Yosemite high CPU usage by "launchd"

I had this issue for several weeks with my mid-2012 MBA after installing Yosemite. Just like with you, this showed me that "launchd" was the culprit . I talked to some tech friends who explained that launchd is a little program that automatically launches other apps, sometimes in the background, for various reasons. Up until last week, my solution was to reboot the machine anytime it got hot (several times a day). It was a huge pain, and I was borderline ready to give on on Apple having still not seen any official response to this issue that seems to be plaguing many users. Here's step-by-step what I did to resolve it.

1. Open Activity Monitor by typing "Activity Monitor" in the spotlight search. This confirmed launchd was the memory hog

2. Open a Finder window and type select from the menu: Go > Go To Folder (or simultaneously press CMD+SHIFT+G keys)

3. At the prompt, type "/var/log" to access the machine's folder that contains the log files

4. Sort the folder by "Date Modified" and look for the most latest file called "system.log"

5. Double click the file to open it in the Console app

6. Scroll all the way down and see if any lines contain "error," especially repeated lines going back as far as when you noticed the machine was hot.

For me, the culprit was Adobe Pro 9. Apparently this program would try to update itself after I upgraded to Yosemite, but the install update application wouldn't run correctly in Yosemite, so lanchd would try over and over and over again to launch the install application, getting stuck in an infinite, very hot, loop. I deleted Adobe Pro 9, and now everything is back to normal. I don't need Adobe Pro any more, but if I did, I would just get a new version that is compatible with Yosemite.

I hope this helps,

Omar

Please determine if the same activity occurs in "Safe Mode":

• Safe Mode or "Safe Boot" is a troubleshooting mode that bypasses all third party system extensions and loads only required system components. Read about it: Starting up in Safe Mode
• You must disable FileVault before you can start your Mac in Safe Mode.
• Starting your Mac in Safe Mode will take longer than usual, graphics will not render smoothly, audio is disabled on some Macs, and some programs (iTunes for example) may not work at all.
• Merely starting your Mac in Safe Mode is not intended to resolve the problem, it's to observe its performance without certain additional components.
• To end Safe Mode restart your Mac normally. Shutdown will take longer as well.

This process is also chewing up disk space. In one day, with nothing going on, it's written over 8 GB to disk. I've already had to backup the disk using SuperDuper to an external drive, replace the internal with that bootable drive, get back all my disk space, then wait a while and disk space continues to disappear. No doubt it will end up in that "Running low on disk space" issue, when nothing is being done with the MacBook.

This looks like a BUG in OSX latest issue. I've also run a few virus checkers, Avast and Avira, neither shows any problems.

I've already spoken to the geniuses at Apple, and they have no clue. This "Disk Usage" bug has been reported by MANY users. Do a Google Search for the words "MaBook hard drive filling up for no reason" -- you'll find a lot of reports about this problem.

Until they run into this themselves, it's doubtful it will get fixed.

I've been experimenting with three 1 TB drives. Notice the two external drives are not affected by this BUG, but the internal drive used to look the same as the two external drives, and now it's missing about 10 GB.

Free space was 539 GB a few hours ago on the internal drive, the computer has been on all day, now we're down to 528 GB free.

Sorry for the mis-spelling of "Toshiba" but the internal drive (top one) was created from the last drive using SuperDuper by booting to a third drive. I've gotten pretty good at salvaging a "Disk Full" MacBook, but this is bordering on the ridiculous. I never have these problems on a WIndows machine.

Yes, I've gone through EVERY directory and used the typical programs for disk space usage, and they all report FILE usage, and NONE report the same thing that the Storage report does when I get "Disk is almost full" report. No need to offer the usual "Go through every directory looking for large files" -- been there, done that. This problem involves disk space usage that is not reported by any program except the OS when it runs out of space and this STORAGE map when it shows a smaller and smaller amount of FREE space.

This is not an OS X bug. What you are seeing is entirely normal. Disk space fluctuates normally on modern systems... we are no longer in the days when we could identify exactly how much free space there is on our system drives, due to virtual memory paging, caches, search indexing, local backups and other such things. Unless you have a problem, such as seeing your system inexplicably go from 500 GB free to almost full, you should ignore minor fluctuations in the free space.

The numbers you're seeing in Activity Monitor are well within normal ranges. Here's what my entirely normal, fully-functioning Mac shows:

Hi

I have same problem, and followed your post and got this error (?) returned

unfortunately I need citrix netscaler gateway to access work servers ( I work for a FTSE 100 company they arent going to change their network access just for me!)

I have gone into "force quite" and closed citrix netscaler gateway but it doesnt stop the CPU overheating - could citrix still be trying to update itself behind the scenes?

( i have booted in safemode and my macbook then works as normal without the fan going crazy

Thanks

Wayn0

( sorry if this post is semi-duplicated)

Launch Agents

LocationChanger.plist

com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist

com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist

com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist

org.gpgtools.Libmacgpg.xpc.plist

org.gpgtools.gpgmail.enable-bundles.plist

org.gpgtools.gpgmail.patch-uuid-user.plist

org.gpgtools.macgpg2.fix.plist

org.gpgtools.macgpg2.shutdown-gpg-agent.plist

org.gpgtools.macgpg2.updater.plist

org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist

Adding Back in:

LaunchAgent: LocationChanger.plist

Added this back in first. I wrote this to handle a strange routing issue in our network. So, wanted to eliminate my code first. It does not cause any problem at all.

Or, so I thought…. I have launched MacVim and Pages, to document this… And as I am writing… the launchd has gone nuts again.

Moving LocationChanger.plist back to holding storage and rebooting.

So I have rebooted and have all the apps restarting with each reboot. LocationChanger.plist is not running at this point…

A quick check on my colleagues laptop of removing LocationChanger.plist from /Library/LaunchAgents and he is now running fine.

I put back all my LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons… without…. LocationChanger.plist and all is working fine.

So the LocationChanger.plist looks like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>Label</key>

<string>tech.inhelsinki.nl.locationchanger</string>

<key>Program</key>

<string>/var/root/bin/locationchanger</string>

<key>WatchPaths</key>

<array>

<string>/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration</string>

<string>/dev/tap0</string>

</array>

</dict>

</plist>

I checked and /dev/ta* was missing until I started Viscosity (OpenVPN tool). It apparently stopped ‘autostarting’ with the upgrade to Yosemite. I reset the autostart, moved LocationChanger.plist back into /Library/LaunchAgents and rebooted.

Nope! Still sucking launchd dry.

Checking some logs, I see that /var/root/bin/locationchanger is triggering an error. And I mean LOTS of errors.

I removed both strings fromt he WatchPaths array and restarted. All working fine.

Began using:

launchctl load

launchctl unload

of the /Library/LaunchAgents/LocationChanger.plist to add/delete the strings in the WatchPaths array.

During this testing I got NO runaway on launchd.

So, I restarted with /Library/LaunchAgents/LocationChanger.plist in place, and yup, launchd is in runaway mode again.

Got to thinking about the /var/root/bin/locationchanger log errors. If memory serves (not alway) that is a pseudo location of some kind. So, maybe it is loading later in Yosemite than in Mavericks. Based on this, I move the executable (locationchanger) from /var/root/bin into /usr/bin. I updated the plist to reflect this and rebooted.

My machine is now behaving correctly and there is no runaway launchd process anymore.

Of course, now mds and md_worker are sucking up resources, but that should not be part of this problem. launchd is sitting at 0.2%. So, I believe I am significantly happier.

Thanks to the OP and John Galt for starting this thread towards a working solution.

I'm having the same problem with launchd, and I was wondering if someone would be so kind as to give me the same diagnosis as the other user got earlier on this thread?

Problem description:

launchd is using too much cpu

EtreCheck version: 2.4 (136)

Report generated 8/13/15, 6:01 PM

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.

Hardware Information: (What does this mean?)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,2

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 1408 - SN = W0238PRDRBWZA

Video Information: (What does this mean?)

Intel HD Graphics

Color LCD 1680 x 1050

NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 256 MB

System Software: (What does this mean?)

OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) - Time since boot: about one hour

Disk Information: (What does this mean?)

OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro SSD disk0 : (480,1 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 478.87 GB (10.18 GB free) (Low!)

Core Storage: disk0s2 479.24 GB Online

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898 ()

USB Information: (What does this mean?)

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Configuration files: (What does this mean?)

/etc/hosts - Count: 20

Gatekeeper: (What does this mean?)

Anywhere

Kernel Extensions: (What does this mean?)

/Applications/Beats Updater.app

[not loaded] com.beatsbydre.BeatsDFUSupport (2.0.0 - SDK 10.10) [Click for support]

/Applications/Private Eye.app

[loaded] com.radiosilenceapp.nke.PrivateEye (1 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]

/Applications/Rowmote Helper.app

[not loaded] com.regularrateandrhythm.driver.RowmoteIREmu (1.2 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.globaldelight.driver.Boom2Device (1.1 - SDK 10.10) [Click for support]

[not loaded] foo.tap (1.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] foo.tun (1.0) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.globaldelight.driver.BoomDevice (1.1 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

Startup Items: (What does this mean?)

FanControlDaemon: Path: /Library/StartupItems/FanControlDaemon

HWNetMgr: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWNetMgr

HWPortDetect: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect

ProTec6: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ProTec6

tap: Path: /Library/StartupItems/tap

tun: Path: /Library/StartupItems/tun

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.epson.ews.launcher.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: (What does this mean?)

[loaded] BradJasper.focus.HelperTool.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.freemacsoft.appcleanerd.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.marketcircle.billingspro.configd.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.radiosilenceapp.nke.PrivateEye.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.regularrateandrhythm.rowmotehelperaide.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.squirrels.kextinstaller.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.stclairsoft.AppTamerAgent.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.voddler.vnetd.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.wdc.SmartwareDriveService.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.wdc.WDSmartWareService.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] org.eyebeam.SelfControl.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac.helperTool.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac.volumeWatcher.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: (What does this mean?)

None

Internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

AdobeExManDetect: Version: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.232 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.40416.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

WidevineMediaOptimizer: Version: 6.0.0.12757 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.232 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

GameTreeDM_NPAPI: Version: 1.11 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

PepperFlashPlayer: Version: 18.0.0.232 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.7

GameTreeDM: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.5 [Click for support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.2 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 67 Check version

Safari Extensions: (What does this mean?)

AdBlock

Facebook Cleaner

Adblock Plus

Facebook Improved

Franker

3rd Party Preference Panes: (What does this mean?)

Akamai NetSession Preferences [Click for support]

Fan Control [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Growl [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]

MacFUSE [Click for support]

VLC Streamer [Click for support]

Time Machine: (What does this mean?)

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 478.87 GB Disk used: 468.70 GB

Destinations:

Pandora Big Brother [Local]

Total size: 1.00 TB

Total number of backups: 8

Oldest backup: 2015-02-17 17:22:57 +0000

Last backup: 2015-06-02 18:14:06 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 1.00 TB < (Disk used 468.70 GB X 3)

My Book [Local]

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 5

Oldest backup: 2012-11-06 15:29:28 +0000

Last backup: 2014-06-10 08:44:59 +0000

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 478.87 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: (What does this mean?)

79% mdworker(19)

67% launchd

35% UserEventAgent(2)

16% opendirectoryd

13% notifyd

Top Processes by Memory: (What does this mean?)

1.38 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(8)

721 MB kernel_task

459 MB softwareupdated

442 MB mds_stores

344 MB mdworker(19)

Virtual Memory Information: (What does this mean?)

1.78 GB Free RAM

6.22 GB Used RAM (2.24 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: (What does this mean?)

Aug 13, 2015, 04:33:22 PM Self test - passed

Standard users cannot read /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports.

Run as an administrator account to see more information.

/etc/hosts file - Fixing a hacked

You do not need to use cleaning programs. They can destroy your computer operation as they may already have done.

CleanMyMac - Uninstall

CleanMyMac2 Un-install

CleanMyMac 3 Uninstall

After un-installing, use this program to make sure you got all the pieces.

EasyFind – Spotlight Replacement

I have the same problem.

MBA - 13in Mid 2013 - 1.7Ghz i7 - 8G

I have boot into safe mode. I am replying while in safe mode.

Idle is now up around 95% and launchd is down to 0%.

The fans are quite and it feels like my old machine.

So, we have proven the point... now... how do I figure out what part of 'regular' mode is screwing my machine???

And thanks for the insights. I would have sworn this was a fairly plain system.

In an attempt to answer the next question and while I am still in safe mode, here is the directory listing from /Applications.

App Store.app

AppCleaner.app

Aqua

Automator.app

Battery Health.app

Boom.app

Calculator.app

Calendar.app

Camtasia 2.app

Chess.app

Chromecast.app

Cinemagraph Pro.app

Cisco

CoRD.app

Colloquy.app

Contacts.app

Cyberduck.app

DVD Player.app

Dashboard.app

Dev Desktop

Dictionary.app

Divvy.app

Evernote.app

FaceTime.app

Firefox.app

Font Book.app

GPG Keychain Access.app

Game Center.app

GarageBand.app

GitHub.app

GoToMeeting (1694).app

Google Chrome.app

Image Capture.app

Juicer

Keyboard Maestro.app

Keynote.app

KisMAC.app

LaunchControl.app

Launchpad.app

LibreOffice.app

Lingon 3.app

MacVim.app

Mahjong Solitaire Epic.app

Mail.app

Maps.app

Memory Clean.app

Messages.app

Microsoft Messenger.app

Microsoft Office 2011

Microsoft Remote Desktop.app

Microsoft Silverlight

Mission Control.app

NetSpot.app

Notes.app

Numbers.app

Pages.app

Photo Booth.app

Photo Transfer App.app

Plex Media Server.app

Preview.app

QuickTime Player.app

RSS Notifier.app

Reminders.app

Remote Desktop Connection.app

RemoterServer.app

Safari.app

ScanSnap

Sequel Pro.app

Server.app

Skitch.app

Skype.app

Splashtop Personal.app

Spotify.app

Stickies.app

StreamToMe.app

SwordSoft Layout.app

System Preferences.app

TeamViewer.app

TextEdit.app

Textual Trial.app

Thunderbird.app

Time Machine.app

Transmission.app

TweetAdder4.app

Utilities

VLC.app

VMware Fusion 6.0.1.app

Vagrant

VirtualBox.app

Viscosity.app

Workbench

Xcode.app

ZoiperCommunicator.app

iBooks.app

iMovie.app

iPhoto.app

iTunes.app

I will restart now and see if there is a way to start without any user apps auto starting...

OK.... so now I am running in Normal mode...Idle around 12-15% with NOTHING running.

I have remove all login agents and that was no help.

I have terminated startup for Boom & MemoryCleanup, rebooted and still bad.

A Colleague mentioned LaunchAgents.

I 'moved' ALL /Library/LaunchAgents -AND- /Library/LaunchDaemons to a holding folder as root.

Rebooted and now the machine is acting normal...

LaunchAgent List

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

LocationChanger.plist

com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist

com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist

com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist

org.gpgtools.Libmacgpg.xpc.plist

org.gpgtools.gpgmail.enable-bundles.plist

org.gpgtools.gpgmail.patch-uuid-user.plist

org.gpgtools.macgpg2.fix.plist

org.gpgtools.macgpg2.shutdown-gpg-agent.plist

org.gpgtools.macgpg2.updater.plist

org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist

LaunchDaemon List

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

com.adobe.fpsaud.plist

com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist

com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist

com.soma-zone.LaunchControl.Helper.plist

com.sparklabs.ViscosityHelper.plist

com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist

org.gpgtools.gpgmail.patch-uuid.plist

org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist

org.virtualbox.startup.plist

So... off to add them back in, one at a time... :/

Sorry for the delay in responding - have been travelling. Still have same issue - High CPU using Thunderbird. Launchchd1. Thanks for suggestion to run etrecheck list.

I now attach the result,

Problem description:

I am using Thunderbird version 31.2. I updated to 31.3 and it dint work very well so I reverted to 31.2

Now I am getting high CPU 100% all the time using Thunderbird. According to Activity Monitor its Launchd1 causing the issues

I apologise but I don't follow the below threads as to what I can do about it. I have apple support but they probably will not help me as they don't support third party software. Any easy fixes anyone can suggest are welcome.

Thanks and Regards

Mike

EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108)

Report generated 3 January 2015 20:13:58 GMT

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Click the [Adware] links for help removing adware.

Hardware Information: ℹ️

MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011) (Verified)

MacBook Air - model: MacBookAir4,2

1 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

4 GB RAM Not upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ℹ️

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB

Color LCD 1440 x 900

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Uptime: 15 days 5:57:55

Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE SSD SM256C disk0 : (251 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 249.78 GB (72.65 GB free)

Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

Core Storage: disk0s2 250.14 GB Online

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. FaceTime Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Adware: ℹ️

Geneio [Remove]

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt (2.2.7 - SDK 10.7) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryVirtualPrivateNetwork (1.0.18 - SDK 10.8) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.BlackBerry.driver.USBCDCNCM (1.0.10 - SDK 10.7) [Support]

[loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.5.3 - SDK 10.6) [Support]

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBCDCACMData (1.2.19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBMassStorageFilter (1.2.19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.moschip.driver.moschipUsbEthernet (1.0.5) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverVSP (0.0.97) [Support]

Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist

[killed] com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist

[killed] com.apple.printtool.agent.plist

[killed] com.apple.printuitool.agent.plist

[killed] com.apple.rcd.plist

[killed] com.apple.SafariNotificationAgent.plist

[killed] com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plist

[killed] com.apple.spindump_agent.plist

9 processes killed due to memory pressure

Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist

[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist

[killed] com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.plist

[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

[killed] com.apple.periodic-weekly.plist

[killed] com.apple.sandboxd.plist

[killed] com.apple.spindump.plist

[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

9 processes killed due to memory pressure

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

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

[loaded] com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.sonos.smbbump.plist [Support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

User Login Items: ℹ️

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application (/Applications/Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional/Adobe Acrobat Professional.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 [Support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 [Support]

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 [Support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.13 [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

Silverlight: Version: 4.1.10329.0 [Support]

Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.13 [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.7 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 67 Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

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Macintosh HD: Disk size: 249.78 GB Disk used: 177.13 GB

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Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

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Mike, there is software that is not compatible. There is a very serous infection Genieo.

1. download AdwareMedic from thesfaemac.com and run it: that should remove the infections.

2. Uninstall Thunderbird (see later), don't delete the mailfolders.

3. The Rim Blackberry software is also not compatible, uninstall.

4. Trusteer Rapport (Endpoint Protection) is crap software that cripples your security, uninstall.

5. In SystemPreferences->Users&Groups->LoginItems, remove the Adobe software, with the minus sign underneath : this is crippling software, should not run!

-- Now restart: it should be much better already.

But this is not all, there is still some that better is removed.

But also according to Roaringapps.com Thunderbird (latest) is compatible with Yosemite. If you are not 'married' to thunderbird, start using Mail. But if you are, and did the uninstall of Thunderbird correctly: download the latest version and install it again.

We do the rest later.

Lex

launchd is the "mother of all processes" on OS X. It is an essential part of the system that launches pretty much every other process on the machine.

As such, it can (over times) use lots of CPU, and it will write lots of information to disk. However, just because it writes to disk, doesn't mean it's saving a bunch of stuff to disk permanently that's taking up space.

It is unlikely there is a problem with launchd. There can be problems with other things that _look_ like they're problems with launchd, but they're not.

I don't remember having used CleanMyMac though, is it the cause of my problem?

At second thought maybe I did install it once, but many operative systems earlier, I thought it would all be gone. Turns out there was a couple of plist-files left in the /Library/Preferences.

Thanks for the tip!