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Deleting hidden files has caused me problems

At least I believe that to be so . My Mac has been rather slow so I set about deleting apps I didnt use plus associated files using App Cleaner. Everything seemed to be much better but then I decided i would find any hidden files by using the following process but i dont think i got it quite right..http://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/quick-tip-revealing-hidden-files-in-os-x --mac-48663 In any case I deleted the files and now my computer is very much slower than it was, sometimes requiring 3 or 4 reloads to load a page .I then tried to use Tinker Tool maintenance "Clear Memory Cache " but got the following mesage- "A required component of OS X is missing in your system installation Please verify that the UNIX program discoveryutil is present at its standard path '/usr/sbin/discoveryutil'. Note: The problem was detected while working with the file system object “/usr/sbin/discoveryutil”. That means absolutely nothing to me so I was wondering if someone could advise me as i am at my wits end. Thanks

AppleTV 2, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), Mini iPad

Posted on Jul 29, 2015 4:09 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jul 29, 2015 4:15 AM

If you go deleting hidden files at random you can expect problems right up to your Mac ceasing to work at all. You will need to reinstall Yosemite. Please see https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201314 for instructions. (This isn't loading currently, as an alternative see http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-reinstall-mac-os-x-using-internet-recov ery-3593641/ .)

17 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jul 29, 2015 4:15 AM in response to angloargie

If you go deleting hidden files at random you can expect problems right up to your Mac ceasing to work at all. You will need to reinstall Yosemite. Please see https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201314 for instructions. (This isn't loading currently, as an alternative see http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-reinstall-mac-os-x-using-internet-recov ery-3593641/ .)

Jul 29, 2015 7:08 AM in response to Csound1

Hardware Information:

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)

iMac - model: iMac12,1

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4 cores

4 GB RAM


Video Information:

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 512 MB


System Software:

OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) - Uptime: 0 days 0:47:46


Disk Information:

ST3500418AS disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (236.98 GB free)

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


HL-DT-STDVDRW GA32N


USB Information:

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)


Canon MG3200 series


Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


Apple Internal Memory Card Reader 7.95 GB

COJONES (disk1s1) /Volumes/COJONES: 7.94 GB (7.94 GB free)


Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions:

[kext loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.6 - SDK 10.6) Support

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMControl (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMData (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBCDCACMData (1.3.35) Support

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBMassStorageFilter (1.3.35) Support

[not loaded] com.novamedia.driver.IceraUSB_MSD_Bypass (1.3.0) Support

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3G (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3GData (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.DisableAutoInstall (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.Option72 (2.15.0) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.OptionHS (3.26.0) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.OptionMSD (1.21.0) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.OptionQC (1.11.0) Support

[kext loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt (0.0.67) Support

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverVSP (0.0.67) Support

[not loaded] com.vodafone.driver (3.0.9) Support

[not loaded] com.vodafone.driver.Data (3.0.9) Support

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_ecm_qmi (1.0.26) Support

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_usb_bus (1.0.26) Support

[not loaded] net.pocketmac.driver.PocketMacKNetMO (3.9.2b24) Support


Startup Items:

HW_CreateNetwork: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HW_CreateNetwork

HWPortDetect_driver: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect_driver


Problem System Launch Daemons:

[running] de.novamedia.nmnetmgrd.plist Support


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

[loaded] com.bresink.system.privilegedhelper-tts.plist Support

[loaded] com.bresink.system.securityagent3a.plist Support

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist Support

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist Support

[loaded] com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist Support


Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support


User Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

[loaded] com.f-secure.sync.BTCloud.plist Support

[loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist Support

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist Support

[not loaded] jp.co.canon.Inkjet_Extended_Survey_Agent.plist Support


User Login Items:

Music Manager


Internet Plug-ins:

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 51 Check version

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 Support

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 5.2 Support

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 Support

NP2020Player: Version: 5.0.4.0 Support

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: (null) Support

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 Support

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 Support

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 Support

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 Support

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 Support

EPPEX Plugin: Version: 10.0 Support

DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.0.7r148 - SDK 10.6 Support


Safari Extensions:

Video Converter: Version: 4.4.1

SiteAdvisor: Version: 2.0

1Password (beta): Version: 4.4.3.b1


Audio Plug-ins:

BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 4.3.5 - SDK 10.10

AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.10

AppleAVBAudio: Version: 303.1 - SDK 10.10

iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.10


iTunes Plug-ins:

Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.6 - SDK 10.10


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player Support

Flip4Mac WMV Support

Java Support


Time Machine:

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 464.96 GB Disk used: 244.26 GB

Destinations:

Bollockbrain [Local] (Last used)

Total size: 465.44 GB

Total number of backups: 21

Oldest backup: 2014-05-09 19:58:32 +0000

Last backup: 2015-07-21 21:19:45 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 465.44 GB < (Disk used 244.26 GB X 3)

Time Machine details may not be accurate.

All volumes being backed up may not be listed.


Top Processes by CPU:

2% WindowServer

0% fontd

0% launchd

0% taskgated

0% watchdogd


Top Processes by Memory:

176 MB mds_stores

156 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

78 MB Safari

66 MB spindump

66 MB Finder


Virtual Memory Information:

821 MB Free RAM

1.14 GB Active RAM

805 MB Inactive RAM

898 MB Wired RAM

4.58 GB Page-ins

246 MB Page-outs

Jul 30, 2015 12:51 AM in response to Csound1

I got rid of that f secure as you suggested and some obvious kernel extensions such as blackberry and vodafone , but apart from pocket mac which i recenly acquired via the Apple store so i cant see there would be a problem with it , the others seem to be drivers which i am not all sure about but suspect I can do without .If I name the peripherals I have maybe you could advise me as to the suitability of these drivers. I have a Huawei mobile wifi device, a Canon MG3250 printer, a La Cie external hard drive which is firewire connected, Apple tv and Now tv streaming devices and Samsung smart phone which is my wife's.Everything else is connected via ethernet to my router.Thanks

Hardware Information:

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)

iMac - model: iMac12,1

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4 cores

4 GB RAM


Video Information:

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 512 MB


System Software:

OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) - Uptime: 0 days 2:19:27


Disk Information:

ST3500418AS disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (237.27 GB free)

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


HL-DT-STDVDRW GA32N


USB Information:

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)


Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Apple Internal Memory Card Reader 7.95 GB

COJONES (disk1s1) /Volumes/COJONES: 7.94 GB (7.94 GB free)


Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions:

[kext loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.6 - SDK 10.6) Support

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMControl (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMData (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBCDCACMData (1.3.35) Support

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBMassStorageFilter (1.3.35) Support

[not loaded] com.novamedia.driver.IceraUSB_MSD_Bypass (1.3.0) Support

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3G (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3GData (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.DisableAutoInstall (3.0.13) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.Option72 (2.15.0) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.OptionHS (3.26.0) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.OptionMSD (1.21.0) Support

[not loaded] com.option.driver.OptionQC (1.11.0) Support

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_ecm_qmi (1.0.26) Support

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_usb_bus (1.0.26) Support

[not loaded] net.pocketmac.driver.PocketMacKNetMO (3.9.2b24) Support


Startup Items:

HW_CreateNetwork: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HW_CreateNetwork

HWPortDetect_driver: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect_driver


Problem System Launch Daemons:

[running] de.novamedia.nmnetmgrd.plist Support


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

[loaded] com.bresink.system.privilegedhelper-tts.plist Support

[loaded] com.bresink.system.securityagent3a.plist Support

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist Support

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist Support

[loaded] com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist Support


Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support


User Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

[loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist Support

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist Support

[not loaded] jp.co.canon.Inkjet_Extended_Survey_Agent.plist Support


User Login Items:

Music Manager


Internet Plug-ins:

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 51 Check version

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 Support

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 5.2 Support

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 Support

NP2020Player: Version: 5.0.4.0 Support

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: (null) Support

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 Support

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 Support

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 Support

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 Support

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 Support

EPPEX Plugin: Version: 10.0 Support

DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.0.7r148 - SDK 10.6 Support


Safari Extensions:

Video Converter: Version: 4.4.1

1Password (beta): Version: 4.4.3.b2

SiteAdvisor: Version: 2.0


Audio Plug-ins:

BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 4.3.5 - SDK 10.10

AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.10

AppleAVBAudio: Version: 303.1 - SDK 10.10

iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.10


iTunes Plug-ins:

Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.6 - SDK 10.10


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player Support

Flip4Mac WMV Support

Java Support


Time Machine:

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 464.96 GB Disk used: 243.98 GB

Destinations:

Bollockbrain [Local] (Last used)

Total size: 465.44 GB

Total number of backups: 21

Oldest backup: 2014-05-09 19:58:32 +0000

Last backup: 2015-07-21 21:19:45 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 465.44 GB < (Disk used 243.98 GB X 3)

Time Machine details may not be accurate.

All volumes being backed up may not be listed.


Top Processes by CPU:

1% WindowServer

1% mds_stores

0% fontd

0% launchd

0% taskgated


Top Processes by Memory:

209 MB firefox

198 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

135 MB Finder

106 MB mds_stores

106 MB Safari


Virtual Memory Information:

359 MB Free RAM

1.57 GB Active RAM

1.05 GB Inactive RAM

835 MB Wired RAM

2.29 GB Page-ins

18 MB Page-outs

Jul 31, 2015 12:28 AM in response to angloargie

well i ended up removing all those driver extensions as I have no idea why they are there and a Google search doesn't really bring anything helpful so I am left with the kernel extensions i am familiar with. Things are working better though


Hardware Information:

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)

iMac - model: iMac12,1

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4 cores

4 GB RAM


Video Information:

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 512 MB


System Software:

OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) - Uptime: 0 days 1:37:41


Disk Information:

ST3500418AS disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (238.3 GB free)

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


HL-DT-STDVDRW GA32N


USB Information:

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)


Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Apple Internal Memory Card Reader 7.95 GB

COJONES (disk1s1) /Volumes/COJONES: 7.94 GB (7.94 GB free)


Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions:

[kext loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.6 - SDK 10.6) Support

[not loaded] net.pocketmac.driver.PocketMacKNetMO (3.9.2b24) Support


Startup Items:

HW_CreateNetwork: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HW_CreateNetwork

HWPortDetect_driver: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect_driver


Problem System Launch Daemons:

[running] de.novamedia.nmnetmgrd.plist Support


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

[loaded] com.bresink.system.privilegedhelper-tts.plist Support

[loaded] com.bresink.system.securityagent3a.plist Support

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist Support

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist Support

[loaded] com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist Support


Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support


User Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

[loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist Support

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist Support

[not loaded] jp.co.canon.Inkjet_Extended_Survey_Agent.plist Support


User Login Items:

Music Manager


Internet Plug-ins:

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 51 Check version

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 Support

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 5.2 Support

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 Support

NP2020Player: Version: 5.0.4.0 Support

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: (null) Support

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 Support

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 Support

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 Support

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 Support

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 Support

EPPEX Plugin: Version: 10.0 Support

DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.0.7r148 - SDK 10.6 Support


Safari Extensions:

Video Converter: Version: 4.4.1

1Password (beta): Version: 4.4.3.b2

SiteAdvisor: Version: 2.0


Audio Plug-ins:

BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 4.3.5 - SDK 10.10

AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.10

AppleAVBAudio: Version: 303.1 - SDK 10.10

iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.10


iTunes Plug-ins:

Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.6 - SDK 10.10


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player Support

Flip4Mac WMV Support

Java Support


Time Machine:

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 464.96 GB Disk used: 243.02 GB

Destinations:

Bollockbrain [Local] (Last used)

Total size: 465.44 GB

Total number of backups: 21

Oldest backup: 2014-05-09 19:58:32 +0000

Last backup: 2015-07-21 21:19:45 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 465.44 GB < (Disk used 243.02 GB X 3)

Time Machine details may not be accurate.

All volumes being backed up may not be listed.


Top Processes by CPU:

14% ocspd

2% WindowServer

1% securityd

1% fontd

0% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent


Top Processes by Memory:

508 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

98 MB mds_stores

98 MB Safari

98 MB Finder

74 MB com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64


Virtual Memory Information:

556 MB Free RAM

1.66 GB Active RAM

1016 MB Inactive RAM

819 MB Wired RAM

1.95 GB Page-ins

4 KB Page-outs

Jul 31, 2015 3:35 AM in response to angloargie

With all this deleting of stuff, you are only asking for trouble.

As has already been said, you should stay away from these "cleaning" apps.


It seems clear to me that you should make sure you have a good backup of all your documents, and proceed to do a clean install of Yosemite.

This way you get rid of all the unnecessary stuff that may be slowing your mac, and start with only what you need.

We tend to accumulate stuff that we have tried maybe once, and do not really need. Going around deleting things can be very dangerous.

Deleting hidden files has caused me problems

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