Slow computer...
- Thread starter Moptop
- Start date
When posting, mentioning one's System / MacOS X version and Mac model, at a minimum, is helpful.
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In 'Finder' - select the 'Go, Go to Folder...' menu item, and enter
/var/vm/
before clicking on the 'Go' button. Are there any 'swapfiles'?, if so - are any quite large (500MB+ or greater)?
Also, in 'Finder' - select the 'Go, Go to Folder...' menu item, and enter
/private/var/log/
before clicking on the 'Go' button.' Are there any rather large (in the MegaBytes) '.log' file(s)?
Locate and open your user's logs folder - '~/Library/Logs/' and local logs folder - '/Library/Logs/' - and their respective sub-folders. Any rather large (in the MegaBytes) '.log' file(s)?
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Large, in size, 'swapfile' and '.log' files can, and do, slow down Macs.
Slow down, with respect to 'Safari' and / or other web browsers - can be the result of 'cache' files. For 'Safari', the cache files are at '~/Library/Caches/Safari/' and '~/Library/Safari/Icons/. Other web browsers allow the user to set the 'Cache' size - such as '0' MB.
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In 'Finder' - select the 'Go, Go to Folder...' menu item, and enter
/var/vm/
before clicking on the 'Go' button. Are there any 'swapfiles'?, if so - are any quite large (500MB+ or greater)?
Also, in 'Finder' - select the 'Go, Go to Folder...' menu item, and enter
/private/var/log/
before clicking on the 'Go' button.' Are there any rather large (in the MegaBytes) '.log' file(s)?
Locate and open your user's logs folder - '~/Library/Logs/' and local logs folder - '/Library/Logs/' - and their respective sub-folders. Any rather large (in the MegaBytes) '.log' file(s)?
----
Large, in size, 'swapfile' and '.log' files can, and do, slow down Macs.
Slow down, with respect to 'Safari' and / or other web browsers - can be the result of 'cache' files. For 'Safari', the cache files are at '~/Library/Caches/Safari/' and '~/Library/Safari/Icons/. Other web browsers allow the user to set the 'Cache' size - such as '0' MB.
sourcehound
Registered
My ulitity, Mac HelpMate can clean out logs, caches and swapfiles, just like Barhar mentioned in his other post. It can be automated to do this on a schedule as well.
Moptop said:
While there are a number of utility applications available, which remove 'swapfile', as well as, many other functions - I currently have three (bash) 'UNIX' files which are called at various times to better manage the 'swapfile' and 'log' files, and performs a daily 'repair permissions' operation. All files are executed at the 'root' level.
Every 30 minutes my Mac runs the bash "UNIX' file which simply calls ...
rm -rf /private/var/vm/; mkdir /private/var/vm/
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Typically, when a Mac (running MacOS X) is rebooted, or turned OFF and then ON, the swapfiles may, should, be deleted.
Every 30 minutes my Mac runs the bash "UNIX' file which simply calls ...
rm -rf /private/var/vm/; mkdir /private/var/vm/
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Typically, when a Mac (running MacOS X) is rebooted, or turned OFF and then ON, the swapfiles may, should, be deleted.
dmetzcher
Metzcher.com
Just an FYI...
I trashed all my swap files just now and then could not empty the trash because they were still in use. I tried to secure empty the trash, because that usually does it for me when the trash won't empty normally, but my machine just locked up and had to be powered off via the power button.
Is there a way to get rid of these files when I delete them, so that a new one will be created, or do I have to simply reboot? If I have to reboot, deleting them does no good, because they will be cleared after the reboot anyway.
Thanks to anyone who can answer.
I trashed all my swap files just now and then could not empty the trash because they were still in use. I tried to secure empty the trash, because that usually does it for me when the trash won't empty normally, but my machine just locked up and had to be powered off via the power button.
Is there a way to get rid of these files when I delete them, so that a new one will be created, or do I have to simply reboot? If I have to reboot, deleting them does no good, because they will be cleared after the reboot anyway.
Thanks to anyone who can answer.
chemistry_geek
Registered
It would be nice if someone who is very skillful (not me) with the command line and shell scripts write specific instructions for running any known/existing shell scripts inherent to MacOSX that maintain optimizations, even setting them up as cron jobs. On the weekends, if I remember, I run the following three system maintenance scripts:
sudo sh /etc/periodic/daily/500.daily
sudo sh /etc/periodic/weekly/500.weekly
sudo sh /etc/periodic/monthly/500.monthly (run when appropriate)
I know these scripts are already scheduled to run around 4:30 AM, IF THE COMPUTER IS TURNED ON, which mine is not during those times. I run them in the terminal and go about my business on my computer as they run in the background.
I know that everyone uses their computers differently and that certain "needs" are specific for the tasks performed. Being a scientist, I download lots of scientific articles in Adobe PDF format, therefore, I need to be able to find text inside these articles, and keeping my computer index up-to-date allows for finding what I'm looking for.
I would like to set up my mac to "email home" its IP address in the case that it gets stolen. It's little things like this that some people migh want.
sudo sh /etc/periodic/daily/500.daily
sudo sh /etc/periodic/weekly/500.weekly
sudo sh /etc/periodic/monthly/500.monthly (run when appropriate)
I know these scripts are already scheduled to run around 4:30 AM, IF THE COMPUTER IS TURNED ON, which mine is not during those times. I run them in the terminal and go about my business on my computer as they run in the background.
I know that everyone uses their computers differently and that certain "needs" are specific for the tasks performed. Being a scientist, I download lots of scientific articles in Adobe PDF format, therefore, I need to be able to find text inside these articles, and keeping my computer index up-to-date allows for finding what I'm looking for.
I would like to set up my mac to "email home" its IP address in the case that it gets stolen. It's little things like this that some people migh want.
Via 'Terminal' ('/Applications/Utilities' folder) enter
sudo rm -rf /private/var/vm/; mkdir /private/var/vm/
at the 'Password:' prompt - enter the administrator's password, and press the <return> key.
As noted in my second reply - 'All files are executed at the 'root' level'. By doing such - all user's accounts and any low level items can be trashed, without the need to enter any password(s).
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Note:
sudo rm -rf /var/vm/; mkdir /var/vm/
could also be used.
sudo rm -rf /private/var/vm/; mkdir /private/var/vm/
at the 'Password:' prompt - enter the administrator's password, and press the <return> key.
As noted in my second reply - 'All files are executed at the 'root' level'. By doing such - all user's accounts and any low level items can be trashed, without the need to enter any password(s).
----
Note:
sudo rm -rf /var/vm/; mkdir /var/vm/
could also be used.
dmetzcher
Metzcher.com
Doesn't someone make this type of software for the Mac? I know it exists on the Windows side. From what I remember, you install the software, and then register yourself on their Web site. Then, if your machine is stolen, you log into their Web site and report it. The next time the machine connects to the Internet, they tell you where it is and you can report it. Something like that. And if that service doesn't exist, then I need to call someone and make a few dollars. I can't imagine that I made all that up in my head though. I think someone is doing it.chemistry_geek said: