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mac running slower and slower; tried everything

W

wefrucar

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 29, 2006
3
0
Over the past few months, I feel like my powerbook has been getting slower and slower.

It's 1.25 Ghz, 512 RAM, 80GB Hard Drive.

I especially notice the problem when switching applications, opening new windows, and in ITUNES! When I do a search for a song, it takes several seconds to update my library for the searched-for songs (granted I have about 30 gigs of music, but it still shouldn't be so slow)

Here's what I have tried:

-running MacJanitor, Yasu, and all those (free) programs that clean your system and crons. Barely noticed a change.
-updating prebindings
-repairing disk permission
-deleting stuff off my hard drive. I now have over 20 GB free.... nothing.
-using compressed air to try to clean dust out of my powerbook (I'm not sure if there's a special way to clean powerbooks.... I just shot air through the keyboard)
-doing some fsys command through Terminal (I don't remember exactly what it was, I just read it in a tutorial.... apparently the same thing as macsweepers do)
-clearing cookies and cache
-Leaving computer off for two weeks.

None of those has made any noticeable changes in my computer's performance.

Activity Monitor shows:

Wired: 76 MB
Active: 208 MB
Inactive: 128MB
Used: 403 MB

I'm currently running Itunes, Safari, Adium, and Activity Monitor.
I usually run more programs (Mail, Konfabulator, Ical, etc.) but honestly my system is super slow no matter how many programs are open.

I was considering upgrading my RAM, but I don't know if that will just be sweeping a more significant problem under the rug.

I've backed up my most important documents in fears of a dying hard drive. But even SMARTreporter says my Hard Drive is "Verified."

I'm getting really frustrated. If anyone has any more ideas for speeding my computer up, or think they know what may be causing this, I would love to hear it. I swear it's getting slower every day! Help :(
 
Go into system preferences and check if you have the processor at highest, reduced, or automatic. (Highest is where you want it)
I'd go ahead and get some more ram for your PB (1 gig of ram total will do the trick).
 
hmm

ok, I made a new account and it ran pretty smoothly.
If that is the problem, what are some things to make this account run better?

I think my itunes problem is a matter of ram, because when I visit people's libraries from my network (they have about 2000 songs vs. my 7000), I can search through their libraries instantly, whereas searching through mine is laggy.

So I guess that's two leads, at least.... I'll try more stuff out later.

thanks so far :)
 
Back in Activity Monitor, is there a process that's using up a lot of your resources? Make sure you look at All Processes, not just My Processes. :)

RAM shouldn't be a problem. I use an 800MHz G4 iBook with 640MB of RAM on my 80GB iTunes library with no problems.
 
Have you tried simply reformatting? Sometimes things just get bogged down.
 
oh my god!

Wow....
Thank you SO MUCH for recommending looking at "all processes" instead of just "my processes" (I had looked at "all processes hierarchally" and didn't see anything, but not just all processes)
I just found out that Norton AutoProtect was taking up 76% of my resources!!!
I don't even know why I need virus protection, I'm on a mac hehe

I disabled it and within 10 seconds my powerbook was running blazingly fast (by which I mean, normal..... but relatively blazing ;))

I can't believe the problem was so simple.....
I wonder why Norton was taking up more and more of my resources...

well, thanks a lot everyone, case closed :)
 
ITASOR said:
Have you tried simply reformatting? Sometimes things just get bogged down.
Click to expand...

Reformatting is such a drastic step that there are quite a few things to do before "simply reformatting." This isn 't Windows where things often can't be soved without a reformat unless you are intimately familiar with the registry.

If you want anti-virus protection, get the free ClamXav.
 
ITASOR said:
Have you tried simply reformatting? Sometimes things just get bogged down.
Click to expand...
nail on the head

mad jew said:
Norton is evil and must never be installed. I'm glad the nasty Norton has gone now. :cool:
Click to expand...

So true, they neglect ot mention that Norton is actually the virus

Takumi
 
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