Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

5 points

Finder freezes - needs 20 seconds to react

Hi I encountered a strange behaviour on my late 2013 iMac that appeared out of nowhere. I did not update or install a new version of something. From one day to the other my finder is slow and does not react for seconds. Whenever I open a finder window the mouse cursor turns into the rainbow-color spinning wheel and I can do nothing. Approx. after 20 seconds the mouse cursor is back again and everything works fine. I can browse through folders etc. But when I click outside the finder window or switch to another application and come back to the same - or a new finder window - the mouse again turns into the spinning wheel. The same happens when I press the space bar to preview a picture or word doc or pdf. The documents opens in the preview window, but I can not browse through the other docs in the folder with the arrow keys for again 20 seconds.

What I did to solve the problem is to delete the com.apple.finder.plist in the library/preferences folder. But it did not help.

I have a network connection via a Thunderbolt to ethernet adapter to a macpro. But this is my standard configuration and worked quite well for month.

The only thing that came to my mind is, that the finder is first trying to verify the network connection every time it is opened and after verification is OK, you can use it. But the problem remains whether the macpro or the network connection is on or off.

OSX version is 10.8.5

Any ideas???

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on May 28, 2014 6:42 AM

39 replies

Jun 1, 2014 12:50 PM in response to indigoblue69

More notes on my Finder feeze like Indigoblue69. I don't have Espionage. I was updating Office to the 14.4.2 update, stopping in the middle because I didn't know how to stop "Office365service". I was using Quicktime 10.2 and iTunes 11.2.1 which I use infrequently, plus a lot of iPhoto11 version 9.4.3, switching between libraries.

hope someone can nail this

indigoblue69 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 5, 2014 8:39 AM in response to dianeoforegon

Meanwhile I followed the steps in your link....without success.

In the "manual" I can find the line "The reset process takes just a couple of minutes".

I executed the process and stopped it after 4,5 hours !!! because the "wheel" was still spinning, indicating that the system is still at work. After that the permissions were exact like before. BUT I activated the normal permission repair from the disc utility within this "repair screen" and that worked. So these are the results:

1. I updatet iTunes to 11.2.2 (hoping that the problem came from the iTunes/Safari update)

2. All permissions are OK now with the help of the Repair Utilities screen.

3. I uninstalled the espionage software

4. I indicated some Server things going on with the "Lingon"-Tool. That came from the time I test-installed "daylite" and "billings pro". Now removed them.

Result: Still the same problem.....😟

Everything works fine. No slow machine or sluggish response, even while the Finder ist "out of order". Just this ****** Finder is not working properly....😠

Jun 19, 2014 4:03 AM in response to harrypottuh

You'll need to remove Office then re-install.

Manually remove: Office for Mac 2011: Remove Office

Use Script to remove <This is a Direct Download Link>

Script does not delete your preferences or your data in the Microsoft User Data folder in Documents.

Updaters need to be applied in order.

If you have one of the original installers, first update to 14.1.0.

Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.4.1 Update

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42373

Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.4.2 Update (requires 14.1.0 or higher)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2970766

Not only should Safari be quit but all browsers and hidden Microsoft processes like the Microsoft Database daemon and SyncServicesAgent.

Log out under the Apple in the Menu bar
Log in and hold down the Shift key (this disables all startup items including the hidden ones)

Jun 5, 2014 8:26 PM in response to indigoblue69

Thanks Dianeoforegon. Activity Monitor Stop Process stopped Office365service, and Office 14,4,2 update installed well.

My finder problem remains: 20 second stall, and Activity Monitor shows in red that it is unavailable.

If I log in as an alternate user, I don't have the problem with finder . Maybe I should uppdate to Maverick, but I would prefer to fix the problem first rather than cary it with me.

Jun 5, 2014 8:43 PM in response to harrypottuh

At least you know the problem is in your User's folder and not with your base files.

Open Console in Activity Monitor.

When you are having the stall, check in Console and see what messages are showing at the time.

If it's not already there, click "All Messages" to set Console to display messages from all of your logs.

Also monitor CPU by clicking on CPU column in Activity Monitor to see what processes are running at the time of the problem.

You can move to the new User if you can't find the problem. Let me know and I'll post instructions.

indigoblue69 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 6, 2014 12:22 AM in response to indigoblue69

Thats interesting. I also activate a new Administrator user and the finder works fine there….?!….does that make sense…???

Besides that, I again watched the entries that pop up in the console while the Finder stalls. I randomly double-clicked on Folders on the desktop to "activate" the Finder. To my surprise the results are different now.

These were the results:

FIRST:

06.06.14 08:58:13,084 WindowServer[635]: CGXDisableUpdate: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "Finder" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.

06.06.14 08:58:26,056 AdobeIPCBroker[588]: kCGErrorRangeCheck: On-demand launch of the Window Server is allowed for root user only.

06.06.14 08:58:26,056 AdobeIPCBroker[588]: CGSLookupServerRootPort: Failed to look up the port for "com.apple.windowserver.active" (268435459)

06.06.14 08:58:26,056 AdobeIPCBroker[588]: kCGErrorRangeCheck: On-demand launch of the Window Server is allowed for root user only.

06.06.14 08:58:26,056 AdobeIPCBroker[588]: CGSLookupServerRootPort: Failed to look up the port for "com.apple.windowserver.active" (268435459)

06.06.14 08:58:26,056 AdobeIPCBroker[588]: kCGErrorFailure: This user is not allowed access to the window system right now.

06.06.14 08:58:26,056 AdobeIPCBroker[588]: CGSGetDisplayBounds: Invalid display 0x00000000

06.06.14 08:58:27,084 WindowServer[635]: disable_update_likely_unbalanced: UI updates still disabled by application "Finder" after 15.00 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds). Likely an unbalanced disableUpdate call.

06.06.14 08:58:42,115 WindowServer[635]: reenable_update_for_connection: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "Finder" after 30.03 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds)

06.06.14 08:58:42,750 com.apple.SecurityServer[15]: Session 100018 created

06.06.14 08:58:43,756 coreaudiod[160]: Disabled automatic stack shots because audio IO is active

06.06.14 08:58:43,802 coreaudiod[160]: Enabled automatic stack shots because audio IO is inactive

SECOND:

06.06.14 09:01:05,672 CEPServiceManager[625]: kCGErrorRangeCheck: On-demand launch of the Window Server is allowed for root user only.

06.06.14 09:01:05,672 CEPServiceManager[625]: CGSLookupServerRootPort: Failed to look up the port for "com.apple.windowserver.active" (268435459)

06.06.14 09:01:05,672 CEPServiceManager[625]: kCGErrorRangeCheck: On-demand launch of the Window Server is allowed for root user only.

06.06.14 09:01:05,672 CEPServiceManager[625]: CGSLookupServerRootPort: Failed to look up the port for "com.apple.windowserver.active" (268435459)

06.06.14 09:01:05,672 CEPServiceManager[625]: kCGErrorFailure: This user is not allowed access to the window system right now.

06.06.14 09:01:05,672 CEPServiceManager[625]: CGSGetDisplayBounds: Invalid display 0x00000000

THIRD: Console displayed 192 times this phrase:

06.06.14 08:59:59,643 com.apple.time[658]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).

06.06.14 08:59:59,645 com.apple.time[658]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).

06.06.14 08:59:59,647 com.apple.time[658]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).

06.06.14 08:59:59,649 com.apple.time[658]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).

FOURTH:

06.06.14 09:02:50,459 WindowServer[635]: CGXDisableUpdate: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "Finder" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.

06.06.14 09:03:04,459 WindowServer[635]: disable_update_likely_unbalanced: UI updates still disabled by application "Finder" after 15.00 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds). Likely an unbalanced disableUpdate call.

06.06.14 09:03:19,488 WindowServer[635]: reenable_update_for_connection: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "Finder" after 30.03 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds)

I also again checked the activity monitor. Nothing interesting happened while finder is unavailable. No task jumps above 4.7% CPU usage. When the text Finder is unavailable turns red, the usage is 0.0.

Here is a screenshot:

Jun 6, 2014 8:20 AM in response to indigoblue69

How would I (or Indy and I) move to a new user and bring along all the stuff that is on my current user? Is it a big deal, or simple enough?

Jun 6, 2014 11:29 AM in response to harrypottuh

See instructions I posted here to move to the new User. The only tricky part is the User's Library. I listed safe items but if you have any questions, I'll be happy to disucuss your files and what to move.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6287613?answerId=25976211022#25976211022

Jun 6, 2014 11:31 AM in response to indigoblue69

I think you could move to the new User quicker than you could track this this in your current user with the strange results. See link in other comment to move your data over.

If you are low on disc space be careful since this copies data. Move one item at a time then delete the original before starting the next copy.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

indigoblue69 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 8, 2014 10:24 AM in response to indigoblue69

YES!!!!!!!!!

That was it. Thank you forever diane for posting that link.

I deleted the file named: com.apple.sidebarlists.plist that can be found in the library/preferences folder.

I already tried to delete the finder.plist files in the same folder, but that did not help. But now the Finder is alive and kicking, like it was before.

THAAAANKS!!!!!!

Jun 8, 2014 7:02 PM in response to indigoblue69

DITTO!!!! Thanks Diane.

I deleted the file named: com.apple.sidebarlists.plist.

Now finder works without pause.

But what link was Indy referring to? The move to new user link ...6211?

Jun 8, 2014 7:10 PM in response to indigoblue69

ouch. Finder pause returned after a few minutes.

Jun 8, 2014 7:19 PM in response to indigoblue69

I'll have to investigate more - it pauses when opening the Finder window, but thereafter I think I can go back and forth from other applicationis to finder.

Jun 8, 2014 8:02 PM in response to harrypottuh

If you decide to move to the new User, follow these steps.

Transferring files from one account to another on the same Mac

Use your Shared folder: Your Hard Drive/Users/Shared

• Log in to the account you wish to copy files from. Let's call this User Original

• In the Finder, navigate to the Shared folder.

• Drag Shared folder to the Toolbar. Select Icon & Text.

Create a folder in shared for Desktop. I like to use folders I create not the root folders in Users. Drag items from Desktop into the "desktop" folder you created. If you drag the root folder it can give you permissions issues when you copy into the new User.

Log out of the current account under the Apple in the Menu bar or use Fast User Switching.

Log into new User.

Add Shared folder to Toolbar in the new User.

Drag items from "desktop" (it actually copies) to the Desktop.

Log back into the User Original

Delete the files from Shared you copied over to the new User.

Continue doing this for Documents, Music, Movies, Pictures etc. The User's Library folder is one you need to be very careful in what you bring over. Most likely the issue is in your User's Library. Mail and most of the items in Application Support are safe to bring over. Safari and Calendar only if you are not syncing via iCloud. Keychain can be brought over but best to start fresh. Keychain tends to keep a lot of old entries and starting fresh eliminates all the crud that has accumulated.

If you are low on disc space be careful since this copies data. Move one item at a time then delete the original before starting the next copy.

Remove User after you have all data copied to the new User. Go to System Preferences > User's & Groups. Select the account and click on the - to remove. You might want to leave the original User with the User's Library in case there is something you really need but did not move over.

indigoblue69 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 10, 2014 12:23 AM in response to harrypottuh

Hi harry,

dianes link led to the following post. There is my info about the PLIST file from.

After deleting the Plist file my Finder is still workling flawless.....

_____________

Morning All

Sorry but had to crash last night as on UK time.

First thanks Diane for the detailed solution, I will note this.

And thanls Linc for your suggestion but sadly it did not work.

In the end I found an ols thread and tried something else. I binned the plists of

Finder

Dock

Sidebars

Desktop

Recnt Items

I dont know which one it was but the problem is solved!

Only legacy I now have which I think is the reinstalltion of OSX10.9.3 via Lion, is that my speedy MPB with SSD now takes nearly 2 minutes to boot up! Any ideas on this?

Thanks again for your help. Cheers Phil.

__________________

Finder freezes - needs 20 seconds to react