Slow boot for macOS High Sierra 10.13.2

I do have Intego security software on both of these machines and I've been wondering if it might have to do with those apps (Virus Barrier, NetBarrier). Maybe...

Oh.

Installing Intego's "VirusBarrier" and "NetBarrier" products on this Mac degraded its performance to the point that it was marginally usable at all. No knowledgeable Mac user would consider it even remotely acceptable. It was probably the worst of all similarly categorized garbage. Don't install those things on a Mac.

The slowdown happened on several computers upgraded to 10.13.2 the cause for me on all three was somehow SMC getting out of sync. So the procedure to recover in this case was: (Intel hardware tools revealed it went slow after the OS booted IO......kext )

1. Boot in reduced MHz

2. Put machine to sleep at reduced MHz

3. Wake up from sleep at reduced MHz ( Apparently some SMC value is toggled and stuck)

4. Shutdown

5. Left Shift-Ctrl-Alt Power Button for 10+ seconds

6. Reboot

CPU will throttle back up to GHz and stays that way.

APFS is supposedly slower than HFS+. What I've read, but not what I have tested.

Possible Fixes for El Capitan or Later

You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.

Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.

1. Shutdown the computer, wait 30 seconds, restart the computer.
2. Resetting your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM
3. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
4. Start the computer in Safe Mode, then restart normally. This is slower than a standard startup.
5. Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list. Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
6. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
7. Download and install theOS X El Capitan 10.11.6 ComboUpdate or 10.12.6 Combo Update or macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 Combo Update as needed.
8. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
9. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the CommandandRkeys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:

1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.
3. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
4. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
7. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

Ways to help make a slow Mac faster

1. 17 Reasons Why Your Mac Runs Slower Than it Should
2. Slow Mac Performance? This Article Solves It!
3. Fix slow start-ups in OS X | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews
4. How to fix slow shutdown and startup times. | MacTip.net
5. 6 Easy Tips to Speed Up OS X Yosemite on Your Mac
6. OS X El Capitan- If your Mac runs slowly
7. Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Performance
8. Tips to Fix Issues that affect Mac Performance
9. 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.
10. If you have enabled iCloud Disk and are storing your Documents and Data in iCloud, then consider turning that off and signing out of iCloud. It can slow down the computer considerably. Please see the following from the user, fotomac: "The solution was to SIGN OUT of iCloud and my problem STOPPED! NO MORE SPINNING BEACHBALL! My computer's speed increased to what it should be and all my Apps now work!"
11. 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.
12. 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.

I'm not against Intego, per se, but when Anti-malware software is installed it has to scan the drive looking for problems much like Spotlight has to re-index the drive. These processes slow the computer when they are running. Because macOS now has its own built-in malware detection and removal software there isn't much need to add a third-party duplication of effort. That is my personal position on the matter. You should follow what you feel is best for you. I'm just in the business of information to help with one's decision making.

Those having slowdown issues with macOS usually are suffering from updating an existing dysfunctional system made worse by updating it. Why their system is dysfunctional is always hard to say because there are so many possibilities. I recommend people follow an upgrading procedure in order to minimize having problems after an update or an upgrade: Basic Steps for Upgrading OS X. My preference for upgrading to a new major version, like El Capitan to Sierra or High Sierra, is to backup, wipe the drive, and install from scratch. Takes more time but minimizes problems. For those who cannot take that time at least run First Aid on the startup volume, disconnect peripherals, boot into Safe Mode, then install the update or upgrade. When you return to your normal setup and incur problems then it is easier to identify them.

I've been doing this stuff for quite some time. Although I certainly know a lot there is a lot I still don't know. But I've learned ways of reducing headaches from problems caused by updating/upgrading. I know I may belong to a small crowd of users but I don't have problems with this stuff anymore. So I figure what I do must work for me, so it may work for others.

One thing I understand pretty well is that sometimes hunting for a problem in order to fix it can take a whole lot more time than erasing and reinstalling. So that is often what I recommend even though others consider it overkill. But I'd rather take two hours to erase a drive and reinstall macOS or reinstall my backup than take two days trying to find the bug in my system. In this case, the overkill is worth it - but not all the time. It's definitely a trade-off that one must choose.

Can you restate the problem—Your 2013 is not booting as fast since you upgraded to 10.13.2 ??

You did not say if this is a HD, SSD (you upgraded,) or shipped with PCIe.

I have seen issues here with a slow boot time after upgrading to High Sierra on older machines pointing back to trimforce being enabled on third party SSD. Disabling trimforce resolved the issue.

If this fits your situation, ask for more details.

Slowdown happened on several computers upgraded to 10.13.2 the cause on all three is somehow SMC getting out of sync. So the procedure to recover is to:

1. Boot in reduced MHz

2. Put machine to sleep at reduced MHz

3. Wake up from sleep at reduced MHz

4. Shutdown

5. Left Shift-Ctrl-Alt Power Button for 10+ seconds

6. Reboot

CPU will throttle back up to GHz and stays that way.m

trim was enabled on the SSD before hand. <-- You can research this.

Robert Paris wrote:

100% "Stock" from Apple. I just checked it for more certainty and it is a "MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)

Medium Type SSD

Protocol SATA

And under PCI, it says there are no PCI devices on this computer.

Your thoughts???

Let me paint a bigger picture, and you can decide if it is worth proceeding—

It has been reported numerous times, on third party SSD with TRIM slowing down boot time as you describe. I have not heard any other report on factory SATA SSD (2013) this same phenomena.

On the third party SSD—turning TRIM off did seem to make the difference in boot time. I can say— this was true for me as well.

It is speculation if this is a fix for your 2013. If you decide to try, always have a redundant, current backup plan, up to date an in place, in case you have to fall back. This protects any data lose.

You do not want to be flipping back and forth with TRIM for this will lead to corruption. In other words if you turn TRIM off to test you are best to live with for a while, unless you are prepared to restore your SSD.

How to create a boot clone

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012), macOS (10.13.3), i7 480GB SSD 16GB RAM iPhoneSE iOS11.2.5 Parallels13.0.1,

Since switching to High Sierra on my "mid 2012" MacAir (with SSD) the boot has been either 32 seconds or one minute and 40 seconds. (Yes I've timed it many, many times and it is always one of those... give or take a couple of seconds.)

Try this. Instead of shutting down put the Mac to sleep for 15+ seconds. Then wake it up. Then do a "log out" (under Apple menu). Finally click the 'Shut Down" icon at bottom of screen.

After it shuts down wait a half minute or so and start up again and see if that speeds it up. I've tried it 3 times in a row and it works for me but that could be anecdotal.

Report back here if it works.

Since switching to High Sierra on my "mid 2012" MacAir (with SSD) the boot has been either 32 seconds or one minute and 40 seconds. (Yes I've timed it many, many times and it is always one of those... give or take a couple of seconds.)

Try this. Instead of shutting down put the Mac to sleep for 15+ seconds. Then wake it up. Then do a "log out" (under Apple menu). Finally click the 'Shut Down" icon at bottom of screen.

After it shuts down wait a half minute or so and start up again and see if that speeds it up. I've tried it 3 times in a row and it works for me but that could be anecdotal.

Report back here if it works.

Since switching to High Sierra on my "mid 2012" MacAir (with SSD) the boot has been either 32 seconds or one minute and 40 seconds. (Yes I've timed it many, many times and it is always one of those... give or take a couple of seconds.)

Try this. Instead of shutting down put the Mac to sleep for 15+ seconds. Then wake it up. Then do a "log out" (under Apple menu). Finally click the 'Shut Down" icon at bottom of screen.

After it shuts down wait a half minute or so and start up again and see if that speeds it up. I've tried it 3 times in a row and it works for me but that could be anecdotal.

Report back here if it works.

move the folders LaunchAgent and LaunchAgents to the desktop. This folder you will find on Library and then make a restart

eduardbb wrote:

Moving this folder speedup by 5s my boot time, but some things didn't work on boot like NVIDIA Drivers Manager panel. So I reverted the changes.

I've checked with etrecheck, and all launcher agents point to a valid executable.

I don't think is a good idea to remove LaunchAgents

That depends entirely what is in it.

If you want to see how the machine runs without startup items starting it is simpler (and recommended) to perform a Safe Boot, which disables all 3rd party startup items.

Moving this folder speedup by 5s my boot time, but some things didn't work on boot like NVIDIA Drivers Manager panel. So I reverted the changes.

I've checked with etrecheck, and all launcher agents point to a valid executable.

I don't think is a good idea to remove LaunchAgents

Robert Paris wrote:

I suppose some might tell me that 53-56 seconds is ok and just live with it. Or stop turning the machine off at night.

Well, your re-iteration of the scenario is everything I understood it to be.

I can say the longer boot time certainly was not acceptable to me.

I can add there is no reason to turn the machine off at night—this is what sleep mode is for, might as well use it.

If you have an adequate clone, then there is nothing stopping you from trying the TRIM off, out of curiosity alone.

For myself in trying to track down the culprit, via terminal, I set to always boot into "Verbose Mode" and I watched for the stall. Even with this information there was no viable way forward:

The result of the stall was repeatable.