Dora M

Q: Slow Macbook pro, 2012 edition

I have a Macbook Pro 2012 edition. I am running standard software, with google drive and dropbox, as MS Office for Mac. It is upgraded to the latest software. Recently I began to see the spinning wheel of death far more often than I used to, which slows the whole machine right down. Does anyone have any advice? The hard drive is far from full; and I have 4GB of Ram. Please help me!

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), 1 TB Harddrive

Posted on Jun 7, 2016 8:08 AM

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Q: Slow Macbook pro, 2012 edition

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  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Jun 7, 2016 8:33 AM in response to Dora M
    Level 7 (22,866 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 7, 2016 8:33 AM in response to Dora M

    4GB of RAM is the bare minimum.  Need adequate HD/SSD free space.

    OS X Mavericks: If your Mac runs slowly

    Try restarting more often.

     

    How to eliminate slow Mac problems

    Why is my computer slow?

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 7, 2016 10:44 AM in response to Dora M
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Jun 7, 2016 10:44 AM in response to Dora M

    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 MAllenII,

    MAllenII MAllenII Jun 7, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Dora M
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 7, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Dora M

    RAM is your culprit here. If you have demanding programs (Photoshop, video editing, CHROME; Google chrome is singlehandedly the most resource and ram heavy browser you can use right now because Google isn't the best when it comes to browser optimization). I went ahead and maxed out at 16GB, but 8GB will suffice for the majority of users. I also put in a 2TB drive. Keep in mind that drives naturally deteriorate performance-wise with time, so if you got that 1TB way back when you first purchased it, it may be time to swap it out. SSD is going to offer peak performance but at peak prices (1TB drive could easily run you $200+), and an HDD is a fraction of the price (paid around $90 for my 2TB) but performance won't be that of an SSD and it will deteriorate performance wise in the years to come like the current one you have. Its simply a trade off.

  • by alex7375,

    alex7375 alex7375 Jun 7, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Dora M
    Level 2 (205 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 7, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Dora M

    I have the same Macbook and had the same problems.

     

    It turned out what was causing the computer to hang and beachball effect was all the "Syncing" of bookmarks and files from Google chrome browser, iCoud bookmarks, Dropbox files, and MS-Live Drive files.

     

    I fixed the problem going into the setting of each of these applications and turning off "Syncing" of bookmarks and files.

     

    My Macbook works great now. No more Beachballs......Even though I like playing Volleyball......

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jun 7, 2016 11:28 AM in response to Dora M
    Level 9 (52,064 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 7, 2016 11:28 AM in response to Dora M

    Download and post an Etrecheck report:

     

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

     

    Ciao.

  • by Dora M,

    Dora M Dora M Jun 7, 2016 1:37 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 7, 2016 1:37 PM in response to leroydouglas

    I have 4GB RAM, which as you said is the minimum, with a 1Tb HDD, which is brand new, so really is rather empty, especially since the only thing on it is software and a few movies. All docs etc are stored in cloud.

  • by Dora M,

    Dora M Dora M Jun 7, 2016 1:41 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 7, 2016 1:41 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)

    Report generated 2016-06-07 22:38:26

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 8:29

    Performance: Below Average

     

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

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

     

    Problem: Beachballing

    Description:

    beach rolls at random intervals and laptop is SLOW

     

    Hardware Information:

        MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

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

        MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

        1 2,5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

        4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

        Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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

        Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 540

     

    Video Information:

        Intel HD Graphics 4000

            Color LCD 1280 x 800

     

    System Software:

        OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: about 3 hours

     

    Disk Information:

        WDC WD10SPCX-21KHST0 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

            Untitled (disk1) / : 998.97 GB (761.56 GB free)

                Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

                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:

        Anywhere

     

    Kernel Extensions:

            /Applications/AirParrot.app

        [loaded]    com.squirrels.airparrot.framebuffer (1.6 - SDK 10.10 - 2015-04-28) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.squirrels.driver.AirParrotSpeakers (1.8 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-04-28) [Support]

     

    System Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    7 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    152 Apple tasks

        [running]    79 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons:

        [not loaded]    47 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    158 Apple tasks

        [running]    85 Apple tasks

     

    Launch Daemons:

        [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.malwarebytes.MBAMHelperTool.plist (2016-05-18) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-05-19) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2015-12-06) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents:

        [loaded]    com.apple.AddressBook.ScheduledSync.PHXC...plist

        [loaded]    com.bittorrent.BitTorrent.plist (2016-04-24) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-04-18) [Support]

     

    User Login Items:

        Flux    Application  (/Applications/Flux.app)

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

        Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

     

    Other Apps:

        [running]    com.getdropbox.dropbox.62432

        [running]    com.samstone.ChitChat.58912

        [loaded]    393 Apple tasks

        [running]    203 Apple tasks

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-19) [Support]

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-25)

        Flash Player: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-19) [Support]

        Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-25)

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

        Flash Player (2016-05-10) [Support]

     

    Time Machine:

        Time Machine not configured!

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

            10%    WindowServer

             6%    kernel_task

             5%    Safari

             3%    mdworker(16)

             2%    hidd

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

        557 MB    kernel_task

        532 MB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(5)

        238 MB    mdworker(16)

        123 MB    Microsoft Word

        123 MB    Mail

     

    Virtual Memory Information:

        116 MB    Free RAM

        3.88 GB    Used RAM (974 MB Cached)

        0 B    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information:

        Jun 7, 2016, 06:56:15 PM    Self test - passed

        Jun 6, 2016, 08:26:54 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2016-06-06-082654_[redacted].panic [Details]








    I am not sure what most of this means, but it looks to me like etreCheck is happy with the machine? Have I missed something obvious?


  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jun 7, 2016 2:12 PM in response to Dora M
    Level 9 (52,064 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 7, 2016 2:12 PM in response to Dora M

    Torrent applications are an excellent way of introducing malware into your MBP.  I suggest that you rid the MBP of the torrent application.

     

    It appears that your MBP had a kernel panic,  Use these instructions to log and post it:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201753

     

    Boot into the recovery partition and from the 4 option menu select Disk Utility.

     

    Run Disk Utility>First Aid>Repair.

     

    What are the results?

     

    Ciao.

  • by Dora M,

    Dora M Dora M Jun 7, 2016 11:12 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 7, 2016 11:12 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Hi Ogelthorpe,

     

    The repair report says all is ok? I don't know what to do!! So frustrating!! I am going to run a hardware check now swell, as a last resort. Will let you know. If there is anything else, please advise? I have deleted the torrent program.

  • by Esquared,

    Esquared Esquared Jun 7, 2016 11:31 PM in response to Dora M
    Level 6 (8,405 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 7, 2016 11:31 PM in response to Dora M

    You forgot about the kernel panic log, which might contain crucial information about the state of your MBP.

  • by Dora M,

    Dora M Dora M Jun 8, 2016 12:10 AM in response to Esquared
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 8, 2016 12:10 AM in response to Esquared

    Ok, sorry about that. I am not sure how to do this in a user friendly way -- but here is what I have found (please bear with me, first time using this forum,usually IT at work is able to sort out the minor issues I have had):

     

    • Macbook Pro (13inch, mid 2012)
    • Processor 2,5GHz Intel Core i5
    • memory 4Gb 1600 MHz DDR3
    • Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB
    • Serial Number: C02J7LGTDTY3
    • FireWire                    FireWire:      Up to 800 Mb/sec
    • Intel HD Graphics 4000:

     

      Chipset Model: Intel HD Graphics 4000

      Type: GPU

      Bus: Built-In

      VRAM (Dynamic, Max): 1536 MB

      Vendor: Intel (0x8086)

      Device ID: 0x0166

      Revision ID: 0x0009

    •   Displays:

    Color LCD:

      Display Type: LCD

      Resolution: 1280 x 800

      Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

      Main Display: Yes

      Mirror: Off

      Online: Yes

      Built-In: Yes

    • Memory Slots:

     

    •   ECC: Disabled
    •   Upgradeable Memory: Yes


    • BANK 0/DIMM0:

      Size: 2 GB

      Type: DDR3

      Speed: 1600 MHz

      Status: OK

      Manufacturer: 0x02FE

      Part Number: 0x45424A3230554638424455302D474E2D4620

      Serial Number: 0xBB1305F4


    • BANK 1/DIMM0:

      Size: 2 GB

      Type: DDR3

      Speed: 1600 MHz

      Status: OK

      Manufacturer: 0x02FE

      Part Number: 0x45424A3230554638424455302D474E2D4620

      Serial Number: 0xBA1305FD

    • Harddrive

      Available: 761,49 GB (761 485 455 360 bytes)

      Capacity: 998,97 GB (998 973 898 752 bytes)

      Mount Point: /

      File System: Journaled HFS+

      Writable: Yes

      Ignore Ownership: No

      BSD Name: disk1

      Volume UUID: 7E827F69-9096-3E86-9D94-4B5805E12E4E

      Logical Volume:

      Revertible: Yes (unlock and decryption required)

      Encrypted: Yes

      Encryption Type: AES-XTS

      Locked: No

      LV UUID: BBACEB3B-4375-49B6-90EC-7E51DABF1983

      Logical Volume Group:

      Name: Untitled

      Size: 999,35 GB (999 345 127 424 bytes)

      Free Space: 18,9 MB (18 907 136 bytes)

      LVG UUID: 2BDD8CCA-C916-4AC7-8D5E-0FA4A05817EE

      Physical Volumes:

    disk0s2:

      Device Name: WDC WD10SPCX-21KHST0

      Media Name: WDC WD10SPCX-21KHST0 Media

      Size: 999,35 GB (999 345 127 424 bytes)

      Medium Type: Rotational

      Protocol: SATA

      Internal: Yes

      Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

      Status: Online

      S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

      PV UUID: E6F9849F-670F-4B11-B2CF-6BE14E626A89

     

    No third party hardware.

     

     

    Library>Logs>

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/accountsd/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/Adobe_ADMLogs/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/appstore.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/Baseband/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/CloudServices/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/com.apple.Notes/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/CoreTelephonyTraceScratch/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DeviceLink/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiscRecording.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/FaceTime/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/FlashPlayerInstallManager.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/fsck_hfs.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/Handoff/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/iPad%20Updater%20Logs/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/ProtectedCloudStorage-20160418115337-SetupIdent ities.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/ProtectedCloudStorage-20160418132404-SetupIdent ities.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/ProtectedCloudStorage-20160418132413-SetupIdent ities.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/ProtectedCloudStorage-20160525114718-SetupIdent ities.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/ProtectedCloudStorage-20160525114753-SetupIdent ities.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/ProtectedCloudStorage-20160525114838-SetupIdent ities.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/RTCReports/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/SMSMigrator/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/SparkleUpdateLog.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/Sync/

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/talagent.log

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/talagent.log.0

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/talagent.log.1

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/talagent.log.2

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/talagent.log.3

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/talagent.log.4

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/Ubiquity/

     

     

    In the library> DiagnosticREports folder:

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-09-080004_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-09-122303_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-09-122454_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-09-123528_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-09-123621_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-09-123923_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-09-124105_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-10-185411_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-11-091917_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-18-080855_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-18-171656_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-22-093231_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-22-113147_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-22-201830_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-23-120439_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-23-213849_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-24-130138_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-24-135921_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-26-085820_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-27-075505_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-27-075610_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-27-121407_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-28-114518_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-28-114518-1_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-31-083615_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FinderSyncAPIExtension_2016-0 5-31-084104_Robyns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Mail_2016-05-09-131257_Robyns -MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Mail_2016-05-09-132318_Robyns -MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Mail_2016-05-09-132322_Robyns -MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Messages_2016-05-10-181641_Ro byns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/suggestd_2016-05-12-120812_Ro byns-MacBook-Pro.crash

    file:///Users/robyn/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/suggestd_2016-06-01-084850_Ro byns-MacBook-Pro.crash

     

    I have no clue what any of this means, but the word 'crash' is perturbing!

  • by Dora M,

    Dora M Dora M Jun 13, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Dora M
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 13, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Dora M

    Hi all,

    does anyone have any advice wrt to this issue? I still have the beachball spinning itself silly -- especially when itunes is open it seems.