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User profile for user: Nicky McCatty
Nicky McCatty Author
User level: Level 1
52 points

SLOW! like molasses left outside in Boston.

My macbook pro abruptly became extra extra slow. Initially just in Safari (the Verizon connection is ridiculously slow, at 5MB, the max here -- in the middle of Brooklyn!!!), but now with everything. I haven't yet run TechTool Pro, so I don't know how much fragmentation there is. Maybe I'm just stuck in the OS 9 past, but I still think of that as a salient factor. I have 140 MB free on this 500 MB drive.


I don't have any old apps installed, so I am a bit puzzled. What factors could be slowing me down? Do I need to turn off any of my startup items?


Here is my Etrecheck report:


Problem description:

SLOWER than molasses left outside in Boston!


EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated February 27, 2015 at 12:07:04 PM EST

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: ℹ️

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,3

1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 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: Check Battery - Cycle count 585


Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB

Color LCD 1440 x 900

NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT - VRAM: 512 MB


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.2 (14C109) - Time since boot: one day 1:7:16


Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE HDD HTS545050A7E362 disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

hadar (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (140.05 GB free)

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


HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Western Digital My Passport 0748 1 TB

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

manuf (disk1s2) <not mounted> : 999.83 GB

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

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


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/TechTool Pro 7.app

[not loaded] com.micromat.driver.spdKernel (1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.micromat.driver.spdKernel-10-8 (1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]


/Applications/Utilities/DiskWarrior.app

[not loaded] com.alsoft.Preview (4.1.1) [Click for support]


/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]


/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.0 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.NCHSoftware.driver.SoundTapVirtualAudioDevice (1.0.0d1) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.markspace.driver.Android.RNDIS (1.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.palm.ClassicNotSeizeDriver (3.2.1) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (6.2.0w4) [Click for support]


/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/Sparkle/Transmit/Transmit 4.1.1 Update/Transmit.app

[not loaded] com.panic.TransmitDisk.transmitdiskfs (3.0.0) [Click for support]


Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.pluginkit.pkd.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.rcd.plist

[killed] com.apple.SafariNotificationAgent.plist

[killed] com.apple.sbd.plist

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

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

[killed] com.apple.spindump_agent.plist

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

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

15 processes killed due to memory pressure


Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist

[killed] com.apple.awdd.plist

[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist

[killed] com.apple.installd.plist

[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist

[killed] com.apple.softwareupdated.plist

[killed] com.apple.spindump.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

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

[killed] org.cups.cupsd.plist

14 processes killed due to memory pressure


Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

[loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.extensis.FMCore.plist [Click for support]

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

[running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[not loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.sharpcast.xfsmond.plist [Click for support]


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

[failed] com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncer.plist

[failed] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]

[not loaded] com.linotype.FontFolderProtector.plist [Click for support]


User Login Items: ℹ️

GrowlMenu Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Growl.prefPane/Contents/Resources/GrowlMenu.app)

apple-scc-20140611-143324 UNKNOWN (missing value)

apple-scc-20140625-173933 UNKNOWN (missing value)

apple-scc-20141212-130303 UNKNOWN (missing value)


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 3.14.17.11865 [Click for support]

GlancePlugIn: Version: 2.5.4 [Click for support]

WacomNetscape: Version: 1.1.1-1 [Click for support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

WacomTabletPlugin: Version: WacomTabletPlugin 2.0.0.4 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

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

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

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 3.14.17.11865 [Click for support]

npgtpo3dautoplugin: Version: 0.1.44.23 - SDK 10.5 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 9.5.5 [Click for support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 Check version


User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 [Click for support]

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

Dashlane: Version: Dashlane 1.0.0 - SDK 10.10 [Click for support]


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Awesome Screenshot

Pinterest

iURL

Evernote Web Clipper

Alexa Site Stats

Avast Online Security

View Style Sheets

Add to Wunderlist

Shortly

Awesome Screenshot

Dashlane

GoogleFonts in Safari

MeasureIt


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Click for support]

Growl [Click for support]

Logitech Control Center [Click for support]


Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

hadar: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 359.20 GB

Destinations:

ayt hadagim [Local]

Total size: 1.30 TB

Total number of backups: 20

Oldest backup: 2014-07-12 03:26:45 +0000

Last backup: 2014-11-19 12:44:14 +0000

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 1.30 TB > (Disk used 359.20 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

84% SafariDAVClient

10% WindowServer

0% DashboardClient

0% mds_stores

0% com.apple.iCloudHelper


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

395 MB Safari

223 MB SafariDAVClient

155 MB Finder

94 MB Mail

86 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

83 MB Free RAM

2.06 GB Active RAM

1.98 GB Inactive RAM

1.15 GB Wired RAM

29.26 GB Page-ins

845 MB Page-outs


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Feb 27, 2015, 06:08:34 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-02-27-060834_[redacted].crash

Feb 27, 2015, 06:08:31 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-02-27-060831_[redacted].crash

Feb 27, 2015, 05:38:26 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-02-27-053826_[redacted].crash

Feb 26, 2015, 01:16:13 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/quicklookd_2015-02-26-131613_[ redacted].crash

Feb 26, 2015, 12:27:43 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Evernote_2015-02-26-122743_[re dacted].crash

Feb 26, 2015, 10:56:12 AM Self test - passed

Feb 26, 2015, 10:22:15 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Finder_2015-02-26-102215_[redacted].cpu_resourc e.diag [Click for details]

Feb 26, 2015, 10:06:43 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Finder_2015-02-26-100643_[redacted].cpu_resourc e.diag [Click for details]

Feb 26, 2015, 05:18:47 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/discoveryd_2015-02-26-051847_[redacted].crash

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), 3 GHz core duo, 8GB RAM

Posted on Feb 27, 2015 9:19 AM

Reply
17 replies
User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
141,126 points

Feb 27, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Nicky McCatty

Maybe I'm just stuck in the OS 9 past, but I still think of that as a salient factor.

Yes, you're stuck in the past. Don't use that junk.


I don't know what benefit Awesome Screenshot is supposed to convey, but the way it's going about that is malicious. So is Avast. Don't use it either. Same goes for all those other Safari extensions you're using — if you are not absolutely certain you need them, uninstall them. No Safari extensions are required for normal operation, and since you're complaint is slow Safari, that's the right place to start.

Reply
User profile for user: kahjot
kahjot
User level: Level 4
2,462 points

Feb 28, 2015 12:01 PM in response to Nicky McCatty

There are some settings you can adjust that may help. Turn off the (pointless) transparency effect for starters. And go into your Spotlight preferences and shut off “Spotlight Suggestions,” “Bookmarks and History,” and “Bing Web Searches.” If you use Safari you can also disable the same “Spotlight Suggestions” function in the browser (under “Preferences” and then “Search”). Make sure your Logitech software is up to date.

And see what Disk Utility (or TechTool) has to say about the health of your hard drive.

Reply
User profile for user: Nicky McCatty
Nicky McCatty Author
User level: Level 1
52 points

Mar 12, 2015 6:12 AM in response to Eric Root

I'm happy to report that many of those items required no attention.


I did notice that my History file was 46 MB, so I reluctantly duped and then deleted it. (I often check history to find something I forgot to save.)


I suspect however, that since there were not bad kexts, no old apps, and only a handful of things to delete from my Libraries (except caches which aren't cleared yet) most of the problem is really the age of my MacBook Pro, which is now 4.

Reply
User profile for user: notcloudy
notcloudy
User level: Level 4
1,252 points

Mar 12, 2015 6:21 AM in response to Nicky McCatty

Yosemite starts killing apps that have not been used in a period of time - when it has to make more room for active items.


Safari - Top Sites - page shown in same are refreshed - meaning your system goes out to those sites and retrieves the current page -- Safari also will add to top sites using some sort of guess.


My Safari was slow and getting slower until I discovered that top sites was populating itself - this including going out and getting RSS feeds that made it into top site. Safari stopped getting stuck and crashing after I cleaned out all top sites and kept deleting them.

Reply
User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
141,126 points

Mar 23, 2015 8:44 AM in response to Nicky McCatty

Nicky McCatty wrote:


I have another question about doing upkeep to maintain decent performance. Is MAC KEEPER any good?


No. Avoid all that garbage. A Mac is not a PC and does not need the same constant daily annoyance just to keep it running. Stop messing with it. As you already determined by having used junk like "Avast", "Disk Warrior" and "TechTool" doing so will only cause problems. None of them did anything to prevent you from installing adware.

If you're having trouble with your Mac, describe what it is. Don't run to some magical utility to fix it. That will make matters worse, always, every time.


There will always be threats to your information security associated with using any Internet - connected communications tool:


  1. You can mitigate those threats by following commonsense practices
  2. Delegating that responsibility to software is an ineffective defense
  3. Assuming that any product will protect you from those threats is a hazardous attitude that is likely to result in neglecting point #1 above.

OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it that way with software updates from Apple.


A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":

  • Never install any product that claims to "clean up", "speed up", "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.

    Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.

  • Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources.
    • Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
    • "Questionable sources" include but are not limited to spontaneously appearing web pages or popups, download hosting sites such as C net dot com, Softonic dot com, Soft pedia dot com, Download dot com, Mac Update dot com, or any other site whose revenue is primarily derived from junk product advertisements.
    • If you need to install software that isn't available from the Mac App Store, obtain it only from legitimate sources authorized by the software's developer.
  • Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
  • Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
    • Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
    • Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
    • Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iCloud, iTunes, or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
  • Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose:

    Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.

  • Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
    • Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
    • Java can be disabled in System Preferences.
    • Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
    • The same precaution applies to Adobe Flash Player. Newly discovered Flash vulnerabilities appear almost weekly.
  • Beware spontaneous popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > check "Block popup windows".
    • Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but unsolicited popups are commonly used to deceive people into installing unwanted software they would never intentionally install.
    • Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
    • If you ever receive a popup window indicating that your Mac is infected with some ick or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
    • The same goes for a spontaneously appearing dialog insisting that you upgrade your video player right this instant. Such popups are frequently associated with sites that promise to deliver "free" movies or other copyrighted content that is not normally "free".
    • The more insistent it is that you upgrade or install something, the more likely it is to be a scam. Close the window or tab and forget it.
  • Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
    • The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. Most of these attempts are pathetic and are easily recognized, but that hasn't stopped prominent public figures from recently succumbing to this age-old scam.
    • OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
    • Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
    • If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
    • Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
  • Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.


Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

Reply

SLOW! like molasses left outside in Boston.

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