MacBook Pro is slow at simplest of tasks

Question

Level 1

0 points

MacBook Pro is slow at simplest of tasks

Hey Community,

I'm having some serious speed issues with my MacBook Pro (early 2011). I have had it for just over 3 years and take good care of it.

About a month ago I upgraded my OS to Mavericks and since that time the spinning beach ball of death has become more and more prevalent. It's degraded to the point where, if I have two tabs open in safari, it struggles to switch between them. Sometimes it has moments of clarity, wherin it functions at a normal rate, but that only lasts for about 5 minutes. I've checked the activity monitor and currently my CPU is 97% idle, yet my RAM is reading anywhere from 3.5 - 3.8 out of 4 gigs in use. This is alarming because the only things I have open is Safari (one tab) and the Activity Monitor. What's more interesting is, should I run a memory clean with the app MemoryKeeper ( https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/memorykeeper/id689992800?mt=12 ), it says I have nearly 2 gigs of free RAM... Finally, there is no clunking or otherwise disturbing noises, just that stupid beach ball!

I ran an Etrecheck for a more comprehensive understanding:

EtreCheck version: 1.9.12 (48)

Report generated July 10, 2014 at 9:02:21 AM NDT

Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2

1 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4 cores

4 GB RAM

Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB

Color LCD 1440 x 900

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 1024 MB

System Software:

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 0 days 10:19:38

Disk Information:

TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF disk0 : (750.16 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 749.3 GB (667.66 GB free)

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

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898

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

Kernel Extensions:

[loaded] com.digidesign.iokit.DigiDal (9.0.3f4 - SDK 10.5) Support

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard (5.7.2) Support

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.7.2) Support

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.7.2) Support

[loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.7.2) Support

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.7.2) Support

[loaded] tc.tctechnologies.driver.PaeFireStudio (3.5.5 10988) Support

Startup Items:

DigidesignLoader: Path: /Library/StartupItems/DigidesignLoader

PACESupport: Path: /Library/StartupItems/PACESupport

Problem System Launch Agents:

[failed] com.apple.ReportCrash.Self.plist

Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

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

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist Support

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support

[running] com.paceap.eden.licensed.plist Support

[loaded] PACESupport.plist Support

Launch Agents:

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

User Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.diskSpaceWatcher.plist Support

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.scheduledScan.plist Support

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.trashWatcher.plist Support

User Login Items:

None

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

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.0 Support

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.7

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

3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player Support

Perian Support

Time Machine:

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:

3% hidd

1% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

1% WindowServer

0% Activity Monitor

0% Safari

Top Processes by Memory:

156 MB Safari

143 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

131 MB softwareupdated

106 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

61 MB mds_stores

Virtual Memory Information:

880 MB Free RAM

1.46 GB Active RAM

705 MB Inactive RAM

1008 MB Wired RAM

468 MB Page-ins

36 KB Page-outs

I really hope there is an obvious answer to my problem.

Thanks for the help.

Posted on Jul 10, 2014 4:44 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 10, 2014 5:25 AM in response to Pwilks

I would start off by uninstalling CleanMyMac 2 according to the developer's instructions and getting rid of all of the "pacesupport" files.

After you've done that, be sure and restart and run EtreCheck again to make certain that you've rid yourself of that cr@p.

Call back,

Clinton

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS Mavericks 10.9.4, 16GB Crucial RAM, Crucial M500 960GB SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

Reply

Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

140,948 points

Jul 10, 2014 2:06 PM in response to Pwilks

I really hope there is an obvious answer to my problem.

At least two problems are present. Besides CleanMyMac2 the Spigot adware is also installed.

If you have a backup that you created prior to using CleanMyMac, now is the time to use it. For Time Machine, boot OS X Recovery, and at the Mac OS X Utilities screen, choose Restore from Time Machine Backup. Choose a date preceding the installation of CleanMyMac.

Using CleanMyMac to remove what it considers "junk" will corrupt a system.

Nothing less than erasing your Mac and rebuilding it from the ground up will undo the effects of having used it, and its developer's instructions for uninstalling it are not completely effective. Only MacPaw, its developer, can know the reason for that, but I can think of two possibilities: either they are purposefully leaving those components behind for reasons known only to them, or they simply don't know what they're doing. Neither one of those possibilities is particularly comforting for the user.

I know of no way to recover from the effects of having used CleanMyMac than to completely erase the volume on which it was used, reinstall OS X and essential software from their original sources, and restore your essential work files and other documents from a backup that has not been corrupted by CleanMyMac or anything else.

I know no other way to recover from having used it other than these recommendations.

For another perspective read http://www.businessblogshub.com/2013/03/watch-out-for-cleanmymac-2/.

You can remove Spigot by searching this site for similar questions. I have yet to personally encounter Spigot so I don't have any particular technique to recommend, but there are helpful others on this site that can provide competent assistance. However, given the fact that CleanMyMac has been installed, I strongly recommend erasing your system completely, which will obivate the need to remove the intrusive adware.

MemoryKeeper is completely worthless and its results will not yield any information you can act upon. It is distributed by the same company that distributes the notorious MacKeeper, against whom there are at least two lawsuits pending. Don't use it.

Reply

Answer 3

Pwilks Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 10, 2014 6:30 PM in response to John Galt

I'm going to go with the total reset of my Macbook. It's funny though. My mac was running really slow for the last few days, that's the reason I downloaded cleanmymac...

Anyway, thanks for the help!

Reply

Answer 4

Pwilks Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 12, 2014 10:37 AM in response to John Galt

Well, I did a factory reset and when I booted back up I checked activity monitor and am still using 75% of my ram. On top of that I have 140 processes listed under the CPU and Memory tabs. Also, the beach ball is much less frequent, but still present from time to time... I'm pretty concerned at this point.

EtreCheck version: 1.9.12 (48)

Report generated July 12, 2014 at 3:05:00 PM NDT

Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2

1 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4 cores

4 GB RAM

Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB

Color LCD 1440 x 900

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 1024 MB

System Software:

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 0 days 1:40:51

Disk Information:

TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF disk0 : (750.16 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 749.3 GB (736.92 GB free)

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

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898

USB Information:

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

Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers

Problem System Launch Daemons:

[failed] com.apple.Kerberos.kdc.plist

Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

User Login Items:

None

Internet Plug-ins:

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support

Flash Player: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

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:

Flash Player Support

Time Machine:

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:

4% WindowServer

1% Activity Monitor

0% hidd

0% sysmond

0% Dock

Top Processes by Memory:

139 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

123 MB mds_stores

98 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

94 MB softwareupdated

61 MB Finder

Virtual Memory Information:

1.09 GB Free RAM

1.62 GB Active RAM

257 MB Inactive RAM

1.03 GB Wired RAM

1.79 GB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

Reply

Answer 5

daven555

Level 1

9 points

Jul 29, 2014 8:27 PM in response to Pwilks

I have an older powerbook and only 2GB ram, had beach balls everywhere after installing Mavericks. Manually emptying out the /Library/StartupItems folder of junk inserted by some apps turned everything around for me. Works just like snow leopard used to now. Phew.

Reply