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Continually getting spinning wheel primarily when using Safari?

My iMac has started to continually have the spinning wheel. From what I can tell, it is primarily when using Safari. Lasts for a few seconds, sometimes longer. When using Google Chrome it doesn't seem to happen. Just want to make sure it isn't something serious.


Specs: 2.9Ghz Intel Core i5, 16 GB Memory with 3.11 TB storage; running OS X El Capitan Version 10.11.4.


I ran EntrCheck and it came up with the following:

EtreCheck version: 2.9.10 (261)

Report generated 2016-04-13 18:13:42

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:39

Performance: Excellent


Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.


Problem: Computer is too slow


Hardware Information:

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

iMac - model: iMac13,2

1 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

Empty

BANK 1/DIMM1

Empty

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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


Video Information:

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M - VRAM: 512 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440


System Software:

OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 (15E65) - Time since boot: about 15 days


Disk Information:

APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 disk1 : (3 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 37 errors

Drive failure!

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online


APPLE SSD SM128E disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk0s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 37 errors

Drive failure!

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online


USB Information:

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

American Power Conversion Back-UPS RS 700G FW:856.L3 .D USB FW:L3


Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers


System Launch Agents:

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 143 Apple tasks

[running] 87 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons:

[failed] com.apple.Kerberos.digest-service.plist

[not loaded] 47 Apple tasks

[loaded] 140 Apple tasks

[running] 101 Apple tasks


Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-10-29) [Support]

[loaded] com.coupons.coupond.plist (2014-02-19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Support]


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2015-10-29) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-03-18) [Support]

[running] com.crashplan.engine.plist (2016-03-24) [Support]

[loaded] com.hikvision.iVMS-4200.plist (2015-02-27) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]

[not loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Support]


User Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-05-26) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-02) [Support]


User Login Items:

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

CrashPlan menu bar Application (/Applications/CrashPlan.app/Contents/Helpers/CrashPlan menu bar.app)


Other Apps:

[running] com.code42.b42menuextra.122912

[running] com.etresoft.EtreCheck.2912

[running] com.google.Chrome.5472

[running] com.microsoft.Word.52832

[running] com.microsoft.autoupdate.fba.128672

[loaded] 397 Apple tasks

[running] 231 Apple tasks


Internet Plug-ins:

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.0.0.126 - SDK 10.8 (2013-02-07) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.197 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-05) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-03-12)

Flash Player: 21.0.0.197 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-05) Outdated! Update

CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: 5.0.3 - SDK 10.6 (2014-02-19) [Support]

AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-10-29) [Support]

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-03-12)

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.2 - SDK 10.6 (2016-03-21) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-01-22) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: 15.0.1 - SDK 10.11 (2015-07-05) Check version


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player (2016-03-18) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV (2012-09-14) [Support]

Perian (2011-07-23) [Support]


Time Machine:

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 3.11 TB Disk used: 637.89 GB

Destinations:

Data [Network]

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 161

Oldest backup: 2/8/13, 1:04 AM

Last backup: 4/13/16, 3:47 PM

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk used 637.89 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU:

9% Adobe Photoshop Elements Editor

9% kernel_task

4% WindowServer

2% diskimages-helper(2)

2% fontd(2)


Top Processes by Memory:

1.58 GB kernel_task

541 MB CrashPlanService

311 MB mdworker(29)

246 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(6)

164 MB Microsoft Word(2)


Virtual Memory Information:

10.00 GB Free RAM

6.11 GB Used RAM (1.35 GB Cached)

4.48 GB Swap Used


Diagnostics Information:

Apr 11, 2016, 09:21:09 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2016-04-11-212109_[redacted].hang

/Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari


I am not super technical but know enough to be dangerous. Any help would be appreciated.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Apr 13, 2016 7:21 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Apr 13, 2016 7:57 PM

First and foremost backup your hard drive ASAP. You very well may have a failing hard drives.


Disk Information:

APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 disk1 : (3 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 37 errors

Drive failure!

APPLE SSD SM128E disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk0s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 37 errors

Drive failure!

Next boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down), select Disk Utility and run the First Aid feature on the drive(s). If you get a message that x number of errors were repaired rerun the first aid until there are no errors detected and repaired. Reboot normally and rerun Etrecheck.

Whatever the results of the second report it by no means you should not have Apple perform a free diagnostic test of your Mac.


Third, launch Safari with the Shift key held down and see if there's any improvement in Safari's performance.

User uploaded file

9 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 13, 2016 7:57 PM in response to D Dub31

First and foremost backup your hard drive ASAP. You very well may have a failing hard drives.


Disk Information:

APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 disk1 : (3 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 37 errors

Drive failure!

APPLE SSD SM128E disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk0s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 37 errors

Drive failure!

Next boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down), select Disk Utility and run the First Aid feature on the drive(s). If you get a message that x number of errors were repaired rerun the first aid until there are no errors detected and repaired. Reboot normally and rerun Etrecheck.

Whatever the results of the second report it by no means you should not have Apple perform a free diagnostic test of your Mac.


Third, launch Safari with the Shift key held down and see if there's any improvement in Safari's performance.

User uploaded file

Apr 13, 2016 8:02 PM in response to Old Toad

Appreciate the info. Overall good news. I ran the First Aid in Recovery Mode on the Macintosh HD and then re-ran EntreCheck and it looks good.


Disk Information:

APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 disk1 : (3 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online


APPLE SSD SM128E disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk0s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online


After I re-booted in normal and ran EntreCheck I opened Safari. Got the same spinning wheel after browsing a couple of different sites. I went ahead and updated Flash and that seemed to help. Not sure if that was the issue all along or not. Will let you know if it reoccurs.

Apr 14, 2016 4:38 AM in response to D Dub31

OK--so apparently the same issue is there.


Spinning wheel is back. I ran the EntreCheck and the Drive Failure notification came back (34 errors instead of 37)


Disk Information:

APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 disk1 : (3 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 34 errors

Drive failure!

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online


APPLE SSD SM128E disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk0s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 34 errors

Drive failure!

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online

I ran First Aid in Recovery Mode and then EntreCheck and had this (4 errors instead of 34):

Disk Information:

APPLE HDD ST3000DM001 disk1 : (3 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 4 errors

Drive failure!

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online


APPLE SSD SM128E disk0 : (121.33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk0s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

Macintosh HD (disk2) / : 3.11 TB (2.47 TB free) - 4 errors

Drive failure!

Core Storage: disk0s2 120.99 GB Online

Core Storage: disk1s2 3.00 TB Online


How would EntreCheck come back with no issues and then have it reappear? Could this be virus or definitely something with the hard drive? Help please!

Apr 14, 2016 12:26 PM in response to D Dub31

I learned from personal experience that drive failure error reports by EtreCheck can also be caused be file/format corruption rather than impending drive failure.


Try taking a look at Console reports (or /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports) to see if there is more detail on what is failing. Since your errors temporarily vanished after the repair I suspect you are looking at application specific errors rather than OS system file errors.

Apr 14, 2016 10:36 AM in response to D Dub31

Hello D Dub31,

There are a number of factors that can go into determining a hard drive failure. That red error is there to get your attention, make a backup, and investigate. EtreCheck is only looking at one specific line in your log files. Typically that entry is caused by drive failure, but it could be caused by a failing drive cable, low-level system modifications, or just about anything else. I can tell you that it cannot be repaired by Disk Utility. Disk Utility only checks and repairs the filesystem - the logical organization of data on your disk. It doesn't check or repair the disk itself. You could erase the disk and reinstall the file system and find that you have just avoided those disk failures temporarily until you start to use more disk space again.


However, in this case, I suggest you check your machine for a known failure and see if it qualifies for this extended repair program from Apple: https://www.apple.com/ca/support/imac-harddrive-3tb/ .

Continually getting spinning wheel primarily when using Safari?

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