Q: My MacBook Pro Mid 2010 start to running slow! What can I do?

There is no clear culprit, but we are going to clean off that what is better gone:

(I have the feeling that I saw this list before some time ago).

1. First we have to remove LittleSnitch: a useless app, that is very difficult to uninstall, and does not have any information how to uninstall.

*.Restart the computer.

*. Start Activity Monitor and click the Name column to sort the processes, look in there if there is/are a process(es) with Snitch, or Little in the name: if so click the little grey x-icon (top left) and forcequit that process(es).

*. In Finder go to the  MacintoshHD->Library->Extensions  folder and in there delete

at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch 

*. Then go to   MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchDaemons  folder and in there delete

at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist 

*. Then go to   MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchAgents  folder and in there delete

at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist

*. Then in the Applications and Utilities folders delete all occurences of Little Snitch.

*. Now Restart the Mac again, empty the trash bin. Although there probably still are some leftovers, it will not harass the Mac anymore. Help me remember to instruct you to delete these leftovers later.

     Now we go on, do it in the order presented here, even though you are in some folders more than once!

2. I strongly suggest to uninstall Paragon NTFS: remove from SystemPreferences, then

*. in  MacintoshHD->Library->Extensions  folder  delete  com.paragon-software.filesystems.ntfs 

*. then in  MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchAgents  folder  delete 

com.paragon.NTFS.trial.plist   and

com.paragon.NTFS.upd.plist 

they should be here, if they are not go to

MacintoshHD->System->Library->Extensions  folder  and delete there.

*. Now Restart the Mac again, empty the trash bin

3. Uninstall Macfuse (SystemPreferences)

4. Uninstall Growl (SystemPreferences)

5. Remove the Java Applet (SystemPreferences), then go to

MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchDaemons  folder and in there delete

com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist   and

com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist

then in MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchAgents  folder delete

com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist 

(java is no longer part of OSX)

6. Even if you are using Parallels Desktop (v8 or later) remove the following:

in MacintoshHD->Library->StartupItems  folder delete

ParallelsDesktopTransporter

7. Now some "assorted" items:

*. in MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchDaemons  folder delete com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist 

*. in   yourname->Library->LaunchAgents  folder delete  the two Adobe entries.

(you go there via the Finder menu GO while holding the alt(option) key and clicking Library).

*. In MacintoshHD->Library->InternetPlugins  folder delete the following plugins:

two AdobePDFViewer, Silverlight, JavaApplet

*. in Safari->Preferences->Extensions  delete the 'Open in Internet Explorer' extension.

*. I do not know why you have Native Instruments USB Audio  in SystemPreferences. Why?

*. GRproofing: why? Are you sure it is Mavericks compatible? I do not remember.

Now Restart the Mac again, empty the trash bin.

Pffff, you should notice that a lot of (snow)Leopard things are gone.

Lex

>>LittleSnitch: a useless app, that is very difficult to uninstall, and does not have any information how to uninstall.

http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/faq.html

--------------------------------------------------------

Little Snitch 3

Open the Little Snitch Uninstaller application and follow the instructions to remove Little Snitch. This uninstaller also removes all previous versions of Little Snitch. The Uninstaller can be found at /Library/Little Snitch/Little Snitch Uninstaller. If you don’t have the uninstaller available on your computer anymore, you can re-download it from our Download Page.

LexSchellings wrote:

 

5. Remove the Java Applet (SystemPreferences), then go to

MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchDaemons  folder and in there delete

com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist   and

com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist

then in MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchAgents  folder delete

com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist 

(java is no longer part of OSX)

Then you'll be surprised to see all the Java files installed by OS X 10.9.2:

Of course none of that will allow you to use Java in your browser or run a Java coded application, but it does lay the groundwork for obtaining that capability by installing Java JRE.

It would seem the OP has the latest version of Java SE 7 installed, which could mean he needs it for some reason. Certainly it should be closely managed and only enabled in the browser when absolutely necessary.

You can use Appcleaner. No problem. But these uninstallers are not perfect. But much better than only dragging an app to the Trash, .

NTFS, do it as I explained, remove everything and the Applet in SystemPreferences.

@Andy, good info, thanks for your post.

Lex

Did you look in the correct Library folder?

Jeff_KatZ wrote:

 

can I use AppCleaner to remove other programms?

Only as a last resort when the developer fails to provide adequate uninstall instructions. AppCleaner simply looks for files that contain the application or developers name which you can just as easily do with EasyFind or Find Any File.

Hi Mad, good work, I am aware of all the java items. But Java os not spyware, t is just a software with a hole in it. If the entries that I listed are gone, it does not harm anymore. Of all the points discussed here and in other threads, there are remnants every time, but harmless as the entries in the receipts folders.

Java: If you must. Go to the Oracle site. It is not spyware, but it has serious holes for hackers.