My two-year old imac is getting much slower, how do i speed it up?

My iMac, with a 3ghz process, 4gb of memory, 1TB hard drive, is becoming slower and slower, especially when booting up. I used to be a Windows person, and this slowness reminds me of that problem. I am assuming that the Mac accumulates a bunch of junk over time. Is there a utility that I can purchase or get that will speed my machine up?
Thanks.

It does many other things; I would only run Onyx for caches. Probably the safest maintenance/toubleshooting program is Applejack, which may help in this situation. I'd run it as "applejack AUTO" first and then go back and run it in "applejack" for your user. The first restart will be slower than usual as it rebuilds the boot caches. It may take several restarts to see the full benefit.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/applejack/
Article on how to use it
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10334620-263.html?tag=mfiredir
Also, check free space on the drive. You should maintain around 15-20% free.

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My four year old iMac is running much slower than when it was new. Any suggestions on cleaning out the cob webs?

My four year old iMac is running much slower than when it was new. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to "clean it up" and get it running like it used to?

What year, screen size, CPU speed and amount of RAM installed?
To find out info about your system,
Click on the Apple symbol in the upper left of the OS X main menu bar. A drop down menu appears.
Click About this Mac. A smaller popup window appears. This gives you basic info like what version of OS X your iMac is running, the speed of your iMac's CPU and how much RAM is installed.
Click on the button that says More Info. A larger window appears giving you a complete overview of your iMac's hardware specs.
Highlight all of this info and copy/paste all of this into another reply to this post, editing out your iMac's serial number before actually posting the reply.
This will tell us everything about your iMac so we may begin to help with your iMac issues.
How full is your Mac's hard drive?
Locate your iMac's hard drive icon on the OS X desktop. Click the icon once, then use the keyboard key combination Command-I. This will give you additonal info about your iMac's internal hard drive.
Post this info in your reply here, also.
Here are some general tips to keep your Mac's hard drive trim and slim as possible
You should never, EVER let a conputer hard drive get completely full, EVER!
With Macs and OS X, you shouldn't let the hard drive get below 15 GBs or less of free data space.
If it does, it's time for some hard drive housecleaning.
Follow some of my tips for cleaning out, deleting and archiving data from your Mac's internal hard drive.
Have you emptied your Mac's Trash icon in the Dock?
If you use iPhoto, iPhoto has its own trash that needs to be emptied, also.
If you store images in other locations other than iPhoto, then you will have to weed through these to determine what to archive and what to delete.
If you use Apple Mail app, Apple Mail also has its own trash area that needs to be emptied, too!
Delete any old or no longer needed emails and/or archive to disc, flash drives or external hard drive, older emails you want to save.
Look through your other Mailboxes and other Mail categories to see If there is other mail you can archive and/or delete.
STAY AWAY FROM DELETING ANY FILES FROM OS X SYSTEM FOLDER!
Look through your Documents folder and delete any type of old useless type files like "Read Me" type files.
Again, archive to disc, flash drives, ext. hard drives or delete any old documents you no longer use or immediately need.
Look in your Applications folder, if you have applications you haven't used in a long time, if the app doesn't have a dedicated uninstaller, then you can simply drag it into the OS X Trash icon. IF the application has an uninstaller app, then use it to completely delete the app from your Mac.
To find other large files, download an app called Omni Disk Sweeper.
Download an app called OnyX for your version of OS X.
When you install and launch it, let it do its initial automatic tests, then go to the cleaning and maintenance tabs and run the maintenance tabs that let OnyX clean out all web browser cache files, web browser histories, system cache files, delete old error log files.
Typically, iTunes and iPhoto libraries are the biggest users of HD space.
move these files/data off of your internal drive to the external hard drive and deleted off of the internal hard drive.
If you have any other large folders of personal data or projects, these should be archived or moved, also, to the optical discs, flash drives or external hard drive and then either archived to disc and/or deleted off your internal hard drive.
Good Luck!

My iMac is running much slower how can I speed it up?

I have an early 2009 iMac 24 inch. I just ordered a pair of 4 gb ram upgrading to 8 gb from 4. What else can I do to get this thing to go faster? In its old age it's slowed down a bit. Please help.

Model Name:          iMac
Model Identifier:          iMac9,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          3.06 GHz
Number of Processors:          1
Total Number of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          6 MB
Memory:          4 GB
Bus Speed:          1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version:          IM91.008D.B08
SMC Version (system):          1.45f0
Serial Number (system):
Hardware UUID:

Brand new 2012 fully loaded iMac is slower then my two year old iMac when using Final Cut.

Just got a new 2012 iMac with 32GB RAM 3.4 Ghz and 3TB Fusion Drive and 2GB Graphics card.
Now Final Cut runs even slower than it does on my old, lesser iMac. What gives?
How Do I optimize the speed in which the video files are played?
I'm using Final Cut 7.
Files are all 1080 Pro Res.
All files are running off of my desktop (locally).
I press play and it is delayed a second before playing on the timeline.
I thought this fully loaded machine was to help me edit faster.
Is the Fusion Drive doing something funny with the file access that causes a delay in playback?
The problem is, the same issue happened when I put the files on an external FW800 G-Drive.
Any advice would be awesome.
Thanks Community!
-Tedshots

are you sure all your files...render files...scratch disk, etc were all pointed to the FW800 drive?
are you trying to play the exact same files in the same manner and see the new imac slower or does it just "seem" slower. You could, for instance, be attempting to play a more compressed file on the new iMac or a higher resolutidon compressed file....we don't know any of that. Apple to Apples, as it were, the new machine will obviously outperform the other one and there are too many variables you haven't covered to be able to draw any real conclusions....tell us more about the specific kinds of files, timeline resolution, video res on both machines and in what way the new one is slower....

6 year old iMac resurrected but why and how

I apology if this is in the wrong forum but I am lost.
Rudimentary? Obvious? Does everyone know?
Fall of 2000 purchased an iMac DV+ according to sales slip...
added OS 9.1
Have an iMac and a eMac in the same room but different wall outlets.
(The eMac is used for this posting.)
In the spring of 2006 there was a power interruption during the
night.
In the morning the eMac restarted by pushing the on/off button.
iMac did not restart.
Would press the power on button - the “chimes” sounded and
the screen remained dark. A sound like Canola oil hitting a hot
skillet came from the area of the on button. (Sounded like
electricity arcing.)
Put the iMac in the basement. Would try restarting it now and
then and no luck.
Went down the other night & plugged in the iMac.
Held down the command key as the iMac was turned on.
The iMac worked. Why?
When you get reach your 80th decade in life and have no heirs ---
(but errors) you can waste time and money.
Post script: Seems that there have been circuit breakers tripped at
times while the iMac was used.
Also, there are many correspondents in these forums that appear to
be knowledgeable and helpful. Thanks to each and all. I like the jargon
but don’t understand any of it.
eMac PowerPC G4 (3.3) Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Many of the parameters that make your Mac a joy to use on a daily basis are stored in parameter RAM, along with a map of what-hardware-is-where inside this Mac. Parameter RAM is maintained by an "always-on" power supply, and backed up by a battery.
When you have a power failure, or pull the plug to move or service your older Mac, and the backup battery is low, corruption can creep into the parameters. This often leads to no display, or the flashing question mark display (can't find the system to boot from).
When the battery voltage drops lower, different things may happen to the parameter RAM. (For example, it may be cleared rather than just corrupted.) This can change what happens when you try to power on. YOU did not change anything, but the battery inside your Mac has changed.
Please challenge us when there is too much jargon! I know there are many more readers than posters, so I try not to talk above people's heads, but I do not always recognize it when it happens.
And I will do the same. What's a curmudgeon?

Imac is way too slow-how can i speed it up

I have been using my imac for over four years. Recently. it has really started to slow down.
How can i run a diagnostic test to know what the problem is?

Download, install and periodically run AppleJack[url]. This calls several unix routines including those which repair your directory and disk permissions, and cleans out extraneous cache and corrupted preference files.
Consider reapplying the current combo updater for your OS. For Mac OS X 10.4.11, the intel package is available [url=http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacOS_X_10_4_11_Combo_Update__Intel]here. You must use this larger Combo updater and not the smaller Delta one to impact this issue.
Consider reinstalling Safari 4.04 which is likely responsible for much of your perception that the machine is 'running slowly.'

I just bought an iPhone 4S 3 days ago, but its battery seems to lose 1% every 3-4 minutes. I tuned off some location services, bluetooth, and even siri, and made its settings similar to my two-year old iPhone 4. The 4S can last much shorter.

I just bought an iPhone 4S 3 days ago, but its battery seems to lose 1% every 3-4 minutes. I tuned off some location services, bluetooth, and even siri, and made its settings similar to my two-year old iPhone 4. The 4S can last much shorter. I’m not sure what I can do with the 4S?

I am having the exact same problem with my iphone 5.
I took it back to the Apple store 2 days ago and they gave me a new one, but they told me not to restore it from backup cos if something (an app) is corrupted it will happen again. The only thing they could keep was my contacts cos they did something there that allowed them to transfer them to the new phone. I went home, and downloaded only ONE app (facebook), and guess what - THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING ON THE BRAND NEW PHONE! It is driving me insane as I cant get through the day without my phone.
Really hoping someone has a fix that will work

Is it possible to mirror the display on the Macbook pro which is two years old to my iMac which is four years old? Macbook pro is running OS X Lion 10.7.5 and the iMac is running OS X 10.6.8 (10K549). Neither of them have Thunderbolt ports.

Is it possible to mirror the display on the Macbook pro which is two years old to my iMac which is four years old? Macbook pro is running OS X Lion 10.7.5 and the iMac is running OS X 10.6.8 (10K549). Neither of them have Thunderbolt ports.

OK, well I would go with what Apple says in writing but if you want to take a trip to visit the Genius Bar that won't hurt.
Good luck, I'm 99% certain you will find I was correct but please let us know.
BTW when posting please click the Reply link in the post you are replying to, otherwise we can't tell who y our comunication is directed to.

HT4009 How do I get a refund on in app purchases my two year old made?

How do i get a refund on an in-app purchase my two year old made? HELP!

All purchases are considered final, but you can try the 'report a problem' link to contact iTunes Support and see if they will refund or credit you : http://reportaproblem.apple.com
If the 'report a problem' link doesn't work then you can try contacting iTunes Support via this page : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/ - click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page, then Purchases, Billing & Redemption
To try and stop it happening again you can use Settings > General > Restrictions on your phone to turn off in-app purchases and to require your password to be entered for every download (the default is a 15 minute period during which it doesn't need re-entering)

HT1600 I have an apple tv about two years old. Bought for a present and they never took it. I tried to hook it up cut it get stuck on setting time and date. Any help?

I have an apple tv about two years old. Bought for a present and they never took it. I tried to hook it up cut it get stuck on setting time and date. Any help?

If you can view the main home screen, try selecting "settings" on the far right, then choose recent at the bottom. If not, try just unplugging power for a few minutes, then plug in and try again. Keep in mind you'll need a wireless connection and there may be several updates. Hope this helps-

My MacBook is almost two years old and has started running really slow. It gets bogged down when it is running different programs at the same time, like Safari and Pages. It didn't react this way until recently. Any advice would be very welcome.

My MacBook is almost two years old and has started running really slow. It gets bogged down when it is running different programs at the same time, like Safari and Pages. It didn't react this way until recently. Any advice would be very welcome.

Launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive (the drive itself, not the volume icons below it.) Is the SMART status "Verified?" If not, replace the drive immediately. If the status is "Verified," the drive may still be failing. Back up all data, if you haven't already done so. Reinstall Mac OS X, then run Software Update. Test with all wired peripherals disconnected. If it's still slow, you have a hardware problem.
Mac OS X 10.6 Help: Reinstalling Mac OS X

I kept getting this upgrade prompt from the App Store to upgrade free to OS10 Yosemite. So I finally did on my 4 year old iMac and now it appears to be stuck just spinning on that stupid ball that means trouble and it is not progressing. Anybody got

I kept getting this upgrade prompt from the App Store to upgrade free to OS10 Yosemite. So I finally did on my 4 year old iMac and now it appears to be stuck just spinning on that stupid ball that means trouble and it is not progressing. Anybody got any idea what I do now? Thanks.

I don't think you would get a thing from the App Store running 10.3.x on a PowerBook. It would help if you told us what you really are using and what version of OS X you were running.
It would also help to tell us what the "stupid ball" is. In fact it would be a big help to give us a thorough and intelligible description of your situation so we don't have to guess.

What are the best ways to keep my 4 year old iMac going?

I want to put off having to buy a new desktop iMac as long as possible so, while I'm using my 4+ years old iMac, what are the things I should (or should NOT) do to look after it? I know that temperature and humidity must be avoided but here in England (UK) it rarely gets too hot, so what else I should be aware of? Any advice would be much appreciated.

See:
Mac Maintenance Quick Assist,
Mac OS X speed FAQ,
Speeding up Macs,
How to Speed up Macs, ,
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance,
Essential Mac Maintenance: Get set up,
Essential Mac Maintenance: Rev up your routines,
Maintaining OS X,
Five Mac maintenance myths and
Myths of required versus not required maintenance for Mac OS X for information.

I just purchased a one year old iMac. How do I create a brand new admin account?

I just purchased a one year old iMac. How do I create a brand new admin account?

The first thing to do with a second-hand computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You—not the original owner—must do that. How you do it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.
It's unsafe, and may be unlawful, to use a computer with software installed by a previous owner.
1a. If you don't own another Mac
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.4 or 10.5, you need a boxed and shrink-wrapped retail Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) installation disc from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller—not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine is very old and has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for a MacBook Air. You should have received those media from the original owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.
To start up from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then restart the computer and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should start up in Internet Recovery mode when you hold down the key combination option-command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a spinning globe.
Some models shipped with OS X 10.6 and received a firmware update after 10.7 was released, enabling them to use Internet Recovery. If you have one of those models, you may not be able to reinstall 10.6 even from the original discs, and Internet Recovery may not work either without the original owner's Apple ID. In that case, contact Apple Support, or take the machine to an Apple Store or another authorized service provider to have the OS installed.
1b. If you do own another Mac
If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to prepare a USB device, then start up the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can start from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.
2. Partition and install OS X
If you see a lock screen when trying to start up from installation media or in Recovery mode, then a firmware password was set by the previous owner, or the machine was remotely locked via iCloud. You'll either have to contact the owner or take the machine to an Apple Store or another service provider to be unlocked. You may be asked for proof of ownership.
Launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive—not any of the volume icons nested beneath it. In the Partition tab, select the default options: a GUID partition table with one data volume in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. This operation will permanently remove all existing data on the drive.
After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. If you're installing a version of OS X acquired from the App Store, you will need the Apple ID and password that you used. When the installation is done, the system will automatically restart into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.
Then run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the original owner. He or she can't legally transfer it to you, and without the Apple ID you won't be able to update it in Software Update or reinstall, if that becomes necessary. The same goes for any App Store products that the previous owner installed—you have to repurchase them.
3. Other issues
If the original owner "accepted" the bundled iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band) in the App Store so that he or she could update them, then they're irrevocably linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.
If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.
When trying to create a new iCloud account, you might get a failure message: "Account limit reached." Apple imposes a lifetime limit of three iCloud account setups per device. Erasing the device does not reset the limit. You can still use an iCloud account that was created on another device, but you won't be able to create a new one. Contact iCloud Support for more information. The setup limit doesn't apply to Apple ID accounts used for other services, such as the iTunes and Mac App Stores, or iMessage. You can create as many of those accounts as you like.

My two year old smashed his ipad after throwing it down from the 11th floor. the is badly into pieces, thus i cant find the serial number. pls help

Get appointment date with apple support and service provider. As my two year old samshed his ipad by through it down from the 11 th floor. whole screen is literaaly into pieces and unsafe to touch. this ipad was given by my sister to my son on his 2nd birthday, so dont know much about it. Pls help

http://www.apple.com/retail/
Enter your zip code, pick your store, and make an appointment.

My two-year old imac is getting much slower, how do i speed it up?

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