My MacBook Air is running out of Application Memory

In the last few weeks I have experienced frequent application crashes accompanied with the 'out of application memory' error message. Force Quit and restart is required. This happens many time a day. The onset did not accompany the installation of any new software as far as I am aware. I would like to know what is causing this and how to correct it.

I am using a 13" MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and running OSX 10.9.5 (the System Information says MacBook Pro, late 2013). The crashes occur with many applications (perhaps all). This can even occur when the only open application is Pages. I have two HD partitions, the Start Up disk is 404.94GB capacity and had ~75GB free at the onset of the problem. The second partition has 94.35GB capacity and was almost empty.

I've tried copying ~90GB of files to the previously-empty Hard-Disk 2 and deleting them from the start up disk. Curiously, available space on the Start Up disk has increased by only about 10GB, which is odd. This has not solved the problem, although it may have ameliorated it.

thanks for your help

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Feb 3, 2017 11:35 AM

65 replies

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 7, 2017 7:52 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

You can look at the "hang" events: the app in question doing that is mentioned. Look if there are apps that repeatedly hang.

You do not have kernel panics because that shuts OS completely and you have to force restart.

Ciao Ogel, missed you a long time.

Lex

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 7, 2017 8:33 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

Nick, there is much more that is counterproductive on your mac, but symantec software - as Ogel says- is detrimental and has to be removed at all costs.

https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH103489.html

1. run Malwarebytes.

2. Go to SystemPreferences->Users&Groups->LoginItems: remove all entries, with the minus sign underneath.

Then restart.

3. now remove Symantec.

Then restart.

4. If ready, post a new etrecheck list an then we remove the rest of the bad apps.

Feb 11, 2017 8:19 AM in response to Lexiepex

Thanks.

I ran Malwarebytes and removed PUP.JDIBackup

I removed login items

I removed Symantec

Here is the new Etrecheck report.

Thanks so much for your help

EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)

Report generated 2017-02-11 11:15:58

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:04

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: ⓘ

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)

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

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro11,1

1 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-4288U) CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Not upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 750

Video Information: ⓘ

Intel Iris

Color LCD 2560 x 1600

System Software: ⓘ

OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 (13F1911) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Disk Information: ⓘ

APPLE SSD SM0512F disk0 : (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 404.94 GB (162.40 GB free)

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

Macintosh HD 2 (disk0s4) /Volumes/Macintosh HD 2 : 94.35 GB (6.58 GB free)

USB Information: ⓘ

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Unknown Files: ⓘ

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-sdcust-login-drone-1399318373.plist

/Users/[redacted]/bomgar-scc-20140505-153252.app/Contents/MacOS/sdcust -drone -nodockicon

/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373.plist

/usr/bin/su -l root -c /Library/LaunchDaemons/.com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373.helper/mac_service_hel per.sh com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373 /Users/Shared/bomgar-scc-20140505-153252.app/Contents/MacOS/sdcust -service:run

2 unknown files found. [Check files]

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Applications/LaCie Desktop Manager.app

[not loaded] com.LaCie.ScsiType00 (1.2.13 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-01-27) [Support]

[not loaded] com.jmicron.driver.jmPeripheralDevice (2.0.4 - 2014-01-27) [Support]

[not loaded] com.lacie.driver.LaCie_RemoteComms (1.0.1 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-01-27) [Support]

[not loaded] com.oxsemi.driver.OxsemiDeviceType00 (1.28.13 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-01-27) [Support]

/Applications/Tunnelblick.app

[not loaded] net.tunnelblick.tap (20111101 (Tunnelblick build 2891.3099) Unsigned - 2012-10-31) [Support]

[not loaded] net.tunnelblick.tun (20111101 (Tunnelblick build 2891.3099) Unsigned - 2012-10-31) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDevice (2.0.0 - 2017-02-11) [Support]

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDeviceUP (2.0.0 - 2017-02-11) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/OlympusDSCDriver.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamFWSerialBusProtocolTransport (2.0.0 - 2006-11-30) [Support]

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamUSBMassStorageClass (2.0.0 - 2006-11-30) [Support]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 6 Apple tasks

[loaded] 149 Apple tasks

[running] 29 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[failed] com.apple.AOSNotificationOSX.plist (2016-08-15)

[failed] com.apple.softwareupdated.plist (2016-08-15)

[not loaded] 48 Apple tasks

[loaded] 145 Apple tasks

[running] 53 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-09-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist (2010-09-24) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist (2010-10-26) [Support]

[not loaded] com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-sdcust-login-drone-1399318373.plist (2014-05-05) [Support] - /Users/[redacted]/bomgar-scc-20140505-153252.app/Contents/MacOS/sdcust: Executable not found!

[loaded] com.citrix.AuthManager_Mac.plist (2015-08-28) [Support]

[running] com.citrix.ReceiverHelper.plist (2015-08-28) [Support]

[running] com.citrix.ServiceRecords.plist (2015-08-28) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2017-01-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.intego.backupassistant.agent.plist (2014-01-27) [Support]

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

[failed] jp.co.canon.LIPS.BG.plist (2011-03-11) [Support] - /Library/Printers/Canon/LIPS2/Utilities/LIPS BackGrounder.app/Contents/MacOS/LIPS BackGrounder: Executable not found!

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2014-09-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-12-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.apple.aelwriter.plist (2010-09-15)

[loaded] com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373.plist (2014-05-10)

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2017-01-25) [Support]

[running] com.intego.BackupAssistant.daemon.plist (2013-06-04) [Support]

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (2017-02-11) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.skype.skypeinstaller.plist (2015-09-27) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-07-30) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-07-17) [Support]

User Login Items: ⓘ

Photo Stream URL SMLoginItem (2014-05-10)

(/Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/PhotoStreamAgent.app)

com.adobe.SwitchBoard.monitor.plist MachInit

(/etc/mach_init_per_user.d/com.adobe.SwitchBoard.monitor.plist)

Mach Init items are deprecated

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2016-03-19) [Support]

Default Browser: 537 - SDK 10.9 (2014-09-18)

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-08-07) [Support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 (2014-07-31) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 24.0.0.194 - SDK 10.9 (2017-01-10) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.50709.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-09-21) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-08-15)

Flash Player: 24.0.0.194 - SDK 10.9 (2017-01-10) [Support]

CitrixICAClientPlugIn: 12.0.0 - SDK 10.9 (2015-06-22) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2010-09-21)

AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 (2014-07-31) [Support]

CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: 3.1.0.2 (2009-09-09) [Support]

GarminGpsControl: 4.2.0.0 - SDK 10.8 (2014-03-31) [Support]

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Flash Player (2016-12-16) [Support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) (2013-06-15) [Support]

Growl (2010-10-26) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 404.94 GB Disk used: 242.53 GB

Destinations:

G-DRIVE [Local]

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 66

Oldest backup: 4/6/15, 5:34 PM

Last backup: 2/6/17, 4:42 PM

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 404.94 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

98% CalendarAgent

48% kernel_task

6% WindowServer

4% fontd

3% Dock

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

8.87 GB kernel_task

3.90 GB CalendarAgent

311 MB firefox

279 MB plugin-container

131 MB Skype

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

591 MB Available RAM

13 MB Free RAM

15.42 GB Used RAM

577 MB Cached files

9.01 GB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Feb 11, 2017, 11:13:37 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/EtreCheck_2017-02-11-111337_[redacted].crash

com.etresoft.EtreCheck - /Users/[redacted]/Downloads/EtreCheck.app/Contents/MacOS/EtreCheck

Feb 11, 2017, 11:11:59 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/EtreCheck_2017-02-11-111159_[redacted].crash

Feb 11, 2017, 11:06:11 AM Self test - passed

Feb 11, 2017, 10:12:18 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-11-101218_[redacted]. crash

org.mozilla.plugincontainer - /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/plugin-container.app/Contents/MacOS/pl ugin-container

Feb 11, 2017, 04:47:54 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-11-044754_[redacted]. crash

Feb 11, 2017, 04:47:53 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-11-044753_[redacted]. crash

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Feb 11, 2017 8:24 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

Nick Baker 22 wrote:

I have no idea where you get this idea. There is no third party RAM. This is a MacBook Air with 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 16 GB 1600 MhZ DDR3 memory.

No, it is not. What it actually is (from the report you posted) is this

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 11, 2017 9:00 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

As I said in my earlier post, there is more bad apps.

In this post you see what is wrong for some:

- Skype is creating havoc (because Skype installer is also running I suppose):

in SystemPreferences->Users&Groups->LoginItems remove all entries, with the minus sign underneath.

Restart after that. Then do notuse Skype for the time being.

- Uninstall Growl, not compatible anymore and contributes nothing to OS anymore.

- If you do not need Citrix very necessary, uninstall it

- If you do not use Intego backup, uninstall it, or remove the remnants, /Library/LaunchDaemons.

- Don't use Firefox for the time being (there seems to be something wrong in the latest versions), but use Safari.

Lex

Feb 11, 2017 9:30 AM in response to Lexiepex

Thanks

I don't have any Loginterms left, they were all removed already.

I need Citrix and Skype for work. I don't often run them, though.

I have never used Intego backup, but after reading about it, it seems potentially useful. Is this causing problems?

OK I can avoid Firefox but I have experienced crashes without any Browser open.

thanks again

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 11, 2017 10:58 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

Nick Baker 22 wrote:

green right now, but I guess you are asking about during a crash.

If Memory Pressure is green, the OSX is using the RAM efficiently and the other metrics can be ignored from a practical standpoint. With the advent of Mavericks OSX, memory usage is no longer strictly a function of the amount used. The OSX actually tries to use as much as it finds to be available (and not used). That is the new 'norm'.

Ciao.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 12, 2017 12:33 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

I don't have any Loginterms left, they were all removed already.

I need Citrix and Skype for work. I don't often run them, though.

I have never used Intego backup, but after reading about it, it seems potentially useful. Is this causing problems?

OK I can avoid Firefox but I have experienced crashes without any Browser open.

Uninstallers don't remove items from the LoginItems normally. So you probably did it yourself (?).

Citrix is updated not often enough and always late, Skype is "OK" from the memory point of view.

Intego backup has been installed once upon a time: remove the plist. Intego backup does not have a bad name but Intego is also developer of antivirus apps, for Windows, and these are detrimental on a mac. Time Machine is the best and easiest backup; if you want to do more, use a cloner app, like CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (these make bootable clones).

I don't know exactly what is wrong with Firefox, try to avoid it.

Growl is in the SystemPreferences, you can uninstall it there.

Lex

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 14, 2017 7:36 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

You still have the kernel problem, as before it is 9GB, kernel using 1-1.5GB normally.

Also Calendar Agent today is exceptional with 4.5GB.

What I do not understand Etrececk.app also crashed, just like before...

I propose a SafeMode entry again:

Start the mac while holding the Shift key, everything is extremely slow, login.

When logged in start Activity Monitor: anything abnormal?

Then restart.

I will ask some more help here.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 16, 2017 7:25 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

"Here is the Activity Monitor after Safe Mode Restart"

These figures are OK, kernel is good, Calendar Agent is good. They will be a bit higher when apps are running. Let's see what happens now.

After you use the mac a few hours, check again with a. screen shot of the Activity Monitor; and b. an etrecheck list

cavemees

Level 4

1,652 points

Feb 21, 2017 7:29 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

Maybe worth to have a look at your OSX FUSE driver version. EtreCheck reports 2013-06-15 as version, looking at the release from 2013-06-17, it reports "experimental support for OS X 10.9" (https://osxfuse.github.io/2013/06/17/OSXFUSE-2.6.0.html) If you need OSX FUSE driver (for NTFS write support) then you maybe better update it for possible bug-fixes, otherwise uninstall it (https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/wiki/FAQ#23-how-can-i-uninstall-fuse-for-os-x)

About your Adobe CS versions (4,5 and 6), don't know if you need all versions? I'm not an Adobe guru but maybe the version can interfere each other? If you only need and work with the latest version I would suggest to remove versions 4 and 5 properly using the Adobe uninstaller.

About Bomgar, if you don't need and use it I would also suggest to remove that application. As EtreCheck reports entries in Launch Agents and Launch Daemons you can't drag it to the trash but you need to run the uninstaller for Bomgar.

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 21, 2017 8:19 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

Hi Nick,

Slowly crawling forward.

A hiccup of Safari, it happens sometimes in Sierra (as Mail in Sierra).

What is still not good is the kernel task: much too high as I said before.

That is expected when then are remnants of Symantec s**t.

It was OK after a safe mode restart, so I am sure that it is a software issue.

When that is really gone, LaCie Desktop comes to mind (loading kernel extensions): can you (completely) uninstall the Lacie Desktop thing, it is too old anyway. Restart after that. And if you have a NTFS driver (cavemees suggests that) uninstall that one too. Restart after that.

And maybe it is good to post a new etrecheck list after that.

Lex

Feb 23, 2017 7:38 PM in response to Lexiepex

How to 'completely' uninstall LaCie Desktop Manager? Instructions from LaCie (http://www.lacie.com/manuals/porsche-mobile/lacie-desktop-manager/) do not seem applicable because the Desktop Manager needs to install further files before it can run, so I cannot access its Preferences.

thanks

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Feb 24, 2017 1:57 AM in response to Nick Baker 22

I am back at last (travel).

Lacie: it does not have an uninstaller. There are several uninstallers available, some are really bad, especially for big applications. Normally I advise to avoid them. One that was always correct and does not remove too many files in my testing is Appdelete by Reggie Ashworth, I propose -as an exception- to download a trial and use it this time (http://www.reggieashworth.com/buy).

Bomgar, maybe with that uninstaller too.

Lex

Feb 28, 2017 6:54 AM in response to bevaru

I'm not experiencing many crashes now, fewer than one per day. Also, I turn on Activity Monitor on startup. If Calendar Agent is the most active app then I restart immediately. It is probably better for you to start a new topic, in case your issue is different in detail. Please let me know if you have done so, so that I can follow your topic also.

thanks

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My MacBook Air is running out of Application Memory