10.8.5 slow log-in times from lock screen, slow to load lock screen when opening mac, frequent spinning beach ball (especially on task bar), often generally slow performance

Question

Hi folks,
All the information about my problem is contained in the post title. I ran etrecheck as I had seen recommended in a few other posts.
Here are the results, any help would be apppreciated.
Hardware Information:
          MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
          MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,1
          1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4 cores
          4 GB RAM
Video Information:
          Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: 384 MB
          NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - VRAM: 512 MB
Audio Plug-ins:
          AirPlay: Version: 1.7 - SDK 10.8
          iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.1 - SDK 10.8
Startup Items:
          VirtualBox: Path: /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBox
System Software:
          OS X 10.8.5 (12F45) - Uptime: 39 days 14:44:3
Disk Information:
          APPLE HDD ST500LM012 disk0 : (500.11 GB)
                    disk0s1 (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
                    Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 499.25 GB (201.68 GB free)
                    Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
          HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS31N 
USB Information:
          Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
          Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
          Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
                    Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
          Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
FireWire Information:
Thunderbolt Information:
          Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Kernel Extensions:
          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv          (4.2.6)
          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB          (4.2.6)
          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt          (4.2.6)
          org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp          (4.2.6)
Problem System Launch Daemons:
          [failed] com.apple.coresymbolicationd.plist
Problem System Launch Agents:
          [failed] com.apple.accountsd.plist
          [failed] com.apple.CalendarAgent.plist
          [failed] com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist
          [failed] com.apple.printtool.agent.plist
          [failed] com.apple.rcd.plist
          [failed] com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plist
Launch Daemons:
          [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
          [loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
          [loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
          [failed] com.macinapps.appdefender.plist
          [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
          [invalid] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist
          [loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist
Launch Agents:
          [not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
          [loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist
          [loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist
          [loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist
          [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist
          [invalid] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist
          [loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist
User Launch Agents:
          [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
          [loaded] com.akamai.client.plist
          [loaded] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist
          [loaded] com.spotify.webhelper.plist
          [loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist
          [not loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist
User Login Items:
          Citations
          iTunesHelper
          Google Notifier
          ScreenCapture
          Octoshape
          AdobeResourceSynchronizer
          Google Chrome
          Fantastical
          AdobeResourceSynchronizer
          AirDisplayStatusItem
          Android File Transfer Agent
          Caffeine
3rd Party Preference Panes:
          Air Display Preferences
          Akamai NetSession Preferences
          Flash Player
          Growl
          YAMAHA-USBMIDIPatch
Internet Plug-ins::
          NPDjVu: Version: 6.1.2 - SDK 10.6
          o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 4.9.1.16010
          OVSHelper: Version: 1.1
          PrintDialogExt: Version: 6.1.1
          AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.04 - SDK 10.6
          FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 11.9.900.117 - SDK 10.6
          DivX Web Player: Version: 3.0.1.5 - SDK 10.5
          Silverlight: Version: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6
          Flash Player: Version: 11.9.900.117 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update
          iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8
          googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 4.9.1.16010
          npgtpo3dautoplugin: Version: 0.1.44.29 - SDK 10.5
          AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.04 - SDK 10.6
          QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.1
          SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.0.0
          JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Outdated! Update
User Internet Plug-ins::
          OctoshapeWeb: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.8
          Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 2.6.1f3
Bad Fonts:
          None
Old applications:
          SoundCloud:          Version: 1.1.0 - SDK 10.0
                    /Applications/SoundCloud.app
          Uninstall Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver:          Version: 1.1.0 - SDK 10.4
                    /Users/alexanderaddiego/Documents/YAMAHA DGX 640/um132mx/Uninstall Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver.app
Time Machine:
          Auto backup: YES
          Volumes being backed up:
                    Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 297.57 GB
          Destinations:
                    FreeAgent GoFlex Drive [Local] (Last used)
                    Total size: 999.86 GB
                    Total number of backups: 2
                    Oldest backup: 2013-10-15 01:17:04 +0000
                    Last backup: 2013-10-15 01:31:10 +0000
                    Size of backup disk: Adequate
                              Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk used 297.57 GB X 3)
          Time Machine details may not be accurate.
          All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
Top Processes by CPU:
              24%          Google Chrome
               7%          WindowServer
               1%          EtreCheck
               1%          hidd
               1%          mds
Top Processes by Memory:
          201 MB             Google Chrome
          111 MB             SystemUIServer
          97 MB              Google Chrome Helper
          86 MB              mds
          85 MB              WindowServer
Virtual Memory Statistics:
          28 MB              Free RAM
          1.40 GB            Active RAM
          1.39 GB            Inactive RAM
          1.17 GB            Wired RAM
          261.34 GB          Page-ins
          81.91 GB           Page-outs

Answer 1

Satis has good recommendations.  If the don't do the trick...
You may be able to improve the speed with some software work but it could also be your disk is corrupt or failing.
Try an SMC Reset:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Is it faster now?  If not, proceed.
Backup your data immediately:
Before proceeding you should make sure you have a current backup.  If it has been getting slower over time your disk could be a failing slowly.  SATA drives have two retry modes: short and long.  They can continue operating as read errors are increasing.  The long retry cycle is very long and can cause significant performance degradation.  If it has started long retries then it is likely to get worse and eventually fail.  SSDs also have a failure mode where the fail slowly.
Time Machine Basics: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
Most commonly used backup methods: 
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3045
Methodology to protect your data.  Backups vs. Archives.  Long-term data protection:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6031
Try the remedies at http://www.macworld.com/article/2026650/mac-troubleshooting-what-to-do-when-your -computer-is-too-slow.html
and
Mac Performance Guide: http://www.thesafemac.com/mpg/
Safe Mode:
- Reboot the system in Safe Boot mode.
- Power on the Mac and when you hear the bong, hold down the shift key until it is booted.
- Be patient, this will take some time while it checks the filesystem.
  If it runs faster in Safe Boot mode then it is probably third-party software compatibility issues.
- Restart.
- Does it run faster after the restart?
Run Disk Utility (found in the Applications folder):
-In Disk Utility look at the S.M.A.R.T. Status. 
If it says the disk has a hardware problem that can't be repaired then stop.
  Your system could be in danger of failing at any time and you need to replace the disk soon.
  Back your system up twice.
  (You will need a second external disk for the second backup.)
  Consider using Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper! for the second backup to clone the disk.
  Jump to the Hardware replacement section and seek expert help.
Repair Disk Permissions and Verify Disk.  If Disk Permissions reports errors, don’t worry.  That is normal.  If Verify Disk reports errors then they need to be repaired.  Otherwise skip to the reinstall OS X section.
Repairing your system disk:
- Boot in recovery mode.
  (Boot and when you hear the bong hold down the
  Command and R keys simultaneously until you see the recovery screen.)
- Select disk utility.
- Select your system drive.
- Repair Disk.
- Did it complete without errors? 
  If not you may need a new disk.  Seek expert help.
  If it completed normally then reboot.
-Did it run faster and is it more responsive?
Reinstall OS X:
If it is still slow you should reinstall OS X.
- Boot in Recovery Mode again.
- Follow the instructions to reinstall OS X.
- Now does it run faster?
Hardware replacement or upgrade?
Hopefully by now your Mac is back to its normal speed.  If a hardware repair is indicated take it to an Genius bar at an Apple store for a free diagnosis and estimate of repairs.  You can compare their estimate with DIY repairs.
Genius reservation http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ .
or find an Apple Authorized Service Provider https://locate.apple.com/country
You can speed it up further by upgrading some hardware.  For memory, disk or SSD replacements and upgrades check out OWC http://eshop.macsales.com/, Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/ and Kingston http://www.kingston.com/us/.
Consider an upgrade to 8 GB or RAM ($100).
If your Mac has a disk and it won’t repair properly, is low on disk space, or you just want a considerably faster disk,, check out an upgrade to an SSD-Hybrid disk. Google "Seagate XT".
Good luck.  May the software fixes do the trick.