Q: My MacBook Pro is super slow
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Sep 27, 2016 6:39 AMby John Galt,HelpfulBack up your Mac if you have not done so already. To learn how to do that please read https://www.apple.com/support/backup/. To learn how to use Time Machine read Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac. The reason for creating a backup is that the symptoms you describe could be indicative of an impending hard disk drive failure, so securing your data is a primary concern.
Then, shut down your Mac and restart it in "Safe Mode". To learn how to do that please read: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up. Compare how your Mac works in Safe Mode to how it has been.
Then, restart normally. If the same problem returns, please read the section If an issue doesn't happen in safe mode for Apple's recommended actions.
Finally, you can temporarily create a new User Account, and log in to that account to determine if the problem also exists when logged in to that Account. To learn how to do that read How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac. When you are finished troubleshooting, you can remove the temporary User Account by following these instructions: macOS Sierra: Delete a user or group. Before removing it, confirm you don't need any of the files you might have created in that Account.
Let me know what you determine.
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Sep 27, 2016 6:49 AMby aideenmccole,John, thank you so much for such a quick and helpful response! Here's how I got on:
All backed up, good to go there.
Tried safe mode, and the machine was just as slow as before, with the added benefit of part or all of the screen flickering any time I clicked on something or scrolled. And then when restarting in 'normal' mode, back to the same as before, super slow (no screen flickers though).
I created a test user and found everything to be the same. I used some of the same programmes as usual and everything was as slow as before.
Your thoughts?
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Sep 27, 2016 8:06 AMby BobTheFisherman,HelpfulDownload, run, and post the report from etrecheck https://etrecheck.com/. You should uninstall all apps that claim to clean, protect, etc. your computer.
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Sep 27, 2016 8:07 AMby aideenmccole,Hey Bob, here's the report:
EtreCheck version: 3.0.5 (309)
Report generated 2016-09-27 16:01:22
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 25:20
Performance: Poor
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Beachballing
Description:
About two weeks ago my computer began to slow down like crazy. From then on I’ve been getting a beachball every couple of clicks, there’s often a lag between me typing something and it appearing on screen, streaming is jumpy, even listening to iTunes stops and starts a lot.
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 = 665
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Color LCD 1280 x 800
macOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: about one hour
APPLE HDD TOSHIBA MK5065GSXF disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 498.88 GB (366.25 GB free)
Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked
Core Storage: disk0s2 499.25 GB Online
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()
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
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
/etc/sudoers, File size 1275 but expected 1563
Mac App Store and identified developers
[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks
[loaded] 175 Apple tasks
[running] 62 Apple tasks
[killed] 27 Apple tasks
27 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] com.apple.jetsamproperties.Mac.plist (2016-08-26) [Support]
[not loaded] 40 Apple tasks
[loaded] 163 Apple tasks
[running] 80 Apple tasks
[killed] 21 Apple tasks
21 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-09-16) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]
[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (2016-09-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist (2015-09-30) [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist (2016-03-10) [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist (2016-03-01) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2013-06-03) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]
[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist (2016-09-16) [Support]
[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2016-08-17) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (2016-09-17) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2013-06-03) [Support]
[loaded] jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller.plist (2016-08-30) [Support]
[failed] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelper.plist (2016-09-20) [Support]
[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelperUpdater.plist (2016-09-20) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-01-27) [Support]
[running] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (2016-09-17)
[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-09-17) [Support]
[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.clamxav.UninstallWatcher.plist (2016-09-20)
AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-16) [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-14)
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.006.30201 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]
Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) Outdated! Update
AdobePDFViewer: 15.006.30201 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]
DivX Web Player: 3.5.5.3 - SDK 10.10 (2016-03-29) [Support]
EPPEX Plugin: 10.0 (2015-04-10) [Support]
OVSHelper: 1.1 (2016-03-31) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.40416.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-06-22) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 73 build 02 (2016-03-09) Check version
OctoshapeWeb: 1.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-05-19) [Support]
Flash Player (2016-04-16) [Support]
Java (2016-01-29) [Support]
MusicManager (2015-11-17) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 498.88 GB Disk used: 132.63 GB
Destinations:
Aideen's PHD 07552823006 [Local]
Total size: 999.83 GB
Total number of backups: 15
Oldest backup: 15/03/2014, 19:51
Last backup: 25/09/2016, 20:58
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 999.83 GB > (Disk used 132.63 GB X 3)
88% logd
23% AddressBookSourceSync
4% system_profiler
3% ps
1% Adobe CEF Helper(3)
542 MB kernel_task
250 MB system_profiler
201 MB Google Chrome Helper(4)
127 MB Google Chrome
119 MB Adobe CEF Helper(3)
54 MB Free RAM
3.94 GB Used RAM (768 MB Cached)
66 MB Swap Used
Sep 27, 2016, 01:48:07 PM Self test - passed
Sep 27, 2016, 12:46:04 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Adobe CEF Helper_2016-09-27-124604_[redacted].crash
/Library/Application Support/Adobe/*/Adobe CEF Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe CEF Helper
Sep 27, 2016, 12:09:04 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FaceTime_2016-09-27-120904_[redacted].crash
/Applications/FaceTime.app/Contents/MacOS/FaceTime
Sep 27, 2016, 11:15:32 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2016-09-27-111532_[redacted].hang
/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox
Sep 26, 2016, 11:52:15 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Core Sync_2016-09-26-235215_[redacted].crash
/Applications/Utilities/Adobe Creative Cloud/*/Core Sync.app/Contents/MacOS/Core Sync
Sep 26, 2016, 11:42:27 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/WindowServer_2016-09-26-234227_[redacted].crash
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SkyLight.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Windo wServer
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Sep 27, 2016 10:17 AMby John Galt,run Clean My Mac, it found about 5GB of stuff that could have been deleted (but I didn't delete everything it found)
I was concerned about that, but if you did not actually use it to delete anything you might be able to simply uninstall "CleanMyMac" without having to resort to the more time-consuming recovery method of completely erasing that Mac and reconfiguring it from the ground up.
"Cleaning" apps are scams. 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.
I suggest the following, in the following order. Evaluate your Mac's performance after each step, and stop when you believe the problem is fixed. In other words Step 1 might be sufficient. If it isn't, proceed to Step 2.
- Remove "CleanMyMac"
- Reinstall OS X: refer to How to reinstall OS X - Apple Support
- Erase your Mac completely, and reinstall only essential programs, documents, and files.
Please read the applicable instructions 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 Step 2 to completely erase that Mac's internal storage: Disk Utility (El Capitan): Erase a volume.
- 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.
- 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.
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Sep 27, 2016 12:27 PMby aideenmccole,Hey John
I've just uninstalled Clean My Mac, including the additional steps you explained (thank you for the super clear guidelines and info on the programme!)
To be clear, I installed Clean My Mac after my computer slowed down, thinking this might help me locate the problem. After running the programme and it not locating anything obvious, I time machined back to my last back up, prior not only to using Clean My Mac, but also to the speed/beachball problem. No change. So I now have a machine that's been backed up, I've reverted to an old back up, I've downloaded the newest OS, I'm free of Clean My Mac, and I'm still crawling through basic operations.
Is the EtreCheck report above helpful?
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Sep 27, 2016 1:49 PMby aideenmccole,Oh! That's the old one, here's a fresh one:
EtreCheck version: 3.0.5 (309)
Report generated 2016-09-27 21:42:03
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 39:39
Performance: Poor
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Beachballing
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Color LCD 1280 x 800
macOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: less than an hour
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
/etc/sudoers, File size 1275 but expected 1563
Mac App Store and identified developers
[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks
[loaded] 180 Apple tasks
[running] 55 Apple tasks
[killed] 29 Apple tasks
29 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] com.apple.jetsamproperties.Mac.plist (2016-08-26) [Support]
[not loaded] 40 Apple tasks
[loaded] 165 Apple tasks
[running] 75 Apple tasks
[killed] 24 Apple tasks
24 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-09-16) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]
[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (2016-09-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist (2015-09-30) [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist (2016-03-10) [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist (2016-03-01) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2013-06-03) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]
[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist (2016-09-16) [Support]
[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2016-08-17) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2013-06-03) [Support]
[loaded] jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller.plist (2016-08-30) [Support]
[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelper.plist (2016-09-20) [Support]
[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelperUpdater.plist (2016-09-20) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-01-27) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-09-17) [Support]
[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.clamxav.UninstallWatcher.plist (2016-09-20)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Google Chrome Application (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)
AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-16) [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-14)
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.006.30201 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]
Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) Outdated! Update
AdobePDFViewer: 15.006.30201 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-03) [Support]
DivX Web Player: 3.5.5.3 - SDK 10.10 (2016-03-29) [Support]
EPPEX Plugin: 10.0 (2015-04-10) [Support]
OVSHelper: 1.1 (2016-03-31) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.40416.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-06-22) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 73 build 02 (2016-03-09) Check version
OctoshapeWeb: 1.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-05-19) [Support]
Flash Player (2016-04-16) [Support]
Java (2016-01-29) [Support]
MusicManager (2015-11-17) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Destinations:
Aideen's PHD 07552823006 [Local]
Total size: 999.83 GB
Total number of backups: 15
Oldest backup: 15/03/2014, 19:51
Last backup: 25/09/2016, 20:58
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 999.83 GB > (Disk size 0 B X 3)
9% system_profiler
4% trustd(3)
2% ocspd
1% syncdefaultsd
1% kernel_task
519 MB kernel_task
0 B askpermissiond
0 B cloudpaird
0 B secinitd
0 B coreservicesd
103 MB Free RAM
3.90 GB Used RAM (865 MB Cached)
20 MB Swap Used
Sep 27, 2016, 08:59:29 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/quicklookd_2016-09-27-205929_[redacted].crash
/System/Library/Frameworks/QuickLook.framework/Versions/A/Resources/quicklookd. app/Contents/MacOS/quicklookd
Sep 27, 2016, 08:25:41 PM Self test - passed
Sep 27, 2016, 06:58:05 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Adobe CEF Helper_2016-09-27-185805_[redacted].crash
/Library/Application Support/Adobe/*/Adobe CEF Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe CEF Helper
Sep 27, 2016, 12:46:04 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Adobe CEF Helper_2016-09-27-124604_[redacted].crash
Sep 27, 2016, 12:09:04 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/FaceTime_2016-09-27-120904_[redacted].crash
/Applications/FaceTime.app/Contents/MacOS/FaceTime
Sep 27, 2016, 11:15:32 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2016-09-27-111532_[redacted].hang
/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox
Sep 26, 2016, 11:52:15 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Core Sync_2016-09-26-235215_[redacted].crash
/Applications/Utilities/Adobe Creative Cloud/*/Core Sync.app/Contents/MacOS/Core Sync
Sep 26, 2016, 11:42:27 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/WindowServer_2016-09-26-234227_[redacted].crash
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SkyLight.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Windo wServer
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Sep 27, 2016 2:41 PMby John Galt,Thanks. Please reproduce the events that cause your Mac to perform slowly. During that time, please capture two screenshots as shown below, and post them in a reply.
Please refer to the Memory section in Use Activity Monitor on your Mac - Apple Support.
In Activity Monitor's View menu, select Active Processes (not My Processes as shown in the screenshots).
Post a screenshot of that Activity Monitor window, similar to the following, with the Memory column sorted in decreasing order.
Then, click the CPU tab, and post another screenshot similar to the following, with the %CPU column sorted in decreasing order.
To learn how to post a screenshot please read the Appendix in Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question.
Please don't post any information that you might consider personal. The above User Tip includes a link explaining how to edit the screenshot, if you so desire.
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Sep 27, 2016 9:41 PMby MadMacs0,BobTheFisherman wrote:
Uninstall ClamXav. It is not needed.
OP indicated that ClamXav "found one dodgy file" so it did something useful and they are not running Sentry or any scheduled events, so can't be contributing to any slowdown.
Looks to me to be a memory issue, so I think John is on the right track. I haven't run across anybody with only 4GB RAM that can run Sierra comfortably.
Other observations
- Adobe crashes may indicate need for re-install.
- Flash Player is out-of-date and has been disabled by XProtect.
- Silverlight is out-of-date and blocked by XProtect.
- Java is out-of-date.
- Sudoers file suspiciously large.
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Sep 28, 2016 2:40 AMby MadMacs0,aideenmccole wrote:
Hey Bob
anything I can do about sudoers?
Not Bob, but I wouldn't worry too much about the shudders (I should have said suspiciously small). I'd have to guess it's that size because it migrated from an older system (which I would not have expected). If it was larger than expected, then I would be more concerned that it had been modified by malware (which has occurred once before). It's a read only file that must be edited with the 'visudo' command as root to prevent syntax or permission errors that could disable the 'sudo' command. The best way for most users to repair it is to re-install macOS from the Recovery HD.
