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Calling all computer geniuses...my MacBook Pro is slowing down. Why is that? Could it be that it's old 2010...or that I have too much stuff on it? 
1. Badly fragmented hard drive - Run a defragmentation program
2. Spyware/Adware - Run a spyware/malware detection program
3. Too much stuff on hard drive (not enough free memory) - Store stuff on discs, or delete stuff
I was going to recommend a defrag program and spyware programs but they are only for PC, not apple.
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I have a MBP as well and I use this app called Dr. Cleaner, at first to monitor my memory usage but now it does more stuff. I think that's can be a first step? It's in App Store and it's free.
It will show you your CPU usage as well and has a 1-click delete for accumulated junk files, as well as a 1-click memory optimiser.
It will show you your CPU usage as well and has a 1-click delete for accumulated junk files, as well as a 1-click memory optimiser.
Calling all computer geniuses...my MacBook Pro is slowing down. Why is that? Could it be that it's old 2010...or that I have too much stuff on it?
*Lynx raises his hand*
No no, I'm not saying I use Apple computers. I'm saying this computer genius is in the group that doesn't have an Apple.
*Lynx raises his hand again*
I'm on Linux Mint right now.
True and false. Disk still needs defrag, but Windows does it automatically these days. Default defrag scheduling is once a week, usually at 2 or 3am, I think. You can change that in settings.
Yeah and some Linux-only people still think we're kidding about defrag. "Yeah, right, like any real computer operating system is going to INTENTIONALLY store bits of a file scattered all over the hard drive, that it will have to go back later and clean up?"
True and false.
Fragmentation is when files are stored in bits all over the hard drive, because that's where the bits happened to fall. It's a method for writing files to the hard drive very quickly. Eventually if those bits are not cleaned up and stored in nice contiguous files they cause system slow-down because the hard drive's needle has to go all over the disk collecting bits of files every time you access anything.
Solid state drives are immune to the slow-down of fragmentation because the data is not accessed by a needle physically moving across a spinning disk. In fact it could be said that fragmentation doesn't even exist in an SSD because the data is stored and accessed in a completely different manner.
But defrag is not a universal requirement for traditional hard drives if you are running a system that doesn't fragment the drive in the first place. I never have to defrag my Linux Mint install.
No no, I'm not saying I use Apple computers. I'm saying this computer genius is in the group that doesn't have an Apple.
LOL but they most probably use Linux which is Unix-based like Mac OS. #AntiWindows
I'm on Linux Mint right now.
True and false. Disk still needs defrag, but Windows does it automatically these days. Default defrag scheduling is once a week, usually at 2 or 3am, I think. You can change that in settings.
Yeah and some Linux-only people still think we're kidding about defrag. "Yeah, right, like any real computer operating system is going to INTENTIONALLY store bits of a file scattered all over the hard drive, that it will have to go back later and clean up?"
True and false.
Fragmentation is when files are stored in bits all over the hard drive, because that's where the bits happened to fall. It's a method for writing files to the hard drive very quickly. Eventually if those bits are not cleaned up and stored in nice contiguous files they cause system slow-down because the hard drive's needle has to go all over the disk collecting bits of files every time you access anything.
Solid state drives are immune to the slow-down of fragmentation because the data is not accessed by a needle physically moving across a spinning disk. In fact it could be said that fragmentation doesn't even exist in an SSD because the data is stored and accessed in a completely different manner.
But defrag is not a universal requirement for traditional hard drives if you are running a system that doesn't fragment the drive in the first place. I never have to defrag my Linux Mint install.
However we have ranged far afield of the original question:
If your hard drive is full, that's probably the reason. Also, mac and windows both pick up a lot of debris along the way and every couple of years or so it's a good idea to wipe it clean and reinstall the system. Speeds up your computer a lot. Your computer should have a backup copy of the whole system on a protected partition. Save all the stuff you want to keep on a flash drive or something, then trigger a factory reset.
PLEASE NOTE: I do not have a mac and have never tried this. These are instructions from the internet. Try at your own risk.
Or just take the computer to your local friendly nerd and say, "My macbook is really slowing down and I think it needs a factory reset reinstall. I've already copied all the stuff I want to save over to a flash drive. Could you help me with this?" and smile sweetly. We friendly nerds are suckers for anybody who asks for computer help.
Calling all computer geniuses...my MacBook Pro is slowing down. Why is that? Could it be that it's old 2010...or that I have too much stuff on it?
PLEASE NOTE: I do not have a mac and have never tried this. These are instructions from the internet. Try at your own risk.
Or just take the computer to your local friendly nerd and say, "My macbook is really slowing down and I think it needs a factory reset reinstall. I've already copied all the stuff I want to save over to a flash drive. Could you help me with this?" and smile sweetly. We friendly nerds are suckers for anybody who asks for computer help.