Help: MDWORKER causes CPU to run 200F for @15 minutes

[imorton]

Hello Guys & Girls, maybe someone here can answer this? Why is there often 4, 5, 6, or 7 instances of MDWORKER processes running (and consuming huge amounts of CPU cycles).

My 13" 2012 MB Pro with Yosemite runs very well (dual SSD's & 16GB Ram), however I notice that often my CPU is running at 100% with processes like MDWORKER, MDS, MDS_STORES working overtime.

If I look in Activity Monitor, there will (1) instance of mds & mds_stores running, YET there will often be multiple instances of mdworker running?

The scenario is as follows:

If I reboot or start my MB, it boots up fine, but after @ 30 seconds, the CPU pegs at 100% for 10-20 minutes while my multiple instances of MDWORKER scan, index, or whatever they do... and my MB Pro is running hot (90-105 C) (190-215 F).

After the initial @15 mins of high CPU usage, things will quiet down, but occasionally throughout the day, it will happen again.

Is this normal, or is there something I should do to solve this craziness?

Any ideas would be really appreciated...

 

[JohnDS]

MDWorker is the Spotlight indexing engine. It should not be running at 100% CPU. There could be a variety of reasons for this. It could be getting stuck on a particular file, or it could be trying to index network or external drives.

Do you have any external network drives, like a Time Capsule for instance, or external USB drives connected?

 

[imorton]

MDWorker is the Spotlight indexing engine. It should not be running at 100% CPU. There could be a variety of reasons for this. It could be getting stuck on a particular file, or it could be trying to index network or external drives.

Do you have any external network drives, like a Time Capsule for instance, or external USB drives connected?

Thanks for the reply. I do have an external USB3 Time Machine drive, however it has always been added to the "exclusion/privacy" list in Spotlight.

Like I said, it only tends to run at 90-100% of the @ 15 mins when I start or reboot the Macbook.

Hmmmm... I wish I could find a way to see if there is a file that it is getting stuck on....?

 

[JohnDS]

Have you run Verify Disk in Disk Utility to make sure your hard drive is not corrupt?

Go to Disk Utility. In the top left you will find two lines. The top one is your physical drive and will have the name of the manufacturer of the drive. The second line is the boot partition, typically named "MacIntosh HD".

Click on the top line, (the name of the hard drive manufacturer) and run Verify Disk. If it verifies okay, then click on "MacIntosh HD" and run Verify Disk a second time.

Report back here with the results.
[doublepost=1477145491][/doublepost]Also, how much free space do you have left on your hard drive?

 

[imorton]

Have you run Verify Disk in Disk Utility to make sure your hard drive is not corrupt?

Go to Disk Utility. In the top left you will find two lines. The top one is your physical drive and will have the name of the manufacturer of the drive. The second line is the boot partition, typically named "MacIntosh HD".

Click on the top line, (the name of the hard drive manufacturer) and run Verify Disk. If it verifies okay, then click on "MacIntosh HD" and run Verify Disk a second time.

Report back here with the results.
[doublepost=1477145491][/doublepost]Also, how much free space do you have left on your hard drive?

Thanks again for the reply.

Both of the Verify Disks check out OK...

They better, I just put in (2) brand new 480GB SSD's...

 

[JohnDS]

Did you verify both of the hard drives (i.e. run Verify disk 4 times))? How much room is left on your hard drives?

 

[imorton]

Hi, there is more than half available. IAN

 

[JohnDS]

Could you please do the following:

1. Post a screenshot of your Disk Utility window.
2. Download the freeware EtreCheck: https://etrecheck.com/#download then run it and post the report back here.
3. Open Console.app. If necessary, click on Show Log List at the top left, then on "all messages". Then in the search bar at the top right type MDWorker. This should bring up MDWorker error messages. See if any suggest that there is a problem indexing a certain file.
[doublepost=1477147476][/doublepost]If by any chance you are using BackBlaze, set Spotlight to NOT index the BackBlaze folder: http://justinh.org/2012/01/20/a-fix-for-os-x-if-your-mds-or-mdworker-processes-are-running-wild/

 

[imorton]

UPDATE: maybe there isn't anything REALLY WRONG with my computer. Possibly the mdworker process(es) works really hard indexing the computer when I reboot it (or start it) and it is normal to spend @ 15 mins scanning/indexing.

Does anyone else have this HIGH CPU USAGE with mdworker when you boot up?

 

[JohnDS]

MDWorker should not be using 100% CPU. Bear with me as we try to diagnose why this is happening. There are a number of possible causes and answering the questions I posed will narrow it down.

 

[imorton]

Could you please do the following:

1. Post a screenshot of your Disk Utility window.
2. Download the freeware EtreCheck: https://etrecheck.com/#download then run it and post the report back here.
3. Open Console.app. If necessary, click on Show Log List at the top left, then on "all messages". Then in the search bar at the top right type MDWorker. This should bring up MDWorker error messages. See if any suggest that there is a problem indexing a certain file.
[doublepost=1477147476][/doublepost]If by any chance you are using BackBlaze, set Spotlight to NOT index the BackBlaze folder: http://justinh.org/2012/01/20/a-fix-for-os-x-if-your-mds-or-mdworker-processes-are-running-wild/

Hi, I ran EtreCheck, and everything is normal there. Gotta love that program...
I did the Console and here is two messages that appear. There was 220 entries in the last few hours. The 2/3 of the messages were the 1st below, and 1/3 were the 2nd one below.

(ImportBailout.Error:1325) Asked to exit for Diskarb

code validation failed in the process of getting signing information: Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-67062 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -67062.)" UserInfo=0x7fcb18d4fd40 {SecCSArchitecture=ppc}

I don't think it is related to my hard drives, as it was doing it with my two old drives, and this week I put in 2 new SSD's.

I just added the BackBlaze package to the Privacy section... hopefully that solves it. However, if I recall, it was there before, but no longer in my Spotlight privacy setting (since I installed 2 new SSD's).

Hmmmm....

 

[JohnDS]

Hi, I ran EtreCheck, and everything is normal there. Gotta love that program...
I did the Console and here is two messages that appear. There was 220 entries in the last few hours. The 2/3 of the messages were the 1st below, and 1/3 were the 2nd one below.

(ImportBailout.Error:1325) Asked to exit for Diskarb

code validation failed in the process of getting signing information: Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-67062 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -67062.)" UserInfo=0x7fcb18d4fd40 {SecCSArchitecture=ppc}

I don't think it is related to my hard drives, as it was doing it with my two old drives, and this week I put in 2 new SSD's.

I just added the BackBlaze package to the Privacy section... hopefully that solves it. However, if I recall, it was there before, but no longer in my Spotlight privacy setting (since I installed 2 new SSD's).

Hmmmm....

[doublepost=1477148595][/doublepost]See if excluding BackBlaze solves the problem. It is reported to cause exactly the problem you are having. There are others that can cause the problem too, which is why I asked you to post the EtreCheck report so we can see what other apps you are running that might be causing the problem.

If excluding BackBlaze solves your problem, please let us know. If not, please post the EtreCheck report.

 

[imorton]

Here is my EtreCheck report:

EtreCheck version: 3.0.6 (315)

Report generated 2016-10-22 11:07:03

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 1:47

Performance: Excellent



Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.



Problem: No problem - just checking



Hardware Information: ⓘ

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 30


Video Information: ⓘ

Intel HD Graphics 4000

ASUS PA238QR 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz


System Software: ⓘ

OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 (14F1912) - Time since boot: about one day


Disk Information: ⓘ

KINGSTON SUV400S37480G disk1 : (480.1 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macbook Pro (disk1s2) / [Startup]: 479.11 GB (265.16 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB


KINGSTON SUV400S37480G disk0 : (480.1 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

TheCCCbackup (disk0s2) /Volumes/TheCCCbackup : 479.11 GB (268.57 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 784 MB


USB Information: ⓘ

VIA Labs,Inc. USB3.0 SATA Bridge 480.1 GB

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

TimeMachine (disk2s2) /Volumes/TimeMachine : 479.76 GB (134.55 GB free)

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

USB Device USB 2.0 Hub

USB Device USB 2.0 Hub

USB Device USB 2.0 Hub

Ralink 802.11 n WLAN

Logitech USB Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers


Unknown Files: ⓘ

~/Library/LaunchAgents/io.chatra.desktop.plist

/Applications/Chatra.app/Contents/MacOS/Chatra

One unknown file found. [Check files]


Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Applications/Parallels Desktop.app

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-07-12) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.netbridge (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-07-12) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-07-12) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.vnic (10.4.0 29337 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-07-12) [Support]



/Applications/Private Eye.app

[loaded] com.radiosilenceapp.nke.PrivateEye (1.1 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-05-14) [Support]



/Library/Application Support/Hotspot Shield

[not loaded] com.anchorfree.tun (1.1.1 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-12-06) [Support]



/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.1 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-10-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.intel.driver.EnergyDriver (2.0 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-10-16) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (4.1.14 - 2016-10-16) [Support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (4.1.14 - 2016-10-16) [Support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (4.1.14 - 2016-10-16) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (4.1.14 - 2016-10-16) [Support]



/System/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-10-19) [Support]

[loaded] com.Ralink.driver.RT2870USBWirelessDriver (4.2.9.5 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-10-19) [Support]

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[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchEmpia (1.1 - 2016-10-19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.kext.wwan (v3.0.24 (001) - 2016-10-19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.prolific.driver.PL2303 (1.5.1 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-10-19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.shockwidgets.kext.IntelThermalDriver (1.0.0d1 - 2016-10-19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_ecm_qmi (1.0.19 - 2016-10-19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_usb_bus (1.0.19 - 2016-10-19) [Support]



/System/Library/Extensions/NovatelWirelessWWAN.kext/Contents/Plugins

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMControl (v3.0.24 (001) - 2015-12-16) [Support]

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMData (v3.0.24 (001) - 2015-12-16) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3G (v3.0.24 (001) - 2015-12-16) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3GData (v3.0.24 (001) - 2015-12-16) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.DisableAutoInstall (v3.0.24 (001) - 2015-12-16) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.NWVBE (v3.0.24 (001) - 2015-12-16) [Support]



Startup Items: ⓘ

WiFiUtilityStartUp: Path: /System/Library/StartupItems/WiFiUtilityStartUp

Startup items no longer function in OS X Yosemite or later


System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[running] com.paragon.NTFS.notify.plist (2015-03-18) [Support]

[not loaded] 5 Apple tasks

[loaded] 136 Apple tasks

[running] 71 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 44 Apple tasks

[loaded] 132 Apple tasks

[running] 86 Apple tasks


Launch Agents: ⓘ

[running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist (2015-04-08) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusagent.plist (2016-10-16) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusnotifications.plist (2016-10-16) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusstatus.plist (2016-10-16) [Support]

[failed] com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (2011-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]


Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-09-23) [Support]

[loaded] com.anchorfree.ajaxserver.plist (2013-11-08) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzserv.plist (2016-10-19) [Support]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenusdaemon.plist (2016-10-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist (2013-12-13) [Support]

[running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (2016-10-07) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (2016-08-17) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-10-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2016-10-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.noatime.root.plist (2013-02-16)

[loaded] com.radiosilenceapp.nke.PrivateEye.plist (2011-10-06)

[loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.tunnelbear.mac.tbeard.plist (2015-12-06) [Support]

[loaded] net.sourceforge.MonolingualHelper.plist (2013-02-16) [Support]


User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[running] com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist (2016-10-20) [Support]

[running] com.dervishsoftware.MailHubUserAgent.plist (2016-10-17) [Support]

[loaded] com.shirtpocket.backupbytime.plist (2016-10-20)

[loaded] com.wonderidea.FlipPDF.plist (2016-01-24) [Support]

[running] io.chatra.desktop.plist (2016-04-29) [Support]

[running] ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist (2014-04-11) [Support]


User Login Items: ⓘ

DashExpander Application (/Applications/DashExpander.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

SMARTReporter Application (/Applications/SMARTReporter.localized/SMARTReporter.app)

Carbon Copy Cloner Application (/Applications/Carbon Copy Cloner.app)

Jumpcut Application (/Applications/Jumpcut.app)

WirelessUtility Application (/Applications/Ralink Wireless Utility/WirelessUtility.app)

BandwidthLauncher SMLoginItem (/Volumes/TheCCCbackup/Applications/Bandwidth+.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/BandwidthLauncher.app)

VPSStartupHelper SMLoginItem (/Applications/BwanaDik.localized/BwanaDik.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/VPSStartupHelper.app)

BandwidthLauncher SMLoginItem (/Applications/Bandwidth+.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/BandwidthLauncher.app)

VPSStartupHelper SMLoginItem (/Volumes/TheCCCbackup/Applications/BwanaDik.localized/BwanaDik.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/VPSStartupHelper.app)

CloudKitJS Callback URL SMLoginItem (/Volumes/TheCCCbackup/Applications/1Password 6.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword4-helper.app)

CloudKitJS Callback URL SMLoginItem (/Applications/1Password 6.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword4-helper.app)


Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-16) [Support]

Default Browser: 600 - SDK 10.10 (2015-12-16)

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 (2013-05-23) [Support]

Loki: 3.0 (2011-06-27) [Support]

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-03-14) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-13) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.185 - SDK 10.9 (2016-10-20) [Support]

LogMeIn: 1.0.298 (2011-06-27) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-01)

Flash Player: 23.0.0.185 - SDK 10.9 (2016-10-20) [Support]

googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-12-13)

DirectorShockwave: 11.0.3r470 (2011-06-27) [Support]



User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

WebEx64: 1.0 (2011-06-21) [Support]

WebEx: 1.0 (2011-05-24) [Support]

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-25) [Support]

Picasa: 1.0 (2009-01-06) [Support]



Safari Extensions: ⓘ

A Cleaner YouTube - Jody Tate - http://200okconsulting.com/ (2010-08-04)

Open in Internet Explorer - Parallels - http://www.parallels.com (2013-04-10)

OpenAtEnd - Lasse Rasinen - http://www.iki.fi/lrasinen/OpenAtEnd/ (2011-07-28)

Reload Button - John Siracusa - http://siracusafamily.org/safari/extensions/ (2016-02-04)

Evernote Web Clipper - Evernote Corp. - http://evernote.com (2016-10-16)

ClickToFlash - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2016-02-04)

WhatFont - Chengyin Liu - http://chengyinliu.com/whatfont.html (2015-04-19)

1Password Safari Extension Companion - Mac App Store (2016-10-19)

1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2016-10-16)

Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-10-16)

AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-07-04)


3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Backblaze Backup (2016-10-19) [Support]

Flash Player (2016-09-23) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV (2013-12-13) [Support]

LinkLiar (2013-09-06) [Support]

Logitech Control Center (2015-12-16) [Support]

Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X (2015-12-16) [Support]

Perian (2011-07-23) [Support]


Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macbook Pro: Disk size: 479.11 GB Disk used: 213.95 GB

Destinations:

TimeMachine [Local]

Total size: 479.76 GB

Total number of backups: 27

Oldest backup: 10/19/16, 6:14 PM

Last backup: 10/22/16, 10:16 AM

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 479.76 GB < (Disk used 213.95 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

9% Chatra Helper(3)

8% WindowServer

3% --os-startup

3% kernel_task

3% fontd


Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

4.35 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(17)

1.21 GB kernel_task

475 MB softwareupdated

475 MB Safari

262 MB Mail


Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

2.37 GB Free RAM

14.00 GB Used RAM (4.59 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Oct 20, 2016, 06:29:18 PM Self test - passed

Oct 19, 2016, 08:05:17 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/garcon_2016-10-19-200517_[redacted].crash

com.getdropbox.dropbox.garcon - /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/PlugIns/garcon.appex/Contents/MacOS/garcon

 

[JohnDS]

I think the code validation error indicates that MDWorker is choking on trying to index an old PowerPC file or plug in.

In this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4306519?start=0&tstart=0 the user reported that the problem was a Encyclopaedia Britannica plug in found in Britannica 12.0/Ultimate Reference Suite.app/Contents/Library/Spotlight

There are other plugins located in /library/spotlight

You can see what spotlight plugin is choking on you by selecting the mdworker process in the Activity monitor when the problem occurs and then click on the Info button and click on Open files and ports tab.
[doublepost=1477150045][/doublepost]See also: http://www.tequilafish.com/2014/11/13/spotlight-hung-on-os-x-yosemite-with-100-cpu-usage/