HELP!!! 2012 Macbook pro 13"/9,1,Clean install of OS 10.15.7 now running SUPER SLOW! HELP!!

[ItsEchoOne]

I have a MBP (Mid 2012,2.5GHz Intel i5, Upgraded SSD Patriot Burst 12GB, Upgraded RAM 8GB 1600DDR3, Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536MB)



I Recently Some how had my Wi-Fi Attacked via Malware, Since then Wifi has been reset and scanned with F-Secure, Network has been Reset, Name Changed & Password Updated, Checked DNS Settings as well as IP Address. Macbook was acting up and slow with Chrome Browers ALL Third Party Apps Deleted and Uninstalled, Performed A FActory Reset, and Clean installed Os Catalina 10.15.7( which it was runnning fine before with No problems) After Clean install of OS it has been still acting funny, Start up - Slow- First 50%-80% is Fast Last 20% is Snail Slow. Once logged in it it Almost unoperational Takes upwards of 60+ secs to do anything open any apps, check any settings, Not connected to internet or Wi-Fi Currently, Nor is it connected to Icloud, or logged into to Apple Id? Anyone with Help Would Be greatly Appreciated. Thanks.

 

[DeltaMac]

Sounds like your SSD is likely failing.
With the cost of replacing an SATA SSD so cheap these days, (you can find 1TB for $50-$60, even with top brands) you could also go with upgrading your RAM to 16GB.

Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD, up to 560MB/s - CT1000MX500SSD1

Start your system in seconds, store up to 4TB of data, and upgrade with an SSD you can count on. Join more and more people who are keeping their family videos, travel photos, music, and important documents on an SSD, and get the near-instant performance and lasting reliability that comes with sol...

www.amazon.com

2x8GB RAM for your MBPro.

Crucial RAM 16GB Kit (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz CL11 Laptop Memory CT2KIT102464BF160B

CT2KIT102464BF160B is a 16GB kit consisting of (2) 8GB DDR3 1.35V Notebook module that operates at speeds up to 1600 MT/s and has a CL11 latency. It is dual voltage and can operate at 1.35V and 1.5V. It is Unbuffered and is non-ECC. It conforms to the industry standard SODIMM layout of 204 pins a...

www.amazon.com

 

[ItsEchoOne]

So i was hoping that wasnt really the Case..... but is there anyway to find out if that is the actual cause? I am Also Very New to Mac/OS platfrom. but i found this MBP for $60 with the Upgraded SSD and aftyer everything i read it was what alot of people said was a good one since its the last of the user/ customer friendly platforms. So the two kits you left links for is that a good brand to stick with? i eventually would like to upgrade to the 1TB and 16GB but also run the opencore ptcher for a Later OS as well, Any thoughts, its used if for mostly home browsing, light video work. But i want it to be able to pair with all my apple products, i.e. iphone and apple tv?

 

[Fishrrman]

Changing out the drive and RAM on the 2012 "unibody" (non retina) MBP is easy.
You need a Phillips #00 driver, and a TORX T-6 driver (both are cheap and easy to find).

As for the drive itself, you need a 2.5" SATA SSD. I would suggest either 512gb or 1tb.
You can find the 512gb SSD's for about $40, might be "all you need".

I'd also recommend you buy a 2.5" USB3 external enclosure, like this:

ORICO 2.5'' USB C External Hard Drive Enclosure, SATA 3.0 to USB 3.1 Gen2 6Gbps Case for 2.5 Inch HDD/SSD Support Max 6TB with UASP Tool Free(2189C3)

ORICO 2.5'' USB C External Hard Drive Enclosure, SATA 3.0 to USB 3.1 Gen2 6Gbps Case for 2.5 Inch HDD/SSD Support Max 6TB with UASP Tool Free(2189C3)

www.amazon.com

This will be very useful in setting up the computer.

To see what the procedure is for changing drives and adding RAM, go here:

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2012 Repair Help: Learn How to Fix It Yourself.

Mid 2012 model, A1278 / 2.5 GHz i5 or 2.9 GHz i7 processor.

www.ifixit.com

What I'd try:
- get the SSD and the enclosure
- put SSD into external enclosure (for now)
- connect it to the Mac
- use disk utility to erase/format it to APFS, GUID partition format
Now it's ready for the OS and data, so....
- download SuperDuper by clicking this link:
download
(SD is FREE TO USE for this purpose)
- follow the instructions and use SD to "clone" the contents of the (old) internal drive to the new SSD (SD is VERY easy to understand and use).
- do a "test boot" from the external SSD (reboot and hold down option key CONTINUOUSLY until the startup manage appears)
- do you get "a good boot"?
- if so, now power all the way off and "do the drive swap".
- when done, do a reboot (use the "option key" trick again).
- do you get a good boot with the new SSD installed inside?
- then one last thing -- go to the startup disk preference pane and set the NEW SSD as "the boot drive".
That should be it.

I wouldn't upgrade the RAM yet. 8gb is probably "enough for now".

Good luck.

 

[diego.caraballo]

I have a MBP (Mid 2012,2.5GHz Intel i5, Upgraded SSD Patriot Burst 12GB, Upgraded RAM 8GB 1600DDR3, Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536MB)



I Recently Some how had my Wi-Fi Attacked via Malware, Since then Wifi has been reset and scanned with F-Secure, Network has been Reset, Name Changed & Password Updated, Checked DNS Settings as well as IP Address. Macbook was acting up and slow with Chrome Browers ALL Third Party Apps Deleted and Uninstalled, Performed A FActory Reset, and Clean installed Os Catalina 10.15.7( which it was runnning fine before with No problems) After Clean install of OS it has been still acting funny, Start up - Slow- First 50%-80% is Fast Last 20% is Snail Slow. Once logged in it it Almost unoperational Takes upwards of 60+ secs to do anything open any apps, check any settings, Not connected to internet or Wi-Fi Currently, Nor is it connected to Icloud, or logged into to Apple Id? Anyone with Help Would Be greatly Appreciated. Thanks.

Hi.
In this model is common to the SATA cable to fail (is the cable that connects the hard disk to the logic board).
The cable sometimes also fail after an SSD upgrade (I presume that it's related to the higher speeds demanded by the upgraded disk).

I would try to remove the internal disk and install it on a USB caddy.
Connect it to the Mac, turn the Mac ON and immediately press and hold the OPTION/ALT key.
Choose the disk on the menu and press enter.
See whats happens. It would be slow than an internal disk for sure, but it should be much better than what you describe.

If the Mac behaves better, then you need to replace the internal SATA cable. Otherwise you have a faulty SSD and/or logic board.

 

[Reverend Benny]

I have a MBP (Mid 2012,2.5GHz Intel i5, Upgraded SSD Patriot Burst 12GB, Upgraded RAM 8GB 1600DDR3, Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536MB)



I Recently Some how had my Wi-Fi Attacked via Malware, Since then Wifi has been reset and scanned with F-Secure, Network has been Reset, Name Changed & Password Updated, Checked DNS Settings as well as IP Address. Macbook was acting up and slow with Chrome Browers ALL Third Party Apps Deleted and Uninstalled, Performed A FActory Reset, and Clean installed Os Catalina 10.15.7( which it was runnning fine before with No problems) After Clean install of OS it has been still acting funny, Start up - Slow- First 50%-80% is Fast Last 20% is Snail Slow. Once logged in it it Almost unoperational Takes upwards of 60+ secs to do anything open any apps, check any settings, Not connected to internet or Wi-Fi Currently, Nor is it connected to Icloud, or logged into to Apple Id? Anyone with Help Would Be greatly Appreciated. Thanks.

Get a Macbook that can run a MacOS that are up to date or use some sort of 3rd party software that allows you to installer a MacOS that are up to date. I don't think Catalina has had a security update for the last 3 years or so.

 

[Fishrrman]

THANKS to diego for pointing out the cable issue above.
I forgot to mention this.

A common failure in the 2012 MBP unibody's is that the drive ribbon cable fails, or just "gets flaky".

When this happens, it may seem like the drive has failed -- because "communication" between the drive and the motherboard gets interrupted. But it's NOT the drive -- it's the cable.

Particularly when upgrading from a slower platter-based drive to a faster SSD, the faults can become evident (the SSD is "more demanding"). Such as slower or intermittent operation, as the OP mentioned above.

The ribbon cable is cheap and easy to replace when you upgrade the internal drive.
Again, refer to ifixt.com.
You can get the part number from them, and buy it from them, OR, elsewhere online.

Again, thanks to diego for mentioning this!