Computer running slower and wondering processes are necessary

Hello kid,

-- First of all: Mavericks handles ram very differently than earlier OS: basically it "eats" it all, to distribute time slices to the apps that need it. Magnificent!

If you look in Activity Monitor click the memory tab and look at the middle field at the bottom "memory pressure" to see want the memory pressure is. Only when you have much more ram than needed say 8 or more GB in your case, you will see a higher amount of free ram. You see when ou need more ram: then the Page-outs increase above 1GB or so in (part) of a day of use.

But being "cheap" it never hurts to put more ram in, be sure that you buy the exact specs, macs are very sensitive for that, Crucial and OWC are the most recommended here.

-- your list:

1. in SystemPreferences->Users&Groups->LoginItems: remove all entries, with the minus sign underneath. You even have Spotify started there twice, which can cause trouble already. Normally you start an app, when you need it, by hand and quit (from the menu) when you stop using it. If you use GoogleDrive continuously, let it be in the LoginItems, but keep in mind, that Google is always very slow to update their apps when there is an OS update, so regularly it causes issues. As soon as you go to Yosimite take it out of the LoginItems, to avoid issues we had after every OS upgrade...

After this, restart and empty the Trash.

2. I suppose you do not use Logmein: if you have it uninstalled, remove the following remnant:

Macintosh.>Library->Internet-Plugins delete the two Logmein plugins.

While being there also delete the Java applet plugin.

If you need remote entry use the free Teamviewer version. Logmein is now paid only (and expensive).

3. delete two updaters, one is a double entry and one is crap:

In the Finder GO menu, click the alt(option) key and choose Library in there open LaunchAgents folder and delete

com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist

and

com.google.keystone.agent.plist

this last one comes back every time you install a google app or tool, There is a way to eliminate it for good, but that comes later.

4. I am sure you are better off without the Torch browser.

5. And the last:

MacintoshHD->Library->LaunchDaemons delete

com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist

Now restart, empty the Trash, post the results

Lex

Sorry for this "me too", but I seem to have a slightly different problem. I am still running OS 10.8.5 on a MacBookPro (Early 2011) with plenty of RAM (8 GB), over 100 GB of free disk space and not that many login items (I believe). Even more strange, when I look at the Activity Monitor, it tells me that

a) the CPU is idle more than 90%

b) Plenty of free System memory (2.7 GB)

c) No obvious big load on the disk or the network

Yet, nearly everything I do on the Mac - in ANY software (Mail, Safari, MS Word, Finder) - takes forever, with plenty of spinning beach balls - resizing a window, changing the Desktop (1-4), scrolling, opening and closing folders - you name it. kernel_task is at the top of the activity list most of the time, but only with 1.2% or so.

This problem has only slowly crept up over the past 1/2 year, and all of sudden (last 1-2 weeks) it has become unbearable.

Any hints what I should look for first?

First make an etrecheck list (www.etresoft.com/etrecheck)

it gives a lot of information about your system and software. post it here and I will answer tonight early.

Lex

Please describe the problem in as much relevant detail as possible. The "etrecheck" fad hasn't made that step any less necessary. The better your description, the better the chance of a solution.

For example, if the computer is slow, which specific actions are slow? Is it slow all the time, or only sometimes? When did it start to be slow? Did you change anything just before it started? Have you seen any alerts or error messages? Have you done anything to try to fix it? Most importantly, do you have a current backup of all data? If the answer to the last question is "no," back up now. Ask if you need guidance. Do nothing else until you have a backup.

THNks to both of you for your quick reply. Unfortunately my problem appears hardware related. I just tried to run disk repair from a startup USB disk and it failed. So now I'm in the process of wiping the disk and reinstalling "everything". Fortunately I do have a timemachine backup.

I have been having some of the same problems, but the major problem is that my computer has been running slow lately, and I'm not sure how to check to see if it is running properly. I used the etrecheck, and here is the information it gave me.

EtreCheck version: 1.9.15 (52)

Report generated September 4, 2014 at 4:26:27 PM EDT

Hardware Information: ?

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro7,1

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores

4 GB RAM

Video Information: ?

NVIDIA GeForce 320M - VRAM: 256 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: ?

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 22 days 17:20:39

Disk Information: ?

Hitachi HTS545025B9SA02 disk0 : (250.06 GB)

S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 249.2 GB (115.37 GB free)

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

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898

USB Information: ?

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Gatekeeper: ?

Mac App Store and identified developers

Startup Items: ?

AvgNetShieldLoader: Path: /Library/StartupItems/AvgNetShieldLoader

HP IO: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP IO

Launch Daemons: ?

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

[running] com.avg.apiServices.plist Support

[running] com.avg.avgconfigd.plist Support

[running] com.avg.avgnotifyd.plist Support

[loaded] com.avg.avgprivd.plist Support

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

[invalid] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist

[loaded] com.regularrateandrhythm.rowmotehelperaide.plist Support

Launch Agents: ?

[running] com.avg.LinkScannerAgent.plist Support

[running] com.avg.LoaderAgent.plist Support

[invalid] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist

User Launch Agents: ?

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-[...]@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist Support

[loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist Support

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

User Login Items: ?

iTunesHelper

Boingo Wi-Finder

Dropbox

AdobeResourceSynchronizer

uTorrent

Rowmote Helper

HPEventHandler

HP Scheduler

Internet Plug-ins: ?

DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.5.9r615 Support

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 5.2 Support

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 Support

net.juniper.DSSafariExtensions: Version: (null) Support

CouponPrinter-FireFox: Version: Version 1.1.5

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 14.0.0.176 - SDK 10.6 Support

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 Support

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: (null) Support

Flash Player: Version: 14.0.0.176 - SDK 10.6 Support

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.3.9 - SDK 10.6 Support

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version

Safari Extensions: ?

Cuevana Stream

Adblock Plus-2

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 ?

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 Support

3rd Party Preference Panes: ?

Flash Player Support

Time Machine: ?

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU: ?

5% iTunes

5% avglnsd

3% WindowServer

3% usbmuxd

2% SyncServer

Top Processes by Memory: ?

283 MB Safari

135 MB mds_stores

110 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

86 MB Microsoft Word

74 MB mds

Virtual Memory Information: ?

21 MB Free RAM

1.06 GB Active RAM

1.05 GB Inactive RAM

687 MB Wired RAM

24.99 GB Page-ins

741 MB Page-outs

Whatever anyone says, the first thing to do is to get rid of the AVG software.

Completely.

Lex

How do I remove it?

Your thread is about to turn into a disaster, so if you expect to get any useful information out of it, you need to act fast.

uninstall:

http://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?urlname=How-to-uninstall-AVG-AntiVirus -for-Mac&l=en_US&retURL=support_mac

and

http://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?urlname=How-to-uninstall-AVG-Cleaner-f or-Mac&l=en_US&retURL=support_mac

To avoid confusion with the original poster please start a new thread, and then post the link here so that we find you fast.

Lex

I don't have AVG but İ have the same slowing issue too those are what came up by the EtreCheck;

EtreCheck version: 1.9.15 (52)

Report generated 5 Sep 2014 15:10:21 GMT+3

Hardware Information: ?

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores

4 GB RAM

Video Information: ?

Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: (null)

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: ?

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 0 days 0:22:30

Disk Information: ?

APPLE HDD HTS547550A9E384 disk0 : (500,11 GB)

S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209,7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499,25 GB (321,27 GB free)

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

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8

USB Information: ?

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Logitech USB Receiver

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Thunderbolt Information: ?

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper: ?

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ?

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMControl (1.4.20 - SDK 10.6) Support

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMData (1.4.20 - SDK 10.6) Support

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungComposite (1.4.20 - SDK 10.6) Support

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungMTP (1.4.20 - SDK 10.5) Support

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungSerial (1.4.20 - SDK 10.6) Support

Startup Items: ?

FanControlDaemon: Path: /Library/StartupItems/FanControlDaemon

Launch Daemons: ?

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

[loaded] com.skype.skypeinstaller.plist Support

[loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist Support

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist Support

Launch Agents: ?

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist Support

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist Support

User Launch Agents: ?

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[loaded] com.BlueStacks.AppPlayer.LogRotator.plist Support

[loaded] com.BlueStacks.AppPlayer.Service.plist Support

[loaded] com.BlueStacks.AppPlayer.UninstallAgent.plist Support

[loaded] com.BlueStacks.AppPlayer.UpdaterAgent.plist Support

[loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist Support

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

User Login Items: ?

None

Internet Plug-ins: ?

DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.1.3r153 - SDK 10.6 Support

Flash Player: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 Support

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

Safari Extensions: ?

Searchme-2

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 ?

BlueStacks Install Detector: Version: 0.3.6 - SDK 10.7 Support

3rd Party Preference Panes: ?

Fan Control Support

Flash Player Support

Time Machine: ?

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU: ?

4% mds

0% fontd

0% WindowServer

0% uHD-Agent

0% Google Chrome

Top Processes by Memory: ?

123 MB Skype

106 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

82 MB Google Chrome

74 MB mds_stores

74 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

Virtual Memory Information: ?

1015 MB Free RAM

1.98 GB Active RAM

472 MB Inactive RAM

578 MB Wired RAM

503 MB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

You have enough ram and enough diskspace.

But on the software side there a few things that better dissapear.

Make new thread and post the link here. To avoid confusion.

What do you mean from making a new thread? How am I going to do it?

I think I have RAM slowing issue because it says 4gb memory and I use 3.98 this should be making some problems.