My MacBook Pro is running very slowly! Please help!

Question

Hi all, as of late last year my MacBook Pro started running very slowly. As I'm a novice when it comes to computers I thought I'd turn to the interweb for solutions. I've tried a couple of basic things but don't seem to be getting anywhere.I ran the EtreCheck program as it seemed to help others. Would love some help interpreting this...
Problem description:
My MacBook Pro is running very slowly!
EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)
Report generated 12 March 2015 3:15:41 pm AEDT
Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.
Hardware Information: ℹ️
    MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) (Technical Specifications)
    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro7,1
    1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core
    4 GB RAM Upgradeable
        BANK 0/DIMM0
            2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
        BANK 1/DIMM0
            2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
    Battery Health: Normal - Cycle count 255
Video Information: ℹ️
    NVIDIA GeForce 320M - VRAM: 256 MB
        Color LCD 1280 x 800
System Software: ℹ️
    OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Time since boot: 2 days 4:7:57
Disk Information: ℹ️
    TOSHIBA MK2555GSXF disk0 : (250.06 GB)
        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 249.20 GB (25.07 GB free)
        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB
    MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898 
USB Information: ℹ️
    Apple Internal Memory Card Reader
    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
    Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
    Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
    Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
        /Library/Extensions
    [loaded]    com.squirrels.airparrot.framebuffer (3 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.squirrels.driver.AirParrotSpeakers (1.8 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]
        /System/Library/Extensions
    [not loaded]    com.logmein.driver.LogMeInSoundDriver (1.0.0) [Click for support]
    [not loaded]    com.nike.sportwatch (1.0.0) [Click for support]
Startup Items: ℹ️
    HW_CreateNetwork: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HW_CreateNetwork
    HWPortDetect_driver: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HWPortDetect_driver
    Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite
Launch Agents: ℹ️
    [running]    com.nike.nikeplusconnect.plist [Click for support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.cloudpath.maccmd.plist [Click for support]
    [not loaded]    com.logmein.logmeinserver.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.logmein.raupdate.plist [Click for support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
    GrowlHelperApp    Application  (/Users/[redacted]/Library/PreferencePanes/Growl.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Gr owlHelperApp.app)
    iTunesHelper    UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)
    Calendar    Application  (/Applications/Calendar.app)
    Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    DivXBrowserPlugin: Version: 2.0 [Click for support]
    Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.305 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    NP_2020Player_IKEA: Version: 5.0.94.1 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.2.6 [Click for support]
    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
    DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.1.3r153 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
    DivX  [Click for support]
    Flash Player  [Click for support]
    Growl  [Click for support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
    Auto backup: YES
    Volumes being backed up:
        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 249.20 GB Disk used: 224.13 GB
    Destinations:
        Michael's HD [Local]
        Total size: 319.73 GB
        Total number of backups: 12
        Oldest backup: 2012-02-08 22:52:31 +0000
        Last backup: 2015-02-24 08:22:40 +0000
        Size of backup disk: Too small
            Backup size 319.73 GB < (Disk used 224.13 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
        14%    WindowServer
         2%    DashboardClient
         0%    AppleSpell
         0%    Dropbox
         0%    fontd
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
    507 MB    firefox
    86 MB    Finder
    64 MB    Preview
    64 MB    WindowServer
    56 MB    Mail
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
    441 MB    Free RAM
    1.36 GB    Active RAM
    809 MB    Inactive RAM
    713 MB    Wired RAM
    14.96 GB    Page-ins
    119 MB    Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
    Mar 10, 2015, 11:05:38 AM    Self test - passed
    Mar 10, 2015, 10:27:48 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2015-03-10-102748_[redacted].cpu_resour ce.diag [Click for details]
Thanks in advance! Mike

Answer 1

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
Step 1
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.
Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your documents or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this behavior; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.
Step 2
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Please take this step regardless of the results of Step 1.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. It will be slow, but there should be no beachballing. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of Steps 1 and 2.