MacBook Pro Uselessly Slow

Question

Level 1

0 points

MacBook Pro Uselessly Slow

My MacBook Pro has become slow to the point of rendering it almost useless. The issue seems to have started about a week after updating to El Capitan 10.11.1, and combing through the forums has revealed many other users having the same issues I'm experienceing: apps constantly freezing and needing to be force quit, constant pinwheeling, lag when typing, long shutdown and startup times, etc.

I've tried nearly every solution I can find that's been recommended to others: reindexing Spotlight, resetting the SMC, resetting PRAM, creating a new user account, checking and repairing drives with disk utility. Not even restoring to a Yosemite backup from Time Machine or wiping the drive and doing a clean install of El Capitan has worked, and I'm left feeling defeated and frustrated. I love my MacBook and rely on it for work, so this is unacceptable.

Currently running my latest clean installation of El Capitan after Spotlight has finished indexing, and I haven't been using or even launched Apple Mail. EtreCheck results below. Any suggestions? Any help is greatly appreciated.

EtreCheck version: 2.6.3 (223)

Report generated 11/18/15, 2:13 PM

Runtime 40:03

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

Hardware Information: (What does this mean?)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

[Click for Technical Specifications]

[Click for User Guide]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable

[Click for upgrade instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 789 - SN = 9G3020GV8D3MB

Video Information: (What does this mean?)

Intel HD Graphics 4000

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: (What does this mean?)

OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 (15B42) - Time since boot: about 4 hours

Disk Information: (What does this mean?)

TOSHIBA MK5065GSXF disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 389.25 GB (360.94 GB free)

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

BOOTCAMP (disk0s4) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP : 110.00 GB (62.56 GB free)

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()

USB Information: (What does this mean?)

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Information: (What does this mean?)

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper: (What does this mean?)

Mac App Store and identified developers

Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: (What does this mean?)

[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist [Click for support]

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

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

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

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist [Click for support]

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

User Login Items: (What does this mean?)

Spotify Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)

Caffeine Application (/Applications/Caffeine.app)

CleanMyMac 3 Menu Application (/Applications/CleanMyMac 3.app/Contents/MacOS/CleanMyMac 3 Menu.app)

Other Apps: (What does this mean?)

[running] com.adobe.acc.AdobeDesktopService.19552.9A214823-8501-4029-9EB6-99BCF95001A7

[running] com.adobe.accmac.63392

[running] com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000008.CleanMyMac 3 Menu

[running] com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x1000000c.EtreCheck

[running] com.lightheadsw.caffeine.64992

[running] com.spotify.client.71712

Internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

Default Browser: Version: 601 - SDK 10.11

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

3rd Party Preference Panes: (What does this mean?)

None

Time Machine: (What does this mean?)

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU: (What does this mean?)

11% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)

3% coreaudiod

1% Spotify

1% WindowServer

1% hidd

Top Processes by Memory: (What does this mean?)

1.08 GB kernel_task

410 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)

229 MB mds_stores

213 MB Spotify Helper(2)

115 MB mdworker(7)

Virtual Memory Information: (What does this mean?)

11.00 GB Free RAM

4.75 GB Used RAM (2.98 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: (What does this mean?)

Nov 18, 2015, 08:56:08 AM Self test - passed

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1), 13-inch, Mid-2012, 16 GB RAM

Posted on Nov 18, 2015 11:14 AM

Reply

Answer 1

dominic23

Level 10

83,916 points

Nov 18, 2015 11:54 AM in response to jl91

Remove CleanMyMac and test.

http://macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/how-to-uninstall-cleanmymac-3

Reply

Answer 2

jl91 Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 18, 2015 12:51 PM in response to dominic23

Hi Dominic,

Removed CleanMyMac and restarted. Still experiencing the same issues. Did you mean to run another EtreCheck test? If so, here are the results.

EtreCheck version: 2.6.3 (223)

Report generated 11/18/15, 3:48 PM

Runtime 28:30

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: (What does this mean?)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

[Click for Technical Specifications]

[Click for User Guide]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable

[Click for upgrade instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 789 - SN = 9G3020GV8D3MB

Video Information: (What does this mean?)

Intel HD Graphics 4000

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: (What does this mean?)

OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 (15B42) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Disk Information: (What does this mean?)

TOSHIBA MK5065GSXF disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 389.25 GB (360.90 GB free)

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

BOOTCAMP (disk0s4) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP : 110.00 GB (62.56 GB free)

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()

USB Information: (What does this mean?)

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Information: (What does this mean?)

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper: (What does this mean?)

Mac App Store and identified developers

Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: (What does this mean?)

[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist [Click for support]

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

User Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

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

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

User Login Items: (What does this mean?)

Spotify Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)

Caffeine Application (/Applications/Caffeine.app)

Other Apps: (What does this mean?)

[running] com.adobe.acc.AdobeDesktopService.19552.F330FB54-5C82-48CF-81EB-C6BDB4197907

[running] com.adobe.accmac.63392

[running] com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000003.Spotify

[running] com.etresoft.EtreCheck.88992

[running] com.lightheadsw.caffeine.64992

[loaded] com.spotify.client.71712

Internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

Default Browser: Version: 601 - SDK 10.11

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

3rd Party Preference Panes: (What does this mean?)

None

Time Machine: (What does this mean?)

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU: (What does this mean?)

25% Safari

22% CEPHtmlEngine Helper(3)

11% CEPHtmlEngine(3)

8% WindowServer

7% com.apple.Safari.SearchHelper

Top Processes by Memory: (What does this mean?)

886 MB kernel_task

803 MB Adobe Photoshop CC 2015

459 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(4)

229 MB Spotify Helper(2)

131 MB Adobe CEF Helper(2)

Virtual Memory Information: (What does this mean?)

11.00 GB Free RAM

5.25 GB Used RAM (2.23 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: (What does this mean?)

Nov 18, 2015, 03:14:12 PM Self test - passed

Reply

Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

141,180 points

Nov 18, 2015 1:27 PM in response to jl91

It is not reasonable to expect a Mac to operate properly after using ill-conceived "cleaning" apps.

To remove CleanMyMac 3 itself, use its Uninstaller module, followed by these additional steps:

Remove the file ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist

To navigate to that file, copy and paste the following line into the Finder's Go menu > Go To Folder...

~/Library/LaunchAgents/

Locate the following file and drag it to the Trash:

com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist

Then, open  (Apple menu) > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.
Select the item CleanMyMac3 Menu
Click the [—] (minus) button.
Restart your Mac.

Beware that reinstalling OS X alone will have no effect on either removing CleanMyMac or reversing the damage it is capable of inflicting upon a system. To recover from the effects of having used it to modify OS X, the additional software you require and the essential files you need, follow the applicable recovery procedure below:

If you have a backup that you created prior to using CleanMyMac, now is the time to use it. For Time Machine, boot OS X Recovery, and at the Mac OS X Utilities screen, choose Restore from Time Machine Backup. Choose a date preceding the installation of CleanMyMac.
If you do not have a backup that predates the use of CleanMyMac, create one now. To do that read Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac.
- The recovery procedure will require that you erase the Mac using OS X Recovery, and then create a new User Account whose contents will be empty. You will then be able to use Setup Assistant to migrate your essential documents including photos, music, work products and other essential files.
- To erase and install OS X read How to reinstall OS X on your Mac.
  - Follow the instructions in that document under Erase your drive and install OS X.
  - Then, follow the procedure in Move your content to a new Mac.
  - When asked how you want to transfer your information, select Transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.
  - Under Select the Information to Transfer, select only your previous User account and do not select "Applications", "Computer and Network Settings" or "Other files and folders". De-select those choices.
- Subsequent to using Setup Assistant, you will need to reinstall the essential software you may require, once again remembering to install software only from their original sources, and omitting all non-essential software.
- "Non-essential software" is a broad category that includes but is not limited to third party "cleaning", "maintenance", and "anti-virus" products.

Reply

Answer 4

jl91 Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 18, 2015 2:12 PM in response to John Galt

John, I've followed your directions above to remove CleanMyMac completely from my system, but I'm not having any luck. I'd like to clarify the issues remained even after I wiped the machine and did a clean install of OS X using recovery over a Time Machine backup that predated CleanMyMac and BEFORE I reinstalled it. I understand what you mean about the software probably not being healthy for my system, but I'm not so sure it's the root of the problems I'm dealing with. Any other advice? Thanks for your time!

Reply

Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

141,180 points

Nov 18, 2015 2:20 PM in response to jl91

Yes. First make sure that you have a reliable backup. That is an essential prerequisite for continued troubleshooting.

Then:

Determine if the problems also persist in "Safe Mode":  

Safe Mode or "Safe Boot" is a troubleshooting mode that bypasses all third party system extensions and loads only required system components. Read about it: Starting up in Safe Mode
You must disable FileVault before you can start your Mac in Safe Mode.
Starting your Mac in Safe Mode will take longer than usual, graphics will not render smoothly, audio is disabled on some Macs, and some programs (iTunes for example) may not work at all.
Merely starting your Mac in Safe Mode is not intended to resolve the problem, it's to observe its performance without certain additional components.
To end Safe Mode restart your Mac normally. Shutdown will take longer as well.

Reply

Answer 6

jl91 Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 18, 2015 3:03 PM in response to jl91

It seems problems exist to the same magnitude in Safe Mode. Same amount of pinwheeling, serious lag when browsing the web, hangups when typing, etc.

Reply

Answer 7

John Galt

Level 10

141,180 points

Nov 18, 2015 3:32 PM in response to jl91

jl91 wrote:

It seems problems exist to the same magnitude in Safe Mode. Same amount of pinwheeling, serious lag when browsing the web, hangups when typing, etc.

That is almost always a symptom of a hard disk drive that is in a failed state. As long as you have a reliable backup, recovery is trivial since replacing the hard disk is a simple and inexpensive task that you can even do yourself, if you are so inclined. Apple can also replace it, for a fee that is not unreasonable.

Other possible causes could include a faulty cable connecting the hard disk drive to the logic board. It is even less expensive to replace. It's not possible to isolate the cause to one or the other though, unless you were to remove that hard disk drive and install it in a separate enclosure. You can use that enclosure for a Time Machine backup, if you do not already have one or if you want to purchase a replacement hard disk drive yourself. A failed hard disk cannot be permanently repaired.

Another, though much more remote possibility is a defective logic board. In any event a Genius Bar visit is justified: http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/. They can definitively identify the cause and provide repair options.

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