Apps constantly crashing: failed HDD?

Question

Level 1

0 points

Apps constantly crashing: failed HDD?

Hi everyone. I own a late 2009 unibody mbp with 2gb ram and a 160gb hdd. The OS X I am running is 10.11.1.

Recently, all of my apps apart from safari constantly crash and not respond. It's a major issue now, sometimes even finder won't load. I have 2011 copy of microsoft word and this will now not load any documents, and just goes to "not responding" when I right click on it and I have to force quit it. I have tried to repair disk permissions but cannot do it with the disk utility on 10.11.1.

Does anyone have any idea what's going on? I'm thinking that the HDD may need changing?

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Nov 17, 2015 8:32 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Nov 17, 2015 3:13 PM in response to casperh7

Slow performance after upgrading OS X on an older Mac is often caused by inadequate memory. Although you can install the upgrade on a Mac with 2 GB of memory, experience has shown that at least 4 GB is needed for full performance.

Your model has upgradable memory. Install as much as it can take, or at least that much. Any reputable RAM vendor will have a web form in which you can select the Mac model and be directed to compatible parts.

Reply