Q: Upgrade to Mavericks slowed my 2008 mac book down

If you just installed Mavericks, Spotlight may be indexing your hard drive and your Mac may be slow for a while until it's done indexing.

It would help to give us more information. Etresoft: EtreCheck is a free app developed by one of the contributors to this forum which will generate a system report on your computer. If you can paste the report here we can take a look and see if there are any other problems.

Also, your RAM is on the low side. I know the specs for Mavericks say 2, but 4 is probably a more realisitic minimum. It will run with 2, but not too well. Especially in a 6 year old Mac. But let's see the Etrecheck report and maybe there's something else that we can fix.

immediately uninstall Avira!!! these antivirus apps are counterproductive. Use the Avira uninstaller and then restart and empty Trashbin, then a new etrecheck list to see if there are remnants.

Your 2GB of RAM is the problem. That is the absolute minimum to just install Mavericks, not run applications too. Your machine is struggling to run with additional application load, as it is running out of memory.

The max addressable memory for a 2008 MBP is 6GB as a 2+4GB combination. That memory for your machine costs $85 USD. You might be able to get by with 4GB.

Personally, I would kick that Avira Anti-Virus to the curb. Mavericks has got your back with built-in A/V and malware protection.

I disagree:

Avira is the problem.

The Memory reading displayed in etrecheck is OK. enough memory. The readings are very different from Activity Monitor in older OSX! Mavericks just uses all memory. Would there be a lot of free ram, it would mean much too much ram. You should look at the memory pressure in ActivityMonitor and at page in and out.

The physical memory in that machine is 2GB. I haven't seen anyone in the community recommending that 2GB of memory is practical, or acceptible after Snow Leopard. I do not believe that the only story here is just removing Avira, and a miracle occurs.

after SL: yes, Lion, MountainLion. But since Mavericks is handling memory very different and much more efficient. 2GB may be too low ater all, but is not the cause of the issues here. When you run Mavericks yourself and study the Activity Monitor carefully you can see the differences clearly.

Lex

I've just moved to Mavericks last week and my system has become really slow since then. Here is the report from EtreCheck:

Informations matérielles :

          MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011)

          MacBook Pro - modèle : MacBookPro8,1

          1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU : 2 cores

          4 GB RAM

Informations vidéos :

          Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB

Logiciel du système :

          OS X 10.9.1 (13B42) - Uptime: 3 days 23:28:59

Informations des disques :

          ST9500325ASG disk0 : (500.11 GB)

                    EFI (disk0s1) <non monté> : 209.7 MB

                    Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (240.19 GB free)

                    Recovery HD (disk0s3) <non monté> : 650 MB

          HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS31N 

Informations USB :

          Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

          Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

                    Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

          Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

          Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Informations Firewire :

Informations Thunderbolt :

          Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Extensions de noyau :

          com.LivestreamProcaster.driver.ProcasterAudioRedirector          (2.0.0 - SDK 10.0)

Éléments de démarrage :

          HP IO : Chemin : /Library/StartupItems/HP IO

          HWNetMgr : Chemin : /Library/StartupItems/HWNetMgr

          HWPortDetect : Chemin : /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect

          MobileBrServ (disabled by Orange) : Chemin : /Library/StartupItems/MobileBrServ (disabled by Orange)

          StartOuc : Chemin : /Library/StartupItems/StartOuc

Daemons de lancement systèmes avec un problème :

Représentants de lancement systèmes avec un problème :

Daemons de lancements :

          [System] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

          [System] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

          [System] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

Représentants de lancement :

          [System] com.divx.dms.agent.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

          [System] com.divx.update.agent.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

          [System] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

Représentants de lancement pour l’utilisateur :

          [not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

          [not loaded] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-leilak-SharedServices.Agent.plist

          [not loaded] com.Livestation.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

          [not loaded] com.spotify.webhelper.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

          [not loaded] Internet Everywhere

          [not loaded] Internet Everywhere.plist Lien aide de 3ème partie

Éléments Ouverture :

          GrowlHelperApp

          iTunesHelper

          Dropbox

          Microsoft Database Daemon

          Spotify

Internet Plug-ins :

          o1dbrowserplugin : Version : 5.1.2.17113 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          OVSHelper : Version : 1.1 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Default Browser : Version : 537 - SDK 10.9

          Flip4Mac WMV Plugin : Version : 3.2.0.16   - SDK 10.8 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          RealPlayer Plugin : Version : (null) Lien aide de 3ème partie

          AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101749 : Version : AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          FlashPlayer-10.6 : Version : 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          DivX Web Player : Version : 3.0 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Silverlight : Version : 5.0.61118.0 - SDK 10.6 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Flash Player : Version : 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 Vieux ! Mettre à jour

          iPhotoPhotocast : Version : 7.0

          googletalkbrowserplugin : Version : 5.1.2.17113 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          npgtpo3dautoplugin : Version : 0.1.44.29 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          AdobePDFViewer : Version : 9.5.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          QuickTime Plugin : Version : 7.7.3

          SharePointBrowserPlugin : Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.6 Lien aide de 3ème partie

Plug-ins audios :

          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

Plug-ins internets pour utilisateur :

          Move-Media-Player : Version : npmnqmp 071700000011 Lien aide de 3ème partie

Panneaux de préférences de 3ème partie :

          Flash Player  Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Flip4Mac WMV  Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Growl  Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Perian  Lien aide de 3ème partie

Polices mauvaises :

          Aucun

Applications vieilles :

          /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MERP2.0

                    Signalement d'erreurs Microsoft :          Version : 2.2.9 - SDK 10.4 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Ship Asserts :          Version : 1.1.4 - SDK 10.4 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Solver :          Version : 1.0 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    /Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Office/Add-Ins/Solver.app

          /Library/Application Support/DivX

                    DivXUpdate :          Version : 1.0 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    DivXMediaServer :          Version : 10.0 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    DivXTransferWizard :          Version : 10.0.0 (Build 10.0.0.21) - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    DMSLaunch :          Version : 1.0 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Audacity :          Version : 2.0.2.0 - SDK 10.4 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    /Applications/Audacity/Audacity.app

          /Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Office

                    Microsoft Graph :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Database Utility :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Office Reminders :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Upload Center :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    My Day :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    SyncServicesAgent :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Open XML for Excel :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Alerts Daemon :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Database Daemon :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Chart Converter :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Clip Gallery :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          /Applications/Microsoft Office 2011

                    Microsoft PowerPoint :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Excel :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Outlook :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Word :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    Microsoft Document Connection :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Microsoft Language Register :          Version : 14.3.9 - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    /Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Additional Tools/Microsoft Language Register/Microsoft Language Register.app

          Microsoft AutoUpdate :          Version : 2.3.6 - SDK 10.4 Lien aide de 3ème partie

                    /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft AutoUpdate.app

          /Applications/iWork '09

          DivX Player :          Version : 10.0.0 (Build 11.2.0.81) - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          Amazon MP3 Downloader :          Version : INFO_PLIST_VERSION - SDK 10.4 Lien aide de 3ème partie

          DivX Converter :          Version : 10.0.0 (Build 10.0.0.60) - SDK 10.5 Lien aide de 3ème partie

Time Machine:

          Skip System Files: NO

          Sauvegardes mobiles : Allumé

          Sauvegarde automatique : OUI

          Disques sauvegardés :

                    Macintosh HD : Taille de disque : 464.96 Go Disque utilisé : 241.26 Go

          Destinations:

                    MAC [Local] (Utilisé en dernier)

                    Taille totale : 325.96 Go

                    Nombre de sauvegardes total : 14

                    Sauvegardes la plus agée : 2013-08-19 20:33:17 +0000

                    Dernière sauvegarde : 2014-01-22 09:01:44 +0000

                    Taille de la disque de sauvegarde : Trop petit

                              Taille de sauvegarde 325.96 Go > (Disque utilisé 241.26 Go X 3)

          Détails de Time Machine peuvent ne pas être exacts

          Tous les disques sauvegardée peuvent ne pas être indiquiqués.

L’utilisation du CPU par processus :

               4%          WindowServer

               1%          EtreCheck

               0%          com.apple.WebKit.Networking

               0%          ps

               0%          ouc

L’utilisation de la mémoire par processus :

          119 Mo          Mail

          106 Mo          Safari

          61 Mo          WindowServer

          49 Mo          Finder

          45 Mo          iTunes

Informations de la mémoire virtuelle :

          38 Mo          RAM Disponible

          956 Mo          RAM Active

          928 Mo          RAM Inactive

          1.01 Go          RAM Résidente

          6.64 Go          Pages entrants

          1.18 Go          Sorties pages

I've been told that I may need more RAM, would anyone be able to confirm that?

Thanks in advance

Lina

I have been running Mavericks since it became available. I know about the differences in reported memory utilization. I also have Snow Leopard, Lion (2008 MBP), and Mountain Lion running here.

I have no intention of installing Mavericks on my MBP to ascertain whether its advertised, new memory handling capability is equally effective on older Core 2 Duo subsystems, as it is on the current Haswell architecture.

Ultimately, the OP will have to share with us where he stands after the Avira removal.

OK, that is better. At the moment it is not short of ram, but since it is very cheap you can add 2 or more GB. The difference will be marginally noticeable, since there is (practically) no buffering on the disk.

In Mavericks you have very good Notifications sytem, why not uninstall Growl?

I do not know Garmin ANT, when you do not need that, maybe uninstall it also, when you need it, consider taking it out of the SystemPreferences/Users&Groups/LoginItems tab (with the minus sign) so that it is not running contnuously.

Lex

Lina,

With respect, It is good etiquette in the community to start your own main post, rather than hi-jack a post belonging to another member. It becomes confusing to everyone when we start answering multiple sub-posts to an original post.

Your post will attract more attention and solution recommendations as a new main post, than it would inside another members question and issue. I would encourage you to do that.

We are working to solve the original poster's issues which may be entirely different from your own. Your use of EtreCheck is however, an intelligent first step.