topic Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac? in Electronics

Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

glb613 — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:54:19 GMT

I've owned this computer since January 2013 and it has slowed down enough to be a problem. I get the spinning beach ball too often and with several different applications or tasks. I have plenty of RAM, 8 GBs, and an i5 processor. I've run several ClamXav scans and nothing is found.

My hard drive was 75% full so I deleted the music I had stored thinking it would help and it didn't. I also repaired permissions for the entire hard drive and iPhoto. I have backups on an external hard drive if I need to restore to the factory condition. I've seen programs like Mac Keeper which have mixed reviews. Does anyone have recommendations to fix this problem?

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

dooBdoo — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:06:54 GMT

Hi, glb613! I know you usually search the web, but did you see this comprehensive article on the Apple community?

How to eliminate slow Mac problems (updated 10/4/2014)

link goes to: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6921

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

Lynnj — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:56:35 GMT

Since you have back ups, I would do a re-install of the operating system. Here Is a link to directions -----Http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14243 ------ you'll erase the hard drive, and re-install the operating system. During the set up process, you can select to migrate from a back up. I usually skip that part during the start up (1) because you can click on migration assistant at any time to migrate your stuff back (2) I want to install the operating system clean and check how things are running before I bring things back. Once I am ready to bring things back, I use migration assistant to bring back documents and data only. Then I check to see how the system is running. If still running well, I go to App Store and click on purchased and bring back one app at a time. Checking system operation as I go. Doing it little by little as I suggest is how you will pinpoint what the problem is.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

jewel3 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:54:03 GMT

You might make a Genius Bar appointment. They can be a big help.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

bourgs4 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 04:20:21 GMT

I installed ccleaner on macbook air. What's an iMac?

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

skuggles — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 04:52:29 GMT

I'm not sure if you have done this, but I have with success.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbg18do1Jvw

You could google this, cleaning of the library caches for sluggish MACs to get more info. I haven't done it since updating to Maverick.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

dionline — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 05:01:38 GMT

On 10/10/2014 bourgs4 said:
I installed ccleaner on macbook air. What's an iMac?

An iMac is a desktop Mac computer - not a laptop.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

glb613 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 12:01:29 GMT

I'm glad I didn't buy Mac Keeper. I had read somewhere it wasn't a good program. dooBdoo, I will check the site and see if there is anything recommended I haven't already tried. Lynnj, if all else fails, I'll restore it back to factory condition.

Repairing permissions has helped but, it still isn't as fast to respond as it was when new.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

dooBdoo — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:20:01 GMT

Other things I was thinking about ... do you occasionally do a safe boot? That can clear caches, rebuild the disk directory, clean up odd glitches, etc., without doing them manually. After repairing disk permissions, run the Repair Disk utility too. Also, you've probably done these things but see what's in the Startup Items (might be launching something to run in background that you don't need) and peruse the Activity Monitor to see what's using the most resources. I agree, definitely avoid things like MacKeeper and MacDefender.

Hope you find the source of the problem, glb613.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

Buck-i-Nana — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:26:52 GMT

I have been using MacKeeper for about 2 years. It does what it promises and is easy to use. It's gotten a bum rap by people claiming it is malware, it's not. It hasn't "taken over" my machine and works better and easier than the basic apple utilities that everybody told me was all I would ever need.

I LOVE my Mac and will never go back to being a PC person (at least I don't think so right now), but the system is not as easy to get around in the "guts" like a PC was.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

dooBdoo — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:32:32 GMT

We'll have to agree to disagree about MacKeeper. There currently are a couple of class action lawsuits against their company for fraud and deception.

O/T (apologies): Buck-i-Nana, if you see this you might want to take a look at a thread in the Suggestion Box about another fraudulent electronics purchase:

Fraudulent charges!

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

glb613 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:19:53 GMT

On 10/11/2014 dooBdoo said:
Other things I was thinking about ... do you occasionally do a safe boot? That can clear caches, rebuild the disk directory, clean up odd glitches, etc., without doing them manually. After repairing disk permissions, run the Repair Disk utility too. Also, you've probably done these things but see what's in the Startup Items (might be launching something to run in background that you don't need) and peruse the Activity Monitor to see what's using the most resources. I agree, definitely avoid things like MacKeeper and MacDefender.

Hope you find the source of the problem, glb613.

How do you do a safe boot? BTW, I shut the computer down every night. It's something I've done with all of my computers since I've owned one and will continue to do it.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

Lynnj — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 19:13:04 GMT

Here is a link to instructions to boot in safe mode ----http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564?viewlocale=en_US-----great post dooBdoo, as always. Great idea to boot into safe mode. I actually do that first if I think I have a problem to see if it does the same thing in that mode. Not that I can say that I have even had many problems with my Mac, lol. Boot up in safe mode, check to see if you are getting the same lag, then restart. When you come back you'll be back to the regular mode. I've only had to do this a few times since owning the Mac, and after reboot whatever was happening was fixed automatically (I guess). I just recently needed to do the restore operating system thing. I had some crazy shutdown stall, with an error message in console, and I couldn't find the cause. This happened for months every time I shut down. The restore process was so easy, and took less than an hour from start to finish. Solved the problem, whatever it was, and the Mac is acting like brand new again. Kicking myself for not doing this months ago when I first had the problem. Instead I wasted months trying to research and find a fix.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

Emilymark — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 19:27:23 GMT

Our 2011 IMac was slow from day one. Drove us crazy with it's constant rainbow wheels. Pages were so slow to open and we were constantly restarting it. Two months ago I bought the Apple Airport Exteme router for $199. Problem solved.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

glb613 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 23:32:27 GMT

I'll give the suggestions a try.

Re: Is there a program to help my slow iMac?

dooBdoo — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 01:17:36 GMT

Lynnj, thanks!

Emilymark, It sounds as though in your case it was a slowdown when using the internet. I'm glad you found a good resolution.

glb613, sending good vibes in your direction! Hope one or more of the ideas here will prove helpful.