Macbook Pro 10.5.8- cursor disappears and freezes, iphoto editing goes beachball every time

Hi. I have looked for hours but cannot find exact solutions for these issues (or ones that I can understand), so I am sorry to be repeating what are apparently common problems. I have a 2009 MacBook Pro OS X 10.5.8 with 4 GB of memory. The first problem is intermittent in that occasionally, the cursor disappears then freezes up, and I have to use the keyboard to navigate. If I run my finger around the mouse pad for what seems like forever, it will move a little but is very uncoordinated. I can push the cursor in a general direction, but it overshoots the area I'm trying to move to. Sometimes, a restart will fix it. Other times, it eventually starts working again; how, I don't know. I've read lots of theories and solutions, but honestly they're all "reconfigure this," "reinstall the pram," "replace the logic board," "backup, delete, and install such and such," and I have no idea what half of it means. I run the basic software updates regularly, have deleted some unused apps and emptied the trash. No idea what a cache is or how to empty one...
The second problem is with iphoto ('09 version 8.1.2. 424), and it happens consistantly. When the editing features are used, it goes beach ball for several seconds, especially when using "retouch." I don't use cloud or iLife11 or anything that didn't come with the computer.
Any advice to a girl who understands very little about computers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

greytdogs wrote:
Any advice to a girl who understands very little about computers would be greatly appreciated.
Have someone look at your machine, discuss upgrading the operating system to 10.6.8 as it will run all your currently installed software (10.7 may not and require more memory, new software purchases)
Also to set up a TimeMachine backup system too.
We can only help those who can help themselves, some need someone to assist them in person.
It's no problem, I don't do my own dental or car work, I turn to those who can assist me with that.
Good Luck

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Problem description:
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Report generated 16 November 2014 00:35:40 GMT
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2
1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core
4 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
Intel HD Graphics 4000 -
Color LCD 1280 x 800
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10 (14A389) - Uptime: 9 days 23:20:46
Disk Information: ℹ️
APPLE HDD HTS547550A9E384 disk0 : (500.11 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 498.88 GB (318.43 GB free)
Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked
Core Storage: disk0s2 499.25 GB Online
MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-8A8
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Mac App Store and identified developers
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[failed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist
[failed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist
[failed] com.apple.gamed.plist
[failed] com.apple.sbd.plist
[failed] com.apple.spindump_agent.plist
[failed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist
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[failed] com.apple.AirPlayXPCHelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist
[failed] com.apple.awdd.plist
[failed] com.apple.corestorage.corestoragehelperd.plist
[failed] com.apple.ctkd.plist
[failed] com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.plist
[failed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist
[failed] com.apple.nehelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.periodic-daily.plist
[failed] com.apple.periodic-weekly.plist
[failed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist
[failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.xpc.smd.plist
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[loaded] com.epson.ews.launcher.plist Support
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[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
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[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support
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iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
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Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.223 - SDK 10.6 Support
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43 MB Finder
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You may wish to read about maintenance and upkeep of the OS X, plus other
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•Tech Guides - TheSafeMac:
http://www.thesafemac.com/tech-guides/
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unsubstantiated or rumored issues in the wild, since few or none are known to exist.
The note in the etrecheck report of excessive Page Outs, implies directly that the
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resolve the issues; troubleshooting may be helpful, and to read through sections
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from software download sites, they could also affect your computer. There are
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