iMac mid 2010 painfully slow after installing Maverick

See:

Mac Maintenance Quick Assist,
Mac OS X speed FAQ,
Speeding up Macs,
How to Speed up Macs,
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance,
Mac troubleshooting: What to do when your computer is too slow,
Essential Mac Maintenance: Get set up,
Essential Mac Maintenance: Rev up your routines,
Maintaining OS X,
Five Mac maintenance myths and
Myths of required versus not required maintenance for Mac OS X for information.

There are many potential reasons that a Mac may be running slower than expected, but more information is required to begin troubleshooting, much more.

Back up your documents and everything else important to you before proceeding. It is premature to conclude your hard disk is failing, but the symptoms you describe may presage an impending disk failure, and you should have backups anyway.

To help determine the possible causes of this behaviour read the following. None of what follows is intended to fix anything, but it will provide the additional information required to advance troubleshooting:

Boot OS X Recovery by holding ⌘ and r (two fingers) while you start your Mac. At the Mac OS X Utilities screen, select Disk Utility. Select your startup volume (usually named "Macintosh HD") and click the Repair Disk button. Describe any errors it reports in red.

When it finishes restart your Mac and test again for operation. If it's still not behaving as you expect it should, please post the results of EtreCheck in accordance with the following instructions:

Apple Support Communities contributor etresoft wrote a very useful app to quickly gather certain system information that may help point to a cause of this problem. Go to his website, download and run EtreCheck:

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

Etrecheck will be in your Downloads folder. Open it from there. You may see the following dialog box:

Click Open - etresoft contributes to this forum frequently and can be considered a trustworthy developer.

It will take a moment to run as it collects its data.

Copy and paste its output in a reply.

Do not be concerned about anything that says "Problem" or “failed” or anything else that may appear in red.

EtreCheck was designed to remove any personal information (such as your computer's name and serial numbers) but if you see anything that looks like an email address or any other personal information that should not be divulged to others, please delete or obscure that information when you post the reply.

When you are finished with EtreCheck, quit the program. It occupies very little space, and you can keep it or drag it to the Trash as you wish.

After completing the above please determine if the problems also occur in "Safe Mode":

• Safe Mode or "Safe Boot" is a troubleshooting mode that bypasses all third party system extensions and loads only required system components. Read about it: Starting up in Safe Mode
• You must disable FileVault before you can start your Mac in Safe Mode.
• Starting your Mac in Safe Mode will take longer than usual, graphics will not render smoothly, audio is disabled on some Macs, and some programs (iTunes for example) may not work at all.
• Merely starting your Mac in Safe Mode is not intended to resolve the problem, it's to observe its performance without certain additional components.
• To end Safe Mode restart your Mac normally. Shutdown will take longer as well.

System performance problems for reasons that cannot be isolated to any other cause justify an SMC reset. Be sure to read the procedure carefully and follow all the steps exactly as written, even if they seem inapplicable or trivial.

Third-party system modifications are a common cause of usability problems. By a “system modification,” I mean software that affects the operation of other software — potentially for the worse. The procedure will help identify which such modifications you've installed, as well as some other aspects of the configuration that may be related to the problem.

Don’t be alarmed by the seeming complexity of these instructions — they’re easy to carry out. Here's a brief summary: In each of two steps, you copy a line of text from this web page into a window in another application. You wait about a minute. Then you paste some other text, which will have been copied automatically, back into a reply on this page. The sequence is copy; paste; paste again. That's all there is to it. Details follow.

You may have started the computer in "safe" mode. Preferably, these steps should be taken while booted in “normal” mode. If the system is now running in safe mode and is bootable in normal mode, reboot as usual. If it only boots in safe mode, use that.

Below are instructions to enter UNIX shell commands. They do nothing but produce human-readable output. However, you need to think carefully before running any program at the behest of a stranger on a public message board. If you question the safety of the procedure suggested here — which you should — search this site for other discussions in which it’s been followed without any report of ill effects. If you can't satisfy yourself that these instructions are safe, don't follow them.

If you have more than one user account, Step 2 must be taken as an administrator. Ordinarily that would be the user created automatically when you booted the system for the first time. Step 1 should be taken as the user who has the problem, if different. Most personal Macs have only one user, and in that case this paragraph doesn’t apply.

Triple-click anywhere in the line of text below on this page to select it:

PB=/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy; PR () { [[ "$o" ]] && o=$(sed 's/^/ /' <<< "$o") && printf '\n%s:\n\n%s\n' "$1" "$o"; }; PC () { o=$(grep [^[:blank:]] "$2"); PR "$1"; }; PF () { o=$($PB -c Print "$2" | awk -F'= ' \/$3'/{print $2}'); PR "$1"; }; PN () { [[ $o -eq 0 ]] || printf "\n%s: %s\n" "$1" $o; }; { system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType | sed '8!d;s/^ *//'; o=$(system_profiler SPDiagnosticsDataType | sed '5,6!d'); fgrep -q P <<< "$o" && o=; PR "POST"; o=$(($(vm_stat | awk '/Pageo/{sub("\\.",""); print $2}')/256)); o=$((o>=1024?o:0)); PN "Pageouts (MiB)"; s=( $(sar -u 1 10 | sed '$!d') ); [[ ${s[4]} -lt 90 ]] && o=$( printf 'User %s%%\t\tSystem %s%%' ${s[1]} ${s[3]} ) || o=; PR "Total CPU usage"; [[ "$o" ]] && o=$(ps acrx -o comm,ruid,%cpu | sed '2!d'); PR "Max %CPU by process (name, UID, %)"; o=$(kextstat -kl | grep -v com\\.apple | cut -c53- | cut -d\< -f1); PR "Loaded extrinsic kernel extensions"; o=$(launchctl list | sed 1d | awk '!/0x|com\.apple|org\.(x|openbsd)|\.[0-9]+$/{print $3}'); PR "Loaded extrinsic user agents"; o=$(launchctl getenv DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES); PR "Inserted libraries"; PC "cron configuration" /e*/cron*; o=$(crontab -l | grep [^[:blank:]]); PR "User cron tasks"; PC "Global launchd configuration" /e*/lau*; PC "Per-user launchd configuration" ~/.lau*; PF "Global login items" /L*/P*/loginw* Path; PF "Per-user login items" L*/P*/*loginit* Name; PF "Safari extensions" L*/Saf*/*/E*.plist Bundle | sed 's/\..*$//;s/-[1-9]$//'; o=$(find ~ $TMPDIR.. \( -flags +sappnd,schg,uappnd,uchg -o ! -user $UID -o ! -perm -600 \) | wc -l); PN "Restricted user files"; cd; o=$(find -L /S*/L*/E* {,/}L*/{A*d,Compon,Ex,In,Keyb,Mail/Bu,P*P,Qu,Scripti,Servi,Spo}* -type d -name Contents -prune | while read d; do ID=$($PB -c 'Print :CFBundleIdentifier' "$d/Info.plist") || ID=; ID=${ID:-No bundle ID}; egrep -qv "^com\.apple\.[^x]|Accusys|ArcMSR|ATTO|HDPro|HighPoint|driver\.stex|hp-fax|JMicron|microsoft\.MDI|print|SoftRAID" <<< $ID && printf '%s\n\t(%s)\n' "${d%/Contents}" "$ID"; done); PR "Extrinsic loadable bundles"; o=$(find /u*/{,*/}lib -type f -exec sh -c 'file -b "$1" | grep -qw shared && ! codesign -v "$1"' {} {} \; -print); PR "Unsigned shared libraries"; o=$(system_profiler SPFontsDataType | egrep "Valid: N|Duplicate: Y" | wc -l); PN "Font problems"; for d in {,/}L*/{La,Priv,Sta}*; do o=$(ls -A "$d"); PR "$d"; done; } 2> /dev/null | pbcopy; echo $'\nStep 1 done'

Remember that you must be logged in as an administrator for this step. Do as in Step 1 with this line:

PR () { [[ "$o" ]] && o=$(sed 's/^/ /' <<< "$o") && printf '\n%s:\n\n%s\n' "$1" "$o"; }; { o=$(sudo launchctl list | sed 1d | awk '!/0x|com\.(apple|openssh|vix\.cron)|org\.(amav|apac|calendarse|cups|dove|isc|ntp|post[fg]|x)/{print $3}'); PR "Loaded extrinsic daemons"; o=$(sudo defaults read com.apple.loginwindow LoginHook); PR "Login hook"; o=$(sudo crontab -l | grep [^[:blank:]]); PR "Root cron tasks"; o=$(syslog -k Sender kernel -k Message CReq 'GPU |hfs: Ru|I/O e|find tok|n Cause: -|NVDA\(|pagin|timed? ?o' | tail -n25 | awk '/:/{$4=""; print}'); PR "Log check"; } 2>&- | pbcopy; echo $'\nStep 2 done'

You can then quit Terminal. Please note:

☞ Steps 1 and 2 are all copy-and-paste — type only your login password when prompted.

☞ When you type your password, you won't see what you're typing.

☞ If you don’t have a password, set one before taking Step 2. If that’s not possible, skip the step.

☞ Step 2 might not produce any output, in which case the Clipboard will be empty. Step 1 will always produce something.

☞ The commands don't change anything, and merely running them will do neither good nor harm.

☞ Remember to post the output of both steps (unless you had to skip Step 2.) It's already in the Clipboard after you complete each step. You don't have to copy it. Just paste into a reply

☞ If any personal information, such as your name or email address, appears in the output of either command, anonymize it before posting. Usually that won't be necessary.

☞ Don't post what you see in the Terminal window. The output is copied automatically to the Clipboard.

☞ Don't paste the output of Step 1 into the Terminal window. Paste it into a reply.

Yes, and you must have one, unless your files do not matter to you.

If you don't have a backup, shut down the computer immediately and don't turn it on again until you have an external hard drive and are ready to back up.

I am having the same problem. Here is my output from step I and 2.

Boot Mode: Normal

Loaded extrinsic kernel extensions:

com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (8.0 18305.811918)

Loaded extrinsic user agents:

com.google.keystone.system.agent

com.microsoft.SyncServicesAgent

com.akamai.single-user-client

com.adobe.ARM.df0ab5bbe6f698196fcc21e3c1e66dcb758bd911f4d637272d9d8109

Safari extensions:

OpenIE

Restricted user files: 49

Extrinsic loadable bundles:

/System/Library/Extensions/LivescribeSmartpen.kext

(com.livescribe.kext.LivescribeSmartpen)

/System/Library/Extensions/prl_usb_connect.kext

(com.parallels.kext.usbconnect)

Library/Address Book Plug-Ins/SkypeABDialer.bundle

(com.skype.skypeabdialer)

Library/Address Book Plug-Ins/SkypeABSMS.bundle

(com.skype.skypeabsms)

Library/PreferencePanes/AkamaiNetSession.prefPane

(com.yourcompany.AkamaiNetSession)

Library/Services/Send to Evernote.workflow

(No bundle ID)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AdobePDFViewer.plugin

(com.adobe.acrobat.pdfviewer)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

(com.adobe.acrobat.pdfviewerNPAPI)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101750.plugin

(com.AmazonMP3DownloaderPluginLib.Amazon MP3 Downloader Plugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/EPPEX Plugin.plugin

(jp.co.canon.EPPEX Plugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player.plugin

(com.macromedia.Flash Player.plugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin

(com.google.googletalkbrowserplugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/NP_2020Player_IKEA.plugin

(com.2020technologies.2020Player-IKEA.NP)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/npContributeMac.bundle

(com.adobe.npContributeMacBundle)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin

(com.google.o3d)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/o1dbrowserplugin.plugin

(com.google.o1dbrowserplugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin

(com.microsoft.sharepoint.browserplugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/SharePointWebKitPlugin.webplugin

(com.microsoft.sharepoint.webkitplugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Silverlight.plugin

(com.microsoft.SilverlightPlugin)

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/SlingPlayer.plugin

(com.slingmedia.slingplayer.plugin.nspapi)

/Library/PreferencePanes/Flash Player.prefPane

(com.adobe.flashplayerpreferences)

/Library/ScriptingAdditions/Adobe Unit Types.osax

(No bundle ID)

Font problems: 37

Library/LaunchAgents:

com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist

com.adobe.ARM.df0ab5bbe6f698196fcc21e3c1e66dcb758bd911f4d637272d9d8109.plist

com.akamai.single-user-client.plist

com.apple.AddressBook.ScheduledSync.PHXCardDAVSource.5B047C97-728D-49A9-99F7-7E B0A7EA0B8E.plist

com.microsoft.LaunchAgent.SyncServicesAgent.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents:

com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist

com.google.keystone.agent.plist

/Library/LaunchDaemons:

com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist

com.adobe.fpsaud.plist

com.google.keystone.daemon.plist

com.livescribe.PenCommService.plist

com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist

com.skype.skypeinstaller.plist

/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools:

com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper

com.skype.skypeinstaller

Loaded extrinsic daemons:

com.skype.skypeinstaller

com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper

PenCommService

com.google.keystone.daemon

com.adobe.SwitchBoard

com.adobe.fpsaud

I suggest that you start your own thread and allow helpers to concentrate on your problem.

EtreCheck version: 1.9.12 (48)

Report generated July 13, 2014 at 11:49:08 AM GMT+4:30

Hardware Information:

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) (Verified)

iMac - model: iMac11,3

1 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4 cores

4 GB RAM

Video Information:

ATI Radeon HD 5750 - VRAM: 1024 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440

System Software:

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 0 days 1:7:11

Disk Information:

WDC WD1001FALS-40Y6A0 disk0 : (1 TB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 999.35 GB (988.2 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H

USB Information:

USB FLASH DRIVE 7.74 GB

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

OS X 10.9 Install Disk - 10.9.3 (disk1s2) /Volumes/OS X 10.9 Install Disk - 10.9.3: 7.4 GB (1.95 GB free)

Chicony USB Keyboard

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

A4TECH USB Device

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers

User Login Items:

None

Internet Plug-ins:

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Audio Plug-ins:

BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9

AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.9

AppleAVBAudio: Version: 203.2 - SDK 10.9

iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9

iTunes Plug-ins:

Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.9

3rd Party Preference Panes:

None

Time Machine:

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:

3% App Store

3% WindowServer

0% fontd

0% configd

0% networkd

Top Processes by Memory:

82 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

61 MB Safari

49 MB App Store

45 MB WindowServer

41 MB Dock

Virtual Memory Information:

2.42 GB Free RAM

1004 MB Active RAM

180 MB Inactive RAM

426 MB Wired RAM

200 MB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

I have to tell you a crazy thing :

My mid 2010 was painfully slow, since months and sometime I had crashs when reboot, start, update... so I try many things : re-installed more than 10 times, run from an external drive (to validate or not that my hard drive is dead), etc... without any success

Yesterday when working (trying), my usb apple keyboard stopped working.

I try it on my mac book pro : keyboard dead ?

I plug a logitec pc keyboard on my iMac to finish my work and... and I have a new super fast iMac???

Since yesterday no issues, no turning wheel every 2 seconds for any action, everything fine.

Crazy, but easy to give a try no?

PS: If any technician could validate that usb can interfere like that? It would be great.