Re: spinning beach ball of death

From	nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>
Newsgroups	comp.sys.mac.system
Subject	Re: spinning beach ball of death
Date	2015-08-29 14:17 -0400
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<290820151417029101%nospam@nospam.invalid> (permalink)
References	<mrrcqv$tgu$1@news.albasani.net> <290820150735192903%nospam@nospam.invalid> <mrskfu$j95$1@news.albasani.net>

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In article <mrskfu$j95$1@news.albasani.net>, Ken Springer
<wordworks@greeleynet.com> wrote:

> >> A new friend has a fairly new (sorry, don't know how long she's had it)
> >> Mac laptop with Yosemite, and she reports that the spinning beach ball
> >> has been steadily making itself more known as the computer ages.
> >
> > which mac and how much memory and does it have an ssd?
> 
> I will have to find out Wednesday, unless she is able to tell me.  And 
> this I doubt.

do you know how old the mac is?

anyway, have her go to the apple menu, choose about this mac and read
what it says. 

> >> Looked at a couple pages of troubleshooting, and both recommend using
> >> Activity Monitor to troubleshoot.  Neither of us are that technically
> >> oriented.  LOL
> >
> > then that shouldn't be your first step.
> 
> It will be my path of last resort.  LOL
> 
> >> On another page, reference is made to changing power settings, of which
> >> I doubt she's capable of.
> >
> > what page is that? beachballing isn't a power issue.
> 
> It's an old Macworld article from 2010. 
> http://www.macworld.com/article/1151583/spinningbeachballofdeath.html 
> Just skimmed the page, but it appears it is talking about the system 
> being in standby mode.

there are some good tips but also some not so good ones. for instance,
the putting hard disks to sleep setting won't matter with the internal
drive and would only cause a couple second delay with external drives
(if any are connected) as it spins up.

> What I hate about articles like this is usually no date, and almost 
> never tell you which version of an operating system they are talking about.

for a lot of things, that doesn't make much difference. 

> >> The same page lists decreasing space on the hard drive for swapping
> >> files.  This may be a possibility, but I won't be able to check until
> >> next Wednesday.
> >
> > unless she's getting warnings about the drive being too full, it's not
> > an issue.
> 
> I don't know if she is or not.

would she know to do something about it if she did get those warnings?

i also doubt that's the reason for beachballing. if the disk does fill
up the system will probably crash. it's a design flaw of unix.

> >> Are there any other simple checks we can do for the initial
> >> troubleshooting phase?
> >
> > beachballing is usually specific to one app when it's unresponsive,
> > which can be determined by moving the mouse around and seeing when the
> > beachball appears and disappears. it will be a beachball when it's over
> > the problematic app and a normal cursor when not.
> 
> Man, a great idea, wish I'd thought of it.  I've noticed this behavior 
> of OS X and have appreciated it.

if it beachballs everywhere, that is also a clue that it could be
hardware, such as a failing hard drive. however, if the mac is recent,
it may have an ssd, which could still fail but not as likely.

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spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-28 22:35 -0600
  Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-29 17:25 +1200
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:10 -0600
  Re: spinning beach ball of death Leonard Blaisdell <leoblaisdell@sbcglobal.net> - 2015-08-28 22:49 -0700
    Re: spinning beach ball of death dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-08-29 16:09 +1000
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-29 18:55 +1200
        Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 07:35 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:56 -0600
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2015-08-29 17:46 +0000
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:17 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-30 12:44 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 20:44 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-30 02:00 +0000
            Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:17 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 22:47 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2015-08-29 22:04 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 01:10 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2015-08-30 03:17 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-08-30 15:09 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 01:07 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 11:07 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 13:18 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-30 15:18 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 15:32 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-30 15:51 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 16:01 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-30 20:50 -0400
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-30 10:17 +1200
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 18:17 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:32 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:41 -0600
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-30 10:12 +1200
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 09:36 -0600
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamcop.net> - 2015-08-30 22:57 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-31 15:09 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-31 10:00 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-31 09:50 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 11:02 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:12 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death David Fritzinger <email@domain.com> - 2015-08-29 11:23 -0400
  Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 07:35 -0400
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:52 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:17 -0400
        Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-29 14:23 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:31 -0400
            Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-29 14:53 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 15:06 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 19:38 +0000
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2015-08-29 21:47 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 11:11 -0600
          Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 13:18 -0400
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 23:05 -0600
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-31 11:53 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-31 10:18 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-31 12:29 -0400
  Re: spinning beach ball of death J Burns <burns4@nowhere.com> - 2015-08-29 18:26 -0400
    Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 18:29 -0400
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:43 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death J Burns <burns4@nowhere.com> - 2015-08-29 19:43 -0400
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:41 +0000
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:45 +0000
  Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 16:58 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> - 2015-09-02 16:25 -0700
      Re: spinning beach ball of death J Burns <burns4@nowhere.com> - 2015-09-02 19:55 -0400
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 18:14 -0600
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:14 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-03 13:15 +1200
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 19:48 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2015-09-03 12:48 +1200
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 01:10 +0000
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:12 -0600
        Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:22 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:27 -0600
            Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:32 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:37 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:48 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 21:58 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-09-03 02:01 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:18 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamcop.net> - 2015-09-04 18:27 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2015-09-02 19:55 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 21:53 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 04:03 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:41 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-04 03:36 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 04:01 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:43 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-04 03:44 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-03 16:15 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:47 -0600
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 03:59 +0000
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 00:01 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 04:04 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Fred Moore <fmoore@gcfn.org> - 2015-09-03 12:21 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 16:55 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Fred Moore <fmoore@gcfn.org> - 2015-09-03 14:35 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death David Ritz <dritz@mindspring.com> - 2015-09-03 21:26 -0500
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-04 08:52 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 21:11 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 23:49 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:50 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 23:49 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 09:45 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-04 15:56 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-04 13:00 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Tim Streater <timstreater@greenbee.net> - 2015-09-04 22:44 +0100
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 17:13 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-05 12:10 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Tim Streater <timstreater@greenbee.net> - 2015-09-05 08:29 +0100
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-05 15:04 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamcop.net> - 2015-09-05 11:03 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-06 02:34 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-09-05 10:09 +1000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 18:23 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-09-05 10:33 +1000
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:48 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 23:49 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-04 18:20 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 09:21 -0600
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 03:58 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 03:57 +0000
    Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-09-02 21:35 -0400
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:24 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:22 -0400

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