Can I delete useless.kext files?

[Dynomight Dude]

I was recently having some problems with Kernel_Task eating up huge chunks of my CPU cycles, and stopped off here looking for a solution. A very recommended solution I found was to delete some .plist files with my Mac's identifying number on them. As I wove my way through the file system, something caught my eye as I flew through the numbers of .kext files. I noticed that there were many .kext files for hardware I didn't have, e.g: I am currently using a 13" Mac Book Pro (2015) Thus, it has an intel i5, a Samsung SSD(256 GB) and intel iris graphics 6100, but I was seeing .kext files for AMD Radeon Graphics Cards or NVidia Graphics cards. I thought that maybe the kernel loading these .kext files may be slowing it down So this is a two-part question:

1: how do I stop my kernel from eating all my processing cycles (it makes studying for finals impossible when your computer is a stuttering mess)

2: Is it safe to delete the .kext files for the hardware I don't have (AMD Radeon, Nvidia graphics)? If yes, will it help my kernel performance?

And for those trolls out there: I have an idea of what I'm doing, so don't try to trick me into deleting all the kernel files. I'm not a complete idiot. e.g. I know that deleting System32 on a windows machine speeds up your computer astronomically

 

[thejasonhowell]

I've not done it for the stock kexts but have deleted for Symantec related terribleness with no issue

 

[KALLT]

Kernel extensions are loaded/unloaded as needed, most of them don’t run on a particular system. You can verify that in System Information → Extensions.

I’d advise you to stay clear of this unless you really know what you are doing.

 

[Dynomight Dude]

Kernel extensions are loaded/unloaded as needed, most of them don’t run on a particular system. You can verify that in System Information → Extensions.

I’d advise you to stay clear of this unless you really know what you are doing.

awesome! just looked through the extension list and saw a few for a couple of apps I deleted a while ago. How do I disable these extensions?

And...Uh, completely deviating from the original topic, I have been having issues over the past couple months with Mac Os X Sierra not recognizing an external hard drive that contains lots of backups. Could this have anything to do with an unloaded .kext file?

 

[KALLT]

If they are located in [/System]/Library/Extensions then unload them using either command:

sudo kextunload /path/to/kext
sudo kextunload -b kext-bundle-identifier

Then you can delete the kext bundle safely.

You should look for un-installers for programs that you installed with an installer. Usually they remove kexts for you.

Etrecheck is helpful for spotting remnant kexts.

 

[Dynomight Dude]

If they are located in [/System]/Library/Extensions then unload them using either command:

sudo kextunload /path/to/kext
sudo kextunload -b kext-bundle-identifier

Then you can delete the kext bundle safely.

You should look for un-installers for programs that you installed with an installer. Usually they remove kexts for you.

Etrecheck is helpful for spotting remnant kexts.

Neato! do you have any recommendations for stopping kernel task from turning my computer into a stuttering mess at the most inconvenient times?

 

[MC6800]

I was recently having some problems with Kernel_Task eating up huge chunks of my CPU cycles, and stopped off here looking for a solution. A very recommended solution I found was to delete some .plist files with my Mac's identifying number on them. As I wove my way through the file system, something caught my eye as I flew through the numbers of .kext files. I noticed that there were many .kext files for hardware I didn't have, e.g: I am currently using a 13" Mac Book Pro (2015) Thus, it has an intel i5, a Samsung SSD(256 GB) and intel iris graphics 6100, but I was seeing .kext files for AMD Radeon Graphics Cards or NVidia Graphics cards. I thought that maybe the kernel loading these .kext files may be slowing it down So this is a two-part question:

1: how do I stop my kernel from eating all my processing cycles (it makes studying for finals impossible when your computer is a stuttering mess)

2: Is it safe to delete the .kext files for the hardware I don't have (AMD Radeon, Nvidia graphics)? If yes, will it help my kernel performance?

And for those trolls out there: I have an idea of what I'm doing, so don't try to trick me into deleting all the kernel files. I'm not a complete idiot. e.g. I know that deleting System32 on a windows machine speeds up your computer astronomically

I've also seen this processor throttling, apparently used by the kernel to slow the system when overheating, but it appears to overreact. My 2011 MBP running El Capitan 10.11.6 just had this problem again after the latest software update, and the fix was to again remove the appropriate kext using these instructions.

Leave the kext files for other hardware-- they don't get loaded.

 

[Dynomight Dude]

I've also seen this processor throttling, apparently used by the kernel to slow the system when overheating, but it appears to overreact. My 2011 MBP running El Capitan 10.11.6 just had this problem again after the latest software update, and the fix was to again remove the appropriate kext using these instructions.

Leave the kext files for other hardware-- they don't get loaded.

I've already ruled out overheating. I carefully monitor my processor temp in the menubar via an app calls Macs Fan Control. When the kernel strikes, I'm normally around 60C, for reference, I've made it to 80C and the kernel hasn't done anything. This is a fairly recent problem. If I was stupid, I'd swear it was triggered by the start of Finals Week, and that my kernel and my teachers are working in cahoots to guarantee an F.

 

[MC6800]

I had ruled out overheating too-- the kernel was disabling 2 of the 4 processors even when cold. After removing that kext, no problems. In my case the fix had been working for years, but reappeared last week when I installed the latest update. I haven't investigated yet what all that did.

 

[Dynomight Dude]

I had ruled out overheating too-- the kernel was disabling 2 of the 4 processors even when cold. After removing that kext, no problems. In my case the fix had been working for years, but reappeared last week when I installed the latest update. I haven't investigated yet what all that did.

OK. I'll try it. I'm running sierra currently, but ill see what I can do. BTW: it probabaly reappeared because apple decided to run checks to make sure all the kext files were there.

 

[nicmart]

Norton has spent more than an hour trying to delete a Norton Security kext file from my Mac with tech support taking control of my Mac. No luck so far. I should never have installed the software.

 

[FriosRios]

As I am uncomfortable deleting files in Terminal, I restarted my mac in Target Disk Mode, connected to another mac, then easily deleted the unwanted, protected .kexts in the StagedExtensions folder.
Mac OSX Catalina

 

[FriosRios]

Norton has spent more than an hour trying to delete a Norton Security kext file from my Mac with tech support taking control of my Mac. No luck so far. I should never have installed the software.

As I am uncomfortable deleting files in Terminal, I restarted my mac in Target Disk Mode, connected to another mac, then easily deleted the unwanted, protected .kexts in the StagedExtensions folder.
Mac OSX Catalina