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Computer is dragging when startup, after hours runs smooth

Hello everyone. I am writing because I have reached the end of my rope and I don't know what to do or what to try anymore.

Im going to explain the problem, tell you what my specs are, and then tell you what i have tried in order to save time and give as much info as possible.

THE PROBLEM:

When I startup my mac it starts up quickly, and loads everything up quickly but when i launch safari it takes 1-3 minutes to load a single page in. then going to another site its the same thing...it takes forever. then again and again its slow.

After about an hour of the browser being up and being used it starts connecting to websites immediately, even if its the first time I'm trying to access that website. right away...but it takes at least an hour before the browser can "warm up"

trying to start firefox brings up the same issue. same with launching the mail application.

after about 8-10 hours of working the computer starts acting strange. i will try to drag a file and even though the mouse moves....the folder doesn't! it takes about 10 seconds of holding the button down and moving before the folder moves.

the only solution to this is to restart the computer....but then it takes at least an hour again before the internet browsers start fluidly working.

MY SPECS:

27 inch imac late 2012

processor: 2.9 GHz core i5

memory: 16gb ( 2 8gig sticks) 1600 MHZ ddr3

Graphics: Nvidia geforce GTX660m 512 mb

osx 10.9.5

589 gb free out of 999.35 gb (over 50%)

Startup: the only thing operating at the moment at startup is Adobe creative cloud, and Time machine. there are no other startup apps

Desktop: there are 15 icons on my desktop

WHAT I HAVE ALREADY TRIED:

I have tried clearing my desktop to avoid clutter.

I have reduced the startup apps to nothing

I have cleared the computer of all files no longer needed (using omni disk sweeper to show what files are no longer being used by any applications)

I have moved large files to external hard drive to keep the space on the hard drive clear

I don't know what else to do. any suggestion would be helpful. thank you

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Sep 7, 2015 4:01 PM

29 replies

Sep 12, 2015 7:52 AM in response to Linc Davis

OK. I tried step one this morning at 6:30 am

After it asked for the password it just hung there.

the window itself changes names:

chown- 80x24

then to

chmod 80x24

then to

chflags 80x 24

etc

but nothing else is happening and its been over 4 and a half hours.

is it supposed to take this long? whats the average time?

Im just going to leave this going all day and start shooting and after the shoot come back and see whats changed (if anything)

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Sep 12, 2015 8:09 AM in response to Leviathan9821

Uninstall the Seagate software, then restart.

Sep 12, 2015 8:53 AM in response to Lexiepex

but.....the seagate drive is whats housing my TimeMachine Backups....wont uninstalling the seagate software interrupt my Time machine backups?

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Sep 12, 2015 9:00 AM in response to Leviathan9821

Mac OSX is very capable of handling disks. Expecially for TimeMachine: formatted in Mac OS Extended (journaled).

The Seagate software does not do anything for you but interferes with Mac OS. Basically it is meant or Windows...

When uninstalling turn TimeMachine off to be sure.

Maybe eject/disconnect the disk after turning TimeMachine turned off.

Sep 12, 2015 9:01 AM in response to Lexiepex

ok, last question.

the only thing i have that reads "seagate" is the folder for the external hard rive and the seagate diagnostic in the applications folder. I am assuming you mean uninstall the seagate diagnostic software only.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Sep 12, 2015 9:03 AM in response to Leviathan9821

All Seagate.

Sep 12, 2015 9:06 AM in response to Lexiepex

Yeah....Im assuming you mean just the seagate diagnostic because deleting the Seagate backup plus drive folder would delete all 3gigs of time machine backups I have.

Sep 12, 2015 9:10 AM in response to Lexiepex

Went to Seagate Diagnostics in application folder and dragged it to the trash. emptied trash.

seagate diagnostics still there.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Sep 12, 2015 9:18 AM in response to Leviathan9821

The problem is, that you should have the Seagate disk formatted when you started to use it without having the Seagate software installed. So it is clean and fresh for mac OS and especially so for TimeMachine.

Sep 12, 2015 9:21 AM in response to Lexiepex

ok....lets say Im willing to throw away the last few months backups and start fresh.

How do i format the disc properly so the folder won't say "Seagate Backup plus drive"

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Sep 12, 2015 9:37 AM in response to Leviathan9821

That's what I think, would be best.

Set TM to off.

Use Disk Utility to format the Disk (1 partition, format as above), name it as you want but it is not necessary to change the name.

Then turn on TM: it should start immediately with making a full backup (TM connects to the disk's unique ID number, which can not be changed, thus is not changed).

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Sep 13, 2015 9:34 AM in response to Leviathan9821

Did the permission fix ever finish? If not, did you take Step A2, and the rest of the steps?

Please heed the warning in section 14 of the comment in which I posted the test instructions, about others who try to interpret the test results. Do not take any destructive actions based on such interpretations. Your problem has nothing to do with the Seagate software.

Sep 13, 2015 11:14 AM in response to Linc Davis

Step F is the one that did it!

both safari and email client are flying when clicked. I have imported all bookmarks and nothing was lost.

thank you very much. it took forever because i had to do everything one step at a time and the computer was crawling the whole way.

Im very happy that its working like new again.

thank you.

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Sep 13, 2015 11:58 AM in response to Leviathan9821

Congratulations on getting through the ASC minefield alive.

Computer is dragging when startup, after hours runs smooth