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