System Preferences and spinning beachballs

I have noticed that system preferences is getting slower and slower
I have Yosemite on an 2011 Mac book pro
I get a spinning beachball for a good minute before an item loads, and sometimes it cannot even be loaded
I also got a spinning beachball both on Mavericks and after a new install of Yosemite , not just with System Preferences, but quite a lot generally and have had the macbook at a genius specialist who thought a fresh install would solve that and the issue of there only being about 2 per cent ram available.
I only ever have a couple of applications open at any one time, e.g. Notes and Evernote
I am wondering whether these issues might be related to an installation of Word for Mac....don't know if anyone else suspects microsofot software as an issue......
I use Pages normally and Word for Mac occasionally, but it keeps crashing and creating error reports and recovered documents (as Microsoft always does - this is why i bought a Mac ).
Thanks for any ideas
MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Similar Messages

System Preferences and Safari issues

Hi I have a very concerning issue with system preferences and a smaller issue with Safari (7.0). When I open system preferences and navigate to the "internet accounts" page and try to remove an account or click the "Advanced" button, nothing happens. I see a faint flicker of the system prefs window but nothing changes. Another example is when I click on the "networks" page and try and open the "Advanced" window, nothing happens. I also can't sign out of iCloud or view my iCloud account information the buttons seem to do nothing. I've already tried installing mavericks again, deleting appropriate plists, resetting PRAM/NVRAM, repairing the disk and repairing disk permissions to no avail and I really need to find a solution. If this helps, the guest account does not have any issues described above. The safari issue is minor but when Safari opens, there is a gray box around the page title in the top bar of safari no matter what webpage im on. I have tried resetting safari, deleting caches and extensions but nothing works. I really appreciate any help with these issues.
Here is an example of the Safari issue.

Do you have the installer DVD? If you do:
Clean Install of Snow Leopard
Be sure to make a backup first because the following procedure will erase
the drive and everything on it.
     1. Boot the computer using the OS X Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came
         with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
         After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see
         a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.
     2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue
         button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
         After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive
         size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of
         partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button
         and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended
         (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.
     3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed
         with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.
     4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
         Assistant. Be sure you configure your initial admin account with the exact same
         username and password that you used on your old drive. After you finish Setup
         Assistant will complete the installation after which you will be running a fresh
         install of OS X. You can now begin the update process by opening Software
         Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your installation current.

How do I take the zoom feature off my MacBook Pro? I have already went to System Preferences and turned "zoom" off in the Universal Access. I saw where someone said to use THREE fingers to double click... ??? Double click what? And 3 fingers?

Can someone help me?How do I take the zoom feature off my MacBook Pro? I have already went to System Preferences and turned "zoom" off in the Universal Access. I saw where someone said to use THREE fingers to double click... ??? Double click what? And 3 fingers?

What really cheeses me off here is that Apple isn't allowing users enough customization. With each update of iTunes (and the OS and iOS) we're forced to give up something that worked well for the way we want to use the app and make do with fewer (and lamer) options. If Apple keeps this up, they're going to start losing customers fast. I mean if this isn't fixed soon, I'm pretty sure I'm going to give up on iTunes, and then I'll probably go ahead and get a Galaxy when I need to replace my iPhone.
What I don't understand about how they won't let users delete the list of available podcasts now is why? How is this making it a better program? I can understand that not all users are capable enough to right-click on a feed and select "Show all available episodes", so I can see why they want the complete list to be the default (and, surprise, it already was). But to not give users the option to delete that list? It's inconsiderate because it makes navigating feeds with a large back catalogue really frustrating. I'm flabbergasted that no one at Apple considered all the podcast feeds that keep hundreds of episodes available when they removed this feature. It smacks of rank incompetence.
What improvement were they trying to make here anyway? There was nothing wrong to my mind about how podcasts were managed in previous versions. Whatever improvement they were trying to make here, they should have realized that many users would at least want the option to keep things the way they were.
And reverting to a previous version is no solution. I can't sync my iPhone with the new iOS without this update, and (while I do have some issues--specifically how you can't play podcasts in the Music app anymore) I do like the new iOS.

I have an icloud account which I can access via the web but when I go to systems preferences and click on the icloud it sends me to the mobileme closed site?? How do I get it to go to my icloud log in

I have an icloud account which I can access via the web but when I go to systems preferences and click on the icloud it sends me to the mobileme closed site?? How do I get it to go to my icloud log in?

You're saying that when you click on the iCloud preference pane button it sends you to the defunct MMe
rather than giving you this?
Is your profile up to date, i.e. are your running 10.7.5? Make sure you click on the iCloud button and not the MMe button.
OT

With 10.2 I can only use system speaker output for audio, NOT my RME FF400 I used previously. The FF400 works fine with other apps. How can I set this device in FCP 10.2? (it is set in both system preferences and midi)

With 10.2 I can only use a system (e.g. speaker) output for audio, NOT my RME FF400 I used without any problems previously. The FF400 works fine with other apps (some like TwistedWave) setup in the program, and others (like Spotify) using system preferences & audio midi setup. How can I set the FF400 to be the sound output device in FCP 10.2? N.B. The FF400 is set as sound output device in both system preferences and audio midi setup.

From the fcp.co forum. See if this does anything for you.
simon_hutchings
OFFLINE
Junior Boarder
Posts: 24
Thank you received: 5
Karma: 1
I have the solution! Well it at least worked for me. This is the response I got from Apple, Can you please try the following steps towards fixing your audio issue, and report back with your results?
1. Open the application Audio Midi Setup (located in Applications : Utilities)
2. Select the Output Tab for the current output device
3. Select the Configure Speakers option
4. Select the Multichannel tab
5. Change the setting to Stereo Now mine was set to stereo but the left channel wasn't showing left. re-clicking on stereo reloaded the settings and after clicking apply it worked.

The icloud icon is no longer showing up in my system preferences and I can't access it

I can't get to my desktop on my network and thought it might be a problem with the icloud. So I went to system preferences and the icloud icon is no longer there, although the mobile me icon IS showing... so, I don't know what's wrong!

Thanks, I guess I'm confused, because it WAS showing up on my ipad. My main problem is that my Mac desktop icon is no longer showing up on my home network and I cn't acess it from my laptop (share screen)... although I was able to access my desktop a few days ago. Can you help me with that? Thanks again!

When I go in to SYSTEM PREFERENCE and click on DESKTOP/SCREENSAVERS it says pictures loading but then I get that coloured circle and nothing else - I then have to force quit

When I go in to SYSTEM PREFERENCE and click on DESKTOP/SCREENSAVERS it says pictures loading but then I get that coloured circle and nothing else - I then have to force quit

Hi Mende 1
I have just tried what you suggested and it came up with - folder can't be found?

OSX 10.6 .8 -- Firefox automatically starts when I boot up (MacBook Pro Intel). It is not in the Startup Items in System Preferences, and automatic startup is not checked in Firefox Options. Don't know where else to look.

How do I keep Firefox automatically starts when I boot up (OSX 10.6 .8 -- MacBook Pro Intel). It is not in the Startup Items in System Preferences, and automatic startup is not checked in Firefox Options.

Hi fullrun-
Once Firefox is open, you should be able to open the Right click context menu on the icon. From there you select 'Options' and then de-select 'Open at Login'. Hope that helps.

In System Preferences, and CDs &DVDs, I've set the drop-down menu for audio CDs to open iTunes. can anyone tell me why it always reverts to Ignore?

Can anyone help me figure out why the setting in System Preferences and CDs & DVDs will always revert to Ignore when I set the drop-down menu to When you insert a music CD, to Open ITunes? I've tried iTunes Help and it told me exactly what I have been doing. I've even tried downloading iTunes again, to no avail. If anyone has had the same problem, please let me know. I would very much appreciate it.

In iTunes Preferences not system preferences under the General Tab there is a drop down in the lower part letting you specify what action to take when a CD is inserted
Show CD
Begin Playing
Ask To Import
Import CD
Import and Eject
I believe this setting adds to the system preferences
In system Preferences I have

In System Prefereneces, when I am in Desktop and Screen Saver, I am unable to remove folders. I can click the "-" and the folder appears to be gone, but when I close and then reopen System Preferences, and open Desktop and Screen Saver, the folder reappea

In System Prefereneces, when I am in Desktop and Screen Saver, I am unable to remove folders. I can click the "-" and the folder appears to be gone, but when I close and then reopen System Preferences, and open Desktop and Screen Saver, the folder reappears in the list. I have tried deleting preferences "plist" but I am totally unable to remove the folders.

I've seen one other report like yours, and I think the issue is caused by a bug, but I don't know what triggers it.
Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, or by corruption of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain iMacs. The next normal boot 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. Same problem? After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

IMac monitor (my parents), the greys are so light and faint, they are almost impossible to see. especially in icalendar. i've gone into system preferences and i think i've tried everything there and checked the forums. no luck. any other suggestions?

monitor too faint to read. the greays on my monitor are so faint, they're almost impossible to see. especially the numbers of the dates in ical.
i've gone to system preferences and contrast controls. but no luck. any other suggestions? thank you

Thank you. I didn't know about the universal access adjustment. All the way left is a little better, but still much fainter than on my own imac. I'm not sure why apple uses grey typeface, but it's so faint on this imac monitor that it was difficult to find the "reply" option on this post. Are there any other suggestions? thank you

I am trying to create a video of my desktop using Quicktime (10.0). I have no sound. I have checked my system preferences and everything looks good there. Why am I lacking sound on my video?

I am trying to create a video of my desktop using Quicktime (10.0). I have no sound. I have checked my system preferences and everything looks good there. Why am I lacking sound on my video?

You might also post this question in the Quicktime forum https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/quicktime

Hi folks, you might know how to fix this: my wifi shows (no hardware installed) then I went to system preferences and deleted the wifi connection, I went also to system information and I can not see wifi listed on Network, how can I create a new wifi ?

Hi folks, you might know how to fix this: my wifi shows (no hardware installed) then I went to system preferences and deleted the wifi connection, I went also to system information and I can not see wifi listed on Network, how can I create a new wifi or simply solve this, I have tryied shotdown pressing keys like P and R, option, etc. Please help me .

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads 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.
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, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or 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 on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually login 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. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

I accidentally dropped my firewall, or openned it. I checked it in system preferences and it is turned off but I can not find how to put it back up. PLEASE HELP!

I accidentally dropped my firewall, or openned it. I checked it in system preferences and it is turned off but I can not find how to put it back up. PLEASE HELP! I obviously do not want to leave this open very long, if you get my drift.

Did you "click the lock to make changes"

HT201342 I cannot find any place to "Go to Mail Preferences". I have tried looking under both "Mail" and "System Preferences" and there is nothing there entitled "Mail Preferences". Where is that button located?

The instructions say "Go to Mail Preferences."
I cannot find any place called "Mail Preferences". I have tried looking under both "Mail" and "System Preferences" and there is nothing there entitled "Mail Preferences". Under "Preferences" there is no subheading as described in the iCloud instructions. Where is that "Mail Preferences" button located?

Open Mail, go to the 'Mail' menu, select Preferences.

System Preferences and spinning beachballs

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for