Creaking noise from trackpad button
I just got my MacBook a few days ago (Nov. 07) and have just started noticing a loud sound coming from the trackpad button. Whenever I press it in the middle (not on either side) it makes a loud creaking sound.
Anyone else having this problem? What should I do to fix it?
i have the same problem
if i click at the bottom of the button the sound ¡s 0k, but if i press the button on the middle and upper it makes that creaking noise
dunno what to do
Similar Messages
-
T61 Display Problem and Annoying Noise from ESC button area
I have two problems with my T61, model 6460-66U. One's with display and another is annoying noise coming from ESC button area.
Ordered in Feb, 2008 for college use, as soon as I start to use it there's some problem with the display quality. When using Aero there would be black square spots appearing on screen and would disappear when hovering mouse over these areas. Processing speed is somewhat slow when using Aero. While switching to Basic Vista style, those black square spots will only appear in the Windows Photo Gallery's left corner, like the image shows: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2746362257_6dc6a4d6a2_o.jpg When playing videos, like avi, rmvb, wmv files, there's a common problem that the screen in the media player keeps flashing with the green color. I thought it was the RAM, because it's 1G so it got upgraded to 3G over summer break. Hoping the problem would be solved, but not . Recover the system back to factory status helps a little, but after upgrading the newest driver (7.15.11.7597) of Nvidia 140m there would be sudden black out on screen, and notice of display driver stopped working. When degrade to 7.15.11.129 version it runs fairly well but problem with Photo Gallery and videos as mentioned above still exist. I found a Korean media player which could fix the video playing problem, but with Windows Media player, Realplayer and other major video player the problem still exists. Screenshot of the problem is here http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2746362307_aff12c556c_o.jpg I upgraded BIOS, but laptop would become slow and video images would blur/double shadows. So I swtiched it back.
And recent few days, there's annoying noise coming from in the upper left corner, where ESC button is. I don't know whether it's from the fan or the AC adapter, it's like Zssssss, and if I press my finger on it, the noise would be a little louder. There's a similar problem that I noticed in the first few weeks with the experience of this laptop, whenever I maximize the volume (both volume control of computer and the music player), some annoying noise, which is similar to this Zsss sound but louder will buzzing along with music. Didn't care much about that since if I don't maximize the volume it would just be fine. But this time the whining noise won't disappear. What probably cause this? Anyway to fix it, like replacing certain parts??
Suggessions and help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!!
Original description: T7300(2GHz), 1GB RAM, 160GB 5400rpm HD, 15.4in 1680x1050 LCD, 128MB nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11agn, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, Intel Turbo Memory, 6c Li-Ion, WinVista Business
Message Edited by dream on 08-09-2008 09:35 AM
Message Edited by dream on 08-09-2008 09:38 AMDirt can get under the button in an instant.
I use a strong suction vacuum cleaner and tip the computer from side to side and upside down while clicking the button to suck out the dirt. -
Double click action from trackpad button?
Hi all,
I've had my iBook G4 for a few months now and last week I've been noticing that a single click on my trackpad button would product doubl click results. This is really annoying when I:
- try to use a form checkbox and it quickly changes and changes back
- try to make a selection photoshop and it just disappears
- try to open a new tab in Firefox/Camino/Safari/etc and two tabs open of the same URL
I'm noticing that if I press on the left side of the button it tends to be a single click and the right (most common) gives the double. Did I accidentally change something in the System Preferences? Any experience on fixing this problem?
Thanks to anybody who can help.Hi Eggz
I experience the same here with my iBook G4 12''. It is quite like my three year old nokia cell phone registering double input from single touches all the time. Only the iBook is just four weeks old.
The 'Ignore accidental trackpad input' option in System Preferences is turned on all the time. I unchecked it and it does not appear to have any effect on this double clicking issue.
After four years of heavy TiBook trackpad button clicking (no mouse ever on my laptop), and knowing my friends 12'' PowerBook, the iBook trackpad button feels very lousy. Its unprecise movement/action point and its hollow plastic clicking sound do not live up to the standards I am used to. Ok, it's only an iBook - but it's disappointing anyway.
I will talk to support tomorrow (today a holiday) and get back with news afterward.
Sebastian
iBook G4 12'' Mac OS X (10.4.6) G5 Quad -
When using the trackpad, I get a strange noise coming from the trackpad. It seems like I have a loose trackpad and it makes noise when I "rub" it. Everything works fine, but the noise is a little annoying.
Does anyone have this issue?I have had the clicking as well, but it only started recently, followed by other problems.
The middle of my trackpad seems worn (smoother in center). It has also stopped working the last few times I've used the computer, forcing me to restart and clean it. I am not sure that the cleaning had anything to do with it, because the problem would repeat after a few moments I switched off the "ignore accidental input," and after two plus hours of input it hasn't happened again.
I plan on buying a mouse, because I guess it is probably just wear and tear in my case. I wish I had done it earlier, so I could be sure it would work when I truly wanted my ibook to be portable.
I am curious if anyone else has had a similar experience. There is something in the support about applying a “Teflon appliqué” over it, but I do not know if that will help in this case, though it may have helped earlier to reduce wear. (the only info on this teflon I found said it could be bought at most supermarkets and if not, then at a hardware store for sure.)
And my click button is loud, but it has always been loud. The trackpad seems inconsistent regarding tap clicks, and clicked while I was typing, even though ignore accidental input was selected, which should keep the trackpad inactive while typing. -
Creaking noise coming from bottom case.
I just got a new macbook pro as a replacement for a lemon about a week ago. Everything seems to be working fine. There is one thing that is worrying me though. When im laying down and have my macbook on my chest I can hear it make creaking noises. At first I thought it was no big deal but its starting to annoy me. I put the bottom of the macbook up to my ear to see what the noise was and it sounds like the bottom case flexes and produces the creaking sound. Is this normal? I am trying to avoid any repairs on this macbook for this issue since I have had bad experiences with repairs in the past. Can anyone confirm if this is normal?
' Hey guys (and any gals)!
' I'm using the 17-inch unibody which doesn't have the removable panels etc. that some of you might - so I'm honestly not entirely sure how relevant this is - but I thought sharing this with you might prove useful or interesting anyways...
' AFAIK the story about the fans is a load of bull! The only fans in the Unibody system are right up almost against the screen's hinge and they aren't resting against or too near the casing.
' Even without the panels you have, my system occasionally creaks a little - generally when I have it sitting on a very uneven surface that itself moves and shifts where it's applying pressure to the bottom of the case. From my perspective, and on my machine, it would appear to be nothing other than a little "give-and-take" of the casing (i.e. the metal) itself. It's slight, infrequent, and seems perfectly natural and normal (to be expected) to me.
' Again - this may NOT be what you may be experiencing - I don't know. But maybe this info / perspective / experience helps...
~Menageryl
-Jack of All Trades, Master of Some!- -
I here a croaking and creaking noise every time I grasp my phone, especially around the home button.
I hear a croaking and creaking noise every time I grasp my phone, especially around the home button.
Would you rather upgrade to windows 8, BlackBerry or Android phones? Do you honestly think those don't have problems?
You waited a lot and chose to buy an early production model. Mistakes happen all the time a factory retools and workers relearn new skills necessary to keep US happy.
Exercise your rights.... Send it back for a new one.
In any case, I feel your frustration. Btw, I love Apple but use a Blackberry -
Trackpad button problems? Could be your battery!
My trackpad button lost all its clicking function yesterday, suddenly becoming much more mushy than usual. By the end of the day, it acted as though it were permanently clicked, arbitrarily dragging items all over the screen, wherever the cursor was moved. By this evening, the trackpad button wouldn’t move at all.
I removed the battery and cautiously touched the trackpad from beneath, as that area is exposed in the battery compartment. It made the original clicking noise in the middle, both sides, front, and back. I then opened the lid (lifted the screen up) and pressed on the trackpad, finding that the clicking sound and action worked fine.
After replacing the battery and restarting the computer, though, I found that the clicking function was still gone, and that the button wouldn’t move at all.
Removing the battery, I looked at it against a light and detected an almost imperceptible bulge in the middle. I guess the specifications are so tight that bulge is raised enough to permanently press up on the trackpad from beneath, making it impossible to click from above.
I then inserted my recently purchased backup battery and find that the trackpad button is fully clickable with it.
I’m glad that this probably means I won’t have to live without my computer for a few weeks, as it should need to be sent in for repairs. However, because the battery still charges and supplies power without any noticeably problem, and the bulge is so slight as to be unnoticeable, I doubt that Apple will be willing to replace it.
I’ve already had three power adapters melt within six months, and the last replacement took three weeks to arrive, so I didn’t want to lose that much income again while waiting for a trackpad button replacement (which appears to be unnecessary). Obviously, it is a heat problem for both the adapters and battery. I use the computer almost always on a hard-surface desk, but of course it is used about sixteen hours a day, seven days a week (minus four hours of church meetings on Sundays). The power adapters are in the open air, so I don’t know where all the heat is coming from. All of us who own a MacBook Pro notice within the first hour out of the box that it is too hot to sit on a lap, so I guess it is a design problem—and maybe quality control problems at the Chinese factories.
I similarly went through eight iBook G3 logic boards due to heat problems without ever getting the computer replaced as hoped. This time, I have AppleCare to make it more likely that I can get a replacement once they solve their various heat-related problems with a revised design if I encounter too many more problems. I’ve lost so much income in recent years from long repairs (unavailable replacement parts) of new or nearly near Apple laptop computers. I’m still committed to the platform, though, after twenty years of devotion.Thanks! That’s great news. I’ve been delaying it until now, because I couldn’t find the original box of my second battery, so I assumed that I couldn’t send it in, and I haven’t had time to go to a local dealer yet.
This general recall and ability to use the one working battery in the meantime will solve my problem and avoid future similar issues.
The description on that page also makes it sound as though it won’t be a replay of my problem with the iBook logic board that I kept getting replaced (eight or nine times) with more than a two-week wait sometimes, only to have the last failure happen outside the three-year extended coverage. If this is in fact a quality control problem rather than a design problem as was the case with the iBook, I don’t expect a recurrence after this.
Unfortunately, though, looking at the number of power adapters that I’ve been going through with this MacBook Pro, I do suspect multiple recurrences throughout the future, as it is clearly a design problem. Having two of them should leave me with one working one, though, while waiting for replacements.
15" 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo MacBookPro1,1 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2 GB 667 MHz RAM -
Trackpad and trackpad button often unresponsive in Mavericks
This is an offshoot of discussion about a mouse right click not always working since upgrading to Mavericks.
I said using the trackpad and trackpad button on my MBP often doesn't effect the computer; I have to repeat those actions multiple times before anything happens.
Drew Reece offered some suggestions for my issues:
First, I came to Mavericks from Snow Leopard because I'd tried Lion and Mt. Lion but found my old laptop (early 2008 MBP v4.1) ran way, too slow.
Before going whole hog on Mavericks I read a lot, then installed it on an external drive (spinning, connected with FW800) and played with it for a few days. I used Migration Assistant to make the move, which segregated software that was not compatible. Mavericks was slow for a few days, but did gradually speed up. However, that was when I first ran into the issue with the trackpad and button not registering with the computer's display. I also ran into the problems with Mail not liking my 3 Gmail accounts but actually solved that using by booting in safe mode, thanks to another poster here. Not sure why - I attributed it to Spotlight indexing the drive - everything about the computer was very slow and extremely funky while in safe mode; no way I would want to judge the OS based on performance during that boot. It was awful.
I did update a lot of applications to Mavericks-ready versions while I was using 10.9 on that external drive.
When I felt comfortable, I wiped my NBP hard drive and did a clean install of Mavericks, followed by repeating the same software updates. Then used Super Duper to just bring over User folders from that external drive. Because SD restores the Spotlight state there was no "break-in" period so Mavericks ran reasonably fast right away. I wasn't ready for iCloud deleting my Address Book data but, fortunately, I replaced everything from the external drive's Users/me/Library/Application Support/Address Book folder.
So, per Drew's suggestion, I ran EtreCheck:
Hardware Information:
MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2008)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro4,1
1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores
4 GB RAM
Video Information:
GeForce 8600M GT - 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:
FanControlDaemon - Path: /Library/StartupItems/FanControlDaemon
Tor - Path: /Library/StartupItems/Tor
System Software:
OS X 10.9 (13A603) - Uptime: 0 days 0:53:59
Disk Information:
Hitachi HTS542520K9SA00 disk0 : (200.05 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Power 10 (disk0s2) /: 199.71 GB (71.1 GB free)
USB Information:
Apple Inc. iPod
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple, Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
FireWire Information:
Other World Computing OXFORD IDE Device 1 400mbit - 800mbit max
EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Banksy (disk3s2) /Volumes/Banksy: 299.21 GB (180.6 GB free)
Other World Computing OXFORD IDE Device 1 800mbit - 800mbit max
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Got Your Back (disk1s2) /Volumes/Got Your Back: 319.73 GB (196.91 GB free)
OWC Mercury Elite Pro 800mbit - 800mbit max
EFI (disk4s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Video (disk4s2) /Volumes/Video: 1 TB (561.34 GB free)
Repechage (disk4s3) /Volumes/Repechage: 1 TB (513.06 GB free)
Wayback (disk4s4) /Volumes/Wayback: 999.39 GB (108.82 GB free)
OWC Mercury Elite unknown_device 800mbit - 800mbit max
EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Check It! (disk2s2) /Volumes/Check It!: 1 TB (513.38 GB free)
The Shed (disk2s3) /Volumes/The Shed: 300 GB (180.43 GB free)
Space (disk2s4) /Volumes/Space: 697.3 GB (558.43 GB free)
Thunderbolt Information:
Kernel Extensions:
at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (4050)
com.rogueamoeba.InstantOn (6.0.3)
com.bresink.driver.BRESINKx86Monitoring (9.0)
Problem System Launch Daemons:
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
[loaded] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
[loaded] com.barebones.authd.plist
[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist
[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtask.1F60888F-BFED-41C0-85FC-E077C4E6162C.plist
[not loaded] com.freemacsoft.appcleanerdaemon.plist
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
[loaded] com.micromat.TechToolProDaemon.plist
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
[loaded] org.glimmerblocker.proxy.plist
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist
Launch Agents:
[loaded] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist
[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
[failed] com.google.keystone.agent.plist
[loaded] com.micromat.TechToolProAgent.plist
[loaded] com.sony.PMBPortable.AutoRun.plist
[loaded] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist
[loaded] org.glimmerblocker.updater.plist
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist
User Launch Agents:
[not loaded] ca.madefresh.BodegaAgent.plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
[not loaded] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist
[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc-user-agent.plist
[not loaded] de.metaquark.appfresh.plist
[not loaded] ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist
User Login Items:
GrowlHelperApp
GrowlMenu
KeyCue
SizeUp
BookMacster
MagiCal
Caffeine
Dates to iCal 2
iTrashGhost
Rogue Amoeba Schedule Helper
Aurora Wakeup Helper
3rd Party Preference Panes:
A Better Finder Preferences
Akamai NetSession Preferences
EarthDesk
Fan Control
Flash Player
Flip4Mac WMV
GlimmerBlocker
MacFUSE (Tuxera)
MenuMeters
Perian
TechTool Protection
Internet Plug-ins:
AdobeAAMDetect.plugin
AdobePDFViewer.plugin
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin
Default Browser.plugin
DirectorShockwave.plugin
DivX Web Player.plugin
Flash Player.plugin
FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin
Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin
iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin
o1dbrowserplugin.plugin
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin.plugin
OVSHelper.plugin
QuickTime Plugin.plugin
RealPlayer Plugin.plugin
SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin
Silverlight.plugin
Unity Web Player.plugin
User Internet Plug-ins:
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin.plugin
SheepSystemsNPAPIPlugin.plugin
Bad Fonts:
None
Time Machine:
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: NO
Volumes being backed up:
Banksy: Disk size: 299.21 GB Disk used: 118.61 GB
Destinations:
Wayback [Local] (Last used)
Total size: 999.39 GB
Total number of backups: 85
Oldest backup: 2012-11-13 14:09:20 +0000
Last backup: 2013-11-10 12:12:44 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 999.39 GB > (Disk size 299.21 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU:
18% firefox
6% WindowServer
2% EtreCheck
2% Finder
1% SystemUIServer
0% Little Snitch Agent
0% Little Snitch Network Monitor
0% fontd
0% Aurora Wakeup Helper
0% Little Snitch Daemon
Top Processes by Memory:
616 MB firefox
365 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent
160 MB Finder
127 MB WindowServer
98 MB Mail
94 MB mds_stores
86 MB Dock
78 MB AdobeAcrobat
49 MB Contacts
45 MB soagent
Virtual Memory Statistics:
696 MB Free RAM
1.73 GB Active RAM
1.05 GB Inactive RAM
552 MB Wired RAM
517 MB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs
I don't see anything that mentions software - good or bad. And I don't see anything else that indicates a problem but maybe I just don't know how to read this report?
Sorry about the length of this but I wanted to addres all Drew's suggestions. And I'm still seeing those intermittent trackpad/button issues.
- thanksI'll try to break down each of these sections & point out any bad signs below.
Hopefully the color helps…
Alex Machi wrote:
Startup Items:
FanControlDaemon - Path: /Library/StartupItems/FanControlDaemon
Tor - Path: /Library/StartupItems/Tor
Kernel Extensions:
at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (4050)
com.rogueamoeba.InstantOn (6.0.3)
com.bresink.driver.BRESINKx86Monitoring (9.0)
Launch Daemons:
[loaded] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
[loaded] com.barebones.authd.plist
[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist
[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtask.1F60888F-BFED-41C0-85FC-E077C4E6162C.plist
[not loaded] com.freemacsoft.appcleanerdaemon.plist
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
[loaded] com.micromat.TechToolProDaemon.plist
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
[loaded] org.glimmerblocker.proxy.plist
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist
Launch Agents:
[loaded] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist
[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
[failed] com.google.keystone.agent.plist
[loaded] com.micromat.TechToolProAgent.plist
[loaded] com.sony.PMBPortable.AutoRun.plist
[loaded] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist
[loaded] org.glimmerblocker.updater.plist
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist
User Launch Agents:
[not loaded] ca.madefresh.BodegaAgent.plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
[not loaded] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist
[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc-user-agent.plist
[not loaded] de.metaquark.appfresh.plist
[not loaded] ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist
User Login Items:
GrowlHelperApp
GrowlMenu
KeyCue
SizeUp
BookMacster
MagiCal
Caffeine
Dates to iCal 2
iTrashGhost
Rogue Amoeba Schedule Helper
Aurora Wakeup Helper
3rd Party Preference Panes:
A Better Finder Preferences
Akamai NetSession Preferences
EarthDesk
Fan Control
Flash Player
Flip4Mac WMV
GlimmerBlocker
MacFUSE (Tuxera)
MenuMeters
Perian
TechTool Protection
Internet Plug-ins:
AdobeAAMDetect.plugin
AdobePDFViewer.plugin
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin
Default Browser.plugin
DirectorShockwave.plugin
DivX Web Player.plugin
Flash Player.plugin
FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin
Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin
iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin
o1dbrowserplugin.plugin
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin.plugin
OVSHelper.plugin
QuickTime Plugin.plugin
RealPlayer Plugin.plugin
SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin
Silverlight.plugin
Unity Web Player.plugin
User Internet Plug-ins:
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin.plugin
SheepSystemsNPAPIPlugin.plugin
Red items are loaded at the system level
Blue items are loaded at the user level
The other stuff gets loaded into apps like Safari - they are internet plugins.
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.
at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist means look at http://obdev.at for 'LittleSnitch' updates
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.
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.
Your LittleSnitch is out of date for example, how about hardware monitor or Rogueamoeba's software?
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'] 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.
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. -
How I fixed my Powerbook G4 Trackpad Button
I'd like to share a solution I've found to a problem that plagued me.
For months, my trackpad would intermittently act sticky. I thought it was the trackpad itself, but as the problem became more frequent and intense, I realized that it was the button itself.
Because the machine was unusable without an external mouse, I decided to do whatever I could to fix it today. I tried cleaned it with a lint-free cloth, cleaning the gap between the trackpad and the button, resetting the PMU, and resetting the NVRAM. None of this helped.
SO, I deduced that it must be a hardware problem and I could probably fix it since I knew the problem originated under the button itself. So I went to iFixit.com.
I found the Upper Case removal instructions here: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/PowerBook-G4-Al-15-Inch-1-5-1-67-BT-2-0-LR/Upper -Case/64/3/
Overall, it took me about an hour of meticulous work. Opening the Powerbook went fine. I removed the top cover with some hesitation, but no damage was done. I located the trackpad circuitry and removed the 2 inner and the 2 outer screws. I discovered a very small button, THE button. I clicked it a few times and it seemed okay. Perhaps the screws had loosened over time. I lightly vacuumed the inner trackpad area with a small brush attachment, and I put it all back together.
I have apparently repair the problem completely. I can only guess that some dust got under the area and/or the screws were too lose to operate properly. If anyone is having a similar problem with their trackpad button, I highly recommend that they locate their model at iFixIt.com, locate the correct tools, and carefully remove the top casing in a clean work area.
Go here: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/
Tim-tim-poorah.Zenskanitsky - thanks for sharing!! My trackpad started to act funny a month ago and a week ago it totally stopped working. I didn't want to spend the USD250 for the new trackpad uppercase so I started wondering if I could try to fix it myself.
Well i came across your post and it really helped!! My trackpad button works like new and is very sensitive.
For those wanting to do the same thing, I would like to add some points to Zen's post:
1) print out the instructions from ifixit.com - they are super easy to follow
2) equipment i used was the 75mm philips style screwdriver, and the EC-T6, plus a plastic letter opener (to replace Spudger) to carefully pry open uppercase.
3) I don't have the little vacuum cleaner but i took a cloth and also blew out (with my mouth) any dust that may have been there.
4) When I put everything back together again, the trackpad button was responding but still needed some very hard pushing, so I opened up the powerbook again (which was where I realized it would be easier to just print out the ifixit.com instructions than follow on the other computer)...
5) this time I sprayed a cotton swab ear cleaner with WD-40 and dabbed THE BUTTON with it, until it was wet. Then i clicked the button with my finger and dabbed more WD-40 on it.
6) When I reassembled everything the mouse button worked like new.
In fact I am so happy with the state of my mouse button i thought I would do my bit to first thank Zen for encouraging me to try to fix my own mouse button and 2nd adding my own lessons learned for others looking to do the same thing.
Regards from jakarta everyone and happy new year!!!
jakartaguy -
Occasional MacBook Pro 8,1 / Feb 2011 trackpad button fails to work
Having this really annoying problem on occasion with a new 13" MBP (purchased a month ago in Toronto from the Apple Store Eaton) - every once in a while the trackpad button will fail to work. The trackpad will function just fine, but the button will not work no matter what you do. I also have a Magic Mouse; if the trackpad button won't work, neither will the MM.
It's a new MBP 8,1 running Lion, with 8gb RAM (1333mhz DDR3, 4gb per stick) and a new 1Tb drive. I will point out that this error preceded the RAM and HDD upgrade by some time, which suggests it's not due to the new components.
Being new, it doesn't run hot, nor is it due to a swollen battery. I spoke with a friend who suggested a PRAM reset. That didn't work; the behaviour started up again within 1 hour of resetting this.
I've noticed that it only seems to arise with Internet connectivity issues - if I turn WiFi off (on purpose as I want to save battery) and I leave a browser window open, chances are high that I won't even be able to log in using the trackpad button. In these cases I can usually use the keyboard with an Alt-Tab to switch out of hung applications, but it doesn't always work. If Safari is left open (say at a coffee shop) and I take the MBP home, and reconnect, it will frequently show this non-working button behaviour too.
Other 'remedies' or workarounds include re-enabling Wifi off and on again, but that doesn't always work; flipping the lid down, then reopening for another attempt at login doesn't always work either.
I took it back to the store 2 weeks ago, but they kept thinking it would be a hardware issue and wanted to replace the trackpad - without guaranteeing that this would solve the problem. And the fact that it does work again after a log off suggests to me it's not hardware, it's software.
Tonight after the coffee shop at lunch, the MBP button would not work after I returned home. Rebooting twice did not help.
Any ideas, anyone?
Cheers
Massimo SavinoDelete CleanMyMac2. You do not need it and may be a contributing reason for your problem.
Check Activity Monitor for applications that may be using a lot of CPU resources:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203184
Run an Apple Hardware Test:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257
Note that an error free AHT is not definitive.
You also might test the MBP with the original RAM module in place of the 8GB module you installed. There may be compatibility issues.
Ciao. -
Since replacing my G5 with a new mac mini I hear frequent clicking noises from the APC Back-UPS that I have it plugged into. The only obvious difference is that the mini has an ungrounded two-prong plug while the G5 had a grounded three-prong plug. The clicking noise consists of two clicks in succession, the second one slightly lower in pitch. This occurs at random intervals but also in response to anything that I'm doing on the computer such as opening or closing an application, resizing a window, visiting or exiting a website, etc. Occassionally it will happen when the computer is asleep in which case I will hear the fan running briefly in the mini although the monitor doesn't wake up. When this happens I will often see the internet activity monitor light flashing on my dsl modem. I don't know if these noises are a sign that something isn't working properly or just an annoyance. In either case I would welcome suggestions on how to stop it as well as any ideas as to what might be causing it. The APC unit provides battery back-up power in the case of a power outage and surge protection. I submitted my question to APC support but got no response. I also talked to someone at AppleCare and he had no idea what was causing this and wasn't even sure if he knew what I was asking about. However lots of people use back-ups units so someone out there must have experienced this phenomena besides me.
I checked that box but wasn't around the sleeping computer long enough to tell if it made a difference. I plugged in a lamp with a dimmer and turned it up and down with no effect. Then I had an idea. I'm going to wait a couple of days before marking this as definitely solved, but here's what happened:
The UPS has three outlets marked "controlled by master." Anything plugged into these gets it's power turned off when the computer is sleeping. I had long ago moved the peripherals to the other outlets because I didn't like having my computer and monitor wake up whenever I turned on the printer just to use the copy function. Near the power button on the UPS is another smaller button with a graphic symbol. If you hold this down for a few seconds it turns off the "master enable" function. After I did this the clicking stopped.
This still leaves some unanswered (though no longer important) questions: Why was this an issue with the mini but not with the G5? Why was I getting clicking noises in response to doing things on the computer even with the usb connection to the UPS disconnected? Why was I also getting them even when the computer was asleep? One possible factor is the usb hub. The old one was on a pci card, while the new one is external with a power cord connected to the UPS. Another factor may be the ungrounded power plug on the mini vs. the grounded one on the G5. At any rate it looks like the problem is solved, at least for now. -
Hello. I just recieved my new iBook and everything is great, except for the trackpad button. It is uneven, with the left corner permanently depressed so that it is higher on the right side. Should I take the computer to the store and get it fixed, or is this nothing to worry about? The button itself seems to work fine, albeit with a loud noise. Thank you.
Mohamed
iBook G4 12-inch Mac OS X (10.4.3)My trackpad button is higher on the right side, but
it doesn't seem to matter. I think the loud noise
would happen even if it wasn't as the button is
pretty thick.
It would cost money to get it looked at or fixed, so
I don't really think there's much point, you should
be fine.
so long as its under warranty still (especially right out of the box) it wouldn't cost a thing...my trackpad button does the same thing and its noisy and acting up now. -
MBP 2.16 C2D Trackpad Button Quit Working
Booted my MBP 2.16 Core 2 Duo today and the trackpad button suddenly does not work. The trackpad itself is working (move my finger and the cursor follows), but physical clicks to the trackpad button or taps on the trackpad itself don't register as clicks.
Under Keyboard and Mouse preferences, the Mouse tab is also unavailable.
Any hints on what I can check? I've zapped PRAM, repaired permissions, don't have a bulging batter, etc, etc.
If I plug in an external moue, the system registers the clicks from the external mouse, but the trackpad button seems dead.
I'm under AppleCare, but before I call for the box, I thought I'd ask for help here first.
Thanks,
RandyOne correction: taps on the trackpad itself do register as clicks. Only physical clicks to the trackpad button don't work.
-
Noise from MacBook Pro Retina 13 late 2013
Hi,
I wonder if noise from my MacBook Pro Retina 13 late 2013 is normal. I can hear it only in quiet room (first time I heard it in the middle of the night). It’s very quiet noise. I don't know what to compare this noise. For me it’s sounds like clicking the spring. I can hear it when scrolling the webpage by trackpad, start mission control by gesture (or F3 key), changing the full screen apps by gesture or when minimize Safari or other apps. I think it depends on the graphic system work. It’s a little lauder when I use 1680x1050 scaled resolution than use 'best for display' resolution. I think the noise occurs when graphic system do some operation. Is it possible?
Today I was in Authorized Service Provider but technician heard nothing. There I can't hear this noise too, because this noise is very quiet and there is not total silence. Diagnostic tools show that everything is ok. But I still hear it in total quiet room. I tried to record this noise by iPhone but it can't do that.
Can you do me a favor and check this on your MacBook? Sit in totally quiet room, please. Set the scaled resolution 1680x1050 then bring ear closer to the keyboard and scroll a webpage (which have a lot of graphics) by gesture on the trackpad, start mission control or open notification center. Can you hear then any noise? Please listen carefully, because this is very quiet noise.
I’ll be very gratefully for your help. I wonder if only my MacBook making this noises or all MacBook Retina late 2013 making this.
Regards,
MateuszJon Bo wrote:
Hi Mateusz,
I have the same issue on my new MBP retina 13 late 2013. It's not disturbing because I can hear it in only very quiet room and only if the content of the screen is changing (like scrolling web pages). It reminds me the sound of old 3'5'' hard discs. I first thought it's a hdd, but then realised my mac has only SSD.
I think it's a noise from the voltage regulators. This is normal for very high speed high-voltage signals.
But any way, MBP 13 late 2013 is the best laptop I ever saw
It's just silent and cool like an ipad. I wonder if it has a rotating cooler at all.
Jon Bo
Thank you Jon Bo for your response. I agree with you. This noise is something like electronic noise, and it is related to the graphics card.
The rMBP 13 late 2013 works without any noise other then situations I’ve described above. The noise is so quiet that I can't hear it when e.g. external HDD working in the same room.
Mateusz -
Thinkpad Yoga 14: How to know whether the model had separate trackpad buttons or not
So Lenovo has released the 2015 version of the Thinkpad Yoga 14. In the online manual it says that some models do and others don't have separate trackpad buttons. How do you know whether the specific models offers do or don't?
The images in Lenovo's online store show the Thinkpad Yoga 14 without the separate buttons...1. Delete all applications you got from the Mac App Store. Also delete any pirated copies of App Store products that you may have installed.
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