Janita
Level 1 (39 points)
Photos for Mac

Q: Photos app slow to open, constantly beachballing

I upgraded to El Capitan from Snow Leopard.  Most everything went well and is working except the Photos app.  It never takes less than20 - 30 seconds to open, and while doing so I get a beach ball.  Any action in Photos (import photos, create album, etc.) takes a very very long time and inevitably causes another beach ball "hang".

 

I do not have this problem using iPhotos within El Capitan, and never had this problem with Snow Leopard.

 

I read the forum about similar problems but did not find any of the proposed solutions to solve the problem.  I have done a Photos rebuild several times but it makes no difference. I've restarted the Mac several times, run Disk Utility and everything seems okay.

 

This is so frustrating and makes using Photos app almost impossible.  I do not automatically upload to icloud and have unchecked the preference to do so.

 

I'm attaching an Etre report in case it will help.

 

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

 

EtreCheck version: 3.0.6 (315)

Report generated 2016-10-09 07:46:16

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:23

Performance: Excellent

 

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

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

 

Problem: Beachballing

Description:

Photos app VERY slow to open even after rebuild.  Constant beach balling with any action. Downloads take extremely long time.

 

Hardware Information: ⓘ

    iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)

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

    iMac - model: iMac11,3

    1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 CPU: 2-core

    8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

        BANK 0/DIMM0

            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

        BANK 1/DIMM0

            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

        BANK 0/DIMM1

            Empty  

        BANK 1/DIMM1

            Empty  

    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

 

Video Information: ⓘ

    ATI Radeon HD 5670 - VRAM: 512 MB

        iMac 2560 x 1440

 

System Software: ⓘ

    OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: about 16 days

 

Disk Information: ⓘ

    WDC WD1001FALS-40Y6A0 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /  [Startup]: 999.35 GB (820.46 GB free)

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

 

    OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5670SC   ()

 

USB Information: ⓘ

    Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

        Logitech USB Receiver

        Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

    Apple Card Reader

    Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

    Silicon Labs CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller

    MediaTek Inc MT1887 

    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

 

Firewire Information: ⓘ

    OWC Elite Pro U3FW 800mbit - 800mbit max

        EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

        OWC HD (disk1s2) /Volumes/OWC HD : 2.00 TB (1.43 TB free)

 

Configuration files: ⓘ

    /etc/sudoers, File size 1242 but expected 2299

 

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

    Mac App Store and identified developers

 

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

        /System/Library/Extensions

    [loaded]    com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.MCCI.SLAB_USBtoUART (V1.02.2 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.Maxtor.driver.PowSecDriver (4.3.16 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.cy.iokit.Morpheus (1.4.0 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.maxtor.iokit.IOFireWireMxBt (4.2.6 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.novatelwireless.kext.wwan (v3.0.15 (004) - 2016-09-15) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.silabs.driver.CP210xVCPDriver64 (2.9.0d1 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

 

        /System/Library/Extensions/NovatelWirelessWWAN.kext/Contents/Plugins

    [not loaded]    com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMControl (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMData (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.novatelwireless.driver.3G (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.novatelwireless.driver.3GData (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.novatelwireless.driver.DisableAutoInstall (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.novatelwireless.driver.NWVBE (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

 

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

    [not loaded]    8 Apple tasks

    [loaded]    148 Apple tasks

    [running]    83 Apple tasks

 

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

    [not loaded]    46 Apple tasks

    [loaded]    148 Apple tasks

    [running]    96 Apple tasks

 

Launch Agents: ⓘ

    [running]    com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist (2014-06-19) [Support]

    [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-07-09) [Support]

    [running]    com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (2013-10-06) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-09-17) [Support]

 

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

    [loaded]    com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2014-02-15) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-08-29) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.barebones.authd.plist (2014-03-02) [Support]

    [running]    com.fitbit.galileod.plist (2015-10-30) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-01) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.klieme.TimeMachineScheduler.plist (2014-01-28) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.novatelwireless.NvtlServer.plist (2010-04-16) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-09-17) [Support]

 

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

    [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-02-23) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2010-02-18) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-03-08) [Support]

    [running]    com.akamai.single-user-client.plist (2016-09-01) [Support]

    [loaded]    com.nchsoftware.prism.schedule.LikeSurvey.plist (2014-11-23) [Support]

 

User Login Items: ⓘ

    PhotoSync    Application  (/Applications/PhotoSync.app)

    SE Media Sync Helper    Application  (/Applications/Sony Ericsson Media Sync.app/Contents/Resources/SE Media Sync Helper.app)

    Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper    Application  (/Applications/Fitbit Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper.app)

    LOGINserver    Application  (/Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/LOGINserver.app)

    InstUtilLaunch    Application  (/Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/InstallUtility.app/Contents/Resources/Inst UtilLaunch.app)

 

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

    Java Applet: 11.4.2 (2007-09-18)

    Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2015-09-28) [Support]

    Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-08)

    AdobeExManDetect: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 (2014-07-09) [Support]

    Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 2.3.8.1 (2011-01-13) [Support]

    Musicnotes: 1.17.3 (2009-06-26) [Support]

    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-22) [Support]

    FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-13) [Support]

    RealPlayer Plugin: Unknown

    Silverlight: 5.1.50428.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-29) [Support]

    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-08)

    Flash Player: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-13) [Support]

    iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.7 (2012-06-10)

    AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-22) [Support]

    CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: 1.1.10 - SDK 10.6 (2013-11-16) [Support]

    Scorch: 6.2.0 (2012-02-01) [Support]

    JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-09-17) Check version

 

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

    iGetterScriptablePlugin: 2.9.2 (2013-11-04) [Support]

 

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

    ClickToFlash - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2014-07-06)

    iGetter Extension - Presenta Ltd. - http://www.igetter.net/ (2013-06-21)

    Slick Savings - Spigot, Inc. (2013-12-05)

 

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

    Akamai NetSession Preferences (2016-09-01) [Support]

    Flash Player (2016-08-29) [Support]

    Flip4Mac WMV (2011-01-13) [Support]

    Growl (2010-07-24) [Support]

    Java (2016-06-22) [Support]

    Logitech Control Center (2014-08-28) [Support]

    TimeMachineScheduler (2012-07-29) [Support]

 

Time Machine: ⓘ

    Skip System Files: NO

    Mobile backups: OFF

    Auto backup: YES

    Volumes being backed up:

        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 178.89 GB

    Destinations:

        OWC HD [Local]

        Total size: 2.00 TB

        Total number of backups: 145

        Oldest backup: 10/15/14, 5:08 PM

        Last backup: 10/9/16, 6:41 AM

        Size of backup disk: Adequate

            Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk used 178.89 GB X 3)

 

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

       100%    Mystika3

        10%    backupd

         6%    coreaudiod

         6%    Finale 2014.5

         5%    Adobe InDesign CS6

 

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

    1.05 GB    firefox

    824 MB    kernel_task

    311 MB    mdworker(17)

    221 MB    Mail

    197 MB    LWC2

 

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

    829 MB    Free RAM

    7.19 GB    Used RAM (2.98 GB Cached)

    1.30 GB    Swap Used

 

 

Files deleted by EtreCheck: ⓘ

    Oct 9, 2016, 07:35:13 AM - ~/Library/Safari/Extensions/Amazon Shopping Assistant.safariextz

    Oct 9, 2016, 07:35:13 AM - ~/Library/Safari/Extensions/Ebay Shopping Assistant.safariextz

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 9, 2016 7:58 AM

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Janita

Q: Photos app slow to open, constantly beachballing

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Oct 9, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Janita
    Level 10 (141,773 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Janita

    Where is your Photos library located?  If it's on an eternal HD how is that HD formatted and connected to your iMac?  The library must be on a volume that is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) and connected directly to the iMac via USB, Firewire or Thunderbolt cable. 

     

    Do you have Mystika running when you're trying to open Photos? It's taking up most of the CPU cycles.

    OTsig.png

  • by Janita,

    Janita Janita Oct 9, 2016 9:46 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 9:46 AM in response to Old Toad

    Photos library is located on the iMac's hard drive, although I do have Time Machine running auto backups.  Mystika is seldom running and it makes no difference if any other apps are open when trying to access Photos or not...same long wait and spinning beachball.  I've run Activity Monitor to check if something was interfering with Photos opening and nothing shows up that is any sort of a red flag. 

     

    Thanks (by the by) for the quick reply!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Oct 9, 2016 9:51 AM in response to Janita
    Level 10 (141,773 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 9:51 AM in response to Janita

    How big is the library, i.e. # of images?  Do you have the iCloud Photo Library enabled?  It could still be uploading files to the iCPL.  Also it could be still searching for faces. 

     

    Do launch Activity Monitor and watch it as you launch Photos.  That can give you an indication of which process within Photos that is slowing it down.

  • by Janita,

    Janita Janita Oct 9, 2016 10:11 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 10:11 AM in response to Old Toad

    I have about 9374 images in Photos.  (Don't know if this is significant but the same photo library in iPhotos didn't slow it down one bit.)  iCloud Photo Library is NOT enabled.

     

    I tried to get you a screen shot of Activity Monitor during the opening of Photos...the attached is about in the first 15 seconds of opening; at one point (20 seconds?) % CPU for Photos was about 73%.

     

    activity monitor.jpg

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Oct 9, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Janita
    Level 10 (141,773 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Janita

    Boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and launch Photos there.  Do you get the same slowness? Reboot normally and try again. Any difference?

  • by Janita,

    Janita Janita Oct 9, 2016 10:41 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 10:41 AM in response to Old Toad

    Okay.  Did the safe boot and here's the result.

     

    After reboot in safe mode, Photos app took 1:18 seconds to open.  In comparison, iPhoto (with same number of photos in library) took 11 seconds.

     

    Restarted in normal mode:  Photos took 47 seconds to open; iPhotos 6 seconds.

     

    (I really appreciate your ongoing help.  Thanks so much!)

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Oct 9, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Janita
    Level 10 (141,773 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Janita

    Does your iPhoto library have the same photos that the Photos library has or do you have some newer photos in your Photos library?

  • by Janita,

    Janita Janita Oct 9, 2016 11:39 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 11:39 AM in response to Old Toad

    I have three new photos in Photos; I haven't been using it because it is so slow!  : >)

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Oct 9, 2016 11:51 AM in response to Janita
    Level 10 (141,773 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 11:51 AM in response to Janita

    Then try the following:

     

    1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and run the following two First Aid routines:

         Repair Permisisons

         Rebuild Database

     

    2 - make a copy of the iPhoto library.

     

    3 - drag the copy of the library onto the Photos icon in the Dock and do another migration to Photos.

     

    4 - test the newly migrated Photos library to see if it's experiencing the same poor performance as your current library.  However, remember it will take some time for the faces recognition process to complete which can slow down the library temporarily. 

  • by Janita,

    Janita Janita Oct 9, 2016 11:52 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 9, 2016 11:52 AM in response to Old Toad

    Thanks.  I'll give it a try later on this afternoon or evening and let you know the results.  Thanks for your patience!

  • by Janita,

    Janita Janita Oct 10, 2016 6:50 AM in response to Janita
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 10, 2016 6:50 AM in response to Janita

    I followed your instructions and successfully imported the iPhoto library.  It appears to have made a significant difference in how quickly Photos opens, so thank you SO much.

     

    I do, however have one more question (I hope it's a easy one).  Selecting Photos from the side bar loads all the photos by "Moments".  If I select "All Photos" under the Albums heading in the sidebar, I get the beach ball and after approx. 3 or 4 minutes very faint outlines of photo "squares" appear, but no photos.  Clicking on a outline just causes the beach ball to start all over, but no photo ever appears.  However, clicking on an individual album shows all the photos in that album just fine.

     

    Is this because "All Photos" only works in iPhotos, and "Moments" in Photos is its replacement?

     

    And once again, thank you so much for all your help.  I look forward to learning how to use Photos!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Oct 10, 2016 9:57 AM in response to Janita
    Level 10 (141,773 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 10, 2016 9:57 AM in response to Janita

    The All Photos view is organized by the date the photos were added to the library. Since the Photos view works as expected the All Photos view should also.  Try repairing the library according to the instructions in this Apple document: Repair Your Library.

    Warning: If you use iCloud Photo Library with Photos, this action will cause Photos to upload all your pictures again (from Fix missing or incorrect thumbnails in Photos - Apple Support).


  • by Janita,

    Janita Janita Oct 10, 2016 11:19 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 10, 2016 11:19 AM in response to Old Toad

    I did the rebuild.  No change; "All Photos" still only shows faint outlines for where the photo images should appear.  And now it takes (by the stopwatch) 51 seconds  to open.  Is this because it scans for Faces every time I open it?  I'm stumped!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Oct 10, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Janita
    Level 10 (141,773 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 10, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Janita

    Boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and try Photos and iPhoto from there. Any improvement?

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