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Slow Mac - Looking to resolve Etre issues

Hi - My Mac Pro is starting and running slowly. I ran Etre and I'm looking to correct the following issues:

  • delete VTech
  • correct, update or delete GPsocket
  • delete parallels mobile
  • update appleCS.Config


Mac Pro 2012 16gb ram - 2.5ghz Intel cor i5 os 10.9.5


Any help appreciated. Thx


Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

[failed] com.VTech.AgentMonitor.plist [Click for support]


Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.citrix.AuthManager_Mac.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.citrix.ReceiverHelper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.citrix.ServiceRecords.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.fujitsu.pfu.ScanSnap.AOUMonitor.plist [Click for support]

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

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

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

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

[running] jp.co.canon.UFR2.BG.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[failed] com.GP.SocketService.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.sharpcast.xfsmond.plist [Click for support]


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist [Click for support]

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

[failed] com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent.plist [Click for support]

Posted on Apr 13, 2015 9:12 AM

Reply
25 replies

Apr 13, 2015 11:51 AM in response to dpacenyc

When you see a beachball cursor or the slowness is especially bad, note the exact time: hour, minute, second.

These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select

SYSTEM LOG QUERIES All Messages

from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select

View Show Log List

from the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Each message in the log begins with the date and time when it was entered. Scroll back to the time you noted above.

Select the messages entered from then until the end of the episode, or until they start to repeat, whichever comes first.

Copy the messages to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.

The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of it useless for solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.

Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.

Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

Apr 14, 2015 6:28 PM in response to Linc Davis

This is the com.VTech info


4/14/15 9:03:40.192 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.VTech.AgentMonitor) This key does not do anything: OnDemand

4/14/15 9:03:53.937 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.VTech.AgentMonitor[299]) Could not find and/or execute program specified by service: 2: No such file or directory: /Applications/VTech/DownloadManager/DownloadManager.app/Contents/System/bin/Age ntMonitor.app/Contents/MacOS/AgentMonitor

4/14/15 9:03:53.937 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.VTech.AgentMonitor[299]) Service setup event to handle failure and will not launch until it fires.

Apr 14, 2015 6:30 PM in response to dpacenyc

com.GP had nothing


This is the com.apple.CSconfiginfo


4/14/15 9:03:54.240 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-dan@me.com-SharedServices[302]) Could not find and/or execute program specified by service: 2: No such file or directory: /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/OSServices.framewo rk/Versions/A/Support/CSConfigDotMacCert

4/14/15 9:03:54.240 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-dan@me.com-SharedServices[302]) Service setup event to handle failure and will not launch until it fires.

Apr 14, 2015 6:32 PM in response to Linc Davis

This is the com.parallels.mobile info


4/14/15 9:03:40.358 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent) Unknown key for Boolean: HopefullyExitsFirst

4/14/15 9:03:40.358 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent) Service has increased maximum shutdown time to 150 seconds. This will create a poor experience for the user.

4/14/15 9:03:54.161 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent[296]) Could not find and/or execute program specified by service: 2: No such file or directory: /Applications/Parallels Access.app/Contents/MacOS/prl_deskctl_wizard

4/14/15 9:03:54.161 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent[296]) Service setup event to handle failure and will not launch until it fires.

Apr 14, 2015 6:53 PM in response to lllaass

Full report. thx


EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated April 14, 2015 at 9:49:59 PM 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

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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

Battery Health: Normal - Cycle count 295


Video Information: ℹ️

Intel HD Graphics 4000

Color LCD 1280 x 800


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.3 (14D131) - Time since boot: 0:44:43


Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE HDD HTS547550A9E384 disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 498.88 GB (277.71 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 499.25 GB Online


HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS31N


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/Parallels Desktop.app

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (10.2.0 28956 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.netbridge (10.2.0 28956 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (10.2.0 28956 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.vnic (10.2.0 28956 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]


Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

[failed] com.VTech.AgentMonitor.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]


Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[failed] com.apple.mtrecorder.plist


Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.citrix.AuthManager_Mac.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.citrix.ReceiverHelper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.citrix.ServiceRecords.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.fujitsu.pfu.ScanSnap.AOUMonitor.plist [Click for support]

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

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

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

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

[running] jp.co.canon.UFR2.BG.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[failed] com.apple.spirecorder.plist

[failed] com.GP.SocketService.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.sharpcast.xfsmond.plist [Click for support]


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist [Click for support]

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

[failed] com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]


User Login Items: ℹ️

AOUMonitor Application (/Applications/ScanSnap Online Update.localized/AutoOnlineUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/AOUMonitor.app)


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

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

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update

LogMeIn: Version: 1.0.935 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

CitrixICAClientPlugIn: Version: 11.8.2 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

LogMeInSafari32: Version: 1.0.935 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Silverlight: Version: 4.1.10329.0 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 31 Check version


User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 [Click for support]


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Open in Internet Explorer


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Click for support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]


Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 498.88 GB Disk used: 221.17 GB

Destinations:

G-RAID with Thunderbolt [Local]

Total size: 4.00 TB

Total number of backups: 18

Oldest backup: 2014-10-23 15:35:43 +0000

Last backup: 2015-04-13 15:18:55 +0000

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 4.00 TB > (Disk size 498.88 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

18% WindowServer

14% Mail

7% mds

4% mds_stores

2% sysmond


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

412 MB mds_stores

344 MB Mail

206 MB Safari

158 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

155 MB Finder


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

7.94 GB Free RAM

6.54 GB Active RAM

1.32 GB Inactive RAM

1.39 GB Wired RAM

1.77 GB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 14, 2015, 09:02:25 PM Self test - passed

Apr 13, 2015, 06:22:41 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-182241_[r edacted].crash

Apr 13, 2015, 05:54:09 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-175409_[r edacted].crash

Apr 13, 2015, 05:53:09 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-175309_[r edacted].crash

Apr 13, 2015, 05:20:46 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-172046_[r edacted].crash

Apr 13, 2015, 06:44:28 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-184428_[r edacted].crash

Apr 13, 2015, 05:42:42 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-174242_[r edacted].crash

Apr 13, 2015, 05:34:45 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-173445_[r edacted].crash

Apr 13, 2015, 05:29:53 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/accountsd_2015-04-13-172953_[r edacted].crash

Apr 15, 2015 7:16 PM in response to dpacenyc

There may be other issues, but your installations of OS X, "Parallels," and "VTech" seem to be corrupt. Do as below, then either remove or reinstall the latter two according to the developers' instructions.

If you don't already have a current backup, back up all data, then reinstall the OS.* You don't need to erase the startup volume, and you won't need the backup unless something goes wrong. If the system was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you may need the Apple ID and password you used.

There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional. Ask if you need guidance.

If you installed the Java runtime distributed by Apple and still need it, you'll have to reinstall it. The same goes for Xcode. All other data will be preserved.

*The linked support article refers to OS X 10.10 ("Yosemite"), but the procedure is the same for OS X 10.7 ("Lion") and later.

Apr 20, 2015 3:04 PM in response to Linc Davis

OK so this was painful. I restored parallels but that didn't seem to so much. I tried to restore the OS lion (the option given) but it didn't want to work.


I have a time machine backup so I wiped Mac portion of the disk. The OS restore didn't want to work as the disk had been partitioned for parallels. So I wiped the overall disk and OS restore wouldn't work. I restored the disc from Time Machine and then did a lion restore. Here are the etre results with an apple item still flagged. My business apple id is locked out for some reason so I need to wait until support unlocks it and gets back to me.


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


EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 4/20/15 5:39 PM

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, Mid 2012) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 296 - SN = W02285LZCD3LC


Video Information: ℹ️

Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: 512 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800


System Software: ℹ️

Mac OS X 10.7.5 (11G63) - Time since boot: 0:8:4


Disk Information: ℹ️

HGST HUS724020ALE640 disk1 : (2 TB)

disk1s1 (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

disk1s2 (disk1s2) <not mounted> : 2.00 TB

Boot OS X (disk1s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB


HGST HUS724020ALE640 disk2 : (2 TB)

disk2s1 (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

disk2s2 (disk2s2) <not mounted> : 2.00 TB

Boot OS X (disk2s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB


APPLE HDD HTS547550A9E384 disk0 : (500.11 GB)

disk0s1 (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Untitled (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (474.83 GB free)

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


HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS31N


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple, Inc. MacBook Pro

G-Technology G-RAID with Thunderbolt


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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


User Login Items: ℹ️

None


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.1

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.3.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

None


Time Machine: ℹ️

Time Machine not configured!


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

30% mdworker32

7% mds

6% WindowServer

5% mdworker(2)

4% fontd


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

328 MB WebProcess(2)

98 MB App Store

98 MB Safari

66 MB mds

49 MB mdworker(4)


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

13.00 GB Free RAM

2.60 GB Used RAM

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 20, 2015, 05:38:36 PM /Library/Logs/CrashReporter/mds_2015-04-20-173836_[redacted].crash

Apr 20, 2015, 05:38:36 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_2015-04-20-173836_[redacted].crash

Apr 20, 2015, 05:38:35 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mds_2015-04-20-173835_[redacted].crash

Apr 20, 2015, 05:38:35 PM /Library/Logs/CrashReporter/mds_2015-04-20-173835_[redacted].crash

Apr 20, 2015, 05:30:37 PM Self test - passed

Apr 21, 2015 10:21 AM in response to Linc Davis

I restored yosemite. Here is the etre report with a few dings. Let me know if anyone has any insights to resolve these. Thx


EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 4/21/15, 10:23 AM

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, Mid 2012) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 296 - SN = W02285LZCD3LC


Video Information: ℹ️

Intel HD Graphics 4000

Color LCD 1280 x 800


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.3 (14D136) - Time since boot: 13:58:33


Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE HDD HTS547550A9E384 disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Untitled (disk1) / : 498.88 GB (300.73 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 499.25 GB Online


HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS31N


HGST HUS724020ALE640 disk2 : (2 TB)

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

disk2s2 (disk2s2) <not mounted> : 2.00 TB

Boot OS X (disk2s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB


HGST HUS724020ALE640 disk3 : (2 TB)

EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

disk3s2 (disk3s2) <not mounted> : 2.00 TB

Boot OS X (disk3s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)


Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

G-Technology G-RAID with Thunderbolt


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/Parallels Desktop.app

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.hidhook (9.0 24251.1052177) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (9.0 24251.1052177) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.netbridge (9.0 24251.1052177) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (9.0 24251.1052177) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.vnic (9.0 24251.1052177) [Click for support]


Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[failed] com.apple.mtrecorder.plist


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[failed] com.apple.spirecorder.plist


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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


User Login Items: ℹ️

None


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Open in Internet Explorer


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

None


Time Machine: ℹ️

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Untitled: Disk size: 498.88 GB Disk used: 198.14 GB

Destinations:

G-RAID with Thunderbolt [Local]

Total size: 0 B

Total number of backups: 0

Oldest backup: -

Last backup: -

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 0 B < (Disk used 198.14 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

20% Preview

12% WindowServer

2% fontd

1% hidd

1% cfprefsd(2)


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

1.09 GB kernel_task

541 MB mds_stores

442 MB softwareupdated

393 MB mdworker(12)

213 MB Mail


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

7.04 GB Free RAM

8.96 GB Used RAM

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 20, 2015, 08:23:27 PM Self test - passed

Apr 20, 2015, 05:38:36 PM /Library/Logs/CrashReporter/mds_2015-04-20-173836_[redacted].crash

Apr 20, 2015, 05:38:35 PM /Library/Logs/CrashReporter/mds_2015-04-20-173835_[redacted].crash

Apr 21, 2015 6:52 PM in response to dpacenyc

Please don't post "etrecheck" stuff in a reply to me. I have no use for it.

1. This procedure is a diagnostic test. It changes nothing, for better or worse, and therefore will not, in itself, solve the problem. But with the aid of the test results, the solution may take a few minutes, instead of hours or days.

The test works on OS X 10.7 ("Lion") and later. I don't recommend running it on older versions of OS X. It will do no harm, but it won't do much good either.

Don't be put off by the complexity of these instructions. The process is much less complicated than the description. You do harder tasks with the computer all the time.

2. If you don't already have a current backup, back up all data before doing anything else. The backup is necessary on general principle, not because of anything in the test procedure. Backup is always a must, and when you're having any kind of trouble with the computer, you may be at higher than usual risk of losing data, whether you follow these instructions or not.

There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional. Ask if you need guidance.

3. Below are instructions to run a UNIX shell script, a type of program. As I wrote above, it changes nothing. It doesn't send or receive any data on the network. All it does is to generate a human-readable report on the state of the computer. That report goes nowhere unless you choose to share it. If you prefer, you can act on it yourself without disclosing the contents to me or anyone else.

You should be wondering whether you can believe me, and whether it's safe to run a program at the behest of a stranger. In general, no, it's not safe and I don't encourage it.

In this case, however, there are a couple of ways for you to decide whether the program is safe without having to trust me. First, you can read it. Unlike an application that you download and click to run, it's transparent, so anyone with the necessary skill can verify what it does.

You may not be able to understand the script yourself. But variations of it have been posted on this website thousands of times over a period of years. The site is hosted by Apple, which does not allow it to be used to distribute harmful software. Any one of the millions of registered users could have read the script and raised the alarm if it was harmful. Then I would not be here now and you would not be reading this message. See, for example, this discussion.

Nevertheless, if you can't satisfy yourself that these instructions are safe, don't follow them. Ask for other options.

4. Here's a general summary of what you need to do, if you choose to proceed:

☞ Copy a particular line of text to the Clipboard.

☞ Paste into the window of another application.

☞ Wait for the test to run. It usually takes a few minutes.

☞ Paste the results, which will have been copied automatically, back into a reply on this page.

These are not specific instructions; just an overview. The details are in parts 7 and 8 of this comment. The sequence is: copy, paste, wait, paste again. You don't need to copy a second time.

5. Try to test under conditions that reproduce the problem, as far as possible. For example, if the computer is sometimes, but not always, slow, run the test during a slowdown.

You may have started up in "safe" mode. If the system is now in safe mode and works well enough in normal mode to run the test, restart as usual. If you can only test in safe mode, do that.

6. If you have more than one user, and the one affected by the problem is not an administrator, then please run the test twice: once while logged in as the affected user, and once as an administrator. The results may be different. The user that is created automatically on a new computer when you start it for the first time is an administrator. If you can't log in as an administrator, test as the affected user. Most personal Macs have only one user, and in that case this section doesn’t apply. Don't log in as root.

7. Load this linked web page (on the website "Pastebin.") The title of the page is "Diagnostic Test." Below the title is a text box headed by three small icons. The one on the right represents a clipboard. Click that icon to select the text, then copy it to the Clipboard on your computer by pressing the key combination command-C.

If the text doesn't highlight when you click the icon, select it by triple-clicking anywhere inside the box. Don't select the whole page, just the text in the box.

8. Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

Click anywhere in the Terminal window to activate it. Paste from the Clipboard into the window by pressing command-V, then press return. The text you pasted should vanish immediately.

9. If you see an error message in the Terminal window such as "Syntax error" or "Event not found," enter

exec bash

and press return. Then paste the script again.

10. If you're logged in as an administrator, you'll be prompted for your login password. Nothing will be displayed when you type it. You will not see the usual dots in place of typed characters. Make sure caps lock is off. Type carefully and then press return. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you make three failed attempts to enter the password, the test will run anyway, but it will produce less information. If you don't know the password, or if you prefer not to enter it, just press return three times at the password prompt. Again, the script will still run.

If you're not logged in as an administrator, you won't be prompted for a password. The test will still run. It just won't do anything that requires administrator privileges.

11. The test may take a few minutes to run, depending on how many files you have and the speed of the computer. A computer that's abnormally slow may take longer to run the test. While it's running, a series of lines will appear in the Terminal window like this:

[Process started]

Part 1 of 8 done at … sec

Part 8 of 8 done at … sec

The test results are on the Clipboard.

Please close this window.

[Process completed]

The intervals between parts won't be exactly equal, but they give a rough indication of progress. The total number of parts may be different from what's shown here.

Wait for the final message "Process completed" to appear. If you don't see it within about ten minutes, the test probably won't complete in a reasonable time. In that case, press the key combination control-C or command-period to stop it and go to the next step. You'll have incomplete results, but still something.

12. When the test is complete, or if you stopped it because it was taking too long, quit Terminal. The results will have been copied to the Clipboard automatically. They are not shown in the Terminal window. Please don't copy anything from there. All you have to do is start a reply to this comment and then paste by pressing command-V again.

At the top of the results, there will be a line that begins with the words "Start time." If you don't see that, but instead see a mass of gibberish, you didn't wait for the "Process completed" message to appear in the Terminal window. Please wait for it and try again.

If any private information, such as your name or email address, appears in the results, anonymize it before posting. Usually that won't be necessary.

13. When you post the results, you might see an error message on the web page: "You have included content in your post that is not permitted," or "The message contains invalid characters." That's a bug in the forum software. Please post the test results on Pastebin, then post a link here to the page you created.

14. This is a public forum, and others may give you advice based on the results of the test. They speak for themselves, not for me. The test itself is harmless, but whatever else you're told to do may not be. For others who choose to run it, I don't recommend that you post the test results on this website unless I asked you to.

______________________________________________________________

Copyright © 2014, 2015 by Linc Davis. As the sole author of this work (including the referenced "Diagnostic Test"), I reserve all rights to it except as provided in the Use Agreement for the Apple Support Communities website ("ASC"). Readers of ASC may copy it for their own personal use. Neither the whole nor any part may be redistributed.

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