Mac is running exteremly slow

swingking

When I say slow, I mean really slow. Getting coloured beach balls all over the place.

Is there any cleanup software that might make it run a bit faster or any advice on what to do.

Tempeted to do a full reinstallation of everything but I'm looking for an easier suggestion

Running 10.6.3 Macbook 2.16 ghz 4gb ram

Thanks

Sad Professor

Open up Activity Monitor and see if there is any rogue background processes eating up too much CPU. Also, open Disk Utility, verify the disk and repair permissions.

willielovesall

Type in open software for mac into google.

http://www.opensourcemac.org/

I remember I found some open software that helps the smooth running of the mac. Also some open software is actually better.

I recommend not using safari and using Firefox for internet.

Turn off the Airport. This slows down the mac as well.

Check to see if there is any applications that open when you turn it on. Than try and disable them.

Don't use the mail icon on the mac as well. slows it down completely.

What exactly is slow about it? Is it the new macbook pro?

Sad Professor

willielovesall wrote: »

I remember I found some open software that helps the smooth running of the mac. Also some open software is actually better.

Why? How will this help the OPs problem?

I recommend not using safari and using Firefox for internet.

Why? Firefox is a bloated piece of crap compared to Safari.

Turn off the Airport. This slows down the mac as well.

No, it doesn't.

Don't use the mail icon on the mac as well. slows it down completely.

No, it doesn't.

Greentree_uk

Backup your mac now and anticipate a Hard drive crash, I'd be almost certain that's what's causing the slowdowns. you may also have a trojan. download clamxav and scan your machine. but I'd say it probably the hard disk.

willielovesall

These things do help. I find safari to be a prblomatic really, and mail is really bothersome. Safari has a beautiful interface but it takes ages to load up. Firefox is quick and simple with easy to use toolbars and accessories.

As for the macs problems, it is probably a settings error. Simple as.

Airport does slow it down and so does mail. Sorry thats just my perspective. If you find them great than great. Sorry for expressing my opinion.

swingking

Thanks for the all the advice, much appreciated.

I ran a 'verify disk' operation and also a 'repair permissions' operation. Restarted the computer and it's running much better.

Now I'm hoping it'll stay like that.

It's worth mentioning that I always run powerful software like Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom so the computer might not have the power to run this software.

Hmm.. might be an excuse to upgrade to a MBP

MACHEAD

If you do decide to go for the MBP deffo pay the little extra and have the RAM upgrade installed. App's like PS & Aperture are getting more RAM hungry with each upgrade. It'll save the hassle and downtime of having to do it later on.

swingking

The computer is running slow again.

I checked the activity monitor and there is a process running called vshield.

Does anyone know what this is. Looks like a virus scanner but I never installed any virus scanner on this computer.

Thanks

brav

Are you sure you never install Virex software?

Sad Professor

Yeah, vshield is definitely Virex or VirusScan or whatever it's called now. I know because I had to extract it from a friend's Mac several years ago. One of his idiot Windows friends told him to buy it. He said if he didn't his Mac would get slow due to viruses. Irony.

Eating up 90 percent of the CPU is pretty much its modus operandi on the Mac. Apple used to offer it as part of .Mac years ago but stopped when it started hosing people's systems, so maybe that's how you got it. Or else you just installed it and forgot.

ZENER

willielovesall wrote: »

I recommend not using safari and using Firefox for internet.

I've found Firefox itself slows down after a while and consumes system RAM at a startling rate !! There is a site which dispels some of the glow from Firefox and gives a better understanding of it's origins. Personally I find Safari way superior in use.

Turn off the Airport. This slows down the mac as well.

Would love to know what you base this on !! You can of course use the ethernet port instead but it kind of does away with the freedom element of owning a laptop don't you think ?! Reality : Any software running on a computer consumes cycles and slows it down a little bit. Probably better to turn the computer off completely that way nothing will slow it down !!

Check to see if there is any applications that open when you turn it on. Than try and disable them.

Good suggestion. System Preferences / Accounts / <username> / Login Items. Where username is your account on the left pane of the window. Select an app you don't wish to start the click (-) to remove it from the startup.

Don't use the mail icon on the mac as well. slows it down completely.

Again what do you base this on ? I've used Mail.app since it first appeared on OS X and have never noticed it slow down any of my machines !! Entourage from M$ is another option but I dislike the interface and lining Mr. Gates pockets !

It's very annoying when someone says "oh that's cr*p" without qualifying it with reasons or backing it up with evidence in the form of a link or a document !! Rant over

There seems to be plenty of evidence on line about the effects Virex or Vshield has on Macs. Unfortunately you cannot simply delete the app from the Applications folder. From what I read you need to use the original installer to uninstall it properly.

Try their website at : http://www.mcafee.com/us/small/products/virusscan_for_mac/virusscan_for_mac.html

Good luck !

Ken

swingking

I know how I got virex on my computer now. It was installed so that the MacBook could be used on college network. TCD to be exact.

maccored

google 'appcleaner' - that should delete it completely