Apologies - Another EtreCheck report for diagnosis

Question

Any help with the following will be greatfully received.
I was having some performance issues running Snow Leopard on this machine after a few years of use - was great up until that point. I installed Mavericks to see whether that would help (naive I know!) but this appears to have made things worse if anything.
Have just run the EtraCheck utility and got the following report:
Hardware Information:
            MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009)
            MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,4
            1 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores
            4 GB RAM
Video Information:
            NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB
Audio Plug-ins:
            BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0
            AirPlay: Version: 1.9
            AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0
            iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3
Startup Items:
            MySQLCOM - Path: /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM
System Software:
            OS X 10.9 (13A603) - Uptime: 3 days 2:45:3
Disk Information:
            ST9250315ASG disk0 : (250.06 GB)
                        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
                        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 249.2 GB (32.61 GB free)
                        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
            HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS23N 
USB Information:
            Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
            Apple Internal Memory Card Reader
            Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
            Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
            Logitech USB Optical Mouse
            Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
                        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
FireWire Information:
Thunderbolt Information:
Kernel Extensions:
            com.kaspersky.kext.klif       (3.0.2a39)
            com.kaspersky.nke  (1.6.2a12)
            com.kaspersky.kext.kimul.44         (44)
            com.kaspersky.kext.mark.1.0.3      (1.0.3)
Problem System Launch Daemons:
            [failed]            com.apple.wdhelper.plist
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
            [loaded]          com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
            [loaded]          com.barebones.textwrangler.plist
            [loaded]          com.kaspersky.kav.plist
            [loaded]          com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
Launch Agents:
            [not loaded]   com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
            [loaded]          com.kaspersky.kav.gui.plist
            [loaded]          jp.co.canon.CUPSCAPT.BG.plist
User Launch Agents:
            [loaded]          com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
            [loaded]          com.akamai.client.plist
            [loaded]          com.akamai.single-user-client.plist
            [failed]            [email protected]Agent.plist
            [loaded]          com.google.keystone.agent.plist
            [loaded]          com.microsoft.LaunchAgent.SyncServicesAgent.plist
User Login Items:
            iTunesHelper
            Safari
            Google Drive
            Dropbox
            Microsoft Database Daemon
3rd Party Preference Panes:
            Akamai NetSession Preferences
            Flash Player
            MySQL
Internet Plug-ins:
            CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL.plugin
            Default Browser.plugin
            Flash Player.plugin
            FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin
            Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
            iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
            JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
            QuickTime Plugin.plugin
            SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin
User Internet Plug-ins:
Bad Fonts:
            None
Time Machine:
            Skip System Files: NO
            Auto backup: YES
            Volumes being backed up:
                        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 249.2 GB Disk used: 216.59 GB
            Destinations:
                        mac [Network] (Last used)
                        Total size: 1.96 TB
                        Total number of backups: 39
                        Oldest backup: 2013-08-01 17:46:28 +0000
                        Last backup: 2013-11-19 12:43:24 +0000
                        Size of backup disk: Excellent
                                    Backup size 1.96 TB > (Disk size 249.2 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU:
4%  WindowServer
4%  Adobe Photoshop Elements
2%  kav
1%  Safari
1%  EtreCheck
1%  mtmd
1%  mds_stores
1%  Mail
1%  Skype
0%  Microsoft Word
Top Processes by Memory:
            180 MB          kav
            156 MB          com.apple.WebKit.WebContent
            139 MB          Adobe Photoshop Elements
            94 MB             Skype
            90 MB             Mail
            86 MB             Finder
            70 MB             WindowServer
            66 MB             Safari
            45 MB             Google Drive
            41 MB             Microsoft Word
Virtual Memory Statistics:
            24 MB             Free RAM
            1.17 GB          Active RAM
            1.15 GB          Inactive RAM
            516 MB          Wired RAM
            5.05 GB          Page-ins
              1.36 GB          Page-outs
I can see that there are a couple of [failed]'s as well as what looks like high page-in page-out counts though I would be interested to know whether these ought to be zero ideally, i.e. when should you start worrying about these?
I noticed that I have been having more problems on Snow Leopard after I had installed MS-Office (no choice I am afraid) and Kaspersky. Neither seems to be hogging CPU or RAM according to the above though. Up until that point I had always made a big point to PC-using-friends that I have an old Mac still running like new.
I notice that after the Mac has been running for a few hours I can hear very faint disk chatter (supporting the paging I guess) when I try to change windows. If I have left the machine along for a while it can take a minute or so to come partially back to life.
If it is just about needing more RAM would be happy to purchase, but loathe to do this speculatively.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

Answer 1

Braunius wrote:
Startup Items:
            MySQLCOM - Path: /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM
Kernel Extensions:
            com.kaspersky.kext.klif       (3.0.2a39)
            com.kaspersky.nke  (1.6.2a12)
            com.kaspersky.kext.kimul.44         (44)
            com.kaspersky.kext.mark.1.0.3      (1.0.3)
Problem System Launch Daemons:
            [failed]            com.apple.wdhelper.plist
Launch Daemons:
            [loaded]          com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
            [loaded]          com.barebones.textwrangler.plist
            [loaded]          com.kaspersky.kav.plist
            [loaded]          com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
Launch Agents:
            [not loaded]   com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
            [loaded]          com.kaspersky.kav.gui.plist
            [loaded]          jp.co.canon.CUPSCAPT.BG.plist
User Launch Agents:
            [loaded]          com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
            [loaded]          com.akamai.client.plist
            [loaded]          com.akamai.single-user-client.plist
            [failed]            [email protected]
            [loaded]          com.google.keystone.agent.plist
            [loaded]          com.microsoft.LaunchAgent.SyncServicesAgent.plist
User Login Items:
            iTunesHelper
            Safari
            Google Drive
            Dropbox
            Microsoft Database Daemon
3rd Party Preference Panes:
            Akamai NetSession Preferences
            Flash Player
            MySQL
Internet Plug-ins:
            CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL.plugin
            Default Browser.plugin
            Flash Player.plugin
            FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin
            Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
            iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
            JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
            QuickTime Plugin.plugin
            SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin
Red items are loaded at the system level
Blue items are loaded at the user level
Your HD is getting low on space, 30GB free on a 250GB drive isn't much. The OS will be forced to use the slowest part of the disk for new files because the HD fills from the outside towards the center of the platter. See the second chart at http://macperformanceguide.com/Storage-Drive-Seagate-MomentusXT-500GB.html for an illustration of how read & write speed decreases across a spinning HD. Whilst I think more RAM may help, getting an SSD or faster HD with more free space will help performance.
The old MySQL startup item should be removed or updated if you use it.
I'd also remove Kaspersky to see if it has any effect. Is it up to date too? ClamXAV is a better option for AV scanning, it uses less resources & doesn't try to load it's own changes at the kernel level.
Also update/remove Canon.cupscapt.bg? It's also a system level job.
Akamai could cause issues in your user account, so update or remove.
Delete the old.mac job… it will be in ~/Library/LaunchAgents
com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-[redacted]@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist
Hopefully you have already attended to Google Drive via the Eric's link.
If you are lucky removing Kaspersky or other system level items may make the com.apple.wdhelper job be able to load. Reboot & check it doesn't fail, otherwise wifi may have issues. The rest should help you understand what EtreCheck is reporting to you.
Cleanup:
All the usual caveats apply, backup before you modify the system, delete the items (or move them to another disk or folder if you are worried about deleting the wrong thing) but ensure the originals are gone or updated.
Use the Finders "Go menu > Go to Folder…" to open the hidden ~/Library (your users library).
Reboot for the system changes to take effect.
How to find updates:
The critical launchd jobs & kernel extensions use reverse domain notation e.g.
com.logmein.hamachi.plist means look at http://logmein.com for updates (if you don't recognize it removing it may be appropriate)
In short: You want to try to update or remove all the system level items.
Startup Items: Stored in /Library/StartupItems/
Startup Items have been discontinued by Apple since Mac OS 10.4. They are responsible for making changes at a system level. Remove them all or spend time ensuring ALL related software is up to date. You need a very good reason to have anything installed in here. The developers are ignoring Apple guidelines by installing these - not a good sign.
Kernel Extensions: Stored in /Library/Extensions/
Kernel Extensions also load third party code, but they insert it into the 'core' of the OS. These can be safe, however you must ensure the related tools or apps are up to date, otherwise the system is basically built upon quicksand. Remove them all & see if the OS works better.
Launchd jobs: several types
LaunchAgents          - Stored in /Library/LaunchAgents
LaunchDaemons       - Stored in /Library/LaunchDaemons
User LaunchAgents   - Stored in ~/Library/LaunchAgents
These are all background jobs, they are not necessarily bad, but if they are loading old code it could be doing untold damage to the performance & stability of the entire OS. Focus on the System level jobs (the ones inside /Library - the system level) also remove ['failed'], non-system jobs.
EtreCheck gives a status on launchd jobs…
[loaded]                  - a running job
[not loaded]            - jobs that are set not to run, basically harmless, remove them unless you plan to use the associated software (if it is up to date)
[failed]                    - jobs in a crashed or unknown state, it could be forking processes or using all the system resources, remove these.
User login items:
Applications and helpers that are managed inside 'Systems Preferences > Users and groups > Login Items tab'.
These are loaded at the 'User level', consider removing all of them whilst you troubleshoot.  When you decide to re-add them ensure the software is up to date.
3rd Party Preference Panes: & Internet Plug-ins:
/Library/PreferencePanes/ and ~/Library/PreferencePanes/
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ and ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/
Once again these items all must be up to date, or remove them from your system. If the prefpanes manage additional software use the uninstaller or see the developers site for uninstall instructions. You can also right click to remove 3rd party preference panes in System preferences
Read the list of Internet plug-ins carefully, there are often duplicate Flash player versions that won't help stability, it's just wasted space too.
Don't forget to also update Safari's extensions in it's preferences (if you have any).
Re-run EtreCheck after cleaning up to see if items have returned (some apps will reload the background jobs when re-opened, so either update or remove the software).
Hope that isn't too daunting, the OS should be better if there are less old items running at the system level.