Constant beachballing

Question

jwsapp Author

Level 1

40 points

Constant beachballing

I have an ongoing issue of constant beach balling.

First I will tell you what I've done/checked:

Hardware:

AHT: normal.

TechTool: normal.

Atomic (TechTool's RAM checker): no memory issues.

Software:

EtreCheck: no flags.

Activity Monitor: low memory pressure. usually only using ⅓-⅔ of 8Mb RAM.

Checked for viruses/malware: none.

System:

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro9,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i5

Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 3 MB

MacOS Sierra v. 10.12.2

Memory: 8 GB

I get the beachball, which continues for 10-60+ seconds, all the time. This happens when:

Opening an app.

Closing an app.

Typing in an app.

Using an app, such as moving to a cell in Excel.

Clicking on a webpage element in Safari (such as the Notifications icon on Facebook)

Scrolling on a web page.

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Dec 26, 2016 11:25 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Dec 26, 2016 11:34 AM in response to jwsapp

Could easily be caused by having too many applications open at the same time relative to the amount of installed memory. Could be caused by one or more crashed processes.

Use Activity Monitor to Kill Runaway Processes

Use Activity Monitor on your Mac

Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime, affect performance, and increase heat and fan activity.

Ways to help make a slow Mac faster

17 Reasons Why Your Mac Runs Slower Than it Should
Slow Mac Performance? This Article Solves It!
Fix slow start-ups in OS X | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews
How to fix slow shutdown and startup times. | MacTip.net
6 Easy Tips to Speed Up OS X Yosemite on Your Mac
OS X El Capitan- If your Mac runs slowly
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Performance
Tips to Fix Issues that affect Mac Performance
Avoid using any third-party cleanup software. Usually, this software does more bad than good. You don't need it. All computers become slower over time even under normal use. Experienced users erase the hard drive and do a clean install from scratch from time to time; or whenever installing a major OS upgrade. Doing so means you must maintain regular and multiple backups.
Add more RAM or cut back on the number of concurrently running applications and utilities. Remove unnecessary anti-malware software and any software that promises to clean your Mac. Check for runaway processes: Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime, affect performance, and increase heat and fan activity. Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on dealing with The Spinning Beach Ball of Death.
The Ultimate Fix: Backup everything, erase the drive, reinstall OS X, and restore your data from the backup. Reinstall third-party software from original media/scratch.

Try using EtreCheck to identify other possible areas with problems you can try to fix.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

156,596 points

Dec 26, 2016 12:35 PM in response to jwsapp

Checked for viruses/malware: none.

With what?

Usually, the problems you describe are the direct result of using such products. The solution is to uninstall them.

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Answer 3

jwsapp Author

Level 1

40 points

Dec 26, 2016 1:11 PM in response to John Galt

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and ClamXav. I know better than to use MacKeeper and the others that are just malware themselves.

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Answer 4

jwsapp Author

Level 1

40 points

Dec 26, 2016 1:13 PM in response to Kappy

Didn't you read my post? I've run EtreCheck and it also spotted not problems.

I've checked all of those posts, and more. I've done everything that's been suggested and no change.

Also, I rarely have more than a couple of apps open at one time.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Dec 26, 2016 1:31 PM in response to jwsapp

Malware, how, exactly: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware? Or are you just against Tom?

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Dec 26, 2016 1:34 PM in response to jwsapp

Yes. No mention of EtreCheck, no mention of anything you have done. I can tell you did not read a single link I listed. Then come back with that rude reply. You have no idea what you are doing and then complain about help.

TaTa

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Answer 7

jwsapp Author

Level 1

40 points

Dec 26, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Kappy

In my initial post, I put all of the diagnostics that I've done, and the results. I've been using Macs since System 7, and I know my way around.

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Answer 8

Old Toad

Level 10

216,476 points

Dec 26, 2016 2:17 PM in response to jwsapp

Please post the entire Etrecheck report so we can peruse it for anything unusual but not tagged by Etrecheck.

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Answer 9

jwsapp Author

Level 1

40 points

Dec 26, 2016 2:26 PM in response to Old Toad

EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)

Report generated 2016-12-26 14:25:22

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 3:23

Performance: Good

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

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

Problem: Beachballing

Hardware Information:ⓘ

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

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

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-3210M) CPU: 2-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 155

Video Information:ⓘ

Intel HD Graphics 4000

S200HQL 1600 x 900 @ 60 Hz

System Software:ⓘ

macOS Sierra 10.12.2 (16C67) - Time since boot: about 4 days

Disk Information:ⓘ

APPLE HDD ST500LM012 disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 498.61 GB (358.57 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 498.98 GB Online

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()

USB Information:ⓘ

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

APC Back-UPS ES 550 FW:840.B2.D USB FW:B2

Canon Inc. D400-450

Lexar USB Flash Drive

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Mitsumi Electric Hub in Apple Extended USB Keyboard

Mitsumi Electric Apple Optical USB Mouse

Mitsumi Electric Apple Extended USB Keyboard

Thunderbolt Information:ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper:ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

System Launch Agents:ⓘ

[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks

[loaded] 168 Apple tasks

[running] 105 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[not loaded] 41 Apple tasks

[loaded] 163 Apple tasks

[running] 108 Apple tasks

Launch Agents:ⓘ

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-08-24) [Support]

Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-12-10) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzserv.plist (2016-12-15) [Support]

[running] com.bourgeoisbits.cloak.cloakd.plist (2016-11-20) [Support]

[loaded] com.bourgeoisbits.cloak.cloakproxyd.plist (2016-11-20) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (2016-06-27) [Support]

[loaded] com.micromat.MacCheckWorkerDaemon.plist (2016-06-04) [Support]

[running] com.micromat.popHelper.plist (2016-04-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2016-11-29) [Support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.startup.plist [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelper.plist (2016-12-16) [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.ClamXavHelperUpdater.plist (2016-12-16) [Support]

User Launch Agents:ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2016-10-11) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist (2016-12-22) [Support]

[loaded] uk.co.canimaansoftware.clamxav.UninstallWatcher.plist (2016-12-16)

User Login Items:ⓘ

iTunesHelper Application (2016-12-13)

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

QuicKeys Application Hidden

(/Applications/QuicKeys.app)

Mail Application Hidden

(/Applications/Mail.app)

Cloak Application

(/Applications/Cloak.app)

Messages Application Hidden

(/Applications/Messages.app)

Internet Plug-ins:ⓘ

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

FlashPlayer-10.6: 24.0.0.186 - SDK 10.9 (2016-12-18) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-12-13)

Flash Player: 24.0.0.186 - SDK 10.9 (2016-12-18) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.50901.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-12-20) [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.7.1 - SDK 10.6 (2016-12-18) [Support]

Safari Extensions:ⓘ

Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-12-22)

LastPass - LastPass - https://lastpass.com (2016-08-25)

3rd Party Preference Panes:ⓘ

Backblaze Backup (2016-12-15) [Support]

Flash Player (2016-12-10) [Support]

Time Machine:ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Destinations:

120GB SSD [Local]

Total size: 0 B

Total number of backups: 0

Oldest backup: -

Last backup: -

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 0 B > (Disk size 0 B X 3)

Top Processes by CPU:ⓘ

6% kernel_task

3% WindowServer

2% mdworker(17)

1% fontd

0% com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent

Top Processes by Memory:ⓘ

824 MB kernel_task

475 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(4)

393 MB Safari

221 MB mdworker(17)

205 MB bztransmit

Virtual Memory Information:ⓘ

3.78 GB Available RAM

143 MB Free RAM

4.22 GB Used RAM

3.64 GB Cached files

172 MB Swap Used

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Answer 10

John Galt

Level 10

156,596 points

Dec 26, 2016 3:07 PM in response to jwsapp

Back 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, and describe your observations in a reply to this Discussion.

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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