Guide: How to solve Yosemite memory leaks and CPU usage

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)

Intel Core 2 Duo

2.26 GHz

L2 Cache: 3MB

Memory 2 GB

OSX Yosemite Version 10.10.1

After upgrading to Yosemite, I'm getting a swirling ball with every click. I tried all your steps and, unfortunately, it wasn't helpful for me. Perhaps I did it incorrectly, but I sure tried. Upon failing, I reinstalled OS X using Recovery Mode and that seemed to help a bit, but it didn't take long before it slowed down again. For example, it just took about 25 seconds for the calendar to come up, and this is just in Finder. I can't even close anything out (such as Mail) without the ball swirling and taking time. I won't even mention how long it takes to switch from one link to the next in Safari or Foxfire.

Suggestions Anyone???

Problem description:

almost constant swirling ball

EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108)

Report generated January 7, 2015 at 11:00:20 PM PST

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 Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,5

1 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

2 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

1 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

1 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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

Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Uptime: 12:12:47

Disk Information: ℹ️

Hitachi HTS545016B9SA02 disk0 : (160.04 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 159.18 GB (85.09 GB free)

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

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-868

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Adware: ℹ️

Geneio [Remove]

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt (0.0.74) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverVSP (0.0.74) [Support]

Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.cloudd.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.Maps.pushdaemon.plist

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.recentsd.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy.plist

[killed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist

14 processes killed due to memory pressure

Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.awdd.plist

[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist

[killed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist

[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

[killed] com.apple.tccd.system.plist

[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

[killed] org.cups.cupsd.plist

8 processes killed due to memory pressure

Launch Agents: ℹ️

[running] com.rim.BBAlbumArtCacher.plist [Support]

[running] com.rim.BBLaunchAgent.plist [Support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[running] com.rim.BBDaemon.plist [Support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.genieo.completer.download.plist Adware! [Remove]

[loaded] com.genieo.completer.ltvbit.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.genieo.completer.update.plist Adware! [Remove]

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

[invalid?] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist [Support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

iTunesHelper UNKNOWNHidden (missing value)

2Wire_DSL_Setup_Tool UNKNOWN (missing value)

Dropbox UNKNOWNHidden (missing value)

Google Drive UNKNOWNHidden (missing value)

Kodak Share Button Agent ApplicationHidden (/Applications/Kodak Share Button.app/Contents/MacOS/Kodak Share Button Agent.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.3.8.1 [Support]

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

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

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

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 [Support]

CitrixICAClientPlugIn: Version: 11.2.0 [Support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Citrix Online Plug-in [Support]

Flash Player [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Support]

HP Scanners [Support]

Searchlight [Support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

14% WindowServer

4% Finder

2% hidd

2% com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64

1% sysmond

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

56 MB Safari

54 MB mds_stores

49 MB Finder

39 MB com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64

37 MB WindowServer

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

26 MB Free RAM

450 MB Active RAM

440 MB Inactive RAM

448 MB Wired RAM

9.38 GB Page-ins

741 MB Page-outs

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Jan 7, 2015, 11:41:39 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-01-07-114139_[redacted].hang

Jan 7, 2015, 11:41:38 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2015-01-07-114138_[redacted].hang

Jan 7, 2015, 11:38:19 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2015-01-07-11 3819_[redacted].crash

Jan 7, 2015, 10:48:14 AM Self test - passed

Jan 6, 2015, 08:53:38 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-01-06-085338_[redacted].hang

Jan 5, 2015, 05:43:02 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/PluginProcess_2015-01-05-05430 2_[redacted].crash

I have a slightly newer set up to you but the same situation.

Machine is so slow and OS is the problem- as with many.

I tried Mercado SMC and PRAM resets after a clean install and still no change... Would be grateful to hear of a fix.

Kind regards, D

I would get MacKeeper off your machine the set up a new user and log in as that just to make sure its not a user account issue

EtreCheck has already told you most of what you need to know.

Purchase more RAM for Yosemite.

Click on Adware! [Remove] and follow the instructions to get rid of the adware.

Backup your Hard Drive.

And follow Kevin Neal's advise to get rid of all the MacKeeper files.

Then go to System Preferences->Users and Groups->Login Items and use the minus "-" button to clean all the invalid startup items. If you no longer own a BlackBerry, get rid of that software.

This solved my problem! Thanks.

Under Mission Control System Preferences: un-click Displays have separate spaces.

Thanks so much!! I did everything you and Kevin Neal said, except purchase more RAM, and it seems to be running well now!! (I'll purchase more RAM at a later date.) I'll see how it goes, but I think you solved my problem!! Much appreciated!!

Try Kevin Neal's and MadMacs0's suggestions below. So far, they seemed to have worked well for me!

Since I don't use my Blackberry anymore, would you be able to tell me how to delete its items from the Kernel Extensions, the Launch Agents, and Launch Daemons? Swirling ball is coming back a lot and computer slowing again. Is it really just a question of not enough RAM??? Would appreciate any help I can get. Thanks much!!

Problem description:

recheck due to swirling again

EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108)

Report generated January 8, 2015 at 7:07:08 PM PST

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 Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,5

1 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

2 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

1 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

1 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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

Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Uptime: 0:41:51

Disk Information: ℹ️

Hitachi HTS545016B9SA02 disk0 : (160.04 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 159.18 GB (85.69 GB free)

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

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-868

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt (0.0.74) [Support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverVSP (0.0.74) [Support]

Launch Agents: ℹ️

[running] com.rim.BBAlbumArtCacher.plist [Support]

[running] com.rim.BBLaunchAgent.plist [Support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[running] com.rim.BBDaemon.plist [Support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

User Login Items: ℹ️

None

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.3.8.1 [Support]

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

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

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

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 [Support]

CitrixICAClientPlugIn: Version: 11.2.0 [Support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Citrix Online Plug-in [Support]

Flash Player [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Support]

HP Scanners [Support]

Searchlight [Support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 159.18 GB Disk used: 73.50 GB

Destinations:

Backup Drive [Local]

Total size: 0 B

Total number of backups: 35

Oldest backup: 2011-02-08 22:19:40 +0000

Last backup: 2014-11-21 07:12:23 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 0 B < (Disk used 73.50 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

12% mds

6% WindowServer

0% AppleSpell

0% BBLaunchAgent

0% opendirectoryd

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

167 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

58 MB Mail

56 MB Safari

47 MB mds_stores

45 MB WindowServer

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

34 MB Free RAM

715 MB Active RAM

695 MB Inactive RAM

290 MB Wired RAM

1.64 GB Page-ins

10 MB Page-outs

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Jan 8, 2015, 06:25:56 PM Self test - passed

Jan 7, 2015, 11:41:39 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-01-07-114139_[redacted].hang

Jan 7, 2015, 11:41:38 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2015-01-07-114138_[redacted].hang

Jan 7, 2015, 11:38:19 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2015-01-07-11 3819_[redacted].crash

Jan 6, 2015, 08:53:38 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-01-06-085338_[redacted].hang

mscc wrote:

Since I don't use my Blackberry anymore, would you be able to tell me how to delete its items

Always start by visiting the developers site for uninstall instructions specific to whatever version of the software you have. BlackBerry Support.

Failing that, you can just visit each one of those directories (folders) listed and drag the file to your Trash Can.

If you have trouble finding them use a good search utility like EasyFind or Find Any Fileto locate and delete them by searching for "RIM". Don't bother with Spotlight or the Finder as it won't look in the right places.

Is it really just a question of not enough RAM???

Pretty much. Open Activity Monitor (found in /Applications/Utilities/) and select the Memory tab. At the bottom of the page you will see a MEMORY PRESSURE graph. If it's red most of the time you need more RAM. See How to use Activity Monitor - Apple Support.

No matter what Apple says, Yosemite will only run in 2GB if you don't use applications. Almost all users have told me 4GB is absolute minimum and 8GB is comfortable for users of several apps simultaneously.

I'll give it all a try.

Thanks so much. I Appreciate it 🙂

Hi everyone... Okay ... here is a short and also a long report of my Yosemite OS experience to date as promised.

Review: My machine is mbp early 2011 - 4GB. It was fine until I loaded Yosemite which made it so slow it was unusable. I tried the solutions listed here - all of them and more - and nothing worked for longer than a day.

I need to be able at minimum use Photoshop CC with let's say Safari open too and this was impossible -- each move took a gazillion years...this is critical as I own my own business and Photoshop etc. projects are ongoing.

SHORT Fix VERSION: I asked the Apple Store Genius Bar to restore my MBP back to the earlier Mavericks OS. JOY!! It works like butter but listen - it was NOT an quick process nor was it something I could of attempted on my own. Maverick's is awesome.

LONG Fix Rambling VERSION:

Important Note: This is my experience only! I am not a Luis Mercado /Apple guru. ha

(Note re Backing Up my hard drive:

So the day before my Genius Bar Appt. * (read below how I got an Appt.) I made sure to do a Back Up of my entire computer. I use an external drive (GDrive is the brand I use). I use the Apple Time Machine Back Up program to help do this. After several hours the process is complete; and I then look at all my files on the external drive to make sure they are there because - well- I'm paranoid.

(Speaking of Backing Up, what I should of done in hindsight was do a pre-Yosemite BackUp!! (I was on Snow Leopard) So next time I load a new OS I will for sure do a BackUp and save it separately so Time Machine does not override it )

As I suspected, to replace Yosemite with Mavericks it DID require my Back Up on the External Drive because it involved wiping my machine completely clean.

GAH. So I brought the external drive with me to my Appt. Again, I use Apple's Time Machine program for this. )

First, I went online and chatted with an Apple technician. You log in with your Apple ID and on the Apple website Support pages you can use chat. For me, it's better than the phone method which I find unbearable. So with my big cup of coffee I steeled myself to chat and it ended up being 10 mins. well spent.

I explained in detail on chat with Brian what I already did. I actually had a list handy to cut n paste so I got it right. If you dont do this - you'll waste time. Brian was patient which is good because this Yosemite issue had me on my last nerve.

TWO Main things:

1. So my learning here and there and the Activity Monitor on my mbp was leading me to understand that an additional 4GB of RAM might help. Brian agreed. 4GB is the very minimum the Yosemite OS can run on just to open a program as has been said here - well Apple Brian confirmed this... With that said, after Brian had no additional ideas, I decided at this point to go to Maverick's - for my projects and peace of mind I couldn't just wait for the RAM and hope Yosemite would work.

2. I knew from experience that I needed to go through Apple chat to get an appt. with my local Apple Store Genius Bar. This is not explained ANYWHERE on the Apple website. A few years back my Genius Bar Appts. could be made online in an automated scheduler on the Apple website or by even calling my local Apple store. Those methods are no longer available. I had to do the chat or I had to do the main Support phone method where they would call me back.Yuk.

Basically imho like the most online support, Apple wants to make sure I am not a newbie with an issue which could be resolved easily. So like I said after about a 10 min. chat using my method above, Brian the tech. made an appt. for me at my polite request. I gave him high praise and 5 stars.

So I wish I knew that I needed to be ready to spend 3-4 hours at the Apple store for an issue like this one. It could take 1/2 hour or 6 hours imho. So I urge anyone to be prepared for: lots of people with their phones/ipads/and computers all looking as worried as you are, technicians that appear like they are ignoring you at first, and hours of waiting before and during this process. The store is freezing. Bring water. This is my normal experience at my local Apple store because: Surprise-- they are BOOKED solid. Solid. And it's not a lack of experienced staff either. They have a big staff on the floor and in the back room. It just that computer issues take time and are complex.

IMHO Apple needs to streamline the Genius Bar experience more than they have, that is evident. It is nice that they have carved out a much larger Genius Bar area in many of their stores so you can sit as you wait (which is on stools for you people who have back issues.)

IN any case, I waited an hour after my 1:30 pm appt. so it was 2:30 pm. The tech. seem to listen carefully and she explained the wiping process. She began the wiping process after confirming I had my Back up. I had her look at my Back up too lol- yes, paranoid. Here is what happened next. She explained that in a few moments the Mavericks OS would confirm the install. I could then start Time Machine and put my stuff back on my computers harddrive. She then explained she was leaving and pointed to another Tech. across the way I could grab if I had additional questions. Well, 2 mins. later and the Mavericks install failed. It said Install Fail. I asked the other Tech. for help. 45 minutes later he returned to take my computer in the back where B presides. Then it kept failing. Then an hour and half later they returned with it - but it had Yosemite back! lol They took it back and kept trying.

I waited for over an hour then on my stool with my computer life (ha) on my little drive. I was bored. After 3 attempts I guess it loaded from a disk (they normally load from online) and after 5:30pm, and after B helped me load stuff on manually- all is well. He also helped me with advice about the RAM. :-)

The screen on my MacBook Air is unviewable so I use an external monitor just to be able to use the computer. Is there a way to get this done with the monitor connected? I'm not in a position to go have my screen fixed at least he moment.

Hi :-) Thanks for the great write up! I have a similar set up to you- 4GB and run photoshop CS6 and use big photo editing progs pike PTGui to make panospheres- for a business.

Since Yosemite my machine is super slow... with google chrome and 10-20 tabs open i am running on <10% of CPU it was never a problem on snow leopard- now if i run just safari one tab its the same.. somehow all my RAM is being used no matter what I am running...

I have read that some people are having problems reading PDFs and have to upgrade to YOS and still have problems..

How are you finding it now?

Best, Duke

I was so hoping I had found a solution to this problem, but alas, I have not. Have performed this process twice this evening, and less than an hour later I'm looking at an empty desktop with no applications open,and 12-14 GB of RAM going SOMEWHERE.

No idea what to do now.