2010 Macbook Pro is running SUPER slow. Almost unusable.

Question

2010 Macbook Pro is running SUPER slow. Almost unusable.

My 2010 Macbook Pro is running so slow that it's almost unusable due to the buffering of data and the color wheel spinning incessantly. I close applications, restart and nothing helps. I have not downloaded any clean up software. I teach and am dependent on my computer for EVERYTHING I do.

HELP PLEASE!!

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2010), iOS 8.2

Posted on Mar 20, 2015 7:56 AM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

140,964 points

Mar 20, 2015 8:22 AM in response to ericafrompflugerville

Back up your Mac if you have not already done so. To learn how to use Time Machine read Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac - Apple Support
Determine if the same problems exist in "Safe Mode". Read below.

Safe Mode or "Safe Boot" is a troubleshooting mode that bypasses all third party system extensions and loads only required system components. Read about it: Starting up in Safe Mode
You must disable FileVault before you can start your Mac in Safe Mode.
Starting your Mac in Safe Mode will take longer than usual, graphics will not render smoothly, audio is disabled on some Macs, and some programs (iTunes for example) may not work at all.
Merely starting your Mac in Safe Mode is not intended to resolve the problem, it's to observe its performance without certain additional components.
To end Safe Mode restart your Mac normally. Shutdown will take longer as well.

If you are still experiencing problems more information will be required. If you don't know where to start, EtreCheck can help with that. Read below.

Apple Support Communities contributor etresoft wrote a very useful app to quickly gather certain system information that may help point to a cause of this problem. Read about it here. It contains a link to download EtreCheck. Do not download it from anywhere else (such as may be found by following the results of an Internet search).

Click Open - etresoft contributes to this forum frequently and can be considered a trustworthy developer.

It will take a moment to run as it collects its data.

Copy and paste its output in a reply.

Do not be concerned about anything that says "Problem" or “failed” or anything else that may appear in red.

EtreCheck was designed to remove any personal information (such as your computer's name and serial numbers) but if you see anything that looks like an email address or any other personal information that should not be divulged to others, please delete or obscure that information when you post the reply.

When you are finished with EtreCheck, quit the program. It occupies very little space, and you can keep it or drag it to the Trash as you wish.

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