Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

16 points

kernel_task using too much RAM

I am moving my problem to a new thread as the old thread is long and has been marked as solved.

Basically, my mid 2010 iMac with 16GB of RAM is running out of RAM if Firefox is left open. While I have been able to reduce the tabs and extensions in Firefox (ver 37.0.1), the problem persists (but not as severe). So, it was recommended that I use EtreCheck to create a report on what might be happening and how my system is performing. This problem started about a month ago. The only thing that has really changed in my set up is that I added a 4TB external HD. I already had a 3TB external HD and I daisy-chained the 3TB to the new 4TB, which is connected directly to the Firewire 800 plug in the iMac. However, this kernel_task issue did not show up right away. It started happening about a week or so afterward.

Here is the report that EtreCheck produced. Problems it identified are in red.

Problem description:

kernal_task taking too much RAM

EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated April 9, 2015 at 7:22:34 AM EDT

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

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac11,3

1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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

Video Information: ℹ️

ATI Radeon HD 5670 - VRAM: 512 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.9.5 (13F34) - Time since boot: 12:9:20

Disk Information: ℹ️

ST31000528AS disk0 : (1 TB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Jeff's HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (200.79 GB free)

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

HL-DT-STDVDRW GA32N

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Mitsumi Electric Apple Optical USB Mouse

SMI USB2.0 Card Reader

Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

American Power Conversion Back-UPS BR 800 FW:9.o4 .D USB FW:o4

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Firewire Information: ℹ️

Seagate FA GoFlex Desk 800mbit - 800mbit max

disk1s1 (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Time Machine (disk1s2) /Volumes/Time Machine : 1.00 TB (79.37 GB free)

Jeff's External 1 (disk1s3) /Volumes/Jeff's External 1 : 1.00 TB (78.54 GB free)

Jeff's External 2 (disk1s4) /Volumes/Jeff's External 2 : 999.39 GB (195.41 GB free)

OWC Elite Pro U3FW 800mbit - 800mbit max

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

External 3 (disk2s2) /Volumes/External 3 : 1.00 TB (922.72 GB free)

External 4 (disk2s3) /Volumes/External 4 : 1.00 TB (999.40 GB free)

External 5 (disk2s4) /Volumes/External 5 : 1.00 TB (999.40 GB free)

External 6 (disk2s5) /Volumes/External 6 : 999.85 GB (999.19 GB free)

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Anywhere

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/Utilities/DiskWarrior.app

[not loaded] com.alsoft.Preview (4.4) [Click for support]

/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/Sparkle/Transmit/Transmit 4.1.7 Update 1/Transmit.app

[not loaded] com.panic.TransmitDisk.transmitdiskfs (3.0.0 - SDK 10.5) [Click for support]

/Users/[redacted]/Library/Services/ToastIt.service/Contents/MacOS

[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0) [Click for support]

/Volumes/External 3/Applications not using/Toast 10 Titanium/Toast Titanium.app

[not loaded] com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6) [Click for support]

Startup Items: ℹ️

CiscoVPN: Path: /System/Library/StartupItems/CiscoVPN

ProTec6: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ProTec6

ProTec6b: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ProTec6b

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite <--- My note: but I'm not using Yosemite. I'm using 10.9.5

Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[failed] com.apple.installd.plist

[failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

[loaded] com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist [Click for support]

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

[not loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

[running] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

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

[loaded] com.adobe.versioncueCS3.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.versioncueCS4.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.barebones.bbedit.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.crashplan.engine.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]

[loaded] com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.timesoftware.timemachineeditor.backupd-auto.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

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

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

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

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.diskSpaceWatcher.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.scheduledScan.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.trashWatcher.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.pia.pia_manager.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.shirtpocket.backupbytime.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

Default Folder X Helper Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Default Folder X.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Default Folder X Helper.app)

FontExplorerXAutoload Application Hidden (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/Linotype/FontExplorer X/FontExplorerXAutoload.app)

Shoo Apps Application (/Applications/Utilities/Shoo Apps.app)

SIMBL Agent Application (/Library/ScriptingAdditions/SIMBL.osax/Contents/Resources/SIMBL Agent.app)

CleanAgent Application (/Applications/Clean.app/Contents/Resources/CleanAgent.app)

TransmitMenu Application (/Applications/Transmit.app/Contents/MacOS/TransmitMenu.app)

Spotdox Application (/Applications/Spotdox.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

Rogue Amoeba Schedule Helper Application Hidden (/Library/Application Support/Audio Hijack Pro/Rogue Amoeba Schedule Helper.app)

CrashPlan menu bar Application (/Applications/CrashPlan.app/Contents/Helpers/CrashPlan menu bar.app)

TotalFinder Application (/Applications/TotalFinder.app)

Wondershare Helper Compact Application (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/Helper/Wondershare Helper Compact.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 6.1 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.4.4.2 [Click for support]

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.2.6 [Click for support]

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]

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

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

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8

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

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 9.5.5 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 40 Check version

Safari Extensions: ℹ️

1Password

Video Converter

Web Snapper

Aimersoft Video Converter

Audio Plug-ins: ℹ️

DVCPROHDAudio: Version: 1.3.2

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Adobe Version Cue CS4 [Click for support]

AppTrap [Click for support]

Cameras [Click for support]

Default Folder X [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]

MacFUSE [Click for support]

Perian [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Jeff's HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 798.56 GB

Destinations:

Time Machince [Local]

Total size: 1.00 TB

Total number of backups: 61

Oldest backup: 2014-12-14 05:57:19 +0000

Last backup: 2015-04-09 10:48:30 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 1.00 TB < (Disk used 798.56 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

21% firefox

5% 2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword4-helper

5% WindowServer

2% Shoo Apps

1% AppleSpell

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

1.03 GB CrashPlanService

412 MB firefox

172 MB Finder

120 MB mds_stores

120 MB WindowServer

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

11.24 GB Free RAM

1.80 GB Active RAM

2.16 GB Inactive RAM

1.67 GB Wired RAM

12.22 GB Page-ins

385 MB Page-outs

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 9, 2015, 05:45:57 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2015-04-09-05 4557_[redacted].crash

Apr 8, 2015, 07:18:16 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2015-04-08-19 1816_[redacted].crash

Apr 8, 2015, 07:09:00 PM Self test - passed

Apr 7, 2015, 07:48:59 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2015-04-07-074859_[redacted].hang

Apr 6, 2015, 07:28:54 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2015-04-06-07 2854_[redacted].crash

iPhoto '11, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Apr 9, 2015 9:04 AM

16 replies

John Galt

Level 10

142,744 points

Apr 11, 2015 1:43 PM in response to outtacontext

outtacontext wrote:

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.diskSpaceWatcher.plist [Click for support] <---WOULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHY THESE ARE STILL HERE? (AND THE ONE BELOW)? I DELETED THE APP AND ALL FILES. I ALSO DID A SEARCH OF THESE AND GOT NO RESULTS.

In short, because CleanMyMac is unmitigated trash whose uninstallation instructions do not work despite its developer's claim to have addressed that shortcoming months ago. That means one of two things: they really don't want those files deleted and they are being intentionally deceptive about that, or they are incompetent.

You can delete the files its uninstallation instructions leave behind, but there is no way for anyone to determine what else may have been affected by its use.

It is one reason that I recommend any system that has been affected by CleanMy*** be completely erased and reconfigured. The other reason is that there is no way to determine the extent of what that program did to your essential software, documents, and other files you may need. Reinstalling OS X will reinstall only the files OS X requires. It has no effect whatsoever on CleanMyMac. If you want recovery instructions please ask.

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 1.00 TB < (Disk used 799.22 GB X 3) <--- WOULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHY THIS IS TOO SMALL? MY TIME MACHINE IS THE SAME SIZE AS MY INTERNAL HD

The reason it is too small is that Time Machine guarantees one and only one complete copy of the source volume. That's it, no more. You can certainly get away with your Time Machine configuration as it is now, but only up to the point it needs to back up your entire source volume or even a significant percentage of it. If that were to become necessary, it might need a lot more than the 200 GB available to it at present because TM will always leave the existing complete backup untouched, until a newer one can claim the space it's using. The amount of space it will require will be equal to the aggregate size of all the files that need to be backed up, plus a certain amount of "overhead". Its size cannot be predicted but consider 20% a reasonable estimate. TM won't even start to back up unless that much is available, and it will go through some effort to reclaim it. If it can't, it will tell you. What it won't tell you is that older, "expired" backups will be deleted, until after the fact.

The implications of that warning will become evident if and when you decide to recover from having used CleanMyMac. I recommend you address that concern before doing anything else.

The oft-repeated "three times the source volume's contents" rule of thumb is, like all rules of thumb, based on somewhat less than factual information. Less than 3X, such as a 2 TB backup volume, may be sufficient for your needs. You have to consider all the information at hand before drawing any conclusions. In any event having a Time Machine backup volume equal in capacity to your source volume is not relevant. What matters is the size of its contents, and EtreCheck is reporting those details.

kernel_task using too much RAM