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how to disable kernel task

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011), 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3, OS X Yosemite version 10.10.2 (14C1510)


My computer is running super slow.... I have no apps open and still kernel task is using 1GB of my memory - any suggestions? I have attached a screen shot below.


Thank you!


User uploaded file

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Apr 1, 2015 6:55 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Apr 1, 2015 7:35 AM

how to disable kernel task

Since kernel_task "Is" the guts of Mac OS X, the only way to disable it is to turn off your Mac, or install Windows, Linux, etc...


Generally kernel_task uses on the order of 300-400MB for a 4GB system (plus or minus). Using 1GB or memory is more typical of a Mac with 16GB or RAM. The default kernel_task memory usage is to manage virtual memory page tables sized based on how much physical RAM is in the system.


Since you have 4GB and your kernel_task is using a lot more memory then typical for your system, there is a strong possibility that you have installed 3rd party kernel extensions. The memory used by these 3rd party kernel extensions are charged to kernel_task.


Please post the output from EtreCheck which will show the 3rd party extensions you have installed.

<https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6174>


If you have an anti-malware package installed, that frequently uses a kernel extension. Since Mac OS X includes it own anti-malware protections, 3rd party additions are redundant and often cause problems, such as using resources in excess to what services they are providing.


Anyway, after you post the EtreCheck output, someone will give you an analysis. Of course if just seeing the EtreCheck output yourself, you identify the problem, that works too.

5 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 1, 2015 7:35 AM in response to chefjazzyjeff

how to disable kernel task

Since kernel_task "Is" the guts of Mac OS X, the only way to disable it is to turn off your Mac, or install Windows, Linux, etc...


Generally kernel_task uses on the order of 300-400MB for a 4GB system (plus or minus). Using 1GB or memory is more typical of a Mac with 16GB or RAM. The default kernel_task memory usage is to manage virtual memory page tables sized based on how much physical RAM is in the system.


Since you have 4GB and your kernel_task is using a lot more memory then typical for your system, there is a strong possibility that you have installed 3rd party kernel extensions. The memory used by these 3rd party kernel extensions are charged to kernel_task.


Please post the output from EtreCheck which will show the 3rd party extensions you have installed.

<https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6174>


If you have an anti-malware package installed, that frequently uses a kernel extension. Since Mac OS X includes it own anti-malware protections, 3rd party additions are redundant and often cause problems, such as using resources in excess to what services they are providing.


Anyway, after you post the EtreCheck output, someone will give you an analysis. Of course if just seeing the EtreCheck output yourself, you identify the problem, that works too.

Apr 1, 2015 7:36 AM in response to BobHarris

Hey Bob, thank you!!

See below the EtreCheck results.

Thank you for helping me with all of this....


EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated 1 April 2015 11:34:46 GMT-3

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 (13-inch, Early 2011) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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

Battery Health: Normal - Cycle count 437


Video Information: ℹ️

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.2 (14C1510) - Time since boot: 6 days 17:13:27


Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE HDD HTS545050A7E362 disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 498.88 GB (219.46 GB free)

Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

Core Storage: disk0s2 499.25 GB Online


MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)


Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungComposite (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.eltima.SyncMate.kext (0.2.5b15) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.logmein.driver.LogMeInSoundDriver (1.0.3 - SDK 10.5) [Click for support]


/System/Library/Extensions/ssuddrv.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMControl (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMData (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungMTP (1.4.14 - SDK 10.5) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungSerial (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]


Startup Items: ℹ️

MobileBrServ: Path: /Library/StartupItems/MobileBrServ

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite


Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist

[killed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist

[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

4 processes killed due to memory pressure


Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

[failed] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.brother.LOGINserver.plist [Click for support]

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

[failed] com.logmein.LMILaunchAgentFixer.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.logmein.logmeingui.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.logmein.logmeinguiagent.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.logmein.logmeinguiagentatlogin.plist [Click for support]

[running] jp.co.canon.CUPSCMFP.BG.plist [Click for support]

[running] jp.co.canon.CUPSFAX.BG.plist [Click for support]

[failed] jp.co.canon.ScanGearMF.appl.Canon-MF-Scan-Agent.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

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

[not loaded] com.logmein.logmeinblanker.plist [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.logmein.logmeinserver.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.logmein.raupdate.plist [Click for support]

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


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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


User Login Items: ℹ️

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

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

LogMeInSafari64: Version: 1.0.730 [Click for support]

OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 2.0.0.0 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

LogMeIn: Version: 1.0.730 [Click for support]

DivXBrowserPlugin: Version: 2.1 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

LogMeInSafari32: Version: 1.0.730 [Click for support]

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

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.6 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]


User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

npsf_uni: Version: sf 3.3.2.1 [Click for support]


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

AdBlock

Searchme [Adware! - Remove]

DivX Plus Web Player HTML5 <video>


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

DivX [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

MacFUSE (Tuxera) [Click for support]

Perian [Click for support]


Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 498.88 GB Disk used: 279.42 GB

Destinations:

Seagate Backup Plus Drive [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 2

Oldest backup: 2014-10-15 18:38:23 +0000

Last backup: 2015-03-13 00:16:32 +0000

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk used 279.42 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

9% WindowServer

1% sysmond

0% AppleSpell

0% Activity Monitor

0% notifyd


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

125 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

90 MB Mail

77 MB Safari

39 MB mds

39 MB WindowServer


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

78 MB Free RAM

957 MB Active RAM

903 MB Inactive RAM

1.66 GB Wired RAM

9.43 GB Page-ins

1.06 GB Page-outs

Apr 1, 2015 7:38 AM in response to chefjazzyjeff

Safari Extensions: ℹ️


Searchme [Adware! - Remove]


Please review the options below to determine which method is best to remove the Adware installed on your computer.


The Easy, safe, effective method:

http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php


If you are comfortable doing manual file removals use the somewhat more difficult method:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987


Also read the articles below to be more prepared for the next time there is an issue on your computer.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7471

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-8071

http://www.thesafemac.com/tech-support-scam-pop-ups/

Apr 1, 2015 7:49 AM in response to chefjazzyjeff

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungComposite (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.eltima.SyncMate.kext (0.2.5b15) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.logmein.driver.LogMeInSoundDriver (1.0.3 - SDK 10.5) [Click for support]


/System/Library/Extensions/ssuddrv.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMControl (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMData (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungMTP (1.4.14 - SDK 10.5) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungSerial (1.4.14 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

Unless you have a paid LogMeIn.com account, you may want to remove LogMeIn, as they have stopped their Free for personal use option.


What are you using eltima.com software for? Do you need it?


What Samsung product are you using that needs all these kernel extensions?


One or more of these kernel extensions are using all the extra kernel_task memory.


You can boot into "Safe Mode" which will NOT load any of the 3rd party extension to see how much memory they are taking up (that is to say, you will see how much kernel_task uses without the extras loaded, and you can subtract from 951MB to see what they are using.

<http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564>


As a side note, Yosemite does like lots of RAM, so "After" you resolve the kernel extension issues, if you still find you are having performance issues, you may want to consider adding more RAM. The long term forum contributors frequently recommend Crucial.com and MacSales.com (OWC).


And if you want to give your Mac a real speed boost, consider replacing the rotational hard disk with a Solid State Disk (SSD), which will make your Mac fly.


But please DO NOT allow me to spend your money. That is a decision best made by you and your family responsibilities.

how to disable kernel task

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