thimster
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: Unbelivably slow MacBook Pro - Help much appreciated

Hello!

 

First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for the amount of times you've helped me sort my MacBook Pro in the past. As a long time lurker, I greatly appreciate the solutions you've all posted on this forum.

 

Unfortunately, my current problem has required me to create an account to directly request your help!

I currently hold a *13-inch Mid-2012 MacBook Pro (Non-Retina) (MacBook Pro9,2), 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD* which is running OSX 10.11.5. It is running unbelievably slow - it took me 20 seconds to open chrome and it lagged for 10 seconds when I typed 'apple'. I have no background apps running and CPU usage is at ~10%, RAM usage is only 2-3 GB.

 

There are multiple things I have tried:

  • Back-Up my SSD and erase it entirely
  • Reinstall the OSX. Due to it being a 2012 MBP, it reverted to Mountain Lion, which was still slow.
  • Upgraded to OSX Yosemite. Still slow.
  • Upgraded to OSX El Capitan 10.11.3, then OSX 10.11.4 and currently OSX 10.11.5.
  • I've run a comprehensive hardware test (by holding D after MBP start up) - came out with 'No Troubles Found'.
  • Reset PRAM and SRAM
  • Figured it could be Spotlight indexing time so just let it sit, turned on for 24 hours
  • Tried restoring from a Time Machine backup when the laptop was working well
  • Erased the laptop again and repeated upgrading OSX in steps
  • Felt it was Safari that could be the cause so I deleted the Safari files from the 'Preferences' and 'Cache' Folder

 

I apologise in advance if I haven't done a few obvious things, please let me know. Thank you in advance for your help!

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 18, 2016 3:46 PM

by thimster,Solvedanswer
thimster thimster
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks
A:

First of all, a huge thank you to OGELTHORPE and Linc Davis. Without your advice I would have had neither the motivation nor the technical knowledge to solve this problem.

 

As was OGELTHORPE and Linc Davis implied, I believed my SSD was failing so I ordered  a replacement and tried to fit the brand new SSD in. I noticed the very same problem and no improvement in speed whatsoever.

 

One thing I noticed while formatting my new SSD was that when I ran the MBP off my new SSD (you can run a MBP off a different start up disk by holding the alt/option key after pressing the power key during start up) while the SSD was attached via a USB-SATA cable, the MBP worked fine. I immediately concluded that it was the HDD-SATA connector within the MBP that was the problem. I ordered a new connector (part no. 821-2049-A) and replaced the cable.

 

As you would have it, the MBP is now back to perfect (if anything, the new SSD and the good dusting I gave the logic board meant that it's faster now) working condition.

 

SOLUTION:

If you are facing exactly the same problem as I did, in the same device and circumstances and you have done everything above, I can be 99.9% sure when I say that it is your HDD-SATA connector which is the problem. The fix is £20.99 off Amazon UK and maybe about 20 minutes of your time. I used this link as instructions for the replacement.


This HDD-SATA connector is notorious for having given many people the same problem.

Posted on May 25, 2016 3:02 AM

Close
thimster

Q: Unbelivably slow MacBook Pro - Help much appreciated

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 18, 2016 3:52 PM in response to thimster
    Level 9 (52,793 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 18, 2016 3:52 PM in response to thimster

    Download and post an Etrecheck report:

     

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

     

    Ciao.

  • by thimster,

    thimster thimster May 18, 2016 4:26 PM in response to thimster
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 18, 2016 4:26 PM in response to thimster

    Thanks to OGELTHORPE, I have completed the EtreCheck requested. Please find it below:


    Performance is listed as 'POOR' and I have no idea why! As I said previously, help is much appreciated. Thanks!



    EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)

    Report generated 2016-05-19 00:15:31

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 10:30

    Performance: Poor

     

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

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

     

    Problem: Beachballing

     

    Hardware Information: ⓘ

        MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

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

        MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

        1 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core

        16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

        Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

        Wireless:  en2: 802.11 a/b/g/n

        Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 523

     

    Video Information: ⓘ

        Intel HD Graphics 4000

            Color LCD 1280 x 800

     

    System Software: ⓘ

        OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: less than an hour

     

    Disk Information: ⓘ

        Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB disk0 : (1 TB) (Solid State - TRIM: No)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

            Ash Ravi's MacBook Pro (disk1) / : 998.97 GB (984.72 GB free)

                Core Storage: disk0s2 999.35 GB Online

     

        MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-8A8   ()

     

    USB Information: ⓘ

        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: ⓘ

        Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

     

    Gatekeeper: ⓘ

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    System Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    6 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    169 Apple tasks

        [running]    63 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    47 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    160 Apple tasks

        [running]    83 Apple tasks

     

    User Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-05-17) [Support]

        [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-05-18) [Support]

     

    User Login Items: ⓘ

        Spotify    Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)

     

    Other Apps: ⓘ

        [running]    com.etresoft.EtreCheck.59872

        [running]    com.google.Chrome.55712

        [running]    com.spotify.client.58272

        [loaded]    404 Apple tasks

        [running]    161 Apple tasks

     

    Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

        Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-05)

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-05)

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

        None

     

    Time Machine: ⓘ

        Time Machine not configured!

     

    Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

            44%    Spotify Helper(2)

            10%    Spotify

             6%    WindowServer

             4%    Google Chrome Helper(7)

             3%    Google Chrome

     

    Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

        801 MB    kernel_task

        590 MB    Google Chrome Helper(7)

        229 MB    Spotify Helper(2)

        213 MB    Google Chrome

        197 MB    mdworker(10)

     

    Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

        12.00 GB    Free RAM

        3.77 GB    Used RAM (1.34 GB Cached)

        0 B    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

        May 18, 2016, 11:52:11 PM    Self test - passed

        May 16, 2016, 09:42:08 PM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Finder_2016-05-16-214208_[redacted].crash

            com.apple.finder - /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder

        May 16, 2016, 09:32:54 PM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Finder_2016-05-16-213254_[redacted].crash

  • by OGELTHORPE,Helpful

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 18, 2016 4:56 PM in response to thimster
    Level 9 (52,793 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 18, 2016 4:56 PM in response to thimster

    There are two things that I recommend you do.

     

    Boot into the recovery partition and from the 4 option menu, select Disk Utility.  Run Disk Utility>First Aid>Repair

     

    Install the original RAM and see if there is a change for the better.  The RAM you have installed is not what is specified for a 2012 MBP.  It should be:  204-pin PC3-12800 (1600 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM.  The best sources of Mac compatible RAM are OWC and Crucial.

     

    Ciao.

  • by thimster,

    thimster thimster May 18, 2016 5:02 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 18, 2016 5:02 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Hi OGELTHORPE,

     

    Thank you for your reply. I forgot to mention in the original post, but I have tried repairing the SSD a few times.

     

    With regards to the RAM, I installed the RAM about 6 months ago and the laptop has been working fine until about two weeks ago. Would you still recommend it?

     

    I will gladly do change it back if you think it would still help.

     

    Thanks again for your reply!

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 19, 2016 5:27 AM in response to thimster
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    May 19, 2016 5:27 AM in response to thimster

    When you see a beachball cursor or the slowness is especially bad, note the exact time: hour, minute, second.  

    These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.

    Launch the Console application in any one of the following ways:

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

    ☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

    The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select

              SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages

    from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select

              View ▹ Show Log List

    from the menu bar at the top of the screen.

    Each message in the log begins with the date and time when it was entered. Scroll back to the time you noted above.

    Select the messages entered from then until the end of the episode, or until they start to repeat, whichever comes first.

    Copy the messages to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.

    The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of it useless for solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.

    Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

    Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.

    Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

    When you post the log extract, you might see an error message on the web page: "You have included content in your post that is not permitted," or "The message contains invalid characters." That's a bug in the forum software. Please post the text on Pastebin, then post a link here to the page you created.

    If you have an account on Pastebin, please don't select Private from the Paste Exposure menu on the page, because then no one but you will be able to see it.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 19, 2016 4:40 AM in response to thimster
    Level 9 (52,793 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 19, 2016 4:40 AM in response to thimster

    thimster wrote:

     

    With regards to the RAM, I installed the RAM about 6 months ago and the laptop has been working fine until about two weeks ago. Would you still recommend it?

     

    At the very least test it with the original RAM to see if it makes a difference.  It is not difficult to do and will not cost you anything. 

     

    Ciao.

  • by thimster,

    thimster thimster May 19, 2016 5:41 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 19, 2016 5:41 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Hi Linc Davis,

     

    Thank you for your insight in terms of looking at Console. I browsed through the history and it seems that there are a few repetitive lines, which I have attached below. These may or may not be the problem, but there is a certain correlation between the beachball appearing and these messages.

     

    I've done exactly what you said, noting multiple times when the MacBook froze. I can't make much sense of them, but please let me know if you find anything useful. Between 13:25:26 and 13:28:57, it lagged heavily and there were many bouts of beachballing. After 13:28:57, there were roughly 20 more lines of script with a similar message as the one displayed on 13:28:57. I have not copied them as I did not want to dump too many lines indiscriminately.

     

    "

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.587 iconservicesagent[320]: -[ISGenerateImageOp generateImageWithCompletion:] Failed to composit image for descriptor <ISBindingImageDescriptor: 0x7fa609f0b970>.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.587 quicklookd[605]: Error returned from iconservicesagent: (null)

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: QuickLookSatelli(606) deny(1) file-issue-extension /Users/THIMSTER/Library/Caches/com.apple.quicklook.satellite

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: QuickLookSatelli(606) deny(1) mach-lookup com.apple.nsurlstorage-cache

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.656 QuickLookSatellite[606]: Failed to obtain sandbox extension for path=/Users/THIMSTER/Library/Caches/com.apple.quicklook.satellite. Errno:1

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: QuickLookSatelli(606) deny(1) file-issue-extension /Users/THIMSTER/Library/Caches/com.apple.quicklook.satellite

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: QuickLookSatelli(606) deny(1) mach-lookup com.apple.nsurlstorage-cache

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.657 QuickLookSatellite[606]: Failed to obtain sandbox extension for path=/Users/THIMSTER/Library/Caches/com.apple.quicklook.satellite. Errno:1

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: QuickLookSatelli(606) deny(1) mach-lookup com.apple.networkd

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.661 QuickLookSatellite[606]: __net_helper_get_connection_block_invoke_3 could not connect to networkd

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.661 QuickLookSatellite[606]: __nw_path_evaluator_start_helper_connection_block_invoke net_helper_path_evaluation_start callback failed, dumping backtrace:

            [x86_64] libnetcore-583.50.1

        0   libsystem_network.dylib             0x00007fff850a0de9 __nw_create_backtrace_string + 123

        1   libsystem_network.dylib             0x00007fff850bb58f __nw_path_evaluator_start_helper_connection_block_invoke + 22

        2   libxpc.dylib                        0x00007fff97a61333 _xpc_connection_reply_callout + 26

        3   libxpc.dylib                        0x00007fff97a612d4 _xpc_connection_call_reply + 36

        4   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90feb40b _dispatch_client_callout + 8

        5   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90ff003b _dispatch_queue_drain + 754

        6   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90ff6707 _dispatch_queue_invoke + 549

        7   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90feed53 _dispatch_root_queue_drain + 538

        8   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90feeb00 _dispatch_worker_thread3 + 91

        9   libsystem_pthread.dylib             0x00007fff8fb884de _pthread_wqthread + 1129

        10  libsystem_pthread.dylib             0x00007fff8fb86341 start_wqthread + 13

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.661 QuickLookSatellite[606]: nw_path_evaluator_start_helper_connection net_helper_path_evaluation_start failed, dumping backtrace:

            [x86_64] libnetcore-583.50.1

        0   libsystem_network.dylib             0x00007fff850a0de9 __nw_create_backtrace_string + 123

        1   libsystem_network.dylib             0x00007fff850b789f nw_path_evaluator_start_helper_connection + 196

        2   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90ff693d _dispatch_call_block_and_release + 12

        3   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90feb40b _dispatch_client_callout + 8

        4   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90ff003b _dispatch_queue_drain + 754

        5   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90ff6707 _dispatch_queue_invoke + 549

        6   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90feed53 _dispatch_root_queue_drain + 538

        7   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff90feeb00 _dispatch_worker_thread3 + 91

        8   libsystem_pthread.dylib             0x00007fff8fb884de _pthread_wqthread + 1129

        9   libsystem_pthread.dylib             0x00007fff8fb86341 start_wqthread + 13

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.678 QuickLookSatellite[606]: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.678 QuickLookSatellite[606]: Invalid Connection ID 0

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.702 QuickLookSatellite[606]: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.702 QuickLookSatellite[606]: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.702 QuickLookSatellite[606]: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.761 iconservicesagent[320]: -[ISGenerateImageOp generateImageWithCompletion:] Failed to composit image for descriptor <ISBindingImageDescriptor: 0x7fa609d0aa50>.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.761 quicklookd[605]: Error returned from iconservicesagent: (null)

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.860 Google Chrome Helper[600]: CGAffineTransformInvert: singular matrix.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.872 iconservicesagent[320]: -[ISGenerateImageOp generateImageWithCompletion:] Failed to composit image for descriptor <ISBindingImageDescriptor: 0x7fa609c10e80>.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.872 quicklookd[605]: Error returned from iconservicesagent: (null)

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.948 iconservicesagent[320]: -[ISGenerateImageOp generateImageWithCompletion:] Failed to composit image for descriptor <ISBindingImageDescriptor: 0x7fa609e0f130>.

    19/05/2016 13:25:26.948 quicklookd[605]: Error returned from iconservicesagent: (null)

    19/05/2016 13:25:27.024 iconservicesagent[320]: -[ISGenerateImageOp generateImageWithCompletion:] Failed to composit image for descriptor <ISBindingImageDescriptor: 0x7fa609f0b830>.

    19/05/2016 13:25:27.025 quicklookd[605]: Error returned from iconservicesagent: (null)

    19/05/2016 13:25:31.775 QuickLookSatellite[606]: In -[NSApplication(NSQuietSafeQuit) _updateCanQuitQuietlyAndSafely], _LSSetApplicationInformationItem(NSCanQuitQuietlyAndSafely) returned error -50

    19/05/2016 13:26:40.000 kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport][InterruptReadHandler] -- Received kIOReturnNotResponding error - retrying: 1

    19/05/2016 13:26:40.000 kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport][ClearFeatureInterruptEndpointHalt] -- successfully posting another read for the mInt0InterruptPipe -- mInterruptPipeInOutstandingIOCount = 1 -- this = 0x5800

    19/05/2016 13:27:35.000 kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport][InterruptReadHandler] -- Received kIOReturnNotResponding error - retrying: 1

    19/05/2016 13:27:35.000 kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport][ClearFeatureInterruptEndpointHalt] -- successfully posting another read for the mInt0InterruptPipe -- mInterruptPipeInOutstandingIOCount = 1 -- this = 0x5800

    19/05/2016 13:28:17.000 kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport][InterruptReadHandler] -- Received kIOReturnNotResponding error - retrying: 1

    19/05/2016 13:28:17.000 kernel[0]: **** [IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport][ClearFeatureInterruptEndpointHalt] -- successfully posting another read for the mInt0InterruptPipe -- mInterruptPipeInOutstandingIOCount = 1 -- this = 0x5800

    19/05/2016 13:28:48.833 Google Chrome Helper[600]: Couldn't set selectedTextBackgroundColor from default ()

    19/05/2016 13:28:57.506 com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.user.501) Service "com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x1000000f.AppleSpell" tried to hijack endpoint "da (Apple)_OpenStep" from owner: com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000002.AppleSpell

    19/05/2016 13:28:57.506 com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.user.501) Service "com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x1000000f.AppleSpell" tried to hijack endpoint "de (Apple)_OpenStep" from owner: com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000002.AppleSpell

    19/05/2016 13:28:57.506 com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpc.launchd.domain.user.501) Service "com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x1000000f.AppleSpell" tried to hijack endpoint "en (Apple)_OpenStep" from owner: com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000002.AppleSpell

     

    "

     

    Please let me know if you see any possible resolve.

     

    Thank you for your help!

  • by thimster,

    thimster thimster May 19, 2016 5:58 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 19, 2016 5:58 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thanks OGELTHORPE, I will try this and report back any differences.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 19, 2016 6:48 AM in response to thimster
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    May 19, 2016 6:48 AM in response to thimster

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    Step 1

    The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.

    Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”

    While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your documents or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this behavior; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.

    Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?

    After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.

    *Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.

    Step 2

    The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.

    Please take this step regardless of the results of Step 1.

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem.

    Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

    Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

    Test while in safe mode. It will be slow, but there should be no beachballing. Same problem?

    After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of Steps 1 and 2.

  • by thimster,

    thimster thimster May 19, 2016 2:03 PM in response to thimster
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 19, 2016 2:03 PM in response to thimster

    Hi OGELTHORPE,

     

    Just wanted to update you: I tried changing the RAM back and couldn't see any difference. Please do let me know if you have any other possible solutions.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Ash Ravi

  • by thimster,

    thimster thimster May 19, 2016 2:25 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 19, 2016 2:25 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Hi Linc Davis,

     

    Thank you for your advice.

     

    I carried out the steps as per your instructions. I opened a new test account which had standard privileges, I then used the test account and found no discernible change in the speed of the system. Safari still took about 40 seconds to open and when I selected an option on System Preferences, the beachball appeared and I had to wait up to a minute.

     

    As you pointed out with Safe Mode, start up was considerably slower, and when logging in, there were black stripes which stretched across the screen which got me nervous. Having logged in, the beachball still appeared quite often and usually had to wait longer, if anything, for applications to load.

     

    Please do let me know if there is anything I should add in terms of details.

     

    I hope this test ruled out a few possible problems, please let me know of any viable solution.

     

    As always, many thanks for your advice and I look forward to a resolve.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 19, 2016 4:06 PM in response to thimster
    Level 9 (52,793 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 19, 2016 4:06 PM in response to thimster

    My suspicions now are focused on the SSD.  Run an Apple Hardware Test which may offer a clue:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257

     

    Note that an error free AHT is not conclusive.

     

    Ciao.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 19, 2016 5:51 PM in response to thimster
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    May 19, 2016 5:51 PM in response to thimster

    The startup drive is failing, or there is some other internal hardware fault.

    Back up all data on the drive immediately if you don't already have a current backup. There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional—ask if you need guidance.

    Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

    If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.

    Keep your confidential data secure during hardware repair.

    Apple recommends that you deauthorize a device in the iTunes Store before having it serviced.

    *An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

  • by thimster,Solvedanswer

    thimster thimster May 25, 2016 3:02 AM in response to thimster
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 25, 2016 3:02 AM in response to thimster

    First of all, a huge thank you to OGELTHORPE and Linc Davis. Without your advice I would have had neither the motivation nor the technical knowledge to solve this problem.

     

    As was OGELTHORPE and Linc Davis implied, I believed my SSD was failing so I ordered  a replacement and tried to fit the brand new SSD in. I noticed the very same problem and no improvement in speed whatsoever.

     

    One thing I noticed while formatting my new SSD was that when I ran the MBP off my new SSD (you can run a MBP off a different start up disk by holding the alt/option key after pressing the power key during start up) while the SSD was attached via a USB-SATA cable, the MBP worked fine. I immediately concluded that it was the HDD-SATA connector within the MBP that was the problem. I ordered a new connector (part no. 821-2049-A) and replaced the cable.

     

    As you would have it, the MBP is now back to perfect (if anything, the new SSD and the good dusting I gave the logic board meant that it's faster now) working condition.

     

    SOLUTION:

    If you are facing exactly the same problem as I did, in the same device and circumstances and you have done everything above, I can be 99.9% sure when I say that it is your HDD-SATA connector which is the problem. The fix is £20.99 off Amazon UK and maybe about 20 minutes of your time. I used this link as instructions for the replacement.


    This HDD-SATA connector is notorious for having given many people the same problem.