Apple Laptop Speed Issues

[GGorman04]

I was wondering if someone can help me with my apple laptop.
After a few years of use, the computer is very slow now. Based on the forums advice on my toshiba, I was able to make it much faster by adding cc cleaner, malwares anti malware and MSE.
Do these programs work with Apple products?

 

[Nyquist]

I think those are mainly Windows programs you listed, but there are antivirus suites designed for Macs. You'll get a lot of the crowd that says, "Oh it's a Mac. You don't need that." That line of thought is bunk.

I've known folks that have worked at Apple stores. My father-in-law is a network engineer/administrator. The folks at the Apple store see malware-infected Macs all the time. My FiL has said that 80% of the uncontrolled malware outbreaks on his network were due to security holes in MacOS or iOS. Some of them use iTunes as a means of sneaking back onto the computer once it is cleansed.

Most recently at my wife's school she was the only teacher to not get a worm of sorts b/c I had put Norton on her MacBook.

It's out there, and with Apple gaining more market share it will get more prominent.

Back to your topic of being slow. It could also be due to how many running programs you have open on boot. One of the more silent symptoms of a hard drive failure can also be slow read/write times.

 

[VicVinegar]

My Macbook Pro is 2 years old now and runs like it always has, so I haven't bothered looking for solutions to any problems like I used to with a PC.

With that said, this could point you toward some things to try.
http://lifehacker.com/5814440/what-kind-of-maintenance-do-i-need-to-do-on-my-mac

 

[simple_gifts]

Assuming a slow down of a computer is due to a virus or malware might be spot on for a PC, but a bit premature for a Mac. I would make sure you have sufficient memory and that background processes are not consuming it. If you are memory starved, closing unused apps is a good first step. My mother uses a Mac and doesn't even know when an application is still loaded and running (white triangle below the dock icon) Consequently many loaded programs just sit there consuming memory; putting the machine to sleep also leaves them loaded.

What machine and how much memory?

 

[JHZR2]

Check and repair disk permissions first. Is it a regular spinning hdd? If so it could be going bad - its the least reliable part of any computer.

Are the fans spinning? Is it overheating?

I've tried the various cleaners and checkers on my heavily used 2008 MBP and they never came up with anything, though it also runs as fast as new.

I've started editing 36MP photos on it, and it works fine with 4GB ram.

How full is your hdd?

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Check and repair disk permissions first.


+1. This is about the only maintenance that I'd suggest the user perform on a Mac installation.

 

[sleddriver]

Last year I was given a 2007 black MB with a failing HD the owner didn't want to mess with. It took more than 3 minutes to boot. It eventually did, and would run, but very, very slowly.

Not being very familiar with the newer Apple HW, I ran HD tests found on the install disks, etc. And they kept coming up clean, which didn't make sense.

Finally I took it to an apple store and they checked the HD with a 'more rigorous' program. It failed in multiple areas. When I asked why the user utilites didn't detect such obvious errors, he simply replied the program they used was 'better'.

Oh well. I Installed a new HD, reloaded the OS, and now it flies. If you don't know much about all this, make an appointment (free) at an Apple store and have then test your HD and sweep your machine for viruses. While there ask them what programs they use.

 

[DrDusty86]

My MB Pro has had MANY hard drives. When they start to fail it gets reeeeeaaaaaalllly sluggish for a week or so then I get a "?" at bootup.
If you replace the HD, make sure to replace the cable from the HD to the logic board. mine was burnt and apple just did the HDs and not cable. The replacement HD's only lasted a month or so

 

[MrHorspwer]

There is a version of CCleaner for Mac.

 

[DrDusty86]

I use Onyx. It acts as a maintence program. I also use Magician, it helps me monitor various temps of the MB and lets me adjust the fan.

 

[GGorman04]

Great
Thanks for all the responses.
How do I do a disk permission?

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Check how many programs you have running in Activity Monitor. I find that I have to go in there often to close things. I put 8 GB of RAM in mine though and it doesn't ever run slow. I mainly do it to conserve power. It's surprising how much RAM a browser that hasn't been closed in a while can take up.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Check how many programs you have running in Activity Monitor. I find that I have to go in there often to close things. I put 8 GB of RAM in mine though and it doesn't ever run slow. I mainly do it to conserve power. It's surprising how much RAM a browser that hasn't been closed in a while can take up.


Very true. Ive seen the latest versions of firefox eat up 3GB of RAM on my MBP.

Are you implying from your post that having more RAM conserves power?

 

[GGorman04]

Figured out how to do the disk permission.
Much faster now

 

[Nyquist]

Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Last year I was given a 2007 black MB with a failing HD the owner didn't want to mess with. It took more than 3 minutes to boot. It eventually did, and would run, but very, very slowly.

Not being very familiar with the newer Apple HW, I ran HD tests found on the install disks, etc. And they kept coming up clean, which didn't make sense.

Finally I took it to an apple store and they checked the HD with a 'more rigorous' program. It failed in multiple areas. When I asked why the user utilites didn't detect such obvious errors, he simply replied the program they used was 'better'.

Did those stock Apple tests just check the file system, or do they read SMART data as well? I'm assuming the Mac store just read the SMART data since that will tell you pretty much every intimate detail about your HDD.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Check how many programs you have running in Activity Monitor. I find that I have to go in there often to close things. I put 8 GB of RAM in mine though and it doesn't ever run slow. I mainly do it to conserve power. It's surprising how much RAM a browser that hasn't been closed in a while can take up.


Very true. Ive seen the latest versions of firefox eat up 3GB of RAM on my MBP.

Are you implying from your post that having more RAM conserves power?


Having less programs running seems to conserve my battery. That's my observation.

 

[sleddriver]

Originally Posted By: Nyquist
Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Last year I was given a 2007 black MB with a failing HD the owner didn't want to mess with. It took more than 3 minutes to boot. It eventually did, and would run, but very, very slowly.

Not being very familiar with the newer Apple HW, I ran HD tests found on the install disks, etc. And they kept coming up clean, which didn't make sense.

Finally I took it to an apple store and they checked the HD with a 'more rigorous' program. It failed in multiple areas. When I asked why the user utilites didn't detect such obvious errors, he simply replied the program they used was 'better'.

Did those stock Apple tests just check the file system, or do they read SMART data as well? I'm assuming the Mac store just read the SMART data since that will tell you pretty much every intimate detail about your HDD.


Good question and I don't know as I'm not well versed in how Apple does things. But it didn't inspire confidence that the HD checker in their utilities didn't catch such an obvious failing HD.

Then again, the guy at the store booted the machine from an external HD. I'm not set up to do that with an Apple.

 

[berniedd]

There are many other reasons for a Mac slowdown, including bad RAM, file defragmentation, and what's been discussed above. Not very well known cause is having plenty of icons, files, folders, etc on the desktop. In Windows, a desktop icon, file,or shortcut uses only a kilobyte of RAM. In Mac OS X, a single desktop icon uses the resources of an open window! That's just the way OS X works. I've seen some owners put 50 or more things on their desktop, and then wonder why their machine comes to a crawl. Me, I put no more than 4 icons on my Mac desktop.

 

[GGorman04]

Ok guys. I finally had some time to fully investigate what may be wrong with my wifes computer. Being new to Apple, I was unaware of the things I need to look for as I am a windows guy.

Anyway, I checked the disc and it states there was a fatal hard-drive error. Is this something I can replace myself or should I take it to the Apple store?

Thanks

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: GGorman04
Ok guys. I finally had some time to fully investigate what may be wrong with my wifes computer. Being new to Apple, I was unaware of the things I need to look for as I am a windows guy.

Anyway, I checked the disc and it states there was a fatal hard-drive error. Is this something I can replace myself or should I take it to the Apple store?

Thanks


They aren't rocket science to replace if that's what you are asking. And the hard drives are just regular drives. How familiar with taking apart laptops are you?