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Macbook Pro suddenly slowed to a crawl

I have looked through many threads with people who have had similar problems but I have had no luck fixing this myself. I was watching Netflix when all of a sudden the video froze, the fan started running like crazy and the computer slowed right down. I closed everything and restarted the computer several times. I have tried resetting the SMC, the NVRAM, but nothing seems to work. The kernel_task is hovering around 300% cpu usage right from the restart. I'm at a loss for what to do, so I throw myself to your expertise.


As an added bonus, the trackpad also stopped working completely. It is completely unresponsive. It doesn't do any random movements or clicking. It does nothing. I have to use a USB mouse.


Below is my EtreCheck report and hopefully I can resolve this issue (as the nearest Apple Store to me is a 4 hour drive):

EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 7/27/15, 8:13 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.

Click the [Click to remove] links for help removing adware.


Hardware Information: ℹ️

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro11,1

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Not 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: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 108 - SN = D864294T14XFT5YAC


Video Information: ℹ️

Intel Iris

Color LCD 2560 x 1600


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.9.5 (13F1096) - Time since boot: 0:11:44


Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE SSD SD0256F disk0 : (251 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 250.14 GB (147.33 GB free)

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


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Microsoft Microsoft 3-Button Mouse with IntelliEye(TM)

Logitech USB Receiver


Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


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


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

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


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[running] com.spigot.ApplicationManager.plist [Click for support]

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

[loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist [Click for support]


User Login Items: ℹ️

iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

BOINCManager Application Hidden (/Users/[redacted]/.Trash/BOINCManager.app)

Google Chrome Application Hidden (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)

AirDroid UNKNOWN (missing value)

Spotifree Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotifree.app)

Spotify Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.5 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

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

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

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

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9


User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

npNASAEyes: Version: NASAEyes_x86_64 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Slick Savings Adware! [Click to remove]

Ebay Shopping Assistant Adware! [Click to remove]

Searchme Adware! [Click to remove]


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

None


Time Machine: ℹ️

Time Machine not configured!


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

10% mdworker(6)

7% Google Chrome Helper(7)

5% WindowServer

3% mds_stores

2% Google Chrome


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

852 MB Google Chrome Helper(7)

815 MB kernel_task

328 MB Spotify Helper(2)

180 MB Google Chrome

131 MB mds_stores


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

12.00 GB Free RAM

4.49 GB Used RAM

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Jul 27, 2015, 07:55:10 PM Self test - passed

Jul 25, 2015, 11:40:51 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2015-07-25-114051_[redacted].panic [Click for details]

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Jul 27, 2015 5:21 PM

Reply
2 replies

Jul 27, 2015 6:03 PM in response to espeutic

The kernel is using excessive processor cycles. Below are some possible causes for the condition.

Throttling

When it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or low voltage readings from the battery of a MacBook, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption. This condition can be due to:

☞ a buildup of dust on the logic board

☞ high ambient temperature

☞ a worn-out or faulty battery in a portable

☞ the malfunction of a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, or some other internal component

Note that if the problem is caused by a sensor, there may be no actual overheating or undervoltage.

If the computer is portable, test with and without the AC adapter connected. If kernel_task hogs the processor only on AC power, charging is causing the machine to heat up. That behavior may be normal for some models, but it may also be an indication of a hardware fault.

Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, though not very reliable, is sometimes able to detect a fault. For more thorough hardware testing, make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

If nothing is wrong with the hardware, then whatever you can do to improve cooling may help.

Installed software

User-installed software that includes a device driver or other kernel code may thrash the kernel. That category includes virtualization software, such as Parallels and VMware, as well as most commercial "anti-virus" products. Some system-monitoring applications, such as "iStat," can also contribute to the problem. You can test for this possibility by completely disabling or removing the software according to the developer's instructions, or starting in safe mode. Note, however, that disabling a system modification without removing it or testing in safe mode may not be as easy as you think.

Corrupt NVRAM or SMC data

Sometimes the problem is cleared up by resetting the NVRAM or the SMC.

External display

Connecting an external LCD display to some MacBook Pro models while the lid is open may cause this issue. If applicable, test by closing the lid or disconnecting the display. You might get better results with a newer LED display.

Macbook Pro suddenly slowed to a crawl

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