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All replies
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Helpful answers
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Jun 12, 2016 12:42 PM in response to SLStewart12by JimmyCMPIT,★HelpfulA partial screen shot is not going to help determine anything.
please post the entire report in text format.
select all
copy, paste
thank you.
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Jun 11, 2016 3:02 PM in response to JimmyCMPITby SLStewart12,EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)
Report generated 2016-06-11 15:50:35
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 4:23
Performance: Good
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Click the [Remove] links to remove adware.
Problem: Other problem
Description:
Safari not working properly
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2
1 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 51
Intel HD Graphics 3000
AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 1024 MB
Color LCD 1680 x 1050
OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 (14F27) - Time since boot: about 21 days
APPLE HDD HTS541075A9E662 disk0 : (750.16 GB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 748.93 GB (298.82 GB free)
Core Storage: disk0s2 749.30 GB Online
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Mac App Store and identified developers
~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Extensions/Feelbegin.safariextension
~/Library/LaunchAgents/gUpdater.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/pronto.notification.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/pronto.update.plist
4 adware files found. [Remove]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDeviceUP (3.0.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-03) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.4 - 2016-06-03) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.4 - 2012-10-28) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.5 - 2012-10-28) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.4 - 2012-10-28) [Support]
[failed] com.apple.icbaccountsd.plist
[not loaded] 5 Apple tasks
[loaded] 135 Apple tasks
[running] 68 Apple tasks
[killed] 3 Apple tasks
3 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] 43 Apple tasks
[loaded] 126 Apple tasks
[running] 86 Apple tasks
[killed] 7 Apple tasks
7 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-10-18) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-05-09) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2014-02-26) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]
[running] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist (2015-10-18) [Support]
[loaded] com.apple.FolderActions.folders.plist
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-03) [Support]
[failed] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (2015-07-24) [Support]
[failed] gUpdater.plist (2016-03-13) Adware! [Remove]
/Applications/Zip Devil.app/Contents/Resources/appUpdater
[loaded] pronto.notification.plist (2016-03-13) Adware! [Remove]
~/Library/Application Support/ProntoApp/ProntoApp.app/Contents/MacOS/ProntoApp
[loaded] pronto.update.plist (2016-03-13) Adware! [Remove]
~/Library/Application Support/ProntoApp/ProntoApp.app/Contents/MacOS/ProntoApp
SkyFonts Application (/Applications/SkyFonts/SkyFonts.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
join.me Launcher Application (~/Library/Application Support/join.me/join.me Launcher.app)
FastTasks 2 Application (~/.Trash/FastTasks 2.app)
[running] 2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword-osx-helper
[running] com.adobe.PhotoshopElements.216156
[running] com.google.Chrome.52004
[loaded] com.microsoft.Excel.62512
[running] com.microsoft.Office365Service.104828
[loaded] com.microsoft.Word.105680
[running] com.microsoft.autoupdate.fba.102840
[loaded] com.mti.Monotype-SkyFonts.263016
[running] com.mti.Monotype-SkyFontsHelper
[loaded] 366 Apple tasks
[running] 194 Apple tasks
[killed] 9 Apple tasks
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 25 (2015-07-07) Check version
FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-19) [Support]
Default Browser: 600 - SDK 10.10 (2015-08-28)
Flash Player: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-19) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 9.5.1 (2015-07-07) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2015-08-28)
NPMySpeedPlugin: 1.3 - SDK 10.5 (2012-02-26) [Support]
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-03-25) [Support]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.4 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-07-07) [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-04-23)
Picasa: 1.0 (2010-09-09) [Support]
AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-05-20)
Grammarly for Safari - Grammarly - https://www.grammarly.com (2016-05-18)
Evernote Web Clipper - Evernote Corp. - http://evernote.com (2015-08-20)
Feelbegin (cache only) (2016-03-13) Adware! [Remove]
3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ
Adobe Version Cue CS4 (2015-07-07) [Support]
Akamai NetSession Preferences (2015-10-18) [Support]
Flash Player (2016-05-09) [Support]
Growl (2015-07-07) [Support]
Java (2015-07-07) [Support]
Quark Update Preferences (2015-07-07) [Support]
Suitcase Fusion 2 Core (2015-07-07) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 748.93 GB Disk used: 450.12 GB
Destinations:
My Passport for Mac [Local]
Total size: 999.83 GB
Total number of backups: 27
Oldest backup: 3/22/15, 3:14 PM
Last backup: 6/10/16, 1:05 PM
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 999.83 GB < (Disk used 450.12 GB X 3)
20% mdworker(8)
12% mds
7% WindowServer
2% kernel_task
1% fontd
828 MB kernel_task
442 MB Safari
377 MB Google Chrome Helper(3)
360 MB softwareupdated
229 MB Microsoft Word
Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ
166 MB Free RAM
7.83 GB Used RAM (1.17 GB Cached)
1.71 GB Swap Used
Jun 11, 2016, 09:58:04 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/appUpdater_2016-06-11-095804_[redacted].crash
/Applications/Zip Devil.app/Contents/Resources/appUpdater
Jun 10, 2016, 11:21:07 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/appUpdater_2016-06-10-112107_[redacted].crash
Jun 9, 2016, 10:04:22 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/appUpdater_2016-06-09-100422_[redacted].crash
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Jun 11, 2016 3:12 PM in response to SLStewart12by Mike Sombrio,The screen shot you posted is a for a different computer? What's up with that?
Your computer is loaded with adware. Download and run MalwareBytes for Mac http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php for easy fast removal. Or if you want to find and remove the files manually try Apple's instructions Stop pop-up ads in Safari - Apple Support
You have also installed the CleanMyMac 3 malware. Uninstall it using these directions http://macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/how-to-uninstall-cleanmymac-3
Restart and see if performance returns to normal.
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Jun 11, 2016 3:40 PM in response to SLStewart12by John Galt,It is not reasonable to expect a Mac to operate properly after using ill-conceived "cleaning" garbage. Read below.
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.
"Feelbegin" is adware. Nothing can prevent you from installing garbage software other than your own common sense. To learn how to recognize adware so that you don't install it again, please read How to install adware.
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Jun 12, 2016 12:53 PM in response to Mike Sombrioby SLStewart12,I'm not sure why it would look like a different computer. I did have to replace the motherboard in 2014, but I ran EtreCheck on my MacBook Pro which is the one that isn't working well.
After emptying the trash, restarting, rerunning EtreCheck three or four times, restarting again . . . here's the new report. I have 2 concerns: After following uninstall instructions, I can't find any evidence of CleanMyMac3 anywhere, but the report still has, [failed] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (2015-07-24) [Support]. Also, I have an external backup drive, "My Passport for Mac," and it was full. I took about six month's of backups off the drive but I'm still getting this line,
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 999.83 GB < (Disk used 441.19 GB X 3)
I don't know what else to do.
Thank you for your help
EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)
Report generated 2016-06-12 13:39:57
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 3:19
Performance: Good
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Other problem
Description:
Safari
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2
1 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 51
Intel HD Graphics 3000
Color LCD 1680 x 1050
AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 1024 MB
OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 (14F27) - Time since boot: less than an hour
APPLE HDD HTS541075A9E662 disk0 : (750.16 GB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 748.93 GB (307.75 GB free)
Core Storage: disk0s2 749.30 GB Online
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Mac App Store and identified developers
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDeviceUP (3.0.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-03) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.4 - 2016-06-03) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.4 - 2012-10-28) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.5 - 2012-10-28) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.2.3 (26671) - SDK 10.4 - 2012-10-28) [Support]
[not loaded] 5 Apple tasks
[loaded] 148 Apple tasks
[running] 59 Apple tasks
[not loaded] 43 Apple tasks
[loaded] 133 Apple tasks
[running] 86 Apple tasks
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-10-18) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-05-09) [Support]
[loaded] com.malwarebytes.MBAMHelperTool.plist (2016-06-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2014-02-26) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]
[running] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist (2015-10-18) [Support]
[loaded] com.apple.FolderActions.folders.plist
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-03) [Support]
[failed] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (2015-07-24) [Support]
SkyFonts Application (/Applications/SkyFonts/SkyFonts.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
join.me Launcher Application (~/Library/Application Support/join.me/join.me Launcher.app)
[running] 2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword-osx-helper
[running] com.etresoft.EtreCheck.263300
[running] com.getdropbox.dropbox.59104
[running] com.mti.Monotype-SkyFonts.263016
[running] com.mti.Monotype-SkyFontsHelper.196844
[loaded] 360 Apple tasks
[running] 169 Apple tasks
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 25 (2015-07-07) Check version
FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-19) [Support]
Default Browser: 600 - SDK 10.10 (2015-08-28)
Flash Player: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-19) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 9.5.1 (2015-07-07) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2015-08-28)
NPMySpeedPlugin: 1.3 - SDK 10.5 (2012-02-26) [Support]
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-03-25) [Support]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.4 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-16) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-07-07) [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-04-23)
Picasa: 1.0 (2010-09-09) [Support]
AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-05-20)
Evernote Web Clipper - Evernote Corp. - http://evernote.com (2015-08-20)
Grammarly for Safari - Grammarly - https://www.grammarly.com (2016-05-18)
3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ
Adobe Version Cue CS4 (2015-07-07) [Support]
Akamai NetSession Preferences (2015-10-18) [Support]
Flash Player (2016-05-09) [Support]
Growl (2015-07-07) [Support]
Java (2015-07-07) [Support]
Quark Update Preferences (2015-07-07) [Support]
Suitcase Fusion 2 Core (2015-07-07) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 748.93 GB Disk used: 441.19 GB
Destinations:
My Passport for Mac [Local]
Total size: 999.83 GB
Total number of backups: 17
Oldest backup: 9/7/15, 12:02 PM
Last backup: 6/12/16, 1:28 PM
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 999.83 GB < (Disk used 441.19 GB X 3)
9% mdworker(9)
7% mds
6% WindowServer
2% kernel_task
1% fontd
595 MB kernel_task
393 MB Safari
172 MB mds_stores
156 MB Dropbox
90 MB Finder
Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ
4.18 GB Free RAM
3.81 GB Used RAM (2.45 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used
Jun 12, 2016, 01:32:26 PM Self test - passed
Jun 12, 2016, 11:57:35 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Service_2016-06-12-115735_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]
/Applications/Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.app/Contents/XPCServices/Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Service.xpc/Contents/MacOS/Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Service
Jun 12, 2016, 11:55:31 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/garcon_2016-06-12-115531_[redacted].crash
com.getdropbox.dropbox.garcon - /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/PlugIns/garcon.appex/Contents/MacOS/garcon
Jun 12, 2016, 11:44:22 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Service_2016-06-12-114422_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]
Jun 12, 2016, 10:59:17 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/appUpdater_2016-06-12-105917_[redacted].crash
/Applications/Zip Devil.app/Contents/Resources/appUpdater
Jun 11, 2016, 09:58:04 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/appUpdater_2016-06-11-095804_[redacted].crash
Jun 10, 2016, 11:21:07 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/appUpdater_2016-06-10-112107_[redacted].crash
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Jun 12, 2016 3:41 PM in response to SLStewart12by Mike Sombrio,Follow John Galt's instructions for getting rid of CMM. If it's not removed properly it leaves bits and peices all over the place.
I believe EtreCheck is reporting your Time Machine disk as too small because it's recommended that your TM disk be 2-3 times larger than the drive you're backing up.
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Jun 12, 2016 8:50 PM in response to SLStewart12by John Galt,SLStewart12 wrote:
Also, I have an external backup drive, "My Passport for Mac," and it was full. I took about six month's of backups off the drive ...
It is completely normal for a Time Machine backup to completely fill a backup volume. When Time Machine reaches its capacity, it will delete old, "expired" backups automatically. Deleting backups manually can be accomplished, but must only be performed from within the Time Machine interface, lest you introduce corruption that can render an entire Time Machine backup unusable. It will also take a very long time. Though I suppose there could be reasons for deleting old backups manually, I don't know of any.
In other words you should not have performed that action based solely on the following:
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 999.83 GB < (Disk used 441.19 GB X 3)
That message ("Too small") is not technically justified. Time Machine requires sufficient space for one complete backup of an entire source volume's contents, plus enough additional space for all subsequently changed files requiring backup, plus an additional amount of "overhead" that is not easily calculated. That's all. If your Time Machine backup disk capacity really is insufficient, Time Machine will tell you. Until then, you should do exactly nothing with Time Machine... other than to consider maintaining additional, redundant backups. One and only one backup is marginally better than none at all.
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Jun 14, 2016 6:39 PM in response to John Galtby SLStewart12,I want to thank all of you who have helped me through this process!! You have been GREAT!
I finally have a clean EtreCheck report! It still says there's not enough backup space but you have explained that beautifully and I'm not worried.
John, to clarify:
I didn't touch anything in Time Machine. I went to my external hard drive "My Passport" and manually deleted early 2015 backups. I hope that didn't affect Time Machine. If so, I'll need to buy yet another external backup drive to keep backups. Do I even need an external backup? Given the fact that my motherboard (or whatever it's called now) died twice last year, I feel like I do.
I had to reinstall CleanMyMac3 so I could use its Uninstaller and finally get all of that junk off my computer. "FeelBegin" is gone, too.
My original question was whether or not I should update to El Capitan but since I (we've) gone through this process, I think I won't. Any feedback on its current reliability is greatly appreciated.
Here's my last, and most important, question: I read the referenced article, "How to install adware," and will now read all license agreements carefully before installing anything, but is there any way to know for sure that something is bad for my computer? For example, I installed EtreCheck more than a year ago and had forgotten what it was for, and I have something called MacPaw Gemini in my applications folder - I don't even know what it does. In both cases, I assumed they were OK but obviously, I shouldn't assume anything. EtreCheck is good, of course, but the point is I have quite a number of applications installed that I know nothing about and don't know if they are necessary to run my computer/life or if they could be damaging.
Once again, thank you all for guiding this illiterate computer user through a difficult process. I've put all of your notes in Evernote for future reference.
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Jun 14, 2016 7:24 PM in response to SLStewart12by Mike Sombrio,Gemini is a duplicate finder made by the same people that brought you........wait for it........Mackeeper! Find out how and get rid of Gemini.
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Jun 14, 2016 7:53 PM in response to SLStewart12by John Galt,It's easy to envision circumstances in which one backup might not be adequate. For one, the backup device could fail just as easily as its source volume, meaning that there can be times in which you might have no backup at all — at least temporarily. The converse occurs when a source volume becomes unbootable: you're down to one and only one copy of your data. You can imagine other contingencies that will quickly reveal the inadequacy of one and only one backup. Hard disk drives have become so inexpensive that they should be considered disposable wear items.
The last time I used "EtreCheck" it did not require authentication to install and does not modify a system in any way. I understand that has not changed and I hope it never does. It's just an app that can simply be dragged to the Trash when you are finished with it, and its developer's website recommends doing exactly that. In that respect, it is no different than anything you might obtain from the Mac App Store.
That is very different than "CleanMyMac" or other system-modifying software that requires Admin user authentication to install. Such things alter a Mac's operating system. Those alterations can range from trivial and harmless, to extensive and irreversible. As I wrote I never install those things, for many reasons, security and operating system integrity among them.
Once so modified, you are arguably no longer using the operating system subject to the extensive and thorough scrutiny characteristic of everything Apple does. What's worse is that most such system-modifying programs do not offer reliable "uninstallers" — if they even offer one at all — and often leave system-altering components behind. Depending on where they are located and what they do, those components can lead to unpredictable results, perhaps immediately, or perhaps upon updating OS X months or years hence.
That in a nutshell explains nearly all the complaints that have predictably accompanied OS X updates or upgrades over the past fifteen years.
As a minor point, to "install" software is generally understood to mean requiring one's Admin-level login name and password to allow an installation to proceed. Mac users generally do not think of downloading and running something like "EtreCheck" the same as "installing software" despite the fact the app obviously needs to reside on your local Mac to function. I realize that minor distinction can be confusing, but what it means is this: When confronted with a dialog box soliciting your login name and password you should always consider your actions thoughtfully. There is a reason for its appearance, and it should be expected. If it isn't, don't proceed.
My original question was whether or not I should update to El Capitan but since I (we've) gone through this process, I think I won't. Any feedback on its current reliability is greatly appreciated.
El Capitan is as reliable as it has ever been, and with the announcement of macOS "Sierra" it is as mature as it's ever going to get. Read below for what I recommend.
Read Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support.
Assuming that you are already in the habit of routinely backing up your system you can evaluate El Capitan at no risk and at no cost. If you do not routinely back up your system, you should. Obtain an external USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt hard disk drive for your Mac, then download and install El Capitan on it. You can choose to start your Mac from that disk or the internal one using Startup Manager (hold an option key while you start your Mac), and evaluate El Capitan at no risk whatsoever to your existing installation. Just be sure to designate the proper installation location for El Capitan when you get to that installation step.
Running OS X from an external USB hard disk won't be as fast as the Mac's internal one, but it will be sufficient to draw conclusions regarding its suitability for your needs.
An external hard disk drive of adequate capacity can be purchased for well under $100 - much less than the cost of some previous OS X upgrades themselves. When you satisfy yourself that El Capitan works for you, then "clone" the external disk's contents to your internal one, and use the external disk for backup purposes — which you ought to be doing anyway.
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Jun 14, 2016 8:11 PM in response to Mike Sombrioby etresoft,Mike Sombrio wrote:
The screen shot you posted is a for a different computer? What's up with that?.
HHello Mike,
That first screenshot was the cute animation from the etrecheck.com website. I need to update it so people can tell it is just an image. This isn't the first time someone got confused.
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Jun 14, 2016 8:20 PM in response to SLStewart12by John Galt,SLStewart12 wrote:
... is there any way to know for sure that something is bad for my computer?
I realize I didn't answer that question. The obvious first line of defense is adequate backups, which we addressed. Next, if you are not sure what non-Apple software can be trusted and what can't, constrain your app purchases to the Mac App Store. There is no shortage of garbage, time-wasting apps to be found there, but at least they won't damage your Mac (read the excerpt below though) and anything obtained from the MAS is very easily deleted: just quit the app and drag it to the Trash.
Beyond that, ask yourself what you're installing and the reasons for doing so. If you want something that addresses your needs, fine, but be sure to recognize the distinction between your needs and your Mac's needs. Then understand that a Mac needs nothing — no "cleaning", "maintenance", "anti-virus", "anti-malware", "optimizing", "enhancing", or similarly categorized garbage. I submit that you will find not one single instance in which using one of those ill-conceived products accomplished anything whatsoever, whereas multiple tales of misery due to their use appear on this site every single day. At best, you might find some users who swear by some such product accompanied with the stipulation "...if you know what you're doing". That begs the question: if they knew what they were doing, why did they need it?
Excerpted from Effective defenses against malware and other threats:
- Never install any product that claims to "clean up", "speed up", "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.
- Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.
- They generally operate on the flawed premise that a Mac accumulates "junk" that needs to be routinely "cleaned out" for optimum performance.
- Trial versions of those programs are successful because they provide the instant gratification of greater free disk space.
- That increased space is the result of irreversible destruction of files, programs, or operating system components normally protected from inadvertent alteration or deletion. The eventual result will be unreliable operation, poor performance and random crashes that may not become evident for months or even years after their use, when updates to programs or OS X are eventually released.
- Memory "cleaners" that circumvent OS X's memory management algorithms work by purging inactive memory contents to mass storage, which can only result in degraded performance and accelerated hardware failure.
- Never install any product that claims to "clean up", "speed up", "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.
