CPU "hung up" when switching apps

A few day ago whenever i noticed that my computer was getting these weird "hang ups" every time I switched applications. If I were looking for a file in finder, and wanted to look something up on safari, then when I switched to safari it would take about 80% of my cpu power, as soon as that was done, a thread named systemUIserver would come up for a half second, using the same amount of cpu power, happening(the beach ball was spinning while this was all happening) and when all that was finally finished I could get on with doing what I wanted. The same thing sometimes will happen if I am working on something, like for example, typing this message in safari, twice I think it happened, when I was typing safari started using about 80% of my cpu power, followed by the systemUIserver, it only happens for about 3-4 seconds, but it completely stops everything from happening during that time. this happens in all my apps, mail, system monitor, iTunes, finder. this is really annoying, as I often times am switching between apps very frequently, and it slows everything way down.

Any help would be appreciated
TAC

iBook G4, 1.42 GHz, 512, Super drive, Mac OS X (10.4.8), iPod mini, and a 801.11 D-link wireless base

Posted on Oct 11, 2006 9:48 AM

23 replies

ace chef Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 12, 2006 11:56 AM in response to ParentalUnit

OK,
That makes sense to me Wayne,

But if you just have an admin account, could you not just fix that admins home folder/the system from that admins account?

TAC

Oct 12, 2006 12:12 PM in response to ace chef

TAC,

You could try, but it's not a good idea:
1. It's like trying to keep your shoes clean and dry while cleaning a bathtub you're standing inside.
2. It's an admin account that's been compromised: You can't trust the results of your cleanup.
3. Some infections (and file corruption) make the account itself unusable. "Clean" accounts can be used to clean the corrupted one. This is more like keeping your shoes clean and dry while cleaning a bathtub because you're standing on the (clean) floor outside it.

-Wayne

ace chef Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 12, 2006 4:17 PM in response to ParentalUnit

OK, Thanks Wayne

I was not trying to dispute what you had told me, I just wanted to make sure that the reasons for using a user account were good enough for me to do it. By now I think I have been convinced of that. Thanks for taking the time to explain the pro's to me. I like to know why something is good to be done, and no one really seemed to be able to tell me exactly why it was suggested to do, until you did. Thanks

TAC (The Ace Chef)

P.S. I'll try to remember not to clean my bathtub while wearing nice shoes ^_~

Oct 12, 2006 6:27 PM in response to ace chef

TAC,

I didn't think you were: Honest questions deserve a direct and honest answer.

It's often difficult to translate the perspective and experience set of a techie into terms that make the concept accessible without giving an incomplete or faulty understanding. I'm glad the bathtub simile was useful.

-Wayne

ace chef Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 18, 2006 7:37 AM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Ok, sorry it took so long to post back, but I have been so busy till now that I didn't have time to rebuild the folder.

This is what happened. On my user account, which, to stop this problem, had admin privileges, I revoked them. So it was a standard account (this is when the problem usually started). I then removed the preferences plist form my home folder, and logged out, when I logged back in the problem persisted, no change what so ever. So I moved the preference folder back, and gave the account admin privileges again. Thanks for the idea doug, but it didn't seem to do anything, so I think the problem might be somewhere else. Any ideas?

Oct 18, 2006 5:10 PM in response to ace chef

If the problem is not with your user's preferences, then it could be a Mac OS X system-wide issue, a software conflict or a hardware problem. I would suggest the standard troubleshooting steps like starting from the Mac OS X install disk and running the Disk Utility to "repair disk" on your hard drive. Using the Disk Utility on your Mac to "repair disk permissions" and see if that helps.

You might also startup while holding down the "shift" key to startup in "safe" mode. This will disable any third party system extensions or startup/login items. If this solves the problem, then you must have some kind of software conflict to resolve.

If you have no file directory damage (this is what the "repair disk" routine checks), you've tried running in Safe mode and the issue continues, it may be time to make an "Archive and Install" of Mac OS X. You can keep all your applications and user files with this kind of install.

-Doug

ace chef Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 18, 2006 5:37 PM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Ok, I just did a repair permissions, one thing was fixed, though it made no difference. I did a disk verify from disk utility, is that the same as doing it from the start-up disk? (I have never used the repair disks, and wouldn't even now what to do with them.)

I will try and boot in safe mode, and hopefully one of these things will work.

thanks for all your help

ace chef Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 18, 2006 5:58 PM in response to ace chef

Just did safe boot too, no change.

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CPU "hung up" when switching apps