Problems with preference panes

Question

I have a 2011 Macbook Pro running El Capitan (10.11.5). I am having problems running system preference panes after boot: it takes a significant amount of time (~20 minutes?) before the affected panes will load: it isn&#x27;t clear how the preference panes are &#x27;chosen&#x27;. Any attempt to load affected system preference panes during this period gives a nondescript error saying preference pane "" cannot be loaded. This memorably includes, for instance, the Date and Time preference pane. Any suggestions welcome.

macjack · Answer

Please download and run EtreCheck, created by one of own helpers here in ASC. It is a diagnostic tool that&#x27;s very useful to us in finding problems. Also it will give us further specs on your Mac. After it runs post the log file here. It will contain no personal information.

Matthew Briggs · Answer

EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)Report generated 2016-06-13 12:05:50Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.comRuntime 8:38Performance: Below AverageClick the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.Problem: Other problemDescription:Temporary problem with preference panes after bootHardware Information:ⓘ    MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)     [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty &amp; Service]    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1    1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 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: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n    Battery: Health &#x3D; Normal - Cycle count &#x3D; 0Video Information:ⓘ    Intel HD Graphics 3000        Color LCD 1280 x 800System Software:ⓘ    OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: about one day Disk Information:ⓘ    WDC WD10JPVX-00JC3T0 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)        EFI (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB         Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;  [Recovery]: 650 MB         Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 998.97 GB (80.77 GB free)            Core Storage: disk0s2 999.35 GB Online    MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898   ()USB Information:ⓘ    Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)     Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad     Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub         Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller     Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver Thunderbolt Information:ⓘ    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_busConfiguration files:ⓘ    /etc/sysctl.conf - File exists but not expectedGatekeeper:ⓘ    Mac App Store and identified developersKernel Extensions:ⓘ        /Applications/AirParrot.app    [not loaded]    com.squirrels.airparrot.framebuffer (1.4 - SDK 10.8 - 2014-09-25) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.squirrels.driver.AirParrotSpeakers (1.8 - SDK 10.8 - 2014-09-25) [Support]        /Applications/Parallels Desktop.app    [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (11.1.3 32521 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-03-15) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.netbridge (11.1.3 32521 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-03-15) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (11.1.3 32521 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-03-15) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.parallels.kext.vnic (11.1.3 32521 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-03-15) [Support]        /Applications/Tunnelblick.app    [not loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tap (20111101 (Tunnelblick build 3872) Unsigned - 2014-09-25) [Support]    [not loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tun (20111101 (Tunnelblick build 3872) Unsigned - 2014-09-25) [Support]        /Applications/VMware Fusion.app    [not loaded]    com.vmware.kext.vmci (8.1.0 - 2015-11-26) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.vmware.kext.vmioplug.15.1.7 (8.1.0 - 2015-11-26) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.vmware.kext.vmnet (8.1.0 - 2015-11-26) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.vmware.kext.vmx86 (8.1.0 - 2015-11-26) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.vmware.kext.vsockets (8.1.0 - 2015-11-26) [Support]        /Library/Application Support/VirtualBox    [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (4.3.10 - 2014-10-18) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (4.3.10 - 2014-10-18) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (4.3.10 - 2014-10-18) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (4.3.10 - 2014-10-18) [Support]        /Library/Extensions    [loaded]    com.globaldelight.driver.BoomDevice (1.4 - SDK 10.10 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.sophos.kext.sav (9.4.52 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.sophos.nke.swi (9.4.52 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-06-03) [Support]        /System/Library/Extensions    [not loaded]    com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.6 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.FTDI.driver.FTDIUSBSerialDriver (2.2.14 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.cisco.cscotun (1.0 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.dvdfab.kext.fabio (1.0 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.hzsystems.terminus.driver (4 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.intel.kext.intelhaxm (1.0.7 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.sony.driver.prs (1.0.1d1 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.sony.driver.prs2 (1.0.3d1 - 2016-06-03) [Support]    [not loaded]    ng.uds.netusb.controller (1.59 - 2016-06-03) [Support]        ~/Library/Services/ToastIt.service/Contents/MacOS    [not loaded]    com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0 - 2014-02-10) [Support]Startup Items:ⓘ    vpnagentd: Path: /System/Library/StartupItems/vpnagentd    MySQLCOM: Path: /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM    Startup items are obsolete in OS X YosemiteSystem Launch Agents:ⓘ    [not loaded]    9 Apple tasks    [loaded]    153 Apple tasks    [running]    76 Apple tasksSystem Launch Daemons:ⓘ    [loaded]    com.intel.haxm.plist (2014-01-02) [Support]    [failed]    org.apache.httpd.plist    [not loaded]    44 Apple tasks    [loaded]    160 Apple tasks    [running]    86 Apple tasksLaunch Agents:ⓘ    [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-09-01) [Support]    [failed]    com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a...plist (2015-10-14) [Support]    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-09-25) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.sony.ReaderDesktop.RunReaderDesktop.plist (2014-04-28) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.sony.ReaderLibrary.RunReaderLibrary.plist (2010-07-13) [Support]    [running]    com.sophos.uiserver.plist (2015-09-25) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.xamarin.mtvs.buildserver.plist (2015-01-21) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist (2014-09-25) [Support]    [loaded]    org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]Launch Daemons:ⓘ    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-05-13) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-05-13) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2011-06-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2015-09-01) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-05-10) [Support]    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-03-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.mac.adg.SquidMan.plist (2014-11-15) [Support]    [loaded]    com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-03-19) [Support]    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2015-06-09) [Support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-09-25) [Support]    [loaded]    com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist (2014-03-25) [Support]    [running]    com.sophos.common.servicemanager.plist (2016-02-11) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.freedesktop.dbus-system.plist (2014-09-25) [Support]    [loaded]    org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]    [failed]    org.postgresql.postgres.plist (2011-07-31) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.startup.plist (2014-09-25) [Support]    [failed]    us.pandamonia.Bark-Helper.plist (2012-09-21) [Support]User Launch Agents:ⓘ    [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2011-06-19) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2011-03-29) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2011-06-03) [Support]    [failed]    com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-[...]@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist    [loaded]    com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2016-02-25) [Support]    [loaded]    com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist (2014-08-09) [Support]    [failed]    com.google.GoogleContactSyncAgent.plist (2012-11-17) [Support]    [loaded]    com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist (2016-05-24) [Support]    [running]    com.vladalexa.MagicPrefs.plist (2001-01-01) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist (2014-03-27) [Support]User Login Items:ⓘ    Flux    Application  (/Applications/Flux.app)    Bartender    Application  (/Applications/Bartender.app)    macfusionAgent    Application  (/Applications/Macfusion.app/Contents/Resources/macfusionAgent.app)    Reader Library Launcher    Application Hidden (/Library/Reader Library/Reader Library Launcher.app)    AdobeResourceSynchronizer    Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)    Google Drive    Application  (/Applications/Google Drive.app)    iTunesHelper    Application Hidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)    Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)    Growl    Application Hidden (/Applications/Growl.app)    Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector2    Application Hidden (/Library/Printers/Canon/IJScanner/Utilities/Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector2.app)    Battery Time Remaining 2    Application  (/Applications/Battery Time Remaining 2.app)    Android File Transfer Agent    Application  (~/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app)    OneDrive    Application  (/Applications/OneDrive.app)    Hightail Desktop App    Application  (/Applications/Hightail Desktop App.app)    readerAppHelper    Application Hidden (/Applications/Reader.app/Contents/Resources/readerAppHelper.app)    Google Chrome    Application Hidden (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)Other Apps:ⓘ    [running]    N4RA379GBW.com.busymac.busycal2.alarm    [running]    com.Growl.GrowlHelperApp.94112    [running]    com.codler.Battery-Time-Remaining2.480032    [running]    com.getdropbox.dropbox.79072    [running]    com.globaldelight.BoomDaemon    [running]    com.google.GoogleDrive.92192    [running]    com.google.android.mtpagent.222112    [running]    com.microsoft.OneDrive-mac.59872    [loaded]    com.microsoft.OneDriveLauncher    [running]    com.sony.ebook.readerapphelper.222432    [running]    com.sony.ebook.readerlibrarylauncher.220512    [running]    com.sophos.autoupdate    [running]    com.sophos.configuration    [running]    com.sophos.intercheck    [running]    com.sophos.notification    [running]    com.sophos.scan    [running]    com.sophos.sxld    [running]    com.sophos.webd    [running]    com.surteesstudios.Bartender.62752    [running]    com.vladalexa.MagicPrefs.MagicPrefsPlugins.193312    [running]    jp.co.Canon.bj.scan.network.scannerselector2.223392    [running]    jp.co.canon.cijscannerregister.255712    [running]    org.herf.Flux.1131872    [running]    org.mgorbach.macfusion2.macfusionAgent.192672    [loaded]    426 Apple tasks    [running]    215 Apple tasksInternet Plug-ins:ⓘ    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.016.20045 - SDK 10.11 (2016-06-03) [Support]    Flash Player: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-13) [Support]    EPPEX Plugin: 10.0 (2013-09-13) [Support]    AdobePDFViewer: 15.016.20045 - SDK 10.11 (2016-06-03) [Support]    googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-12) [Support]    Scorch: Unknown - SDK 10.2 (2014-07-17) [Support]    iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2014-09-25)    PepperFlashPlayer: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-14) [Support]    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-25)    FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.242 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-13) [Support]    VLC Plugin: 2.2.1 (2015-04-15) [Support]    AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-09-01) [Support]    Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-11) [Support]    Google Earth Web Plug-in: 6.1 (2011-10-17) [Support]    SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.2 - SDK 10.6 (2016-03-19) [Support]    Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-25)    o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-16) [Support]    Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.2.0.16   - SDK 10.8 (2013-05-07) [Support]    Mathematica: 9.0.1.4092152 (2013-12-07) [Support]    JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 91 build 14 (2016-05-15) Check versionUser internet Plug-ins:ⓘ    CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-26) [Support]    OviMaps_5.10.3.0: 5.10 (2012-07-25) [Support]Safari Extensions:ⓘ    Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2015-09-24)    YoutubeWide - Pedrocc - http://www.pedrocc.com/safari (2014-03-15)    Wolfram Toolbar - Wolfram Research - http://www.wolfram.com (2011-02-11)    OpenIE - Parallels - http://www.parallels.com (2014-04-05)3rd Party Preference Panes:ⓘ    RCDefaultApp (2009-09-20)    Flash Player (2016-05-10) [Support]    Flip4Mac WMV (2014-09-25) [Support]    FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) (2015-02-07) [Support]    Java (2016-05-15) [Support]    MagicPrefs (2016-01-21) [Support]    MySQL (2014-05-06) [Support]    Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X (2012-07-31) [Support]    Perian (2011-07-24) [Support]    TeXDistPrefPane (2011-07-25) [Support]    Web Sharing (2013-01-26) [Support]Time Machine:ⓘ    Skip System Files: NO    Mobile backups: OFF    Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off    Volumes being backed up:    Destinations:        Toshiba External HDD [Local]         Total size: 999.86 GB         Total number of backups: 4         Oldest backup: 15/05/2014, 10:46 PM         Last backup: 17/06/2014, 5:05 PM         Size of backup disk: Excellent            Backup size 999.86 GB &gt; (Disk size 0 B X 3)Top Processes by CPU:ⓘ        98%    coreduetd        22%    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(4)        19%    InterCheck        18%    WindowServer        17%    com.apple.WebKit.NetworkingTop Processes by Memory:ⓘ    1.12 GB    kernel_task    737 MB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(4)    655 MB    mds_stores    475 MB    softwareupdated    344 MB    FinderVirtual Memory Information:ⓘ    6.17 GB    Free RAM     10.00 GB    Used RAM (3.69 GB Cached)    0 B    Swap Used Diagnostics Information:ⓘ    Jun 13, 2016, 11:25:58 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/coreduetd_2016-06-13-112558_[redacted].cpu_reso urce.diag [Details]        /usr/libexec/coreduetd    Jun 12, 2016, 08:58:06 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosWebIntelligence_2016-06-12-205806_[redact ed].crash        /Library/Sophos Anti-Virus/SophosWebIntelligence.bundle/Contents/MacOS/SophosWebIntelligence    Jun 12, 2016, 06:44:07 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/PluginProcess_2016-06-12-184407_[redacted].cras h        /System/Library/Frameworks/WebKit.framework/Versions/A/PluginProcess.app/Conten ts/MacOS/PluginProcess    Jun 12, 2016, 06:03:52 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/SophosAutoUpdate_2016-06-12-180352_[redacted].c rash        /Library/Sophos Anti-Virus/SophosAutoUpdate.app/Contents/MacOS/SophosAutoUpdate    Jun 12, 2016, 04:31:32 PM    Self test - passed

macjack · Answer

Wow, you are running a ton of third party apps! I don&#x27;t know all of them, but I can tell you this:Uninstall Sophos completely. Use their uninstaller. There are no viruses that can attack Mac.OS X. So, anti-virus programs are selling a cure for a disease that doesn&#x27;t exist. And they are renowned for borking Mac systems.Remove Steamto troubleshoot.Google Drive is also a known offender.Actually, I&#x27;d remove all Login Items to test. Go to System Preferences &gt; Users &amp; Groups and delete using the minus sign (not just hide) all login items. You can put them back later by using the plus sign.coreduetd is hogging your CPU big time.Remove it.After taking these steps post another EtreCheck report.