btyler2
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: High Kernel_task CPU Usage (1000%)

I've been experiencing slow computer response times and my fan is running loud. When it check the Activity Monitor, it says kernel_task is running at almost 1000%. I've scoured the Support Boards and have tried reinstalling the OSX, Verified and Repaired the Disk, Reset the PRAM and SMC, and various other tips.

 

The problem still happens in Safe Mode, and is actually a tad worse at responding. I installed Clean My Mac after the problem started, thinking it was just a lack of memory problem, but then I read comments that said it can actually cause problems, so I tried to uninstall it. I ran the EtreCheck and fixed some of the problems that I saw, but maybe someone on this board will have better luck than I had.

 

Problem description:

High Kernal_task CPU Usage

 

EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 7/5/15, 4:35 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 Air (13-inch, Mid 2012) (Technical Specifications)

    MacBook Air - model: MacBookAir5,2

    1 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

    4 GB RAM Not upgradeable

        BANK 0/DIMM0

            2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

        BANK 1/DIMM0

            2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

    Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

    Wireless:  en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n

    Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 574 - SN = D86250600T1DKRNAD

 

Video Information: ℹ️

    Intel HD Graphics 4000

        Color LCD 1440 x 900

 

System Software: ℹ️

    OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) - Time since boot: 0:20:1

 

Disk Information: ℹ️

    APPLE SSD TS128E disk0 : (121.33 GB)

        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

        Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 119.43 GB (28.35 GB free)

            Core Storage: disk0s2 120.47 GB Online

 

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 Internal Memory Card Reader

 

Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

 

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

    Mac App Store and identified developers

 

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

        /System/Library/Extensions

    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.1394.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

    [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.USB.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

 

Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

    [loaded]    com.epson.esua.launcher.plist [Click for support]

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

 

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

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

    [running]    com.fitbit.galileod.plist [Click for support]

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

    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.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]

    [failed]    com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]

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

 

User Login Items: ℹ️

    CleanMyMac 3 Menu    UNKNOWN  (missing value)

 

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.194 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

    Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.194 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

    Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

    o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

    SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.0.0 [Click for support]

    googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

    Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20125.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

    JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 Check version

 

User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

    Picasa: Version: 1.0 [Click for support]

    RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

 

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

    Flash Player  [Click for support]

 

Time Machine: ℹ️

    Skip System Files: NO

    Mobile backups: OFF

    Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

    Volumes being backed up:

        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 119.43 GB Disk used: 91.08 GB

    Destinations:

        My Passport [Local]

        Total size: 0 B

        Total number of backups: 1

        Oldest backup: 2013-01-30 21:33:56 +0000

        Last backup: 2013-01-30 21:33:56 +0000

        Size of backup disk: Too small

            Backup size 0 B < (Disk used 91.08 GB X 3)

 

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

        19%    syncdefaultsd

        14%    coreduetd

         8%    WindowServer

         2%    ps

         1%    loginwindow

 

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

    424 MB    kernel_task

    152 MB    mdworker(6)

    86 MB    UserEventAgent(2)

    86 MB    CalendarAgent

    74 MB    Spotlight

 

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

    267 MB    Free RAM

    3.74 GB    Used RAM

    0 B    Swap Used

 

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

    Jul 5, 2015, 04:03:34 PM    Self test - passed

    Jul 5, 2015, 01:34:06 PM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/quicklookd_2015-07-05-133406_[ redacted].crash

    Jul 5, 2015, 07:59:11 AM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/quicklookd_2015-07-05-075911_[ redacted].crash

    Jul 5, 2015, 07:47:36 AM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/cloudd_2015-07-05-074736_[reda cted].crash

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 5, 2015 2:25 PM

Close
btyler2

Q: High Kernel_task CPU Usage (1000%)

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jul 5, 2015 2:43 PM in response to btyler2
    Level 10 (141,870 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 5, 2015 2:43 PM in response to btyler2

    First uninstall the malware CleanMyMac 3.  It's totally useless and can damage systems, iPhoto libraries among other things.  And as you said your problem started just after you installed it.  Google to find the developer's instructions to uninstall. 

     

    You can check to see if you've removed all of the files by downloading and running Find Any File to search for any files with the application's name  and the developer's name in the file name.  For example for CleanMyMac you'd do two searches:

     

    1 - Name contains cleanmymac

    2 - Name contains macpaw

     

    Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop for deletion.

     

    FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.

     

    Reboot and check for any improvement in performance.

     

    If you have a Western Digital external hard drive you don't need the WD software to manage the drive.  Remove the software and the auxiliary files that it installed:

      /System/Library/Extensions

        [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.1394.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

        [not loaded]    com.wdc.driver.USB.64.10.9 (1.0.1 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

     

    If you use Google Chrome or other Google software read this article:  Google Chrome Listening In To Your Room Shows The Importance Of Privacy Defense In Depth  and then consider uninstalling Chrome and use another browser.  If you don't like Safari then Firefox is an excellent replacement and much safer than Chrome.

    OTsig.png

  • by btyler2,

    btyler2 btyler2 Jul 5, 2015 3:14 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jul 5, 2015 3:14 PM in response to Old Toad

    I installed the CleanMyMac after the problem started to try and fix it, so I don't think that's the real root of the problem. Thank you for your suggestion on getting rid of it though, I uninstalled it but apparently it left some files behind.

     

    For the Western Digital Files, I'll remove them and see if that helps at all.

     

    I primarily use Safari, but I've just had google chrome installed for a long time. This gives me an excuse to actually get rid of it.

     

    l'll try these things and then let you know if it makes any difference. Thanks!

  • by btyler2,

    btyler2 btyler2 Jul 5, 2015 4:43 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jul 5, 2015 4:43 PM in response to Old Toad

    I tried to get rid of the Western Digital Kernel Extensions, but when I ran the EtreCheck again, they were still there. I'm not an expert on dealing with in-depth Mac issue, so would you have any suggestions on how to get rid of them for good?

     

    I got rid of a lot of the things you suggested and it took the CPU usage down to about 300%, but the problem is still there.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jul 6, 2015 8:57 AM in response to btyler2
    Level 10 (141,870 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 6, 2015 8:57 AM in response to btyler2

    Use Find Any File to search for files with com.wdc.driver in the file name. Yo can drag the file from the search results window to the Desktop for deletiion.

  • by btyler2,

    btyler2 btyler2 Jul 6, 2015 9:04 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jul 6, 2015 9:04 AM in response to Old Toad

    Late last night I went ahead and figured that out (duh, me). CleanMyMac is gone, Western Digital is gone, and Google Chrome is gone. It's still running about the same, CPU % at around 300 and the fan running hard.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jul 6, 2015 9:24 AM in response to btyler2
    Level 10 (141,870 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 6, 2015 9:24 AM in response to btyler2

    It seems that it's time to make an appointment at the nearest Genius bar for a free diagnostic check.  It might be hardware related.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jul 6, 2015 10:00 AM in response to btyler2
    Level 9 (74,535 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 6, 2015 10:00 AM in response to btyler2

    Apple Hardware Test doesn't catch everything, so even if it doesn't find a problem, you could have one.

                

    Apple Hardware Test

     

    Apple Hardware Test – Invoke and Interpret

     

    Apple Hardware test – How to run and interpret (2)

     

    Apple Hardware Test - Using

  • by brian.roach,

    brian.roach brian.roach Jul 23, 2016 2:55 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 23, 2016 2:55 PM in response to Old Toad

    Came to this post after searching google for "kernel_task 1000% CPU usage" and tried the first thing you suggested - uninstalling Clean My Mac 3 - and IMMEDIATELY my computer was back to normal. What is up with that program???

     

    Hopefully other people see this if they have CMM3 installed and their computers are freaking out for "no reason"...

     

    Thanks!

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Jul 24, 2016 9:01 AM in response to btyler2
    Level 6 (19,711 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 24, 2016 9:01 AM in response to btyler2

    Try booting into Safe mode, which should not load any 3rd party additions.  See if your system behaves itself?

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

    That would be an easy way to tell if it is Apple software or hardware vs some 3rd party additions.

  • by World Options,

    World Options World Options Sep 1, 2016 10:12 PM in response to btyler2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 1, 2016 10:12 PM in response to btyler2

    Similar issue, as soon as I opened an application the fans kicked in. Luckily my Mac Book Pro isn't used daily because I use an iMac at work and the only system change I could remember doing recently was turning on cups for printing in the terminal. After much research on the matter and not feeling comfortable about moving system files which seems to be the common answer, I began to retrace my steps. After doing multiple tweaks I then decided to turn off cups in the terminal, I had turned it on to try and print thermal labels with no success, but had left cups still activated. I saw an immediate response and my fans slowed down. I'm not saying turning off cups is the answer every time, but try retracing your steps before your start messing with system files.

     

    Another popular solution was turning off anti virus software, I whole heartedly agree. We run 30+ macs at World Options and anit-virus only caused us problems, all virus protection has now been removed. I moved to Mac because I was sick of viruses on my PC, this is my 5th Mac and none my the past devices including this one has had Anti-Virus software. Well done Steve (RIP) for locking the system.

  • by amin mahdi,

    amin mahdi amin mahdi Oct 12, 2016 12:16 AM in response to btyler2
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 12, 2016 12:16 AM in response to btyler2

    I have resolve it with this instruction:

     

    1) Please clean all cache in your system, (CleanMyMac is the best software).

    2) Restart you OS with connect all device such as external display and any more.... include NVRam Reset.

     

    After that it's Done.