Really slow Mac Mini on first start up

I bought my Mac Mini because older PC took an age to start up. Now my Mac Mini is even worse. I also have an old laptop (2010) which I installed Windows 10 on, and it is much faster than my Mac! W10 is up and running on browser/email before Mac even gets to user log in page!


From advice on other posts, I ran EtreCheck and uncovered a printer issue with HP software. Got that sorted and it really helped. But its gone just as bad, ran EtreCheck again, results below, albeit this was when the Mac was still loading up, but done intentionally to see if I can find what's holding it up. There is nothing obvious in this, can anyone see something I'm missing please.


(Conscious there are other posts like this but saw someone getting a telling off for adding their isses to the same post accusing them of "thread-jacking")


EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)

Report generated 2016-09-17 08:11:02

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 11:48

Performance: Poor


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


Hardware Information:

Mac mini (Late 2012)

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

Mac mini - model: Macmini6,2

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-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


Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 4000

S236HL 1920 x 1080


System Software:

OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: less than an hour


Disk Information:

APPLE HDD HTS541010A9E662 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (607.22 GB free)

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


USB Information:

Apple, 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


Kernel Extensions:

/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/fileshield/unsigned

[loaded] com.avast.AvastFileShield (3.0.0 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-08-18) [Support]


/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/proxy/unsigned

[loaded] com.avast.PacketForwarder (2.1 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-08-18) [Support]


System Launch Agents:

[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks

[loaded] 154 Apple tasks

[running] 77 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons:

[failed] com.apple.security.syspolicy.plist (2015-08-23)

[not loaded] 45 Apple tasks

[loaded] 155 Apple tasks

[running] 90 Apple tasks


Launch Agents:

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[running] com.avast.secureline.update-agent.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.userinit.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

[running] com.avast.update-agent.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.userinit.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.avast.init.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.init.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.uninstall.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.update.plist (2016-07-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.uninstall.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.update.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2014-02-26) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]


User Launch Agents:

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-09-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.home.userinit.plist (2016-08-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.home.userinit.plist (2016-07-05) [Support]

[loaded] com.f-secure.sync.BTCloud.plist (2015-07-31) [Support]

[failed] com.lastpass.LastPassHelper.plist (2015-04-14) [Support]

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-09-11) [Support]


User Login Items:

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

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)


Internet Plug-ins:

FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-22)

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) Outdated! Update

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-22)

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.7 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-25) [Support]

nplastpass: 3.1.89 - SDK 10.10 (2015-04-14) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.41105.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-12-21) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-08-23) Check version


User internet Plug-ins:

WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-07-17) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]


Safari Extensions:

LastPass - LastPass - https://lastpass.com (2015-09-04)


3rd Party Preference Panes:

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

Java (2016-06-22) [Support]


Time Machine:

Time Machine not configured!


Top Processes by CPU:

17% update_dyld_shared_cache

8% kernel_task

6% WindowServer

1% systemstatsd

1% com.avast.daemon


Top Processes by Memory:

905 MB update_dyld_shared_cache

421 MB kernel_task

152 MB Safari

147 MB Dropbox

127 MB mdworker(10)


Virtual Memory Information:

137 MB Free RAM

3.86 GB Used RAM (1.10 GB Cached)

67 MB Swap Used


Diagnostics Information:

Sep 17, 2016, 07:50:32 AM Self test - passed

Mac mini, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 17, 2016 12:36 AM

Reply
3 replies

Sep 17, 2016 2:44 AM in response to m4xwl

I would suggest removing the Avast software according to the developers' instructions. You don't need anti-virus software on your Mac and going by other reports on here Avast often seems to figure as a potential cause of problems.

If you do remove it, restart the Mac and test. If it makes no difference once Avast is removed, you can always re-install it if you feel you need it (even though you don't 🙂 ).

Sep 17, 2016 2:43 AM in response to Paul_31

Many thanks Paul, I have done this and re-run EtreCheck, now showing Excellent and the runtime alone shows the difference! See below.


I had installed Avast after some website managed to put adware in my Mac, and every page I went on suddenly had little links showing against certain words linking to sales websites etc, and that managed to get past the existing OS protection. It stopped that happening, so I will just watch and see if that comes back.


EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)

Report generated 2016-09-17 10:30:57

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:57

Performance: Excellent


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

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


Problem: No problem - just checking


Hardware Information:

Mac mini (Late 2012)

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

Mac mini - model: Macmini6,2

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-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


Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 4000

S236HL 1920 x 1080


System Software:

OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: less than an hour


Disk Information:

APPLE HDD HTS541010A9E662 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (608.85 GB free)

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


USB Information:

Apple, 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] 7 Apple tasks

[loaded] 157 Apple tasks

[running] 74 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons:

[not loaded] 45 Apple tasks

[loaded] 165 Apple tasks

[running] 81 Apple tasks


Launch Agents:

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2014-02-26) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-08-23) [Support]


User Launch Agents:

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-09-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.f-secure.sync.BTCloud.plist (2015-07-31) [Support]

[failed] com.lastpass.LastPassHelper.plist (2015-04-14) [Support]

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-09-11) [Support]


User Login Items:

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

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)


Internet Plug-ins:

FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-22)

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]

Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-19) Outdated! Update

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-22)

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.7 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-25) [Support]

nplastpass: 3.1.89 - SDK 10.10 (2015-04-14) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.41105.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-12-21) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-08-23) Check version


User internet Plug-ins:

WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-07-17) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]


Safari Extensions:

LastPass - LastPass - https://lastpass.com (2015-09-04)


3rd Party Preference Panes:

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

Java (2016-06-22) [Support]


Time Machine:

Time Machine not configured!


Top Processes by CPU:

5% WindowServer

2% mds

2% kernel_task

2% mds_stores

1% fontd


Top Processes by Memory:

562 MB kernel_task

233 MB mds_stores

213 MB Safari

172 MB Dropbox

164 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent


Virtual Memory Information:

459 MB Free RAM

3.54 GB Used RAM (898 MB Cached)

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information:

Sep 17, 2016, 10:18:30 AM Self test - passed

Sep 17, 2016, 09:26:15 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/App Store_2016-09-17-092615_[redacted].crash

/Applications/App Store.app/Contents/MacOS/App Store

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Really slow Mac Mini on first start up

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