10.8.5 slow log-in times from lock screen, slow to load lock screen when opening mac, frequent spinning beach ball (especially on task bar), often generally slow performance

Question

Hi folks,All the information about my problem is contained in the post title. I ran etrecheck as I had seen recommended in a few other posts.Here are the results, any help would be apppreciated.Hardware Information:          MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)          MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,1          1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4 cores          4 GB RAMVideo Information:          Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: 384 MB          NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - VRAM: 512 MBAudio Plug-ins:          AirPlay: Version: 1.7 - SDK 10.8          iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.1 - SDK 10.8Startup Items:          VirtualBox: Path: /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBoxSystem Software:          OS X 10.8.5 (12F45) - Uptime: 39 days 14:44:3Disk Information:          APPLE HDD ST500LM012 disk0 : (500.11 GB)                    disk0s1 (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt;: 209.7 MB                    Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 499.25 GB (201.68 GB free)                    Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;: 650 MB          HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS31N USB Information:          Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)          Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad          Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub                    Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller          Apple Computer, Inc. IR ReceiverFireWire Information:Thunderbolt Information:          Apple Inc. thunderbolt_busKernel Extensions:          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv          (4.2.6)          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB          (4.2.6)          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt          (4.2.6)          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp          (4.2.6)Problem System Launch Daemons:          [failed] com.apple.coresymbolicationd.plistProblem System Launch Agents:          [failed] com.apple.accountsd.plist          [failed] com.apple.CalendarAgent.plist          [failed] com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist          [failed] com.apple.printtool.agent.plist          [failed] com.apple.rcd.plist          [failed] com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plistLaunch Daemons:          [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist          [loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist          [loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist          [failed] com.macinapps.appdefender.plist          [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist          [invalid] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist          [loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plistLaunch Agents:          [not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist          [loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist          [loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist          [loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist          [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist          [invalid] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist          [loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plistUser Launch Agents:          [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist          [loaded] com.akamai.client.plist          [loaded] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist          [loaded] com.spotify.webhelper.plist          [loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist          [not loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plistUser Login Items:          Citations          iTunesHelper          Google Notifier          ScreenCapture          Octoshape          AdobeResourceSynchronizer          Google Chrome          Fantastical          AdobeResourceSynchronizer          AirDisplayStatusItem          Android File Transfer Agent          Caffeine3rd Party Preference Panes:          Air Display Preferences          Akamai NetSession Preferences          Flash Player          Growl          YAMAHA-USBMIDIPatchInternet Plug-ins::          NPDjVu: Version: 6.1.2 - SDK 10.6          o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 4.9.1.16010          OVSHelper: Version: 1.1          PrintDialogExt: Version: 6.1.1          AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.04 - SDK 10.6          FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 11.9.900.117 - SDK 10.6          DivX Web Player: Version: 3.0.1.5 - SDK 10.5          Silverlight: Version: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6          Flash Player: Version: 11.9.900.117 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update          iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8          googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 4.9.1.16010          npgtpo3dautoplugin: Version: 0.1.44.29 - SDK 10.5          AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.04 - SDK 10.6          QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.1          SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.0.0          JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Outdated! UpdateUser Internet Plug-ins::          OctoshapeWeb: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.8          Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 2.6.1f3Bad Fonts:          NoneOld applications:          SoundCloud:          Version: 1.1.0 - SDK 10.0                    /Applications/SoundCloud.app          Uninstall Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver:          Version: 1.1.0 - SDK 10.4                    /Users/alexanderaddiego/Documents/YAMAHA DGX 640/um132mx/Uninstall Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver.appTime Machine:          Auto backup: YES          Volumes being backed up:                    Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 297.57 GB          Destinations:                    FreeAgent GoFlex Drive [Local] (Last used)                    Total size: 999.86 GB                    Total number of backups: 2                    Oldest backup: 2013-10-15 01:17:04 +0000                    Last backup: 2013-10-15 01:31:10 +0000                    Size of backup disk: Adequate                              Backup size 999.86 GB &gt; (Disk used 297.57 GB X 3)          Time Machine details may not be accurate.          All volumes being backed up may not be listed.Top Processes by CPU:              24%          Google Chrome               7%          WindowServer               1%          EtreCheck               1%          hidd               1%          mdsTop Processes by Memory:          201 MB             Google Chrome          111 MB             SystemUIServer          97 MB              Google Chrome Helper          86 MB              mds          85 MB              WindowServerVirtual Memory Statistics:          28 MB              Free RAM          1.40 GB            Active RAM          1.39 GB            Inactive RAM          1.17 GB            Wired RAM          261.34 GB          Page-ins          81.91 GB           Page-outs

satish gowda · Answer

hey bro&#x27; whas up with all this tech-specs of your machine!!!! just clear the login items from your account, delete all unwanted files/folders from the storage and free up the disk space. finally do a PRAM/NVram reset . That is It! the machine willopen up smoothly and fast. Yeah i should agree that the machine goes **** slow over the time from the day of purchase. But Still Apple rocks😉

hands4 · Answer

Satis has good recommendations.  If the don&#x27;t do the trick...You may be able to improve the speed with some software work but it could also be your disk is corrupt or failing.Try an SMC Reset:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964Is it faster now?  If not, proceed.Backup your data immediately:  Before proceeding you should make sure you have a current backup.  If it has been getting slower over time your disk could be a failing slowly.  SATA drives have two retry modes: short and long.  They can continue operating as read errors are increasing.  The long retry cycle is very long and can cause significant performance degradation.  If it has started long retries then it is likely to get worse and eventually fail.  SSDs also have a failure mode where the fail slowly.Time Machine Basics: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427Most commonly used backup methods:  https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3045Methodology to protect your data.  Backups vs. Archives.  Long-term data protection:https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6031Try the remedies at http://www.macworld.com/article/2026650/mac-troubleshooting-what-to-do-when-your -computer-is-too-slow.htmlandMac Performance Guide: http://www.thesafemac.com/mpg/Safe Mode:- Reboot the system in Safe Boot mode.- Power on the Mac and when you hear the bong, hold down the shift key until it is booted.- Be patient, this will take some time while it checks the filesystem.  If it runs faster in Safe Boot mode then it is probably third-party software compatibility issues.- Restart.- Does it run faster after the restart?Run Disk Utility (found in the Applications folder):  -In Disk Utility look at the S.M.A.R.T. Status.   If it says the disk has a hardware problem that can&#x27;t be repaired then stop.  Your system could be in danger of failing at any time and you need to replace the disk soon.  Back your system up twice.  (You will need a second external disk for the second backup.)  Consider using Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper! for the second backup to clone the disk.  Jump to the Hardware replacement section and seek expert help.Repair Disk Permissions and Verify Disk.  If Disk Permissions reports errors, don’t worry.  That is normal.  If Verify Disk reports errors then they need to be repaired.  Otherwise skip to the reinstall OS X section.Repairing your system disk:- Boot in recovery mode.   (Boot and when you hear the bong hold down the   Command and R keys simultaneously until you see the recovery screen.)- Select disk utility.- Select your system drive.- Repair Disk. - Did it complete without errors?    If not you may need a new disk.  Seek expert help.  If it completed normally then reboot. -Did it run faster and is it more responsive?Reinstall OS X:If it is still slow you should reinstall OS X.- Boot in Recovery Mode again.- Follow the instructions to reinstall OS X.- Now does it run faster?Hardware replacement or upgrade?Hopefully by now your Mac is back to its normal speed.  If a hardware repair is indicated take it to an Genius bar at an Apple store for a free diagnosis and estimate of repairs.  You can compare their estimate with DIY repairs.Genius reservation http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ .or find an Apple Authorized Service Provider https://locate.apple.com/countryYou can speed it up further by upgrading some hardware.  For memory, disk or SSD replacements and upgrades check out OWC http://eshop.macsales.com/, Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/ and Kingston http://www.kingston.com/us/.Consider an upgrade to 8 GB or RAM ($100).If your Mac has a disk and it won’t repair properly, is low on disk space, or you just want a considerably faster disk,, check out an upgrade to an SSD-Hybrid disk. Google "Seagate XT".Good luck.  May the software fixes do the trick.