Lag, Rainbow wheel spins forever and runs like a virus filled PC... Help?

I've had my mac under 2 years, of that 2 years the mac worked well for the first SIX months.
I put it away and used my PC laptop...
9 months later I tried again...
I just unpacked it again and it was almost as if the mac fixed itself...for about 3 weeks. I could actually watch a you tube video and listen to music!
Now I'm back where I started...I have the eternal rainbow spinning wheel, LAG like it's a virus-filled PC... once again. Safari closes randomly and just typing this alone is taking about 20 minutes with all the random stops and stars. What is wrong?? Any ideas?
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac5,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
So sad. It's so pretty (expensive) but that's about all...
*I do LOVE her, though...Please help?*

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Could you please check how much free space you have on Macintosh HD, less than about 15% free will lead to the iMac running slowly.
Under normal use it would also be a good idea to open up Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor and keep and eye on which process(es) are taking up the most memory and highest % of processor time (this is typically what is causing the Spinning Beach Ball of Death).
Let us know how you get on.
mrtotes

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IPhoto 09 Faces wheel spins forever and/or won't quit

Hope someone has insight or it helps others...
For the last several days any import into iPhoto will set it into spinning the Faces album waiting wheel forever. There is no way to Quit. Other times just simple quitting won't work.
Activity shows 40-50% iPhoto CPU usage, lots of context switches (270,000 in 5 minutes of CPU time) but no hangs, no faults. I have previously let it run overnight, in case it was somehow reanalyzing 18000 images, but even then the problem remains.
Console shows: 10/12/09 3:55:58 PM iPhoto[653] * -[NSPathStore2 getCharacters:range:]: index (8) beyond bounds (3)
as most recent item from iPhoto in the log.
Looking inside the iPhoto Library folder the face.db database, iPhotoMain.db etc. have no activity going on. ( I tested by changing the face info on one picture, the Finder last modified date immediately changed, showing the processes are running fine, but just some runaway process won't quit.)
Another console item showed iPhoto finding wrong architectured PGP plugin in contextual menu items, so I have trashed that. And, it finds a Chronos Notes related issue (contextual menu item in library and same named alias in user/library) throw an exception. I also informed ChronosNet.com of this....in case the recent iPhoto acting up is related to the SOHO update that was recently installed.
"I've had iPhoto start acting up (fails to quit) since SOHO NOTES latest update... checking the Console shows a possible problem....
You have a contextual menu entry (alias) in user/library and same name (original item) in library. That makes apps like iPhoto throw exceptions...
10/12/09 4:29:33 PM [0x0-0x40040].com.apple.iPhoto[653] objc[653]: Class SBContextualMenuHelper is implemented in both /Users/imran/Library/Contextual Menu Items/ChronosNotesCM.plugin/Contents/MacOS/ChronosNotesCM and /Library/Contextual Menu Items/ChronosNotesCM.plugin/Contents/MacOS/ChronosNotesCM. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined."
Let's see what they state.
Now.... Force quitting now to see what it shows in the logs:
It did not show any quick console messages. I'm surprised an OS X "report this crash to Apple" window did not open up.
Now relaunched... will see if it happens again...
Imran

iPhone is not "hung" in the traditional sense in that you can do several things within it while it's non-stop Faces spinning wheel displays. I do NOT find it responsive and it does NOT Quit when Faces is spinning forever. tgardner, your experience appears to be different.
Checking in Activity Monitor shows that interestingly there are no hangs or errors. But, looking into contents of iPhoto library shows NO files are modified even after 24 hours or running. In other words, maybe it's not dead, but it is comatose.
Also, checking in Console I always see a variable out of bounds error when this happens.
I have 19000 images and of those maybe 5000 have faces, of about 50 people. ALL of those images are already processed with Names info. Even if Faces needs to update some data, 24 hours of nothing but iPhoto running ought to be enough but it is not.
Others may want to check Console and Activity Monitor and add their experiences here.
regards
IMRAN

I experience horrible lag/rainbow wheeling for awhile and can't figure out why.

1.5 year old 15" MBP. For the last year it's experienced moderate to severe issues with lag, whether I have a lot open or not. Is there a known issue with this?

Try Little Snitch 2.
It will show what applications are uploading/downloading.
http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html
If you sharing with that many others --- it could be network sharing or bonjour traffic
Message was edited by: lethal

Since my last update on OSX10.9.2 My mac hardly starts up. and whats with that rainbow wheel spinning all the time

It's not booting uplike it should. Its very slow. Rainbow wheel spinning all the time. Augh!

Make sure you have a backup. You should always have a backup and especially when your Mac is ailing.
Time Machine Basics: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
Most commonly used backup methods: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3045
Try and SMC Reset.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Look in the Applications/Utilities folder and run Disk Utility. Click on the upper left disk icon. Does the S.M.A.R.T. status say “Verified”? If not the disk/SSD is unhealthy and needs to be replaced. Click on the icon indented below, usually called “Macintosh HD” and Verify Disk. If it finishes with a green “OK” message then all is well with the disk. If it shows errors in red then you have found a problem to address once the system is backed up.
Try booting in Safe Mode (Boot and hold down the Shift key.) It should take longer to boot and shutdown. Once it is booted is it more responsive?
Please download and run Etrecheck and post back the results.
http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

Why is it taking forever for my pages to load and then if I search the rainbow wheel come up and goes on forever?

The rainbow wheel pops up and goes on and on everytime I try to type in a search or if I'm on a page and move around it, it starts up and goes on and on.

How did you get 10.6.8 on a MacBook Pro Retina?
Fix your signature please.
steelec wrote:
The rainbow wheel pops up and goes on and on everytime I try to type in a search or if I'm on a page and move around it, it starts up and goes on and on.
Does this only occur while the computer is connected to the Internet or also while it's offline?
Run through these two links
Step by Step to fix your Mac
Why is my computer slow?

I recently changed my wallpaper and when i was on safari the rainbow wheel popped up and i had to restart my computer, now theres no wallpaper it just a grey denim and when i try change the wallpaper only the tool bar changes not the background, help ?

i recently changed my wallpaper and when i was on safari the rainbow wheel popped up and i had to restart my computer, now theres no wallpaper it just a grey denim and when i try change the wallpaper only the tool bar changes not the background, help ?

Hi. When you were in the recovery drive doing permissions, did you try and run a repair of the boot drive? Did you try single user mode? Try these first and then go back and try to reinstall the operating system.When I say repair boot drive I don't mean permissions. There are both options in disk utilities.When you open disk utilities ,you will see in the left column two drives plus possibly a boot partition that look like an external driv. click on the second drive and in first aid use repair disk. If you still can't boot and it will not let you restore, you may have to do a clean install. http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18869?viewlocale=en_US

I have had adobe creative cloud for 6 mos...but as of today when i try to open it to download lightroom a blue gear in the middle just spins forever and the apps never come up

i have had adobe creative cloud for 6 mos...but as of today when i try to open it to download lightroom a blue gear in the middle just spins forever and the apps never come up..i have rebooted laptop and that didnt work, the blue gear in the middle just spins forever

Hi there,
Please try the solution posted here App doesn't open | Progress wheel spins continually
^Ani

I cannot open my iphoto application. The minute I double click on the icon I get the rainbow which spins forever. I've used Applejack to repair the hd, but even that didn't work. I've getting into iphoto preferences..can't. Help!

I cannot open my iphoto application. The minute I double click on the icon I get the rainbow which spins forever. I've used Applejack to repair the hd, but even that didn't work. I've getting into iphoto preferences..can't. Help!

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

I cannot email photos from iphoto. Mail just quits. Rainbow wheel spins continuously. Will not let me go from inbox to drafts, etc.

I cannot email from Iphoto. Mail just quits. Rainbow wheel spins continuously. Will not let me go from drafts to inbox or outbox, etc.
My regular google gmail works fine.

You should be able to do it with Dropbox.

Whenever i start my mac the rainbow wheel pops up and it wont go away, help!

whenever i start my mac the rainbow wheel pops up and it wont go away. help!

This would indicate a severe hardware problem, in most cases the hard disk, or a software problem, in most cases outdated apps, which conflict with the system. As long as it is persistent, you probably cannot use your mac. Restart by pressing shift key after chime and wait to get into the system, will take longer. When there, deactivate all apps, which start up at login: system preferences/users and groups/login items, then restart normally. It should work now. If yes, try to determine what outdated app or utility may be the cause, and update it or delete it.

Why does my small rainbow wheel spin endlessly when I choose a story from Yahoo that happens to have a video attached? I have to manually shut my Mac down and manually restart.

Yahoo is my homepage and I also have just moved and have a new internet provider. I doubt this has anything to do with my issue but thought just in case, I'd provide that information. When I select an article to read from the yahoo news section, it goes directly to the article. However, if there is a video attached, the small rainbow wheel appears and turns endlessly. I can't get out of the cycle. I can't select restart. I eventually must manually close down the Mac and then must manually restart. This happens EVERY time I select an article with a video attached to the text of the article. Anybody have a clue what is going on and how to stop the insanity?
Thanks,
Sheri

Sheri
It sounds like your ISP is slow and this is causing the video to take a long time to download.
Go to http://www.speedtest.net and click Start Test.
Whatever you do don't click anything on the rightside of the screen for MacKeeper. That is scamware and all it will do is hose your computer up royally.
My numbers were Ping 11ms Download Speed 25.44 Mbps Upload Speed 3.49 Mbps
Which aren't bad.
Let us know what you get.
Allan

After installing the Yosemite upgrade the computer freezes when you click on something and the rainbow wheel pops up and takes forever to execute

computer freezes after installing Yosemite upgrade when you click on something the colored wheel pops up and takes forever to execute

Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down), select Disk Utility and repair both the disk permissions and the disk. Reboot normally and check the performance. Any improvement?
Have you run any "cleaning" or "optimizing" apps on your Mac or install any antivirus software? Download and run Etrecheck. Copy and paste the results into your reply. It's a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC to help identify the more obvious culprits.

Why since downloading yosemite does the rainbow wheel keep showing AND WHAT is the rainbow wheel

Why since installing Yosemite does the rainbow wheel thing keep appearing when I go online. It is also taking longer for pages to open despite our broadband speed being upgraded recently. Answers in plain simple language please.

Go step by step by step and test.
1. Power off the router. Unplug it from the wall. Wait a while.
    Plug it back to the wall. Power the router on. Wait until all the lights are lit properly. It will take a while.
    Restart the computer.
    Start up in Safe Mode.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14204
2. Delete Caches.db
    Close all windows and quit all applications.
    Hold "option" key down and click "Go" menu in the Finder menu bar.
    Select "Library" from the dropdown.
    Library > Caches > com.apple.Safari > Caches.db
    Right click the Caches.db file and select "Move To Trash.
    Close windows and relaunch Safari.
3. Empty Caches
    Safari > Preference > Advanced
    Checkmark the box for "Show Develop menu in menu bar".
    Develop menu will appear in the Safari menu bar.
    Click Develop and select "Empty Caches" from the dropdown.
4. Delete Cookies
    Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and other website data:
    Click “Remove All Website Data”.
5. Safari > Preferences > Extensions
    Turn off Extensions if any and launch Safari again to test.
    Turn on those one by one and test.

Whenever i connect my ipod touch 3rd gen to itunes itunes responds really slowly and when i try and sync it it says sync in progress on my ipod screen but then is stuck with "verifying "matts ipod" at the top of itunes and stays like that for ages.. help

whenever i connect my ipod touch 3rd gen to itunes itunes responds really slowly and when i try and sync it it says sync in progress on my ipod screen but then is stuck with "verifying "matts ipod" at the top of itunes and stays like that for ages.. help

You buy one and only one download.
As it should have been transferred to your computer when you synced, you can contact itunes support and ask for an exception.
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes

Got a iMac upon start up it has white screen with apple logo and loading wheel spinning forever under it, does anybody know how to fix this?

PLEASE HELP!!!!!! EMERGENCY Upon start up normal start up noise occurs, then after white screen with Grey Apple logo, and a spinning loading wheel under it (thee repetitive lines NOT rainbow one) ?!? then thats as far as it goes it stays on that screen forever will not boot up. Any info on how to possibly fix? I've tried several of the Start up shortcuts , it wont even start up in Safe Mode . My fiance' is crushed she is a writer and EVERYTHING SHE HAS WORKED ON is somewhere on that hard drive. Any thoughts, i'm open to any and all LOGICAL responses, thank you very much for ya'lls time ........Its just heartbreaking to see my iMac in this vegistated coma,The whole reason i bought a mac was cause I love them I have Apple EVERYTHING, so once again please help.

Try this: Switch off your iMac wait 10-15 seconds hold down the Option Key (alt) key then press the power botton but keep the option key down. This should show all the available options to boot from. I trust you have a full backup, Good luck.

Lag, Rainbow wheel spins forever and runs like a virus filled PC... Help?

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