cwglover

Q: What is the cause of the Spinning Wheel of Death (SWOD) and how can we fix it?

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)

Posted on Dec 26, 2013 9:09 PM

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Q: What is the cause of the Spinning Wheel of Death (SWOD) and how can we fix it?

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  • by susieqk,

    susieqk susieqk Aug 7, 2015 9:41 AM in response to MrHoffman
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 7, 2015 9:41 AM in response to MrHoffman

    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

  • by susieqk,

    susieqk susieqk Aug 7, 2015 10:53 AM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 7, 2015 10:53 AM in response to BobHarris

    Are you suggesting I delete the "sysctl.conf" file?

    I looked on the internet & it is associated with "Red Hat Linix" system. I am not using a Linix system. Do not know where it came from. Think it is safe to remove it? If so, how do I remove it?

    Thank you so much for your help with this issue. I am about ready to throw this computer out & go back to a windows based system.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Aug 7, 2015 11:49 AM in response to susieqk
    Level 6 (19,597 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 7, 2015 11:49 AM in response to susieqk

    sysctl.conf is a concept that some Unix implementations use.  OS X is one of them.  However, typically it is empty.  The fact that you have something in your sysctl.conf, and you do not remember doing it, is a strong indication that one of the 3rd party programs you had installed was changing system configuration variables.

  • by susieqk,

    susieqk susieqk Aug 7, 2015 11:57 AM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 7, 2015 11:57 AM in response to BobHarris

    Thank you for your reply. Is there any way to find out what 3rd party program would have put something in that sysctl.conf file?

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Aug 7, 2015 12:29 PM in response to susieqk
    Level 6 (8,506 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 7, 2015 12:29 PM in response to susieqk

    Well, if it's not too big, print it out & copy it here.

     

    from /applications/utilities/terminal

    cd to what ever directory sysctl.conf is in.

    cat sysctl.conf

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Aug 7, 2015 12:39 PM in response to susieqk
    Level 6 (8,506 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 7, 2015 12:39 PM in response to susieqk

    You need to open a new discussion on this topic.  It can be confusing on how to start a new discussion.

    1) Find the community you wish to create a new question.

    Site map of Communities and Categories

     

    2) Look to the right of the panel, click "New" then  click "Discussion".

    newdiscussion.png

  • by susieqk,

    susieqk susieqk Aug 7, 2015 12:47 PM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 7, 2015 12:47 PM in response to rccharles

    I did not start a new discussion as I thought this may be the reason or one of the reasons for my SWOD.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Aug 7, 2015 3:14 PM in response to susieqk
    Level 6 (19,597 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 7, 2015 3:14 PM in response to susieqk

    susieqk wrote:

     

    Thank you for your reply. Is there any way to find out what 3rd party program would have put something in that sysctl.conf file?

    no.  There is no audit trail.  Just a modified sysctl.conf file.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Aug 7, 2015 3:28 PM in response to susieqk
    Level 6 (19,597 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 7, 2015 3:28 PM in response to susieqk

    susieqk wrote:

     

    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?

    At the top of the forum web page you will see "New".  Click on that create a new thread where you are in control.

    Screen Shot 2015-08-07 at 6.25.05 PM.png

    If you think another long thread strongly relates to your problem, feel free to include a link, but know that SBOD, as well as a lot of other symptoms on the outside can have totally different causes on the inside.

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