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Incredibly slow iMac 2012

Something has changed in the past couple of days and today it got even worse. Spinning wheel sometimes with every click.


This is what I got from Etrecheck:


EtreCheck version: 4.3.6 (4D041)

Report generated: 2018-09-06 19:01:38

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime: 6:23

Performance: Below Average


Problem: Computer is too slow

Description:

iMac is incredibly slow. Color wheel spinning sometimes at every click.


Major Issues:

Anything that appears on this list needs immediate attention.


Unsigned files - There are unsigned software installed that could be adware and should be reviewed.


Minor Issues:

These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems.


Low performance - EtreCheck report took over 5 minutes to run. This is unusual.

32-bit Apps - This machine has 32-bits apps that may have problems in the future.


Hardware Information:

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012)

iMac Model: iMac13,1

1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-3335S) CPU: 4-core

8 GB RAM - Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1600 ok

BANK 1/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1600 ok


Video Information:

NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M - VRAM: 512 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080


Drives:

disk0 - APPLE HDD ST1000LM024 1.00 TB (Mechanical)

Internal SATA 3 Gigabit Serial ATA

disk0s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB

disk0s2 - Macintosh HD (Journaled HFS+) 999.35 GB

disk0s3 - Recovery HD (HFS+) [Recovery] 650 MB


disk1 - Seagate BUP Slim RD 2.00 TB

External USB 5 Gbit/s

disk1s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB

disk1s2 - T***********P (Case-Sensitive Journaled HFS+) 2.00 TB


Mounted Volumes:

disk0s2 - Macintosh HD 999.35 GB (296.20 GB free)

Journaled HFS+

Mount point: /


disk0s3 - Recovery HD [Recovery] 650 MB (82 MB free)

HFS+

Mount point: /Volumes/Recovery HD


disk1s2 - T***********P 2.00 TB (789.39 GB free)

Case-Sensitive Journaled HFS+

Mount point: /Volumes/T***********P


Network:

Interface en0: Ethernet

Interface en6: iPad

Interface en5: iPhone

Interface en1: Wi-Fi

802.11 a/b/g/n

One IPv4 address

iCloud Quota: 1.81 TB available

iCloud Status: one pending file


System Software:

macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 (17G65)

Time since boot: About a day

System Load: 1.38 (1 min ago) 1.33 (5 min ago) 1.40 (15 min ago)


Configuration Files:

File /etc/sysctl.conf exists but not expected

/etc/hosts - Count: 30


Security:

SystemStatus
GatekeeperMac App Store and identified developers
System Integrity ProtectionEnabled


Unsigned Files:

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.esko.SubscriptionService.plist

Executable: /Library/Application Support/Esko/SubscriptionService/SubscriptionService.app/Contents/MacOS/Subscri ptionService -s

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/PT.updd.plist

Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/PT.updd

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.esko.SubscriptionNotifier.plist

Executable: /Library/Application Support/Esko/SubscriptionService/SubscriptionService.app/Contents/Resources/Esk oSubscriptionNotifier.app/Contents/MacOS/EskoSubscriptionNotifier

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist

Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/mega.mac.megaupdater.plist

Executable: /Applications/MEGAsync.app/Contents/MacOS/MEGAupdater

Details: Domain name invalid - possibly adware

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.spotflux.Spotflux.plist

Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.spotflux.Spotflux

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist

Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/Java Updater.app/Contents/MacOS/Java Updater -bgcheck

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.dymo.dls.webservice.plist

Executable: /Library/Frameworks/DYMO/SDK/DYMO.DLS.Printing.Host.app/Contents/MacOS/DYMO.DLS .Printing.Host

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist

Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/Helper-Tool

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist

Executable: '/Users/***/Library/Application Support/CleanMyMac 3/CleanMyMac 3 Scheduler.app' -F -g -n '/Users/***/Library/Application Support/CleanMyMac 3/CleanMyMac 3 Scheduler.app' --args -scheduled

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist

Executable: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/SwitchBoard/SwitchBoard.app/Contents/MacOS/launch.switchboard

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK


32-bit Applications:

65 32-bit apps


Kernel Extensions:

/System/Library/Extensions

[Not Loaded] DymoUsbPrinterClassDriver.kext (1.1 - SDK 10.11)


System Launch Agents:

[Not Loaded]9 Apple tasks
[Loaded]156 Apple tasks
[Running]93 Apple tasks
[Killed]33 Apple tasks
[Other]3 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons:

[Not Loaded]36 Apple tasks
[Loaded]178 Apple tasks
[Running]96 Apple tasks
[Killed]26 Apple tasks
[Other]One Apple task


Launch Agents:

[Not Loaded]com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (? b358a0be - installed 2015-10-12)
[Not Loaded]com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (? 3f96bb90 - installed 2015-10-12)
[Not Loaded]com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (? ffb65062 - installed 2013-01-17)
[Loaded]com.dymo.dls.webservice.plist (? 77c41eb - installed 2017-09-13)
[Not Loaded]com.esko.SubscriptionNotifier.plist (? 96f9cd47 - installed 2015-08-21)
[Not Loaded]com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (? 8fa9bf96 - installed 2018-03-29)
[Not Loaded]com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-17)


Launch Daemons:

[Loaded]com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-17)
[Loaded]com.apple.aelwriter.plist (Apple - installed 2013-01-17)
[Not Loaded]com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (? 584f175a - installed 2015-10-12)
[Other]com.expressvpn.tap.plist (Apple - installed 2018-07-04)
[Loaded]com.teamviewer.Helper.plist (? 7ca2e004 - installed 2015-10-06)
[Loaded]com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (? 68cad67 - installed 2013-01-17)
[Running]PT.updd.plist (? 0 - installed 2017-06-15)
[Loaded]com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-07-28)
[Loaded]com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (? 6d8cb30e - installed 2010-08-25)
[Running]com.esko.SubscriptionService.plist (? 2884c639 - installed 2015-08-21)
[Loaded]com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (? e3fefdd2 - installed 2018-03-29)
[Loaded]com.safervpn.HelperTool.plist (Safer Social Ltd. - installed 2015-09-11)
[Loaded]com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2018-01-22)
[Loaded]com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-17)
[Loaded]com.spotflux.Spotflux.plist (? c3e7a673 - installed 2013-01-17)
[Other]com.expressvpn.tun.plist (Apple - installed 2018-07-04)
[Running]com.dymo.pnpd.plist (Sanford, L.P. - installed 2017-09-13)
[Loaded]com.nordvpn.NordVPN.Helper.plist (TEFINKOM & CO S.A - installed 2017-10-20)


User Launch Agents:

[Not Loaded]com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-09-28)
[Loaded]com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2018-08-24)
[Loaded]mega.mac.megaupdater.plist (? 0 - installed 2018-09-05)
[Not Loaded]com.adobe.ARM.***.plist (? 0 - installed 2015-09-24)
[Not Loaded]com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (? 0 - installed 2017-02-09)
[Loaded]com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (? 0 - installed 2017-12-07)
[Loaded]com.skype.skype.shareagent.plist (Skype Communications S.a.r.l - installed 2018-09-06)
[Running]com.expressvpn.ExpressVPN.agent.plist (ExprsVPN LLC - installed 2018-08-09)
[Not Loaded]com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (? 0 - installed 2013-01-17)


User Login Items:

CleanMyMac 3 Menu Application (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2018-05-08)

(/Applications/CleanMyMac 3.app/Contents/MacOS/CleanMyMac 3 Menu.app)

MEGAsync Application (? - installed 2018-09-06)

(/Applications/MEGAsync.app)

WWMultiInstHelper SMLoginItem (? - installed 2016-06-30)

(/Applications/AliWangwang (4122) (4125).app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/WWMultiInstHelper.app)

ATLoginItemHelper SMLoginItem (Mac App Store - installed 2018-09-06)

(/Applications/DrCleaner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/ATLoginItemHelper.app)


Internet Plug-ins:

FlashPlayer-10.6: (installed 2018-09-06)

QuickTime Plugin: (installed 2018-07-11)

DYMO Safari Addin: (installed 2018-05-21)

DYMO NPAPI Addin: (installed 2018-05-21)

Flash Player: (installed 2018-09-06)

JavaAppletPlugin: (installed 2018-07-19)


User Internet Plug-ins:

ZoomUsPlugIn: (installed 2018-09-04)

WangwangPlugin: (installed 2015-09-06)


Safari Extensions:

ExpressVPN for Safari - Mac App Store (installed 2018-08-09)


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player (installed 2018-07-28)

Java (installed 2018-07-19)


Time Machine:

Skip System Files: No

Mobile backups: No

Auto backup: Yes

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB - Disk used: 703.14 GB

Destinations:

S***********************e [Local] (Last used)

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 80

Oldest backup: 2017-12-12 16:33:25

Last backup: 2018-09-06 18:15:56


Top Processes by CPU:

Process (count)Source% of CPULocation
kextcache (6)Apple100
WindowServerApple6
CacheDeleteExtensionApple3
kernel_taskApple3
iTunesCacheExtensionApple2


Top Processes by Memory:

Process (count)SourceRAM usageLocation
kernel_taskApple1010 MB
kextcache (6)Apple330 MB
mdworker (12)Apple190 MB
mds_storesApple138 MB
SafariApple115 MB


Top Processes by Network Use:

ProcessSourceInputOutputLocation
openvpnExprsVPN LLC19 MB1 MB
mDNSResponderApple1 MB757 KB
netbiosdApple810 B558 B
SystemUIServerApple0 B888 B
rapportdApple374 B382 B


Top Processes by Energy Use:

Process (count)SourceEnergy (0-100)Location
photoanalysisdApple10
photolibrarydApple5
WindowServerApple3
hiutilApple3
launchdApple0


Virtual Memory Information:

Available RAM3.37 GB
Free RAM828 MB
Used RAM4.63 GB
Cached files2.56 GB
Swap Used154 MB


Software Installs (past 30 days):

NameVersionInstall Date
ExpressVPN6.3.32018-08-09
Dr. Cleaner3.3.62018-08-12
Adobe Flash Player30.0.0.1542018-08-17
Evernote7.42018-08-19
WeChat2.3.182018-08-29
Notability3.0.12018-08-29
IP Camera Viewer 22.452018-08-31
Mactracker7.7.52018-09-02
Magnet2.3.12018-09-06


Diagnostics Information (past 7 days):

2018-09-06 18:54:28 cloudd Crash

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CloudKitDaemon.framework/Support/cloudd

*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInternalInconsistencyException', reason: 'Path /Users/***/Library/Containers/com.apple.cloudphotosd/*/Assets deleted/renamed, crashing.'

terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException

abort() called



End of report

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), macOS Sierra (10.12.4), null

Posted on Sep 6, 2018 4:13 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 6, 2018 6:40 PM

I'm not sure if your problem is too much junk installed for a 5400rpm HDD, kextcache using 100% CPU, or both.

1) Consider uninstall all 'Cleaner' applications. Those are occasionally useful in regaining hard drive space by cleaning up the remains of deleted applications but they do not improve general performance. In fact the more aggressive versions can make system problems worse by accidentally deleting critical system files.

2) Try a safe mode restart (restart holding 'shift') to see if that fixes the kextcache CPU issue.

3) 'megaupdater' is an unknown file. Do you know anything about it or need it? If not you may want to install malwarebytes to check for/remove adware.

4) 5400rpm HDDs have a reputation for being exactly fast enough to handle a clean install of El Cap/Sierra/High Sierra. You may wish to uninstall non-critical applications that automatically perform regular background self-updates or file-syncing. (Chrome, Dropbox, MegaUpdater?, etc) or disable iCloud file storage.

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 6, 2018 6:40 PM in response to moosfromamsterdam

I'm not sure if your problem is too much junk installed for a 5400rpm HDD, kextcache using 100% CPU, or both.

1) Consider uninstall all 'Cleaner' applications. Those are occasionally useful in regaining hard drive space by cleaning up the remains of deleted applications but they do not improve general performance. In fact the more aggressive versions can make system problems worse by accidentally deleting critical system files.

2) Try a safe mode restart (restart holding 'shift') to see if that fixes the kextcache CPU issue.

3) 'megaupdater' is an unknown file. Do you know anything about it or need it? If not you may want to install malwarebytes to check for/remove adware.

4) 5400rpm HDDs have a reputation for being exactly fast enough to handle a clean install of El Cap/Sierra/High Sierra. You may wish to uninstall non-critical applications that automatically perform regular background self-updates or file-syncing. (Chrome, Dropbox, MegaUpdater?, etc) or disable iCloud file storage.

Sep 6, 2018 6:44 PM in response to padams35

Came to a point that the system got completely stuck (froze) and had to restart. Then it would not startup anymore. Went half way or so on the progress bar during startup and then turned off every time. So I had to restore my backup (TimeMachine, hallelujah for that).


After everything was restored it kinda worked but was still slow, so I did what you advised. Removed the cleaner programs (I had 2) and removed all the unknown files. Also got rid of many of the programs that I never used. Then restarted and now it looks and feels like it's doing very well. No more spinning wheels for the past hours.


Thanks for your help! Lifesaver!

Incredibly slow iMac 2012

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