Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
I have an early 2008 MacPro with recently installed Yosemite 10.10.2. I need to find a really good Mac specialist in or around the Croydon, Surrey area to renovate my computer. It slows to a crawl after a few hours use and just isn't the machine it used to be I'm afraid. I need advice, repairs, replacement and/or clearing out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)
Hi Allan,
We can likely help you here! 🙂
But...
https://locate.apple.com/lac/en/
In the meantime...
What all 3rd party extentions are you running?
EtreCheck is a simple little app to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac.
Hi Allan,
We can likely help you here! 🙂
But...
https://locate.apple.com/lac/en/
In the meantime...
What all 3rd party extentions are you running?
EtreCheck is a simple little app to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac.
Buy an SSD device, I recommend the XP941 256GB from Ramcity Austrailia and sold on Amazon and elsewhere.
Do a clean install. Sounds like you have not and have the same old stuff in your system from before. T here is wisdom and reason in a clean install, especially now.
Then you can use Carbon Copy Cloner http://www.bombich.com to keep bootable backup clones at the ready.
Upgrade the graphic card, t hat is a DIY part and will make a difference. More RAM too. Happens with every new OS but especially 10.10
Keep your drives in good health, repaired, backed up.
You could go back to earlier OS, though Apple tries to force upgrades by not supporting and providing security updates prior to Mavericks which means only a couple years even though your 7 year old system is capable of running current two supported OS's.
Bare minimum RAM for yosemite is 4GB - but it is happier with much more.
If you run the Etrecheck -- things you should stop doing will be in red (startup jobs, things not supported).
This site may help you speed it up.
This is the EtreCheck report.
EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)
Report generated 4/23/15, 8:57 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
Mac Pro (Early 2008) (Technical Specifications)
Mac Pro - model: MacPro3,1
2 3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon CPU: 8-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 1
1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 2
1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 1
2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 2
2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 3
1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 4
1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 3
Empty
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 4
Empty
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en2: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT - VRAM: 512 MB
HH281 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
DELL3007WFPHC 1600 x 2560
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10.2 (14C109) - Time since boot: 20:27:26
Disk Information: ℹ️
ST3320820AS_P disk0 : (320.07 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Disk 1 - System (disk0s2) / : 319.21 GB (17.69 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
WDC WD5000AAKS-41YGA0 disk2 : (500.11 GB)
EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
System Install Discs 1 & 2 (disk2s2) /Volumes/System Install Discs 1 & 2 : 16.11 GB (4.40 GB free)
Disc 2 (disk2s3) /Volumes/Disc 2 : 483.52 GB (291.34 GB free)
Hitachi HDS721010DLE630 disk1 : (1 TB)
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Dist 3 - 1TB (disk1s2) /Volumes/Dist 3 - 1TB : 999.86 GB (328.00 GB free)
USB Information: ℹ️
Prolific Technology Inc. IEEE-1284 Controller
Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P2055dn
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Logitech USB Receiver
Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
EPSON USB Printer
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/Applications/VMware Fusion.app
[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmci (90.5.7) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmioplug.12.1.13 (12.1.13) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmnet (0139.86.58) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmx86 (0139.86.58) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vsockets (90.5.7) [Click for support]
/Library/Application Support/MacKeeper/AntiVirus.app
[not loaded] com.zeobit.kext.AVKauth (2.3.2 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.zeobit.kext.Firewall (2.3.2 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]
/System/Library/Extensions
[loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.7.0 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]
[loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.0 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.echofx.magix.kext (1.0.0) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.genaudioinc.driver.AstoundStereoDevice (0.1) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.tomtom.driver.UsbEthernetGadget (1.0.0d1) [Click for support]
[not loaded] uk.co.evolution.driver.usbmidi (1.0.0) [Click for support]
/System/Library/Extensions/MAGIX Rescue Your Videotapes.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.echofx.magix.kext.audio (1.0.0) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.echofx.magix.kext.noseize.appleusbaudio (1.0.0) [Click for support]
[not loaded] com.echofx.magix.kext.noseize.classic (1.0.0) [Click for support]
/Users/[redacted]/Desktop/COMPUTER APPLICATIONS/Transmit.app
[not loaded] com.panic.TransmitDisk.transmitdiskfs (3.0.0) [Click for support]
Startup Items: ℹ️
MAGIX Rescue Your Videotapes Startup: Path: /Library/StartupItems/MAGIX Rescue Your Videotapes Startup
Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.epson.eventmanager.agent.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist [Click for support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]
[loaded] com.sibelius.sari.plist [Click for support]
[running] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.AntiVirus.plist [Click for support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[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]
[running] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist [Click for support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
GrowlHelperApp Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Growl.prefPane/Contents/Resources/GrowlHelperApp.app)
GrowlHelperApp UNKNOWN (missing value)
iTunesHelper UNKNOWN (missing value)
SpeechSynthesisServer Application (/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)
System Events Application (/System/Library/CoreServices/System Events.app)
MyTomTomSA Application (/Applications/MyTomTomSA.app)
TransmitMenu Application (/Users/[redacted]/Desktop/COMPUTER APPLICATIONS/Transmit.app/Contents/MacOS/TransmitMenu.app)
MacLWSLauncher Application (/Applications/Logitech/LWS/Logitech Webcam Software.app/Contents/MacOS/MacLWSLauncher.app)
SuperDrive Update 2.1 UNKNOWN (missing value)
VMware Fusion Helper UNKNOWN (missing value)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Aimersoft Helper Compact Application (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/Helper/Aimersoft Helper Compact.app)
AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)
Hightail Desktop App Application (/Applications/Hightail Desktop App.app)
TomTomHOMERunner Application Hidden (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/TomTom HOME/TomTomHOMERunner.app)
RealPlayer Downloader Agent Application (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/RealNetworks/RealPlayer Downloader Agent.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 [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: 12.3.6 [Click for support]
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
DivX Web Player: Version: 3.2.4.1250 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: Version: 3.1.0.2 [Click for support]
Scorch: Version: 6.2.0 [Click for support]
DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.5.0r596 [Click for support]
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 2.1.0f5 [Click for support]
Picasa: Version: 1.0 [Click for support]
RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Click for support]
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
Aimersoft Video Converter
Video Converter
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
AstoundStereo™ Expander [Click for support]
Flash Player [Click for support]
Flip4Mac WMV [Click for support]
Growl [Click for support]
Logitech Control Center [Click for support]
Perian [Click for support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: YES - System files not being backed up
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off
Volumes being backed up:
Disk 1 - System : Disk size: 319.21 GB Disk used: 301.52 GB
Destinations:
Dist 3 - 1TB [Local]
Total size: 999.86 GB
Total number of backups: 111
Oldest backup: 2012-09-24 17:15:44 +0000
Last backup: 2014-12-16 10:47:34 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk size 319.21 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
85% WindowServer
2% fontd
2% MacKeeper Helper
0% RealPlayer Downloader Agent
0% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(3)
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
1.31 GB kernel_task
483 MB softwareupdated
328 MB mds_stores
319 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(3)
238 MB MacKeeper Helper
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
1.37 GB Free RAM
6.63 GB Used RAM
0 B Swap Used
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
Apr 23, 2015, 06:28:00 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.WebContent_20 15-04-23-182800_[redacted].crash
Apr 23, 2015, 01:19:15 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/WindowServer_2015-04-23-131915_[redacted].cpu_r esource.diag [Click for details]
Apr 23, 2015, 12:27:35 AM Self test - passed
Apr 21, 2015, 05:09:51 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/WindowServer_2015-04-21-170951_[redacted].cpu_r esource.diag [Click for details]
Uninstall/remove Mackeeper
Re: how to uninstall MacKeeper
MAGIX Rescue Your Videotapes Startup: Path: /Library/StartupItems/MAGIX Rescue Your Videotapes Startup
Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite
Many thanks. Is MacKeeper not a good programme then? What would you suggest I use as virus protection and cleanup etc.? I got rid of the Magix programmes. What is 'WindowServer' by the way? Just checked my Activity Monitor and it is using 88.7% of the CPU. Everything else seems to be under 2%.
Your boot disk needs more free space, 17GB is not enough. That is a spinning disk - they perform worse the more data you put on them…
http://macperformanceguide.com/Storage-WhyYouNeedMoreThanYouNeed.html
A SSD would make things a lot quicker, otherwise get a huge spinning HD & keep it mostly empty.
Is Time Machine actually working, is it disabled? Your last complete backup appears to be from last year!
Has this Mac been migrated over many OS's? It look there is a lot of out of date software (like the missing login items, Growl, Perian, DivX, TomTom RealPlayer downloader…). Do you use it all, is it up to date?
Mackeeper needs to go.
For antivirus try http://clamxav.com/. It is a lot less intrusive & should use less resources compared to apps like Mackeeper & other AV software. Avoid apps that want to be an all in one 'cleaning solution' - their business is making you run tasks that don't do much good. For the most part Macs don't need cleanup until you start installing lots of software & forget to update it. For maintenance - run Disk Utility every once in a while to see if disks are OK & backup your old data & move it off is pretty much all you need.
Personally I think you could benefit from making a full backup & then reinstall OS X with just the applications you need, that will clear out the years of older apps & software that may no longer be needed. You can use Migration Assistant to move data back, just avoid moving the Applications & 'other files'.
Window server is what it sounds like - it draws the Windows for the OS. It is not good that it is eating a lot of CPU, it may be other software that is causing it to misbehave. You could try troubleshooting that if you want, but archiving this disk & setting up a clean installed SSD will give you a bigger boost in speed & more satisfaction IMO.
If you only go to good sites and do not open unknown attachment then no antivirus is needed.
For windows server
http://www.macissues.com/2014/10/20/prevent-the-windowserver-process-from-draggi ng-yosemite-down/
2008 Mac Pro repair
