Mac Book Pro slowing down

The toc.generator can go. It is not the printer driver. It generates all kind of problems often.

Virtualbox probably has left a lot behind: Here below the cleanup instructions (you can of course re-download the latest version and install when you want it again):

Finder:

MacintoshHD->Library->StartupItems delete Virtualbox

->Library->Extensions delete org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv

and org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB

to be sure also look in MacintoshHD->System->Library->Extensions

Cool, got all the VirtualBox I could find per your instructions and deleted that along with the tocgenerator

Ready to start a new life !

Please Help,

Thanks in advanced ,)

v

EtreCheck version: 1.9.11 (43) - report generated June 15, 2014 at 6:33:35 AM PDT

Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores

4 GB RAM

Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB

System Software:

OS X 10.9 (13A603) - Uptime: 0 days 0:30:2

Disk Information:

Hitachi HTS545032B9A302 disk0 : (320.07 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 319.21 GB (307.45 GB free)

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

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS31N

USB Information:

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

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: 1.9 - SDK 10.9

AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0 - 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:

13% mds

12% mds_stores

3% WindowServer

0% fontd

0% opendirectoryd

Top Processes by Memory:

217 MB mds_stores

127 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

102 MB Safari

102 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

78 MB Finder

Virtual Memory Information:

705 MB Free RAM

2.05 GB Active RAM

245 MB Inactive RAM

1.02 GB Wired RAM

1.39 GB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

iOmid, Looks good, what is your problem?

Lex

Hi Lex,

I have serious performance issue with my MBP (late 2011). I already attempted all the steps you stated above and it doesn't solve any of my problem. The boot-up takes about 2-3 minute alone, when you move the cursor across the dock there is a delay of a few seconds for them pop out. All actions performed are taking incredibly long to perform. In last past 2 years, i never had a problem like this.

The system works fine in SafeMode, as if nothing is wrong. There is graphic performance issue (dock movement not smooth) in SafeMode but i think that's fine since its SafeMode. No other problem as such. Below are EtreCheck; i never installed any anti-virus or mackeeper or any such malware. I did install ccleaner but never really used it. I have Adobe Photoshop CS5, which i rarely use but my profession demands i keep it. I am facing this issue since yesterday, so initially i pin pointed that i may need to upgrade my RAM. So i upgraded from 2 x 2 GB to 2 x 4 GB RAM. I now have 8 GB of Memory and unfortunately, the issue isn't resolved. Since it works well in Safe Mode, i think some application is trying to cause this issue. I used Activity Monitor to terminate any such application however, no such application is responsible for such CPU consumption yet the current stats are:

System: 86.25%

User: 6.55%

Idle: 5.60%

Already tried:

1. Restarting Macbook Multiple times
2. SMC Reset
3. NVRAM Reset
4. Removing unnecessary application which i no longer use
5. Removing non required Internet Plugins
6. Verifying hard disk to see if it needs any repair. All OK here. Read and Write speed 64mb/s and 54mb/s respectively
7. Removing start-up files from User group

Fan noise is audible and Battery Performance is affected.

Below are screenshot and latest EtreCheck:

Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores

8 GB RAM

Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 512 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software:

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 0 days 0:8:4

Disk Information:

ST9500325ASG disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Hard Drive (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (426.2 GB free)

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

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5970H

USB Information:

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Configuration files:

/etc/hosts - Count: 65

Gatekeeper:

Anywhere

Startup Items:

HWNetMgr: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWNetMgr

HWPortDetect: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect

Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist Support

[loaded] com.tunnelbear.mac.tbeard.plist Support

Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

User Launch Agents:

[failed] com.nero.HSMMonitor.plist Support

User Login Items:

Dropbox

Internet Plug-ins:

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Flash Player: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support

EPPEX Plugin: Version: 10.0 Support

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.0.0 Support

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support

Safari Extensions:

Searchme: Version: 1.3

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

User Internet Plug-ins:

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 Support

3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player Support

Time Machine:

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:

14% mds

10% Found

7% mds_stores

6% WindowServer

4% FileIsFound

Top Processes by Memory:

106 MB Dropbox

66 MB Found

66 MB Dock

57 MB mds_stores

57 MB CalendarAgent

Virtual Memory Information:

4.91 GB Free RAM

1.60 GB Active RAM

311 MB Inactive RAM

1.19 GB Wired RAM

182 MB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

Please also note that SOMETIMES everything goes back to normal for a few minutes. The System usage decrease to 3-7% and no Fan Noise is audible however, after a few minutes it goes back to this. Average System Process is 85%

Application installed on this system are:

1Password

Adobe Bridge CS6

Adobe Extension Manager CS6

Adobe Photoshop CS6

Airmail

Android File Transfer

Caffine

CCleaner (never used really)

Chromecast

Dropbox

Evernote

Found

Google Chrome

Google Drive

Numbers

Octagon

TextWrangler

Tunnel Bear

Twitter

uTorrent

VLC

Note: I have recently updated OS X to 10.9.4 - Installed on Jul 28, 2014. Prior to install, i never had such problem.

I am following this thread and will be able to comment instantly. I really want to thank all the contributors in advance. Please help me 😟

Hi Kashishv;

a very good post, with all you did already.

A. If you really did not use CleanMyMac, you may leave it at that; if you DID use it, there is only one way to get rid of it: a really clean install of the OS, and then NOT restore from backups, but reinstall all apps by downloading from safe sites and then putting your user data back by hand....

B. There may of course a hardware issue, but first I would like to discuss the softwares here and some of which are causing issues:

1. First of all there are a number of softwares that were hacked (I am sure that you used a keygenerator for some) and others maybe downloaded with a torrent app). I advise strongly to uninstall them as per uninstaller from the developer. Really Quit these apps and then restart before you try to download the uninstallers, to avoid potential trouble. If CS was hacked also uninstall it, and you need it for your work, ask them to pay for a legal version.

2. Then there is Google Chrome, which you should not use during the cleaning that I advise, better to uninstall it first, it is very sloppy with resources use, and not very safe. I advise not to reinstall it later; if you do not want to use Safari use either Firefox or Opera, both fast, safe and correctly programmed. Google software installs a GoogleUpdater tool: when all google apps are gone you can uninstall this crappy updater with these steps:

1. In Google Updater, click My Software List.
2. If you have any Google software (other than Updater), click it, then click Uninstall.
3. Click Google Updater.
4. Click the Uninstall button. If asked, enter an adminstrator account name and password.

3. Set Gatekeeper to "Mac AppStore and identified developers", if you want to open another download, hold the CTL key while opening the download.

4. Then there are remnants of Huawei crap software that you may have used for a Huawei mobile, I am sure that you do not need that software, and it is very crappy; In Finder StartupHD->Library->StartupItems: remove both HWPortdetect and HWNetmgr, then restart and empty the TrashBin.

5. In Finder Menu click the GO menu while holding the Alt(option) key and choose Library, in there open the LaunchAgents folder and delete

com.nero.HSMMonitor.plist

6. I am not sure about Tunnelbear, maybe you do not need a VPN, then uninstall it.

Uninstall uTorrent and any other torrent app you may have, torrent apps are very unsafe, even for music downloads.

Uninstall Caffeine, you do not need it.

If you have Found downloaded from Softonic or such site, uninstall it. You may later download it from Appstore. This Found app has a high CPU use.

Note: NEVER download software from Softonic or CNET or such sites: they are known to build in followers in the installers of the software. When you use them to find software, go to the developer website to really download that software. In this context read TheSafeMac.com site.

Same for Octagon.

I am not happy with Chromecast. BTW if you do not uninstall Chromecast, you can not uninstall GoogleUpdater.

8. I do not know why you have Textwrangler, but do not uninstall it: we need it later to correct the compromised Hosts file.

Restart, empty the trash. see how it is after this.

If you have still issues, you can test the Ram, by taking out the added strips, and then see what that does.

Report back, happy trip,

Lex

Hi Lex,

Thank you for writing, i really appreciate all the suggestions.

A) I did not use CleanMyMac and i have uninstalled it now.

1. I understand what you mean here, i have uninstalled CS6 and all other components from the machine. Likewise i have also removed uTorrent and other material.
2. I have also removed Google Chrome, Drive and other Google products.
3. Gatekeeper is set to Apple Verified Applications only
4. I never had a Huawei Phone but i assume it was a component manufacturer of a 3G Data Card i used, hence, removed as per instructions.
5. com.nero.HSMMonitor.plist removed.
6. I do need a VPN sometimes but there removed it. If i ever need it i can reinstall it.
7. Caffine, Found and Octagon were downloaded from Appstore. I don't use Softonic for anything. But i removed them anyway, removed Chromecast as well.
8. TextWrangler is here to stay.

Trash Empty and Restart and the problem persist. It IS lagging. Here's a screenshot of Activity Manager and another EtreCheck done results.

**EtreCheck shows a "launch Daemons" has com.tunnelbear.mac.tbeard.plist is loaded, along with that com.google.keystone.daemon.plist and com.adobe.fpsaud.plist is running. I am sure you are going to ask me to delete them in next post so there, i am deleting them right away n redo a EtreCheck n post results. HDD > Library > LaunchDaemons > Delete

Empty Thrash and Restart again. Problem Persist: EtreCheck Results:

EtreCheck version: 1.9.12 (48)

Report generated 30 July 2014 8:34:05 pm IST

Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores

8 GB RAM

Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 512 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software:

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 0 days 0:23:3

Disk Information:

ST9500325ASG disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Hard Drive (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (428.9 GB free)

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

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5970H

USB Information:

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Configuration files:

/etc/hosts - Count: 65

Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers

Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

User Login Items:

Dropbox

Internet Plug-ins:

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Flash Player: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support

EPPEX Plugin: Version: 10.0 Support

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.0.0 Support

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support

Safari Extensions:

Searchme: Version: 1.3

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

User Internet Plug-ins:

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 Support

3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player Support

Time Machine:

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:

4% WindowServer

2% ps

0% Activity Monitor

0% Dropbox

0% imagent

Top Processes by Memory:

156 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

106 MB Dropbox

90 MB Finder

90 MB TextWrangler

74 MB Dock

Virtual Memory Information:

4.42 GB Free RAM

1.86 GB Active RAM

505 MB Inactive RAM

1.22 GB Wired RAM

273 MB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

Is there anything else i should try? I am running in SafeMode right now and everything seems to be fine 😟

Quick work!

Looks healthy now, but some small details:

-- in Startdisk/Library/LaunchAgents you can delete the google.keystone.agent.plist

this is the google updater scanner.

-- The latest GoogleDrive app is not giving problems in Mavericks, if you can use it, you can reinstall it. As all other cloud apps it only uses serious resources when synchronizing. If you install it you must do it before you delete the keystone thing, otherwise the keystone thing will come back.

-- I am not sure, but I think the Searchme Safari plugin is inviting ad spam.

-- GoogleEarth with internet plugin is sloppy programming but otherwise harmless, let it be.

-- in the ActivityMonitor list I don't see anything special, although the CPU load is a bit high, that may go away after a few minutes. Kernel task is high though without indication what it is doing. Present these figures again after an hour or more of normal use of the mac.

-- Is the Android File Transfer app still installed?

-- the compromised hosts file is very probably not the cause of your issue, it is used by internet access only in blocking some accesses. We wait a bit longer with correcting it. But to be certain, disconnect from the internet and see if it is different. In the etrechecklist I do not see anything that could be the cause.

-- is it still running OK in the Safemode?

-- Maybe there is still something that is caused by the earlier install of CMM.

Hardware:

-- what peripherals are connected?

-- 4GB ram is more than enough here, can you test without the additional Ram? Although I pretty sure that it is OK.

-- Can you shutdown and then start in the Restore partition (CMD+R), start DiskUtility in there and run the following sequence: repair disk permissions, verify disk, repair disk. Even if all this reports back with OK, there may be harmful stuff on the disk, put there by the a keygenerator if you used it.

Read The SafeMac.com to see waht to run (eg ClamXav) for finding any malware.

-- If it still does not go away, can you go to Apple for them to run a detailed hardware test (the AHT that you can run yourself is by far not good enough)?

-- in free moments, think about a good backup strategy

Lex

Hi Lex,

Once again, thank you for your time. I really appreciate your valuable suggestions and i am following every single one. I have already:

• Deleted google.keystone.agent.plist
• Removed GoogleDrive app
• Searchme Safari plugin is now removed
• GoogleEarth is removed (just in case)
• Android File Transfer was still there, but now removed.
• disconnect from the internet ✅
• Yes, its still running OK in SafeMode. No lag, nothing really. Just the Visual Performance - smooth cursoring on Dock is "teeny meeny" laggy but everything else springs up on response.
• what peripherals are connected? Nothing absolutely. I don't use anything on USB, rarely a Flash Drive.
• Test without additional RAM. Sure! But i will keep this on last, since its hardware related. *currently verifying disk*
• I am located in remote area's. We don't have Apple center anywhere near by. I will have to travel 250 km to access one. The local resellers know nothing about Mac, they advice to install WIN on a Macbook. But if the problem persist, i think we can do a fresh install of OS and if that doesn't fix as well. I might have to wait till i find time to visit an ACTUAL Apple store.

Current Stat: The volume Hard Drive appears to be OK. But i did click on Repair Disk and its working now. Currently: Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required. Next list is a few articles from thesafemac.com, thanks for that Lex.

Regarding the Backup Options. My office is WIN dominated, i have an (portable) external hard drive i use for office back-ups. I know Mac cannot write to it but it reads from it. Its some FAT32 and NTFS issue. IF i format this drive, can i use it as Backup solution for Mac? Or lets say if i buy another Portable Hard Disk, can i use it with Mac n Mac alone? I also have a Mac Air which i use for travel so i can afford a Portable Hard Drive for this alone.

Do i have to look for something before i buy a Hard Drive? Maybe if its Mac compatible? or FAT32? I read somewhere that FAT32 support not more than 16GB or something like that. In all, do you think there is a reliable solution that will allow one hard drive to work with both Mac n Windows? OR do i have to look for something before i get a Portable Hard Drive for Mac? *If i remember this correctly, the first time i bought a hard drive, i first plugged it into Mac (right after the box) and i was unable to write files on it. What should i do in this case? format it to FAT32?

Thanks for your patience Lex

Disk:

Mac can read Fat32 and NTFS (reading NTFS may have some quirks). It can not write NTFS.

When you buy a separate external hd for Mac only, you have to think about two things:

-- Before use format it on the Mac in Mac OS Extended (journaled)... even the doc says it is already formatted for OSX (it may contain some supplier software),

-- Never install any Supplier software that comes with it, OSX does not need that, and it is counterproductive.

Such a disk can be bought with OWC, or any other supplier. Good are WesternDigital, or Seagate, OWC. Personally I have bad experiences with Lacie, but that may be an exception. Example: 1TB WD Elements (2,5", USB3) costs about $60-70. Do not buy Firewire.

The first time, you could make a bootable Clone (with Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper) after we finish our quest, then start from the clone and see whether it is the same behaviour or not. If you want also use TimeMachine I would wait with that until we are sure that we find and eliminate the issue, or after a clean install. In that case use a separate disk for TM of 3-5 times the GB you use on the Startup disk: avoid more partitions on a backup disk: if the disk goes down you have nothing.

ISSUE:

Since you have almost no issue in the safe mode, it still is not clear if it is a hardware or software issue. There still is the possibility of a compromised system file. Is your battery OK (look in /Utilities/SystemInformation under "Power"): number of cycles, battery condition.? Video OK? Look also under "Diagnostics".

In earlier OSX we often recommended to download an Update Combo and install that even if the software is already up to date. The actual is starting in the recovery partition and reinstall OSX. You need a good internet connection and it will cost a bit of time (downloading OSX, installing and restarting). Maybe you can try it.

Lex

Hi Lex,

Thank you for writing. The fact that i have used only 70GB of the total Mac Hard Disk, it makes sense to go for a fresh install, since i have already uninstalled major applications like CS6 and MS-Office. There isn't much left in the machine that i need. I can download applications like Evernote and other productivity tools again from AppStore.

I am wondering if i will lose all data from 1Password? Or is it stored in Cloud. I will have to research on that. Currently i am trying to take a backup, once this is done - i will do a fresh install. I am also invited for Beta for Yosemite. I am not sure if i should put my hands into beta with such little knowledge of computing. I think Maverick will be the best bet.

OWC is very much American. This side of the World, you have Transcend, Sata (hard to find locally), Buffalo and other Japanese and Chinese companies dominating the market. You get major products online but its 40% higher than the American price. I paid $110 for 2 x 4GB Corsair Ram here, do you think that's a lot? A Buffalo HD 500GB cost here $100, if you see it in real you will laugh for a while.

I will keep you posted on this Lex. Thanks for being this awesome

Clean thinking to follow my implied advise. But I am not 100% sure that there may not be a hardware side on it.

1Password also has the pw file in the computer, copy that or backup, see the 1pw documentation.

I would stay away from Yosemite, it does not take long and it will be there. If you think you can really contribute, it may be different, but you have enough on your head right now.

Brands: Corsair is much the cheap side, only have professional items, Crucial is about US$85 in USA, a bit more here in Europa (high VAT). Disks, Hitachi normally is good also.

When you have the external disk, make a bootable clone (CCC or SuperDuper). Now you can start from the external clone. Download Mavericks, do not install and make a bootable stick with DiskmakerX, then Format the internal. Install Mavericks with the bootable stick on the internal, and start it to see if it runs without the issue. Install all apps you need from a new download. Use finder to transfer your data from the clone.

I am interested to know how it goes.

Lex

Hi Lex,

I once had bad experience with back-up, restoring and partitioning drives on WIN. Since then, i've stopped messing around with drives and data. I lost 16GB worth childhood memory to a crappy partitioning software which corrupted the Hard Disk. I don't have a fast internet connection (4mbps is the best you get here) but i love (and rely on) cloud storage and i try to backup necessary data on Portable Hard Drives. So, much of what you said regarding Hard Drives was complete bouncer for me. I am not qualified to perform any of that.

OS X has been downloaded and now installation is nearly complete. I am hoping this will solve the problem. I bought a Mac Compatible Hard Drive and erased it as per your instructions and now using it as secondary back up. I don't like TimeMachine as such, i did a manual backup and now that i think of it, i forgot to backup 1Password.

If everything is fine after installation, i will have to spend countless hours into re-configuring, downloading and installing various applications. I don't know how i could have avoided that. I did not install any new software in recent as such. Just the Maverick update, and i shouldn't blame it. Yosemite will out soon and i will have to download 15GB of OS again.

**update** ✅

The installation is complete, Mac performed a restart and the issue seems to have resolved. The system CPU usage is: 3.41%. It took about 6 hours to download and i remember doing a fresh install yet the data, wallpaper and configuration seems to be untouched. Everything is as it was, but the problem is resolved. I was thinking, it will be a fresh install (delete everything n a fresh n new copy) but that's not what it looks like.

What just happened? I can see the system is a LOT faster than it was before, i think the new RAM has something to do here?

Thank you Lex

"I once had bad experience with back-up, restoring and partitioning drives on WIN. Since then, i've stopped messing around with drives and data. I lost 16GB worth childhood memory to a crappy partitioning software which corrupted the Hard Disk. I don't have a fast internet connection (4mbps is the best you get here) but i love (and rely on) cloud storage and i try to backup necessary data on Portable Hard Drives. So, much of what you said regarding Hard Drives was complete bouncer for me. I am not qualified to perform any of that."

I did not want to confuse you, sorry. Do not partition external drives use them for one job only, backup, always format them before first use.

CCC: this is a handy method to make a clone first that you can startup off, in case anything goes wrong.

1Password: it still is in the cloud also.

Cloud backup: ok, but cloud is very slow compared to using an external disk, even here (i have 100MB internet speed),

USB3: as fast as firewire (about) but much more compatible.

" i will have to spend countless hours into re-configuring, downloading and installing various applications. I don't know how i could have avoided that."

You could not have avoided that in this case: you downloaded untrustworthy software, so you can not reuse it. Easy next time: when you have downloaded an application from a trusted site, make a copy on an external disk, for future use if anything goes wrong, when downloaded from the app store it will stay there for redownload, like cloud backup.

"Yosemite will out soon and i will have to download 15GB of OS again" yes, quite a task with 4MB speed. The first weeks after release the whole world is downloading then, so you better wait a month, and find a place where the speed is much better.

"What just happened? I can see the system is a LOT faster than it was before, i think the new RAM has something to do here?"

I don't think the Ram upgrade is very important: you already had lots of free ram in Activity Monitor, and if Mavericks says "free" ram, it is really really free. But of course more ram is always better. I think there were compromised system components which are very difficult to find and even more difficult to correct, even if you know what caused it.

Lex