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musicguy7

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 21, 2011
84
0
I run the App Onyx, and do a cleaning - system with all the default boxes checked before I shut down my mac pro every time. Is that safe/result in potential probs?
 
Every time you shut down? That's way-overkill-OCD. :D

I use it maybe 4-5 times a year and I'm not convinced it's even needed.
 
Ok, well I'm use to windows and using various cleaners and maintenance tools..
 
How often is it recommended to use this function then?

Do you experience any problems with your Mac?

I haven't used Onyx in years, I never need it though.

Mac OS X is quite "intelligent" when it comes to self maintenance, as it performs daily, weekly and monthly scripts by itself.
Mac OS X is not Windows, it is a UNIX flavour.
 
I run it if ever I get problems that I think cleaning caches will help.

So maybe once a year.

Every time you shutdown is waaaay overkill. Talking of which, why even shut down? Standby works _really_ well on OS X.
 
I actually like to disable background processes to optimizie my performance with my music app Logic. Anyway to disable and manually rub these "scripts". I disabled auto updates, date and time and spotlight so far.
 
I don't do anything when I shut down my Mac Pro. I just hit shut down.

Still running the same system install (with the upgrades on top, obviously) since 2008.

Auto updates and date and time won't save you any CPU. Those are normally run once a day, and they only take a few seconds.

Spotlight? Eh. You have a Mac Pro. Pretty sure you can handle Spotlight in the background. :p It only does things when you save anyway.

I would just leave everything alone. This isn't a PC, you don't have to hold it's hand. Macs can pretty much handle themselves.
 
I actually like to disable background processes to optimizie my performance with my music app Logic. Anyway to disable and manually rub these "scripts". I disabled auto updates, date and time and spotlight so far.


I don't think you're really getting any performance gains from those processes.

The maintenance scripts (a daily one, a weekly one and a monthly one) run at like 5am if your system is on or immediately upon booting/waking from sleep. No reason to disable and run manually.

You need to lose your Windows mentality. :D
 
I couldn't live without Spotlight. It's how I launch pretty much everything, it's how I find files, it's there, it's unobtrusive and it works.
 
I actually like to disable background processes to optimizie my performance with my music app Logic. Anyway to disable and manually rub these "scripts". I disabled auto updates, date and time and spotlight so far.
You gain no noticeable additional performance by doing this.
Does Onyx still save the entered password on your HD?
 
It really depends how hard you ride and whether you use and ssd to some extent. Personally, I thrash huge amounts of files in and out and lots of installs and uninstalls and heavy memory and occasionally benefit from some repair, cache cleaning etc. with some noticeable positive results. S does happen sometimes, even to a mac pro. Just look at all the "help needed" threads here for various OS issues.
 
Ok, well I'm use to windows and using various cleaners and maintenance tools..

Maintenance tools like onyx, and even ones for Windows, are good for clearing caches, but using them too often (on windows OR os x) can actually have a detrimental effect and slow down your boot times and such.

I don't use them ever (unless I have a problem), and I've never had a problem with Windows or Mac.
 
Hello,

You need to lose your Windows mentality. :D

+1

I used to be a freak when it came to such apps back in the Mac OS 8-9, and it carried on with Mac OS X until 10.3. Since Tiger, running those scripts just seemed pointless. Haven't done it in years, and I really doubt you're gaining any benefit *at all* from it.

It's easy to test: just stop doing it, and start thinking about your Mac as a well oiled machine that can take care of these things for you.

As for performance, unless you're running on a Mac LC II, you won't notice those processes at all.

Welcome to the Mac side.

Loa
 
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