2009 Macbook Pro running extremely slow for every application

Question

Level 1

0 points

2009 Macbook Pro running extremely slow for every application

My computer has been running very painfully slow for a while now. Is this because I need more RAM? If I can't find any solutions I'll be making a trip to the Apple store. Just trying to avoid it if I can. Thanks for your help.

EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated March 30, 2015 at 8:30:02 PM CDT

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Hardware Information: ℹ️

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,5

1 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

2 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

1 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

1 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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

Battery Health: Normal - Cycle count 382

Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.2 (14C1514) - Time since boot: 5 days 4:53:20

Disk Information: ℹ️

Hitachi HTS545016B9SA02 disk0 : (160.04 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Mac HD (disk0s2) / : 159.18 GB (54.65 GB free)

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

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-868

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt (0.0.39) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverVSP (0.0.39) [Click for support]

Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.cloudd.plist

[killed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

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

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

16 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.diagnosticd.plist

[killed] com.apple.emond.aslmanager.plist

[killed] com.apple.GSSCred.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.ifdreader.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.periodic-monthly.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

17 processes killed due to memory pressure

Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.coupons.coupond.plist [Click for support]

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

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.rim.BBLaunchAgent.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[loaded] com.cloudpath.maccmd.plist [Click for support]

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

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist [Click for support]

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

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.rim.BBDaemon.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

[failed] com.amazon.music.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist

[loaded] com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

SpeechSynthesisServer Application (/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)

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

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

ABA UNKNOWN (missing value)

RealPlayer Downloader Agent Application (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/RealNetworks/RealPlayer Downloader Agent.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

MeetingJoinPlugin: Version: Unknown - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.5.9r620 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.3.1.3 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.0 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.13 [Click for support]

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

DivXBrowserPlugin: Version: 2.0 [Click for support]

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

Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.13 [Click for support]

EPPEX Plugin: Version: 10.0 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 40 Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

fbplugin_1_0_3: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

Move_Media_Player: Version: npmnqmp 071701000001 [Click for support]

BrowserPlus_2.9.2: Version: 2.9.2 [Click for support]

fbplugin_1_0_1: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Akamai NetSession Preferences [Click for support]

BrowserPlus [Click for support]

DivX [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Click for support]

Growl [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Mac HD: Disk size: 159.18 GB Disk used: 104.54 GB

Destinations:

Elements [Local]

Total size: 999.46 GB

Total number of backups: 0

Oldest backup: -

Last backup: -

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 999.46 GB > (Disk size 159.18 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

1% diskimages-helper

1% Dropbox

1% Folder Actions Dispatcher

0% WindowServer

0% BBLaunchAgent

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

81 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

54 MB Safari

49 MB Finder

41 MB spindump

41 MB com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

23 MB Free RAM

424 MB Active RAM

417 MB Inactive RAM

398 MB Wired RAM

20.97 GB Page-ins

612 MB Page-outs

MacBook Pro

Posted on Mar 30, 2015 6:34 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Mar 30, 2015 7:00 PM in response to amsciarillo

Slow performance after installing Yosemite on an older Mac is often caused by inadequate memory. Although you can install the upgrade on a Mac with 2 GB of memory, experience has shown that at least 4 GB is needed for full performance.

Select About This Mac from the Apple menu. If you have less than 4 GB of memory, and your model has upgradable memory, install as much as it can take, or at least that much. Any reputable RAM vendor will have a web form in which you can select the Mac model and be directed to compatible parts.

Reply

Answer 2

etresoft

Level 8

46,312 points

Mar 31, 2015 7:14 AM in response to amsciarillo

amsciarillo wrote:

My computer has been running very painfully slow for a while now. Is this because I need more RAM?

Yes. Here is a link to OWC, one of the best online retailers for Mac upgrades: http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=360&type=Memory

OWC only does Macs and will only sell you the parts that work on your specific machine. The link above shows memory upgrades for your specific model MacBook Pro.

However, the advice you were given above is incorrect. You would be wasting your money if you only bought 4 GB. Older machines upgraded to Yosemite need at least 8 GB. Buy the 8 GB kit from OWC. If you really want good performance, you should purchase an SSD to replace your hard drive. Since you are still using your original hard drive, you can purchase a smaller 240 GB SSD that will give you more space, much faster speed and is still quite inexpensive. The 2.5" hard drives that come with notebooks tend to fail after 2-3 years anyway. You are overdue for a hard drive failure.

I should caution you that there are other parts of your machine that could fail over time. There is a possibility that after upgrading your RAM and hard drive, your logic board could fail. Electrical components wear out over time. Your machine is 6 years old. You should seriously consider a new Mac.

Reply

Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Mar 31, 2015 7:44 AM in response to amsciarillo

One of the myths that circulate on this site is the myth that the current version of OS X always needs to more than 4 GB of memory to run well. The myth is based on nothing except the fact that some people keep repeating it. Apple is today selling new Macs with 4 GB of memory that can never be upgraded after they leave the factory. Those Macs come with Yosemite preinstalled, and it can never be downgraded to an older version. So if you were to believe the myth, you would also believe that Apple knows that it's selling products that are permanently crippled right out of the box, no matter how they're used.

Some users do need more than 4 GB of memory for full performance. They are running memory-intensive applications, such as photo or video editors, or they're running many programs concurrently, or they have more than one account logged in at the same time.

That said, the person who told you that my comment was incorrect apparently can't read very well. I said you should install as much memory as the machine can take, but not less than 4 GB.

Reply

Answer 4

deven09

Level 1

8 points

Mar 31, 2015 8:22 AM in response to amsciarillo

I think you should bite the bullet and upgrade to 8gb of ram. A solid state drive would help too!

Reply