slow mac!!

Some diagnostics, to begin what could be a long process.

How full is the hard drive? To get that info, hold the control key down and click the hard drive icon. Select Get info.

The key numbers are Capacity: and Available:

Post back please and let's see if those numbers tell us anything.

As for the screen saver issue, try a PRAM reset:

1. 1 Shut down your Mac.
2. 2 Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R.
3. 3 Turn on your Mac.
4. 4 Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys immediately after you hear the startup sound.
5. 5 Hold these keys until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for a second time.

Release the keys.

Ok, those numbers rule out the first suspect which was a drive that is too full.

Please go to this site and download etrecheck. Run it and post the result.

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

You are using OS 10.10.2. Your first post said 10.5.8!

First thing that stands out is not enough RAM. You need a minimum of 4 gB to run OS 10. It's really not worth doing any other trouble shooting until you have fixed that, because whatever other steps you take the RAM issue will mask any potential improvement.

I am having issues with my iMac also being sluggish. If I get you the info, as you have directed Marcin7311 to do, would you mind taking a look at it?

My #s are: Capacity 999.35GB/ Available 655.18GB

Problem description:

iMac running very slow.

EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated February 13, 2015 at 7:27:55 PM PST

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.

Click the [Adware! - Remove] links for help removing adware.

Hardware Information: ℹ️

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac13,1

1 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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

Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - VRAM: 512 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.9.5 (13F34) - Time since boot: 0:34:57

Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE HDD ST1000LM024 disk0 : (1 TB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (655.16 GB free)

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

ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB disk1 : (1 TB)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

LaCie (disk1s2) /Volumes/LaCie : 999.86 GB (571.62 GB free)

USB Information: ℹ️

Logitech USB Receiver

Apple Inc. MacBook Air SuperDrive

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Fitbit Inc. Fitbit Base Station

Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 400 color M451dn

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

LaCie Rugged mini

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Adware: ℹ️

Geneio [Adware! - Remove]

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.pctools.iantivirus.kfs (1.0.1) [Click for support]

Startup Items: ℹ️

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

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

[running] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[running] com.fitbit.galileod.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Click for support]

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

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

[loaded] com.genieo.completer.ltvbit.plist [Adware! - Remove]

[running] com.genieo.completer.update.plist [Adware! - Remove]

[running] com.nds.pcshow.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.nds.pcshow.uninstall.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

Garmin Express Service Application (/Applications/Garmin Express.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/Garmin Express Service.app)

HPShortcutManager UNKNOWN (missing value)

AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)

SIMBL Agent Application (/Library/ScriptingAdditions/SIMBL.osax/Contents/Resources/SIMBL Agent.app)

PopChar UNKNOWN (missing value)

iAntiVirus Application Hidden (/Users/[redacted]/.Trash/iAntiVirus/iAntiVirus.app)

Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper Application (/Applications/Fitbit Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper.app)

HPShortcutManager UNKNOWN (missing value)

HP Scheduler Application (/Library/Application Support/Hewlett-Packard/Software Update/HP Scheduler.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.40.2.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

Musicnotes: Version: 1.16.13 [Click for support]

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.2.8 [Click for support]

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.40.2.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Photo Center Plugin: Version: Photo Center Plugin 1.1.2.2 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.7 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Scorch: Version: 5.2.0 [Click for support]

DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.6.4r634 [Click for support]

User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

fbplugin_1_0_3: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

Picasa: Version: 1.0 [Click for support]

Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Searchme [Adware! - Remove]

Slick Savings [Adware! - Remove]

Amazon Shopping Assistant [Adware! - Remove]

Ebay Shopping Assistant [Adware! - Remove]

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Click for support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) [Click for support]

Perian [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 344.18 GB

Destinations:

LaCie [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 90

Oldest backup: 2014-03-24 03:48:47 +0000

Last backup: 2015-02-14 02:39:47 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 344.18 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

6% Finder

5% WindowServer

2% mds

2% HP Device Monitor

0% Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

275 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

206 MB mds_stores

146 MB Safari

120 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

86 MB WindowServer

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

5.32 GB Free RAM

1.79 GB Active RAM

588 MB Inactive RAM

886 MB Wired RAM

963 MB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Feb 13, 2015, 06:50:49 PM Self test - passed

I got rid of all of the adware. Not sure what the Startup Items message means though.

Brueck,

You have a perfectly legitimate question. However it should posted as a new topic / question. This thread was started by someone else to answer a specific question. You can start your own the same way.

I have requested that your post be moved.

It is not difficult to add RAM to your iMac. Apple has provided clear directions:

iMac: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support

I personally buy RAM from this vendor. They provide a lifetime warranty on the RAM, and the prices are competitive.

http://www.macramdirect.com

(This is not the company that is often mentioned here. It is a company I have used for a decade, that I trust. I have no financial or other interest in Ram Direct.)

Uninstall the antivirus and cleaning apps:

Avast! and CleanMyMac are cripling your computer. Never install such apps again.

Uninstall Kies (Samsung), which is not compatible.

And then your mac will do a bit better.

I strongly support the advice of Eustace Mendis, make sure to put in the exact specs of the ram. Try OWC.

Lex

You could try this.

Go to your home folder and open the folder called Library. Inside that folder you will find a folder called Preferences. In there look for a file called: com.apple.screensaver.plist

Trash that folder, restart the computer and reset the Screen Saver in the usual way. (Apple menu / System Preferences / Desktop and Screen Saver).