Q: What should I do to fix this?  Warning: SUID file....

It’s not an actual problem; there’s nothing to fix. Just ignore it.

(122105)

Ignore.  Most of those messages that are generated with repair file permissions mean nothing

Most posters have advised to ignore these messages but it has a very significant impact on my computer's performance.  When I repair permissions this Warning: SUID . .. . remains, all other permissions are repaired.  My computer runs fine for a while but then begins to slow down until its unusable and then I have to repair permissions again.  The issue relates to how long the computer is on, not necessarily to how much computing I am doing.  For example, I cannot leave my computer on overnight or the computer is unusable.  By unusable, I mean every press of the mouse button or press of a keyboard key results in the spinning rainbow of doom in my face for half an hour.  My only solution is to force-quit, restart and repair permissions.  Repair disk find no issues with the disk drive.

Here is the technical article from Apple concerning these:

Mac OS X: Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions messages that you can safely ignore - Apple Support

FWIW, the entire permissions repair option has been eliminated in El Capitan so it is no longer confusing to the user - whatever needs to be done is being taken care of by the system automatically. Running AV software does nothing to help this and is mostly superfluous as it also messes with the system. I'd recommend you uninstall it unless you are running Windows.

By unusable, I mean every press of the mouse button or press of a keyboard key results in the spinning rainbow of doom in my face for half an hour

 

My only solution is to force-quit, restart and repair permissions

Quite often that indicates that you do not have enough RAM and/or not enough empty hard drive space for the OS to perform well.

Aside from posting back with above info, have you tried to force quit, shut down, and then boot up. There is a difference between shut down and restart. And, see if the issue is fixed without repairing permissions.

Thanks for the quick reply.  Perhaps this is not directly my performance problem but it improves dramatically when I repair permissions so it must be related in some way.  If this is eliminated by El Capitan, my computer will become useless.  Thanks again.

Thanks again for your help.  I'm a very light user so I'm certain the storage is not a problem.  I'll think about the RAM story - never been upgraded since '09.  By force-quit, I mean I hold the button down in back for 3-5 seconds until the unit shuts down.  I don't simply restart or put the computer to sleep.  When I've regained my composure I press the button again to start the computer.  I don't know if you mean something else by "reboot".  Again, I appreciate your consideration.  I'll pursue the RAM story.  I wonder if it simply get's tired.

You have other problems with that computer as mine showed quite a few  SUID and ACL warnings and it runs just fine (and I haven't repaired permissions since January or two OS versions ago).

So, how much RAM and how much empty hard drive space do you have?

a 2009 iMac came with 4 GB usually and that means you are running the OS on the minimum recommended; depending on what you are doing/which apps you are using, that can easily result in the spinning beachball.

To force quit means when you have an app open, you hit the Command + Option + Esc keys and choose to force quit the app. You should do that first.

Shutting down the computer with the power button should only be done in emergencies. If you want to restart or shut down, use the File menu to choose either.

I think you nailed it.  I have 4GB Ram.  Storage is 922 GB available out of 999GB.  I'll try to add RAM & see if that helps.  BTW, your keyboard method of force quit doesn't work for me.  I hit Command . . . what for 30 minutes Option wait for 30 minutes . . . Esc wait for 30 minutes then it shuts down.  Making that up of course, but that's the problem I face - no response from the keyboard or mouse.

I truly appreciate the help.

You need to hit all three keys simultaneously and should then get an immediate pop up window like this:

Depending on the situation, it may also show you the option to "force quit" if there is a "not responding" showing next to an app. FWIW, it's not 'my' keyboard method - it's Apple's (see the instructions in the lower left corner of the screenshot).