Mackbook Pro very slow

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OnceBitten

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#248639 3-Apr-2019 16:24

We've got a 2013 MacBook Pro and in the last few months it seems to be on a bit of a 'go-slow'

it's always taken a while to start up, but once the screen comes up and I click on mail and Chrome logos and it takes ages for them to come up.... the icons bounce up and down at the bottom of the screen when you click on them, then they come up and the cursor just spins around for ages

if I try to click on one of the in-boxes in mail the cursor will just spin around for ages and if I try to type something into the address bar in Chrome the cursor spins around and I can't even click on new tab or anything.... it will take between 2-5 minutes before I can click in the address bar and type anything or open a new tab and takes the same time before the e-mails start to come through

then when I click on an e-mail I've received it will be blank.... nothing.... so I will do something in chrome or just wait and come back to the e-mail a few minutes later then the text / e-mail content will be up.

once all this has finished the MacBook seems to speed up and internet speed seems to be good - e-mails and web pages then open up fine...

The same happens with Word - if I click on the W, it will bounce around at the bottom of the screen for nearly a minute.... then about 2 minutes later will come up with templates...etc... I don't know how to stop this and make it open up a new word document every time I open Word. (or why it takes about 3 minutes to come up)

The MacBook was never this slow at the start when you open programs... ideally I'd like to be able to click on the mail icon or chrome icon and have the programs come up straight away or within a few seconds.

does anyone know why it might be this slow and if there are any speed tests of something I can do to optimise the performance?

Wife thinks it's out internet connection (Vodafone fibre unlimited plan) and I think it might be the MacBook itself

any suggestions would be welcome

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#2210205 3-Apr-2019 16:28

I had this a few months ago with a MacBook Pro 2011, put a new SSD into it, same results. Dreadfully slow.

Then found out that the cable which connects the drive to the motherboard is broken. It is really screwed design, the cable is a very thin one and it bends quite sharp a few times. 😫

After getting a cable as well, it was running million times faster.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Cable+Replacement/10379

FineWine

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#2210217 3-Apr-2019 17:04

Here are some other things you can try:

I carry out what I call a "Grease & Oil Change" using a maintenance program called Onyx. This is a free program that is a multifunction utility that you can use to verify the structure of the system files, to run miscellaneous maintenance and cleaning tasks, to configure parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari, and some of Apple's applications, to delete caches, to remove certain problematic folders and files, to rebuild various databases and indexes, and more. I always use it prior and post system OS updates and about once a month.

This program is available here: Titanium Software - Onyx. ONLY DOWNLOAD THE VERSION FOR YOUR macOS

In the 'Maintenance' Tab, I select everything including 'Rebuild the index' in 'Mails mailboxes'. Then within the 'Cleaning' block, click on 'Options...', I tick everything except 'Bookmark icons'. Also click on the 'Info' Tab, there is a lot of information there concerning your machine.

Reset PRAM:
You can reset the PRAM by restarting your Mac and holding down the keyboard combination Command+Option+P+R. These keys need holding down simultaneously immediately after you restart your Mac, while its starting. While holding the keys, you will hear the Mac boot chime again, this is your Mac telling you the reset has been successful. You can now let go of the keys – the reset is complete, your Mac should now start up normally. The keyboard combination will only work if you hold the keys down before the grey screen appears. If it doesn’t work, restart and try it again. 

Reset the SMC of a MacBook or MacBook Pro’s with detachable batteries:
• Shutdown your MacBook/Pro and remove the battery.
• Disconnect the power adapter, hold the Power Key for 10 seconds
• Release the power key and reconnect your battery and power adapter
• Turn your Mac on
• Let boot as usual

Reset SMC of a MacBook or MacBook Pro’s with an internal battery:
• Shutdown your MacBook/Pro
• Connect the power adapter to your Mac
• On the MacBook/Pro’s keyboard, hold down the Shift+Control+Option keys and the Power button at the same time
• Release all keys and the power button simultaneously
• Boot your Mac as usual

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

OnceBitten

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#2210333 3-Apr-2019 19:58

thanks for that - how do I find out what version of OS I have??

FineWine

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#2210354 3-Apr-2019 20:45

OnceBitten: thanks for that - how do I find out what version of OS I have??

All late 2013 MacBook Pro's are capable of running the latest version of macOS which is Mojave 10.14.4.

To discover what version of macOS you are running click on the Apple  symbol top left on the Menu bar. Now click ‘About This Mac’, ensure that the ‘Overview’ tab is selected and this will display the version of macOS you are currently running along with a brief but important description of your machine.

If you are running an older version then check out this article How to upgrade to macOS Mojave

Also if you are running an older version of macOS other than Mojave I still advise that you download the Onyx version suitable for your current version of macOS from the Titanium website and Run it prior to upgrading to Mojave. Then after upgrade download and run the latest version of Onyx suitable for Mojave.

DO NOT FORGET TO BACKUP FIRST BEFORE ANY UPGRADES.

PS: prior to Mojave, macOS upgrades were found within the App store. With the release of Mojave you now can update either via Apple  symbol top left on the Menu bar. Click ‘About This Mac’, ensure that the ‘Overview’ tab is selected, now click the Software Update... button or you will also find 'Software update...' in 'System Preferences', third section down. To ensure you are always running the latest version of macOS, whilst you are within 'Software Update' ensure that the 'Automatically keep my Mac up-to-date is ticked. Also have a peak at what is under the 'Advanced..' button.

Hope all this helps and not too nerdy. 🤓 😀

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

RunningMan

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#2210355 3-Apr-2019 20:51

I wouldn't upgrade to Mojave without careful consideration - there are a number of applications from major vendors which are not guaranteed to work under Mojave, so you could be in for some expense upgrading everything else if you go down this path. Best to check all the apps you commonly use with be OK, before upgrading.

Fire up Disk Utility in /Applications/Utilities and run First Aid. See what that says first. If that's all good, the cable above is a possibility - check whether the Retina model (2013) uses the same cable - I have a feeling it changed.

FineWine

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#2210378 3-Apr-2019 21:23

RunningMan: I wouldn't upgrade to Mojave without careful consideration - there are a number of applications from major vendors which are not guaranteed to work under Mojave, so you could be in for some expense upgrading everything else if you go down this path. Best to check all the apps you commonly use with be OK, before upgrading.

If any vendor worth their salt is not keeping up with macOS versions then they should not be in the business of writing software for macOS. This is especially important considering that Mojave 10.4 WILL BE the LAST version capable of running 32 bit App's. From 10.15 onwards only 64 bit App's will work with macOS.

Ensure you are running the latest versions of ALL your App's first.

The simplest way to see all your 32-bit applications (and 64-bit apps) on a Mac is to use System Information:

Hold down the OPTION / ALT key on your keyboard, then pull down the  Apple menu
Choose “System Information” from the top of the Apple menu list
In the System Information app, scroll down the left-side menu and look under “Software” and choose “Applications”
Look for the “64-bit (Intel)” option in the column header, and click on that to sort the column by 64-bit
Every app that says “No” is 32-bit, every app that says “Yes” is 64-bit

Any 32 bit apps you use I strongly suggested you contact the App developer and have a serious word with them or just research for a compatible replacement App. They have had plenty of warning, I mean Apple has slowly been weaning away from 32 bit since OS Leopard in 2007. From High Sierra to Mojave Apple has been running a warning.

RunningMan: Fire up Disk Utility in /Applications/Utilities and run First Aid. See what that says first. If that's all good, the cable above is a possibility - check whether the Retina model (2013) uses the same cable - I have a feeling it changed.

Good idea there, forgot about First Aid.

AGAIN DO NOT FORGET TO BACKUP FIRST FIRST.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

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tdgeek

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#2210391 3-Apr-2019 21:34

Mackbook? :-)

My rMBP Late 2013 runs as well as it was new. Takes 12 secs form turn on till webpage up. Always been like that, never been re installed. Since Mojave, it pauses on start-up, then continues, but aside from that, punchy as usual

hio77

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#2210401 3-Apr-2019 22:04

Do you have cobblestones outside?

go out there, remove one, replace it with macbook.

Solid paving stone.

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tdgeek

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#2210472 4-Apr-2019 07:26

hio77:

Do you have cobblestones outside?

go out there, remove one, replace it with macbook.

Solid paving stone.

It would be too. Its great not needing to reinstall the whole caboodle to recover performance... :-)

RunningMan

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#2210477 4-Apr-2019 07:36

@finewine it’s not whether the vendor has kept up, its whether the OP has. They may not want to spend money updating software on the off chance it fixes an unrelated problem.

Brumfondl

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#2210512 4-Apr-2019 07:55

FineWine:

Reset PRAM:
You can reset the PRAM by restarting your Mac and holding down the keyboard combination Command+Option+P+R. These keys need holding down simultaneously immediately after you restart your Mac, while its starting. While holding the keys, you will hear the Mac boot chime again, this is your Mac telling you the reset has been successful. You can now let go of the keys – the reset is complete, your Mac should now start up normally. The keyboard combination will only work if you hold the keys down before the grey screen appears. If it doesn’t work, restart and try it again.

This is now called NVRAM and holds many of the settings from System Preferences. Resetting it might help but is kind of unlikely given that you are having a performance issue.

Reset the SMC of a MacBook or MacBook Pro’s with detachable batteries:
• Shutdown your MacBook/Pro and remove the battery.
• Disconnect the power adapter, hold the Power Key for 10 seconds
• Release the power key and reconnect your battery and power adapter
• Turn your Mac on
• Let boot as usual

Reset SMC of a MacBook or MacBook Pro’s with an internal battery:
• Shutdown your MacBook/Pro
• Connect the power adapter to your Mac
• On the MacBook/Pro’s keyboard, hold down the Shift+Control+Option keys and the Power button at the same time
• Release all keys and the power button simultaneously
• Boot your Mac as usual

You won't have a removable battery. the correct instructions for resetting the SMC are:

Choose Apple menu > Shut Down.
After your Mac shuts down, press Shift-Control-Option on the left side of the built-in keyboard, then press the power button at the same time. Hold these keys and the power button for 10 seconds. If you have a MacBook Pro with Touch ID, the Touch ID button is also the power button.
Release all keys.
Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

I would very much doubt it would help. The following is what the SMC is responsible for:

The SMC is responsible for these and other low-level functions on Intel-based Mac computers:

Responding to presses of the power button
Responding to the display lid opening and closing on Mac notebooks
Battery management
Thermal management
Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS)
Ambient light sensing
Keyboard backlighting
Status indicator light (SIL) management
Battery status indicator lights
Selecting an external (instead of internal) video source for some iMac displays

I would suggest restarting in Safe Mode as per https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT201262 and see if it helps at all.

FineWine is correct about doing a backup if you decide that you want to update macOS. You may actually need to back up your data, erase and reinstall macOS, and then put your data back on if there is a major issue with the OS or the HDD. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314 can show you how to boot into Recovery and you would want to run Disk Utility from there to see if the drive has any issues.

If you have time on your hands you could just call AppleCare and the can go through a bunch of things with you to try and resolve the issues you are having :)

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OnceBitten

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#2210514 4-Apr-2019 08:08

FineWine: Fire up Disk Utility in /Applications/Utilities and run First Aid. See what that says first

thanks for that - I'll try it later tonight when I'm at home

OnceBitten

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#2210998 4-Apr-2019 22:17

Well I’ve just tried running disk utility and first aid but all that happens is the cursor spins around for a minute, then it freezes and I can’t do anything except hold the power button down for 5 seconds and restart the MacBook

But wait - it’s just come up and said done (I’m typing this on the iPad)
Didn’t advise me of any problems

I’ll see if I can do a speed test

michaelmurfy

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#2211002 4-Apr-2019 22:27

Sounds like the hard drive is shot presuming it is a hard drive.

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OnceBitten

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#2211004 4-Apr-2019 22:31

everything is working and it does seem slightly faster..... I think me force shutting it down was wrong because the 3rd time I tried the first aid thing and the curser froze... I just left it sit there for longer and got the ipad out to type my earlier message... then it came right and said 'done'

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