KlausKandinsky

Q: MacBookAir all of a sudden very slow

Hi,

 

for three years, i never had any problems with my Mac. Now, suddenly, from one moment to another, it runs very slow. Also, I have to force every start of the Mac with pressing ON-button for several seconds. When closing the laptop and opening it again, it crashes as well (only black monitor, start has to be forced).

 

First thing I noticed was that kernel_task is using up to 400% of the RAM. I tried to find the problem myself, read things about kernel_task and did the following things (without success):

 

- Updating to newest version of El Capitan

- resetting NVRAM and SMC

- running apple diagnostics hardware test (Code: ADP000 nothing found)

- removing protected system files from /System/Library/Extensions/IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/ACPI_SMC _PlatformPlugin.kext/Contents/Resources into another folder, then restarting

- doing an EtreCheck.

 

Can someone help me? Especially with interpreting the EtreCheck diagnosis?

 

EtreCheck version: 2.9.13 (267)

Report generated 2016-08-08 15:04:23

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 6:37

Performance: Below Average

 

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

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

 

Problem: Computer is too slow

Description:

All of a sudden, MacBookAir runs very very slow. Everything takes ages.

 

Have to force every start by pressing ON-button for 7 seconds.

kernel_task uses ±300% RAM all the time.

No fan noise, no liquid spill. MacBookAir has temperature like always (not hot at all).

Resetting NVRAM and SMC did not help.

Hardware test says no hardware error (Code: ADP000).

 

Hardware Information:

    MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)

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

    MacBook Air - model: MacBookAir6,2

    1 1,3 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

    4 GB RAM Not upgradeable

        BANK 0/DIMM0

            2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

        BANK 1/DIMM0

            2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

    Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

    Wireless:  en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

    Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 522

 

Video Information:

    Intel HD Graphics 5000

        Color LCD 1440 x 900

 

System Software:

    OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G31) - Time since boot: less than an hour

 

Disk Information:

    APPLE SSD SM0128F disk0 : (121,33 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

        Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 120.10 GB (17.04 GB free)

            Core Storage: disk0s2 120.47 GB Online

 

USB Information:

    Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

 

Thunderbolt Information:

    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

 

Gatekeeper:

    Mac App Store and identified developers

 

Kernel Extensions:

        /Applications/Tunnelblick.app

    [not loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tap (20141104 (Tunnelblick build 4560) - 2016-05-09) [Support]

    [not loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tun (20141104 (Tunnelblick build 4560) - 2016-05-09) [Support]

 

System Launch Agents:

    [not loaded]    5 Apple tasks

    [loaded]    167 Apple tasks

    [running]    66 Apple tasks

 

System Launch Daemons:

    [not loaded]    46 Apple tasks

    [loaded]    160 Apple tasks

    [running]    84 Apple tasks

 

Launch Agents:

    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

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

 

Launch Daemons:

    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-29) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.apple.installer.osmessagetracing.plist

    [loaded]    com.flexera.ia.helper.plist (2016-05-09) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

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

    [loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tunnelblick.tunnelblickd.plist (2016-05-09) [Support]

    [not loaded]    org.eyebeam.SelfControl.plist (2016-06-07) [Support]

 

User Launch Agents:

    [loaded]    com.bittorrent.uTorrent.plist (2016-01-18) [Support]

    [failed]    com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist (2014-08-17) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.nchsoftware.switch.schedule.LikeSurvey.plist (2015-06-15) [Support]

    [loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tunnelblick.LaunchAtLogin.plist (2015-01-08) [Support]

 

 

Other Apps:

    [loaded]    410 Apple tasks

    [running]    163 Apple tasks

 

Internet Plug-ins:

    FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-08-04) [Support]

    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-09)

    Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-08-04) [Support]

    EPPEX Plugin: 4.1.0.0 (2011-07-27) [Support]

    o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-16) [Support]

    Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-09)

    googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]

    Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-02-05) [Support]

    Unity Web Player: UnityPlayer version 4.6.5f1 - SDK 10.6 (2015-05-07) [Support]

 

Safari Extensions:

    AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-03-20)

    Facebook Cleaner - Sonny Fazio - http://sonstermedia.com (2013-08-30)

    Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-07-24)

    Newsfeed-Eradicator - Anton Osika - http://antonosika.github.io/newsfeed-eradicator/ (2016-06-09)

    Ghostery - GHOSTERY, Inc. - https://www.ghostery.com/ (2016-04-06)

 

3rd Party Preference Panes:

    Flash Player (2016-06-29) [Support]

 

Time Machine:

    Time Machine not configured!

 

Top Processes by CPU:

        36%    Safari

        35%    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(3)

        32%    WindowServer

        22%    mds_stores

        12%    kernel_task

 

Top Processes by Memory:

    700 MB    Safari

    627 MB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(3)

    495 MB    kernel_task

    201 MB    mdworker(13)

    147 MB    mds_stores

 

Virtual Memory Information:

    206 MB    Free RAM

    3.80 GB    Used RAM (801 MB Cached)

    0 B    Swap Used

 

Diagnostics Information:

    Aug 8, 2016, 02:44:22 PM    Self test - passed

    Aug 8, 2016, 01:58:15 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2016-08-08-135815_[redacted].hang

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

 

 

Thanks a lot!

KlausKandinsky

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 8, 2016 6:29 AM

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Q: MacBookAir all of a sudden very slow

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by JimmyCMPIT,Helpful

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Aug 8, 2016 7:24 AM in response to KlausKandinsky
    Level 5 (6,770 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 8, 2016 7:24 AM in response to KlausKandinsky

    you have 4GB RAM which can be demanding on the system regardless of Apples suggestion El Cap with run with 2; it will but don't expect to use the computer for much past booting up.

     

    also you are running bit torrent, any software you are getting from this service is suspect.

     

    shut down

    disconnect all external devices

    boot into safe mode

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

    test the system and if is running better reboot normally.

  • by KlausKandinsky,

    KlausKandinsky KlausKandinsky Aug 8, 2016 7:17 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 8, 2016 7:17 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    I deinstalled µTorrent.

     

    I then disconnected all external devices and booted into safe mode. But how can I test the system inside safe mode? Do you mean to repair the disks inside Disk Utility?

     

    Thank you

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 8, 2016 7:28 AM in response to KlausKandinsky
    Level 10 (187,595 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 8, 2016 7:28 AM in response to KlausKandinsky

    Top Processes by CPU:

            36%    Safari

            35%    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(3)

            32%    WindowServer

            22%    mds_stores

    - The first two are associated with web browser. Just what tabs were open when you ran EtreCheck?

    - The third one is what draws the image on the screen? Do you have any apps running that draws on the screen? However, I suspect that the browser tabs have items that are changing and thus drawing a lot on the screen.

    - Mds is associated with Spotlight

    http://osxdaily.com/2010/08/05/mds-mac/

  • by KlausKandinsky,Helpful

    KlausKandinsky KlausKandinsky Aug 8, 2016 7:46 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 8, 2016 7:46 AM in response to lllaass

    During the EtreCheck, safari was open with two tabs: the homepage of Etrecheck and another discussion of discussions.apple.com. But if Safari (and all other programs) are closed, the system is still as slow as with Safari opened. For example after starting the mac and just finder opened, it takes around 5 to 10 seconds to go to full screen mode or to open a folder.

    I don't know why kernel_task does not show up in the top processes by CPU. When i open activity monitor, just kernel_task stands out:

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-08-08 um 16.42.03.png

     

    As far as I know, I don't have any apps that draw on the screen.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 8, 2016 7:59 AM in response to KlausKandinsky
    Level 10 (187,595 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 8, 2016 7:59 AM in response to KlausKandinsky

    See if this helps since your screen shot showed too high CPU usage by kernel_task

    Problem with Kernel Task - El Capitan

  • by KlausKandinsky,

    KlausKandinsky KlausKandinsky Aug 8, 2016 12:05 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 8, 2016 12:05 PM in response to lllaass

    Thank you, I already went through the discussion you posted and tried all the tips mentioned:

     

    I removed protected system files from /System/Library/Extensions/IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/ACPI_SMC _PlatformPlugin.kext/Contents/Resources into another folder and restarted.

    I think there is no buildup of dust on the logic board, since the vent never goes on and the laptop is not hot.

    There is no high ambient temperature.

    No worn-out or faulty battery in a portable (from what EtreCheck and hardware test said).

    No malfunction of a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, or some other internal component (from what EtreCheck and hardware test said).

  • by KlausKandinsky,

    KlausKandinsky KlausKandinsky Aug 9, 2016 10:12 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 9, 2016 10:12 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    test the system and if is running better reboot normally.

    How can I test the system inside safe mode? Do you mean to repair the disks inside Disk Utility?

     

    Thanks,

    KlausKandinsky

  • by KlausKandinsky,Solvedanswer

    KlausKandinsky KlausKandinsky Sep 5, 2016 1:53 AM in response to KlausKandinsky
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 5, 2016 1:53 AM in response to KlausKandinsky

    Hi,

     

    now, a couple of weeks later, the problem is resolved. Before, I tried a clean install and a couple more small things, with no improvement.

     

    So I finally went to the local apple store and gave it for repair. They could find the fault: it was a defect sensor (i assume temperature) on the logic board, which means that the logic board had to get replaced. As the fault appeared only several days after the expiration of my Apple Protection Plan, I called Apple directly and ask to pay for the repair, which they finally did. This saved me 600€ (480€ for a new logic board and 120€ for replacement).

     

    I assumed for a long time, that the hardware was okay, as I ran a hardware test (booting up while pressing "D" button) which showed me no defects. However, this basic test just tests if the components are working at all, not at what performance. The logic board was still working, just extremely restricted by kernel_task, a process which drastically restricts the performance, as it gets a warning from a temperature sensor. So it was a hardware defect at the end.

     

    Thanks,
    Klaus