What is the cause of the Spinning Wheel of Death (SWOD) and how can we fix it?
I get the SWOD using Safari, Mail, Google chrome, Firefox, Mathematica, and other programs. This cannot be a browser plug-in issues as other forums suggest. I suspect a windows process at the root but I don't enough to know how to trace. Does anyone know what's causeing this epidemic?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)
The SWOD occurs when an application has been unresponsive to system events for a number of seconds.
Potential causes are myriad. Sometimes it's a badly behaved (often 3rd party) driver locking up some critical I/O. Sometimes it's running out of memory. Sometimes it's hard drive corruption. Sometimes it's badly written software tying up system resources in one way or another. The list goes on.
Activity Monitor may be able to shed some light on what is happening. You could look for unusually high CPU, disk, or memory swapping activity. You could also get info on specific stalled applications to see what they are up to. Are they using a lot of CPU? Are they thrashing memory? If you hit Sample, you may get some hint about where the application is stuck from the function call stack.
The system log may also shed some light on persistent problems. You can view it through the Console utility.
What is Yosemite and why did this start now? And what do I do?
Here is my new thread. If you could help me there I'd really appreciate it. Spinning Wheel and stalling getting really bad
When I try to view the new thread I started last night I get a message saying: Access to this place or content is restricted. If you think this is a mistake, please contact your administrator or the person who directed you here. What?!!
mduval105 wrote:
When I try to view the new thread I started last night I get a message saying: Access to this place or content is restricted. If you think this is a mistake, please contact your administrator or the person who directed you here. What?!!
Did you get an e-mail about it being deleted? You seem to have another thread here: Spinning wheel, so I ran Etresoft- help please
I remember the thread you referenced. I can't remember any details though. It seems like there was a lot of information in the other one. I will inquire with the hosts.
Started to get the spinning wheel of death too.. it seems to be mostly when using java within safari but I can't be 100%. I've run etrecheck and have pasted the report below. Any help appreciated. Thanks
Problem description:
spinning wheel of death usually when using a java app
EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)
Report generated March 27, 2015 at 5:47:27 PM GMT
Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013) (Technical Specifications)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro10,2
1 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core
8 GB RAM Not upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery Health: Normal - Cycle count 287
Intel HD Graphics 4000
L2250p Wide 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
OS X 10.10.3 (14D113c) - Time since boot: 8:27:44
APPLE SSD SM256E disk0 : (251 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 249.77 GB (49.27 GB free)
Core Storage: disk0s2 250.14 GB Online
Apple Inc. iPhone
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Apple Inc. Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Mac App Store and identified developers
/Applications/Parallels Desktop.app
[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (10.1.4 28883 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.netbridge (10.1.4 28883 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (10.1.4 28883 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.vnic (10.1.4 28883 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]
/Library/Application Support/Symantec/AntiVirus
[loaded] com.symantec.kext.SymAPComm (100.1f1 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]
/Library/Extensions
[loaded] com.symantec.kext.internetSecurity (5.2.1f2 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]
[loaded] com.symantec.kext.ips (3.5.1f2 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]
[loaded] com.symantec.kext.ndcengine (1.0f2 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.googlecode.munki.ManagedSoftwareCenter.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.googlecode.munki.managedsoftwareupdate-loginwindow.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.googlecode.munki.MunkiStatus.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.symantec.uiagent.application.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.synology.SynoSIMBL.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.synology.SynoSIMBL_RefreshFinder.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd.plist [Click for support]
[running] BESAgentDaemon.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.cisco.anyconnect.ciscod.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.googlecode.munki.logouthelper.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.googlecode.munki.managedsoftwareupdate-check.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.googlecode.munki.managedsoftwareupdate-install.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.googlecode.munki.managedsoftwareupdate-manualcheck.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.symantec.liveupdate.daemon.ondemand.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.symantec.liveupdate.daemon.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.symantec.sep.migratesettings.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.symantec.sharedsettings.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.symantec.symdaemon.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.synology.CloudStation.plist [Click for support]
iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
TextExpander Application Hidden (/Applications/TextExpander.app)
HazelHelper Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Hazel.prefPane/Contents/MacOS/HazelHelper.app)
Xmarks for Safari Application (/Applications/Xmarks for Safari.app)
AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 2.0.0.0 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 75 Check version
1Password
Open in Internet Explorer
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Flash Player [Click for support]
Hazel [Click for support]
IBM Print [Click for support]
IBM Registration [Click for support]
Java [Click for support]
Symantec QuickMenu [Click for support]
Trusteer Endpoint Protection [Click for support]
Xmarks for Safari [Click for support]
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 249.77 GB Disk used: 200.50 GB
Destinations:
My Passport [Local]
Total size: 2.00 TB
Total number of backups: 12
Oldest backup: 2014-02-13 14:03:27 +0000
Last backup: 2015-02-21 12:01:55 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 249.77 GB X 3)
103% eclipse
18% securityd
4% firefox
4% plugin-container
4% WindowServer
696 MB java
395 MB eclipse
266 MB firefox
137 MB Safari
119 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
100 MB Free RAM
2.91 GB Active RAM
2.83 GB Inactive RAM
1.15 GB Wired RAM
16.45 GB Page-ins
2.42 GB Page-outs
Mar 27, 2015, 05:24:03 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/sun.plugin2.main.client.PluginMain_2015-03-27-1 72403_[redacted].hang
Mar 27, 2015, 05:04:40 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/iBank 5_2015-03-27-170440_[redacted].crash
Mar 27, 2015, 09:19:13 AM Self test - passed
Mar 27, 2015, 09:10:12 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/BESClientUI_2015-03-27-091012_[redacted].crash
Mar 27, 2015, 09:10:12 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/AdobeCrashDaemon_2015-03-27-091012_[redacted].c rash
Mar 26, 2015, 05:31:40 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/iBank 5_2015-03-26-173140_[redacted].crash
Mar 25, 2015, 04:58:12 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/blued_2015-03-25-165812_[redacted].crash
You should start you own New post, and not thread-jack someone else's discussion. It is rare that problem reports are really identical and mixing replies to different users just gets confusing.
Along the way, get rid of your anti-malware packages, they are common causes of kernel panics and performance slow downs.
re: davidfromlosaltos
I'd remove the Flash Player or flash-block it, and would disable or block the Java Web Start, too — those tend to be the paths where folks get into malware trouble with. Eclipse is far from lightweight, too. As BobHarris surmises, it's a good bet the AV and a gigabyte of active Java code aren't playing all that well. But — rather than starting another topic, which would be the usual path here — with the Munki configuration management bits and the rest of what's visible in that report, this is probably a centrally-managed system, which means you might not be able to remove these tools — I'd contact your site IT folks for assistance.
Many thanks MrHoffman... deleted and blocked as recommended... all well so far... thanks again !
24 July 2015 Have Spinning Wheel of Death that lasts for a number of minutes at times. I did a hardware check & found a problem with one of my RAM cards. Replaced AND upgraded to 16GB RAM. Continued to have issue. Took it to Apple Tech, he said he ran every test he could think of & found no issues. Erased HD, did a clean install of my OS, did replace data using time machine back up. Better for a few days, now starting up again. Ran Etresoft, results below. Can anyone review the info below and give me some idea of what the issue might be? BTW, did not start Carbonite back up again as I understand that program may be an issue on Macs.
Problem description:
Spinning wheel of death even after replacing (& upgrading RAM) & Apple tech running every test he knew to run- no issues shown
EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)
Report generated 7/25/15, 3:33 PM
Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) (Technical Specifications)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2
1 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core
16 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 193 - SN = W032740J0D3BB
Video Information: ℹ️
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Color LCD 1280 x 800
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) - Time since boot: 3 days 2:30:53
Disk Information: ℹ️
APPLE HDD HTS541075A9E662 disk0 : (750.16 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 748.93 GB (455.83 GB free)
Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked
Core Storage: disk0s2 749.30 GB Online
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8
USB Information: ℹ️
Primax HP Wireless Eco-Comfort Mobile Mouse
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Configuration files: ℹ️
/etc/sysctl.conf - Exists
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/Library/Extensions
[loaded] com.avatron.AVExFramebuffer (3.0.1 - SDK 10.10) [Click for support]
[loaded] com.avatron.AVExVideo (3.0.1 - SDK 10.10) [Click for support]
/System/Library/Extensions
[loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.5 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[unknown] com.avg.Antivirus.gui.plist [Click for support]
[failed] com.carbonite.launchd.status.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist [Click for support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
[unknown] com.avg.Antivirus.infosd.plist [Click for support]
[unknown] com.avg.Antivirus.services.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.carbonite.installhelper.plist [Click for support]
[failed] com.carbonite.launchd.daemon.plist [Click for support]
[failed] com.carbonite.launchd.monitor.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.carbonite.launchd.watcher.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist [Click for support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]
[failed] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]
[failed] com.myheritage.familytreebuilder.checkupdates.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]
User Login Items: ℹ️
iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
Air Display Host Application (/Applications/Air Display Host.app)
CleanMyMac 3 Menu UNKNOWN (missing value)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
LogMeIn: Version: 1.0.935 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]
RL Secure Plug-In Layer: Version: Unknown - SDK 10.5 [Click for support]
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
LogMeInSafari32: Version: 1.0.935 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 [Click for support]
UploadManager: Version: Unknown - SDK 10.5 [Click for support]
ContentManager: Version: Unknown - SDK 10.5 [Click for support]
RocketEngine: Version: Unknown - SDK 10.5 [Click for support]
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
Evernote Web Clipper
Open in Internet Explorer
Add To Amazon Wish List
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Flash Player [Click for support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 748.93 GB Disk used: 293.09 GB
Destinations:
My Passport for Mac [Local]
Total size: 999.83 GB
Total number of backups: 4
Oldest backup: 2015-01-11 01:40:27 +0000
Last backup: 2015-07-16 04:58:18 +0000
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 999.83 GB > (Disk used 293.09 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
7% WindowServer
2% fontd
1% loginwindow
0% taskgated
0% cloudpaird
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
1.36 GB firefox
1.16 GB kernel_task
475 MB softwareupdated
164 MB mds_stores
164 MB Finder
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
5.58 GB Free RAM
10.00 GB Used RAM
0 B Swap Used
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
Jul 25, 2015, 02:49:36 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/RootsMagic_2015-07-25-144936_[redacted].hang
Jul 25, 2015, 02:49:28 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Finder_2015-07-25-144928_[redacted].hang
Jul 25, 2015, 02:39:53 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Finder_2015-07-25-143953_[redacted].cpu_resourc e.diag [Click for details]
Jul 24, 2015, 10:51:31 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2015-07-24-105131_[redacted].cpu_resour ce.diag [Click for details]
Apple provides malware protection as part of Mac OS x.
You do not need additional protection. Get rid of.
| [unknown] | com.avg.Antivirus.gui.plist [Click for support] |
[failed] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]
Try running /applications/utilities/activity monitor and see what it says when your system slows down.
24 July 2015 Have Spinning Wheel of Death that lasts for a number of minutes at times. I did a hardware check & found a problem with one of my RAM cards....
Installing cache-cleaning tools, system performance optimizers, anti-malware tools, anti-virus tools and various other tools is a futile effort, and can be a wasteful and problematic approach. These tools are very common sources of problems. Whenever faced with these issues, please first remove the add-on tools. Why? Because those tools quite often do not usually solve the problem that they're intended to solve — in the case of anti-malware tools, that's also because the signature-based tools are trivially bypassed by the malware, too.
There's no shortcut to sustem security. There just isn't one. Good and unique passwords, keeping current software, and not installing random software from random sites helps, and avoiding Oracle Java and Adobe Flash Player will generally suffice — or use a plug-in blocker for Java or Flash, if you really need it. Not installing anything you didn't go looking for, and only installing software from the Mac App Store or — and this is getting tougher — from the original source of the software, and not from any of the aggregator web sites.
Now hangs and beachballs can be hardware problems... But it's best to first remove and test without the anti-malware tools, the kernel extensions and the add-ons. Narrowing down a problem in a particularly complex system such as this one is not easy, either — the interactions can be very complex.
Carbonite can be hogging your network bandwidth doing a backup, and cause web browsing, email, or any other app that wants to use the network to stall and spin the beach ball.
You have some Carbonite launch agents and daemons that loaded, and some that failed. Perhaps your Carbonite needs to be updated to a Yosemite compatible version, or maybe there are multiple versions, with older ones that are now working or are conflicting with each other. All guesses based on seeing some failed carbonite additions.
What is avatron doing for you? Is it essential? Is it the version that is designed for Yosemite 10.10.4? Kernel extensions can be very sensitive to OS X version changes, especially if they do not use approved kernel APIs. I do not know anything about avatron, just that it is a kernel extension.
I agree with previous comments about anti-virus and Mac cleaner apps. They are counter productive and in some cases destructive.
How does Mac OS X protect me?
<http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg-builtin/>
Configuration files: ℹ️
/etc/sysctl.conf - Exists
This is often not a good idea. If you did not personally create a sysctl.conf, then it was most likely something you installed. Most people do not have a sysctl.conf file.
LogMeIn: Version: 1.0.935 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]
LogMeInSafari32: Version: 1.0.935 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]
SInce LogMeIn went to a paid model, most people do not need the LogMeIn plug-ins. Unless you are still using LogMeIn, you may just want to do some house cleaning and remove these plug-ins.
Finally, in the future you should consider starting your own new thread so you can control the discussion. While at the high level it might look the same as someone else's problem, chances are the cause is different, because everyone has different software installed, especially for spinning beach balls, and mixing multiple discussions in a single thread can be confusing. You can always post a pointer to a previous thread.
Thank you for your response. Removed carbonite & avg. Ran Disk Utility. Still getting SWOD occasionally.
Activity Monitor shows % CPU (top 3)
FireFox 9.1
WindowsServer 5.7
Activity Monitor 2.2
Memory: (top 3)
kernal_task 1000.4MB
FireFox 975.1MB
Finder 121.5MB
Can take screen shots of Activity Monitor if that would help.
Any other suggestions?
susieqk wrote:
Thank you for your response. Removed carbonite & avg. Ran Disk Utility. Still getting SWOD occasionally.
Remove CleanMyMac3, remove AVG, and remove the plug-ins. As a general approach toward resolving these beachball spinning wait cursor cases, keep removing individual hunks of add-ons until the problem is resolved.
I agree, and please pardon my ignorance. I should have started a new thread but do not see how to do so. I believe that was the first time I had ever visited this forum. I see how to start a new 'discussion', is that the same thing?
forgot to add that I removed cleanmymac as well.
I do still use logmein, I can remove it if you it might be causing a problem though
I checked for the list of plug-ins on my macbook. Here is a list of what it says I have:
1) OpenH264 Video Codec 1.4 provided by Cisco Systems, Inc, says it is automatically installed by Mozilla to comply with WebRTC specs to enable WebRTC calls with devices that require the H.264 video codec. (says always active)
Is this for Skype?
2) Shockwave Flash 18.0.0.209 (says always active)
All other plug-ins say "ask to activate". Can a plug in that is apparently not running cause a problem?
3) Citrix Web Online Deployment Plugin 1.0.0.105 1.0.105
4) Default Browser Helper 600
5) LogMeIn Plugin 1.0.0.935 1.0.935
6) QuickTime Plug-in 7.7.3 7.7.3
7) RocketLife Content Manager 1.0.0.18702
Have no idea what this program is used for
8) RocketLife Secure Plug-in Layer 1.0.5
9) Silverlight Plug-in 5.1.30514
What is the cause of the Spinning Wheel of Death (SWOD) and how can we fix it?
