Home Forums Hardware Mac Desktops & Notebooks New Mac every thing slower

Though start separate thread..

New Mac Mini, getting 10 second beachballs constantly, have not seen years: opening finder windows, icloud finder windows, opening folders external internal hardrive, saving word doc,

Coming from 2015 27: to new 2020 bought 2022, 16 GB Ram M1, much slower, stumped.

May be improving with shutdown, reboot see, not sure...startling to see beach balls again...

Leave it up and running at least overnight. There is a lot of processing going on in the background right now.

Thanks JOe, did not know. starting to see improvement.. see what happens.

It should settle, but it can take a few days to complete the changes, rearrangements, indexing, etc. and all that eats CPU cycles and slows everything else down.

Update:
Did sell old 27" $400... mentioned could be internal hd issues down the road.

The beachball is around. This is real killer, come and goes, but when comes... 5 to 15 sec, so have to figure that out. They say M1 needs less ram but maybe not true -- only 16 ram? Crazy, as feels like a slower computer by far than the old 2015 27"

Drive X did form and direct email no response. So the software that instigated the upgrade, does not work on externals for M1 or the owner does not care about customers?

At this point, I am beginning to wonder if your two issues, beach-balling and DriveDX not reporting external drives, are related

1. Did you ever uninstall and reinstall DriveDX?
2. Please describe how your external drives are connected including any hubs, cable types, port adaptors, etc.
3. Is "Put Hard disk to sleep when possible" on or off?

Thanks JOe

Yes did delete Drive X to trash, (not uninstall, did not find uninstall tool) deleted and reinstalled drive X

2 externals are in hub per force, but the one important one is not in hub, it's direct to Mac Mini

Put Hard disk to sleep when possible was in fact unchecked. Checking it now. Let's hope help?

Called apple , same issue with test user. Did reinstall Mac OS, same issue, beach balls all over . I'm stumped, would you recommend returning computer? or?

PS... or maybe after the reinstall of Mac os beachball is normal? Things rebuilding again?. Gotta tell you JOe. Of four apple techs today, no one had a clue about why a new machine would have a beachball issue. You are only one who has said, implied this is not abnormal ie, things have to settle, (ie spotlight) so who knows, maybe needs a 2nd settling time after putting in a new OS?

Also tech guy did not do the hardware diagnostic.. so do that in a bit..

Then if times goes on.. take it in store? These techs are just pulling things from articles reading. They have no clue..

JUst when want access folders either in icloud or external plugged into M! then 10 - 15 sec beachball. .. Could live with it for 5 years really unitl next Mac.... don't know if have stomach to continue doing another migration even if they give me a new machine -- just really weird to have beachballs again, kind of like back to '98 and G4 first one got....

Final point/ questions. "maybe " better after reinstall Mac os.. Bottom line, seems to beachball when touching a hardrive, whether external or icloud or... and has not visited that hardrive or folder in awhile or that part / folder in awhile. Then ok.. then some times goes on and does again. Hence do see beach ball every day. Then knows that folder or hardrive and is ok for ahile.

Maybe bit better.... Diagnostic test went good , no issues. Would still take in store, bother with that? 3 days left to get money back.. would try ask new machine? (huge pita doing all that migration again though.. but? )

Or just live with it? Test so far, first aid DU, Diagnostic, reinstall OS, could new same machine be better or? Maybe just nature of M1 vs older Silicon had? (just odd see beachballs again) They not for 5min.. just 15 sec... then normalize, comes back.

There is nothing wrong with your M1 Mac mini, but there are possible issues with some of your settings in System Preferences. I should have thought of these earlier, but I have been distracted by family matters.

The beach-ball is the normal delay necessary for "rotating rust" drives to come “up-to-speed” when they have been asleep. Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver > and be sure “put hard drive to sleep when possible” is turned OFF (unchecked). While you are there, consider turning "Prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping ON to further reduce startup lag.

As to the DriveDX issue, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Files & Folders and verify DriveDX appears, and Removable Volumes is turned ON.

One more thing. You can download the M1 compatible SAT SMART driver used in DriveDX here

Joe, great thanks Whew, lotta work but got Drive X to work! Have to approve: of guy never heard of with Russian sounding, name, how is that for starters... Kirill Luzanov. suppose super smart guy who created Drive X, but does not answer emails or his own contact form, and does not put the more normal DriveX name in that list.. but scary Kirill Luzanov to approve check (googled it it's drivex) but oh well works, now.

That said, this all required me to change from FULL SECURITY to REDUCED SECURITY
https://support.apple.com/guide/security/startup-disk-security-policy-control-sec7d92dc49f/web

Your opinion on that Joe? (was I on reduced security while using drivex on the old imac, and is that not so Kosher to be on reduced security?

Ok beachballs, did the system pref, stuff, thanks...as you said.. still think the plague of them will continue on. Not life and death.. not 1 min beachblass from 90s to be fair.. Mostly 10 15 sec when accessing folder/ hardrive.
Still have not seen that even in long time, and every day...

But I think that's just way it is you agree? Maybe something with my system and M1 that creating this "rotating rust" as you call it? Boy lot more "rotating rust" with me and M1 than the silicon 2016 27".......

And I can call 10 apple senior techs and they don't even get this "rotating rust" concept.. they just go to the boilerplate reinstall, test this.. blah blah, fine.

But no more hope for that correct. Just get used to it? btw the rotating rust, only last few hours even with hardrive not sleeping, or at least with M1... by afternoon, few hours rust sets in again... Maybe the M2 M3..will be better?

I have had to run with reduced security since getting an M1 Mac because it is the only way to install some kernel extensions such as SoftRAID until Apple finishes work on their long promised extension “kit” which will permit third-party kernel extensions to run in the user area. Personally I would prefer to run with full protection, but the fix is in Apple's court.


Rotating rust is an old timer's nickname for hard drives. A hard drive is a rotating glass or aluminum disk coated with a layer of media capable of holding a magnetic charge. The media is typically a form of ferrous oxide, and ferrous oxide is the chemical name for “rust” – thus the nickname “rotating rust”. When a hard drive “sleeps” the disk stops spinning to save energy, so when the drive wakes up the disk has to spin up to speed (5,400 or 7,200 rpm) before it can be accessed. Because the drive motors are low powered and, do not have much torque there is an inevitable lag between the drive being awakened and reaching the proper speed for accurate reading and writing. There are two possible ways to eliminate the lag...

1. Replace the hard drive with an SSD, which has obvious cost implications.
2. Never allow the drive, or system, to sleep (ie. spin down), which explains the settings changes.

Even if a hard drive is already rotating at the correct rpm, there is still a delay, called “seek time” while the read/write head is mechanically placed over the proper track and still further delay, called “lag time”, waiting for the desired sector to rotate under the read/write head.

All of this has always been there, but your M1 Mac mini is tuned to work with an SSD that is literally on the same “fabric” as the memory and CPU and therefore has virtually zero communications or access time delay. External hard drives are so slow in comparison that a “beach ball” is generated. It is the computer's equivalent of “twiddling its thumbs”.


Always look to see what else is going on, and how your external drives are connected. For example, if you have two drives connected to the same USB 3.0 port, whether it is through daisy chain or hub, if Time Machine, or another task is accessing a drive on the port it will delay and slow access to the other drive.

Actually, the solution is not in the computer, rather in replacing the external hard drives with something like this, or this. Even this would work because the enclosure has a large built-in memory buffer. (Look at the prices and you will know why I continue to use HDs for my Time Machine backups )

Thanks Joe, well I love DRive X, ... still how dangerous is running with reduced security. I don't understand it the details on it.., what could happen more likely than full?


BTW I think (can't remember now if I was sleeping hardrive on the 27" imac - ie sleep when possible, I think I had that at yes...)... sleep hardrive if possible, is that optimal, ie go to bed. 8 hours and then uncheck the HD wont sleep, bad, if have it for 5 years? In other words with that unchecked, the hardrive will last less? or...? not?


On rotating rust.. but I mentioned this happens also, lag, beach ball with the Cloud folder and things in that folder not just externals. Maybe sometimes even with the Mac HD ssd, but don't know, as don't click on it too much.

So its the M1 with old style hardrives and the icloud folder... better with pre M1 computers? the Lag, Rust?


Yeah, my Seagate 8TB were $100 to $150.. yet no issue with the 27".. so this will continue, and you vote to just get used to it... ? Right weird new trade off, but I suppose no choice.... still that icloud folders beachball lag same as external, nothing one can do for that..?

You would think this would be known subject, but no apple tech, and nothing online I can find talks about this topic.

Assuming you have information on your computer, which if revealed could result in grave harm to the security of the United States then I would not run with reduced security. Otherwise while it is not optimum, I find it an acceptable risk.


There are three schools of thought on that:

1. Sleeping the drive will extend the drives lifespan
2. Stopping and starting the drive is more harmful that letting it run
3. Technological advances and need for more storage will be the probable reason for its replacement, not wear and tear.

Number 3 has proven true for me in the majority of cases.


Unless you can repeal the speed of light or your computer is colocated in the same room with the iCloud servers, a slight delay in accessing files is inescapable. Accessing a single file may involve hundreds of data packets, each traveling through a unique set of network servers and links and potentially thousands of miles of wire, microwave, and even satellite links to reach your computer, be checked for accuracy and finally reassembled in the correct order.

As for the external drives, use SSDs instead of HDs, and Thunderbolt instead of USB and $ instead of ¢. The apparent slowdown is because the computer is proportionally so much faster that it spends more time waiting for the data than your iMac did and the beach ball is the equivalent of the computer tapping its feet waiting for the external drive to respond.


It is a known subject called “computer engineering”. It is a five-year degree to get the very basics, and half of what you learn in that five years will become obsolete within the next five years. Even then, it typically takes years of experience for it to really gel into a comprehensively coherent whole.

Thanks Joe good insights, final observation:
Just remembered my M1 Macbook Air, got year 1/2 ago. Now only use it lightly in kitchen, email/ internet, no external hardrives on it.. still I do command N finder defaults to that same Icloud drive folder, and have not seen a beach on that laptop. Any idea on that, and why then seen beachball on same icloud... drive with M1 Mac Mini - but not the M1 lalptop?

Without spending your money on network analysis software I can only make wild guesses, but just because both devices are on the same network does not mean they are on the same band (2.4GHz vs 5GHz), the same channel, are subject to the same signal interference, and have equal signal strength from the router. Any one, or more, of those factors can effect Wi-Fi network speed and response time and therefore iCloud response time. That is at least six semester hour topic.

Interesting Joe, thats a good enough answer right there! I'll take that.

Also Joe, don't know can guess, but Magic keyboard f1, f2 keys wont change brightness anymore with the new Asus monitor, though some other keys don't care about ie, F4 and F5 work...

I have had mixed results with the brightness function keys.

1. On my studio running Ventura, they work on my LG Fine Thunderbolt monitor, but not on the LG Full HD HDMI monitor.
2. On my wife's M1 Mac mini running Monterey, they have no effect on her Apple LED Cinema Display.

All I can suggest is to verify the settings in System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard and be sure the box labeled “Use F1, F2 keys as standard function keys” is checked. Also look at System Preferences > Displays and try different monitor profile settings. (NOTE: The Fn key mentioned in System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard has disappeared from the extended keyboards.)

Thanks Joe, darn no luck; in reverse: when uncheck use F1 F2 and standard function keys, do work as the icon it has on key.... ie volume, which I suppose most useful after brightness. The F3 and F4 also both both work when that is unchecked, never use those two. Should be opposite you should have box checked for those to work right? Alas, F1, F2 don't work checked or unchecked. Sent a message to ASus, Apple tech thought odd the brightness slider was not there in display. so mentioned that to them. I did test fer other monitors with dropdown, still did not work. (of course I don't have those monitors, so maybe thats why it who knows..)

PS Joe, this just in right now, I sent an email to owner of esteemed Mac software that studies your system give it a rating, good / excellent with pdf ... (that think you may have recommended starts with an "E"), after four days his response. . Anyway he does not have the background of whats going on as deep as you do, on this current question of beachball and m1, but I did mention the beachball, and going from the 27" to mac mini M1.

Honestly, don't know if I have stomach to do an erase and manual reinstall of everything as he is suggesting.. man PHotoshop, Mac Mail..email that take hour and hours of time... I wrote him just because we exchanged a bunch of emails in past on how to run read/ understand his software analysis, which I still don't understand fully.. In reality my old and current machine both say "excellent"..

You would do all that erase if in my shoes right? I actually did a full erase an reinstall of a backups of Mac HD just 3 months ago or so.. but not all apps etc. From him just now:
Maybe the bit about the hub or usb, you can speak to? or just leave all alone.. ok?



"Hello again Kevs,
When I looked for your previous e-mails, I found 38 of them. That strongly suggests that whatever you are doing, you should probably do the exact opposite. Clearly, this isn’t working.

My recommendation would be to erase your hard drive and reinstall the operating system. When you restore your data, restore only your user accounts and user data. Do not restore any “applications” or “other files”. Then, manually reinstall only the software that you absolutely, literally cannot live without.

Also, you have a USB 2.0 hard drive connected. The drive appears to be USB 3.0, but is connected using a “Via Labs” USB 2.0 hub. That can slow down your entire system.

Your other hard drives are USB 3.0, but two of them, including the USB 2.0 connection, seem to have operating systems installed. That can also slow down the entire system. External hard drives should be for Time Machine backups or data files. External files with operating systems installed with slow down the entire computer.
"

BTW Joe if you think this analysis is bunch of hocus pocus, I'm ok with that.. don't have to analyze it if don't want to ; or maybe just be amusing... or ?

Most of what ...says unlike with you... flies over my head -- which is why I had that email exchange in past as could not understand the pdf readouts... really just looked at if said performing good or excellent. That said, if have energy to be amused, this bit later:

since last post:




from J..."Kevs,
If you restore user accounts and user documents, then it should restore all app settings too. You need to avoid restoring applications and “other files”. You don’t want things like “tinker tool” or Virtual Box on the new computer.

There is a good chance that one of those 3rd party system modifications, or some combination of them, is what is giving you all these problems.

If your external drive was an SSD, there would be no difference. USB 2.0 is much slower than even the slowest mechanical hard drive."





My reply:

J...thanks. I bought a 10 port Xcellon Hub few years ago. I not sure if its’ usb 2 or 3, I think 3, I just sent them an email right now to ask. I don’t see word Excellon in system report sadly.

I just bought two brand new hardrives by Seagate:

https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Expansion-Desktop-External-Drive/dp/B093BWLBYY/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1TIH4GHBTBDE7&keywords=seagate+expansion&qid=1660625035&sprefix=seagate+expansion%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-6

and

https://www.seagate.com/consumer/backup/backup-plus-desk/

Both 8tb, one for data going right into the Mac Mini, other is TM, going into Xcellon hub.

The third external is a 5TB year old Seagate. Guessing that is usb 3

Both of these are advertised at usb 3.0. Here are screenshot.

The part about them having operating systems is completely over my head, have no idea what that means. I did not install any Seagate software. Also I dont’ see Tinker Tool, or Virtual Box in my app folder.

Besides all that if you don’t think SSD drives would solve beach ball issue having with M1 Mac Mini (can’t afford that anyway); then what is your theory on why this entire setup had no beachball problem with the 2016 iMac 27” that preceded the new M1 Man Mini?

some screenshot from dRive x and the system info Thanks.

https://imgur.com/a/jocH1Kd

https://imgur.com/a/W9x7VN4

The complete “nuke & pave” (erase & reinstall) sounds like overkill to me, but that is always an option. Unfortunately, unless you do it correctly, you risk re-installing the same problem. I have no experience with Virtual Box, but it could slow down your I/O. I have used Tinkertool for decades and have never had an issue with it. Personally, I can't imagine how it could affect I/O performance.

I agree completely with the remarks about USB 2 and USB 3. The maximum throughput of any USB is limited to the speed of the slowest device in the chain. That includes the ports, cables, and devices and why I asked about your exact configuration. If the Hub is USB 2.0, then it determines the speed of the entire circuit, and you are limited to 2.5 Gbps, regardless of what speed the attached drives are capable of. Hubs are cheap, but often their supported USB protocol is unmentioned and can be difficult to ascertain. The USB hubs I use are all rated USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and are hard to find. I have actually replaced all my USB cables with cables rated for Thunderbolt 4 (which was expensive). The trick there is finding Type C to Type A port adapters rated at least USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and those too are difficult to find.

JOe, thanks, will be going with your advice! I don't even see Virtural Box in app folder! Maybe I tested it years ago , not never.. Tinker tool same.

Ok he is saying though that the 2 new Seagates bought, have apps and an os..? I don't see any of that... It not clear which of my 3 external are usb 2 or 3.. totally confusion. I think the 10 port hub is USB, confirming now with the company.
Joe, did see those links / screenshot, that is the configuration too no? He is not clear on what could/ should do pertaining to the externals... see my question on that... maybe I could get you the Etra report too i



This just in this morning from J:

There is some internal data in the EtreCheck report regarding USB hubs. It is difficult to understand and show, so I don’t show it. But the word “Xcellon” never occurs. All of your USB hubs are identified as "VIA Labs, Inc.”. Some are USB 3.0 and some are USB 2.0. Perhaps some ports are USB 3 and some ports are USB 2. This particular drive seems to be “close” to a Canon D530/560 device and a Logitech MX518 Gaming Mouse.

Your screenshots clearly show “USB 2.0”.

The 8 TB “Seagate Expansion” USB 2.0 and the 5 TB “Seagate Backup+ Desk” USB 3.0 both have Preboot, Recovery, and VM volumes. This means they are macOS boot volumes. All of the apps on those volumes could potentially be run at any time. If you try to launch an app, or some other app launches an app on your behalf, or if you try to update an app, the app that is picked could be on any volume. The operating system doesn’t care. Perhaps you should carefully review what is on these volumes and why you have them attached.

As I’ve said before, you have many years of old software installed on this new computer. Some of that software is incompatible. It could be buggy. Some of it doesn’t run at all.

Your EtreCheck report does not show any performance problems. Therefore, any performance problems you are experiencing are due to normal operating system behaviour. All of those old apps and ancient data busses are simply too slow. The operating system expects all of its apps and data to be designed for macOS Monterey and installed on the internal SSD running at 3000 MB/s. Instead, it has to search through 3 different hard drives, one running 10 times slower, and the other running 100 times slower, installed on three different operating systems. It does this tens of thousand of times per day. That’s what causes the beachballs.



My reply:

thanks, the apps in the external hard drives is over my head. I don’t see any apps or Os in in those hard drives- just my data..

The canon 530 is my printer connected, and I have Logitach corded mouse.

Some of those you mentioned I don’t see in my app folder.

The million dollar question John, is why with all this… same hardrives.. was running fine on the 2016 imac 27” with no beachball issue.

The beachballs are annoying, daily, but not so bad.. 10 sec here, 15 sec there, never got this before with older 2016 imac, same hardrive same everything.


PS J , I don’t think stomach to do erase and manaul install of everything, would take dozens and dozens of hours.

You think if replaced hardrives… or the 10 port hub that could solve it? Can you say which ones ( 3 externals there)

Also I don’t see Virtual Box or Tinker Tool. Most software I use every now and then… you would scour hard and delete any apps not usuing.

You won't see any of the other folders in Finder. For security reasons, Apple has made those folders invisible. However, they will show in some third-party application such as Disk Map Analyzer, TinkerTool System, or Etrecheck. However, this clearly shows USB 2.0 hubs and devices and which limits the speed to 1.5 Gbps. Until the USB 2.0 devices are eliminated, including any USB 2.0 cables, port adaptors, and hubs, there is no possibility of getting rid of the beach balls.



Without access to a complete Etrecheck Pro report file, I have nothing to base any opinion on one way or the other. But from what “J” said, his suggestion of a “nuke & pave” reinstall, including the external drives, sounds as if it is several years overdue and needs to be done before the system collapses completely.


Apps don't have to be in the App folder (although they should be) use an app like EasyFind and search the entire system.


Again, without a complete copy of the Etrecheck PRO file, I can't really offer any comment. However, IF "J" IS CORRECT when the collapse comes it will come unexpectedly, at the worst possible, and you will spend even more time recovering from the disaster. Assuming you have a good Time Machine backup, the entire process should take no more than a few hours -- provided you follow the instructions precisely.

Joe thanks

1- Did you say earlier that full erase is bit overkill? I was doing perfectly fine before M1 mac mini.. Etra reports of old have some minor issue in my opinion nothing huge. If you have a way to send you the Etra report I'll do so.

2- I don't see where J says there is a collapse coming.. Just saying would be optimal no?

3- USB 2 thing hard to get my head around.. I know new Seagate just bought, is a desktop/ hub, but the goofy hub, include is just two passive port so some teenager if want to did not buy a hub can plug in something. If I'm not touching those ports, and only using the USB 3 port, not the usb 2 hub ports at all on side. it should be ok no? Nothing is iattached that lame port they included whicn not using. I don't think the expansion Seagate has anything usb 2 according to specs on their site.

4- The 10 port Xcellon got 5 years ago from BH, may be a 2 or 3, I thought 3.. probably is 3, but they wont get back to me, so emailed BH waiting on that.

5- If I could get more of true USB 2 out of system maybe that could do trick?

6- If did full erase and manual reinstall one day....what "precise instructions" are you talking about. Its just put on Monterrey and then manually add everything slowly back, ie apps mainly right? I have my Data backup up by SD and TM, and Mac OS by those 2 and TM. I would imagine would take weeks, ie hour here hour there.. right? Just preference alone, think of Apple Mail accounts for example.. Guess one could prepare.. But this full collapse, did he imply that? Have you heard of that... what causes it? Pretty rare. ETra verdict from past and now did not say, bad, good to excellent. Something breaks the OS? Note that Etra reports in past and now, come out always good to excellent.. just occasional beach balls in past and now more with M1.. maybe this usb 2 thing could solve it?
But would be great and informative to get the Etra report if possible .









More Final bit from J since spoke: some new ideas/ tips.




It is connected to a USB 2.0 bus. That limits its speed. That drive is listed in your first set of screenshots. Unfortunately, you cropped out the USB bus portion on that specific drive.

Here is the same information from your EtreCheck report:

disk4 - Seagate Expansion HDD 8.00 TB
External USB 480 Mbit/s USB
disk4s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB
disk4s2 [APFS Container] 8.00 TB
disk5 [APFS Virtual drive] 8.00 TB (Shared by 6 volumes)
disk5s1 - 1*****************P (APFS) (2.78 TB used)
disk5s2 - 1************************P (APFS) (1.52 TB used)
disk5s3 - 1***********************P (APFS) (367.17 GB used)
disk5s4 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (20 KB used)
disk5s5 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (20 KB used)
disk5s6 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (20 KB used)





EtreCheck doesn’t read any information inside external drives. It only checks the partitions and lists the volumes. The 8 TB “Seagate Expansion” USB 2.0 and the 5 TB “Seagate Backup+ Desk” USB 3.0 both have Preboot, Recovery, and VM volumes. They are very small volumes. I’m not sure what is going on with them. I just checked an external APFS drive that I have and it looks nothing like that.

It doesn’t matter what your printer or mouse are. What matters is that they share the same USB 2.0 data bus. That is fine for a printer or a mouse. It is not fine for a hard drive.

I don’t know what your app folder is or what you are referring to there.

I reviewed your previous e-mails to me in August 2020. You indicated that you were having a problem with the computer running too slowly. If it was running fine, why would you have used EtreCheck in the first place, or purchased a new computer? On those old reports, EtreCheck reported “Good” performance with a runtime of 4:06-4:23, which is good, but not great. On the new computer, EtreCheck running in 1:54 with an “Excellent” performance.

At this point, I’m just redundantly repeating the same things over and over again.

I don’t know if either the hard drives or the software is the ultimate cause of the problem. The only way to tell is to fix any obvious problems. A USB 2.0 hard drive is an obvious problem with a 20 second fix, so that does seem like the best place to start. To repeat myself again, the hard drive may be fine, it is only the hub. I can’t say for sure, because a USB 2.0 hub is slow incredibly slow that if the hard drive were failing, you wouldn’t be able to tell. But again, this is a 10 second fix.

1. Eject drive.
2. Remove plug.
3. Move plug to a blue, USB 3.0 port.
4. Test.

If you want to go further and see if the other hard drives are contributing to the problem, you can do a similar test.

1. Eject all external drives.
2. Remove plugs.
3. Test.

If that doesn’t do it, then you will have to carefully review your EtreCheck report and see what apps you have installed, see what apps are consistently using the most CPU, and visualize to yourself what would happen if said apps suddenly stopped working one day. Would your business collapse. Would you even notice? If the result isn’t absolutely catastrophic, then you don’t need that software.

Pay very close attention to any disk syncing or backup software. This kind of software may be using low-level file system locks and could slow down your entire computer. You have iCloud, Time Machine, Dropbox, Carbon Copy Cloner, and maybe SuperSuper! too.

Several of your old EtreCheck reports reported very high levels of CPU use by Mail. Your current report is showing some evidence of this too. I recommend removing any Mail extensions. I see SpamSieve at least.

I don’t know what the Code42 software is supposed to do. I checked the web site and still can’t figure it out. It does seem like a heavy user of CPU.

And finally, you are using both TinkerTool and Cocktail. These are hack/tweak tools purportedly designed to speed up your computer. It sure doesn’t seem like they are helping. I don’t know what changes they have made or how you would undo them.

I don’t know how you would uninstall any of this software or even if it is possible to uninstall them. Maybe they have uninstallers or uninstallation instructions? Maybe those work?




And my final reply to J just now:

Thanks J, well on site, Expansion they don’t mention usb 2 at all:

https://www.seagate.com/products/external-hard-drives/expansion-external-drives/


Now the desktop/ Hub does have two stupid lame port for teenager who need to plug something in, but for me those ports are not active/ used and dead, I’m only using the USB 3 port so that not issue, correct? An idle unused usb 2 port should not effect anything? (hard to get head round that it could..) just there.

The main 10 port Hub waiting for response from Xcellon and BH photo who bought it for 5 years ago. I think is usb 3 but not 100 % should know soon..

As I read it, the answer to your million dollar question is in the quote above.

I will be in your situation in the near future—replacing a 2014 iMac 27" with a new Ventura OS Mac of some sort. I will make sure all my connections are at least USB 3.0, if not Type C, including the hub, with appropriate cables.

In your case, decide which external drives must be connected at all times and get rid of old software. Be sure to delete the software using something that also purges the Library files, something like AppCleaner.

From “J 's” description I would say it is more or less inevitable.


The system is seeing a USB 2.0 connection and that is what counts. In order for your drives to communicate at USB 3.0 speeds every link in the connection must be AT LEAST USB 3.0. Any element in that connection, port adaptor, cable, hub, whatever running at USB 2.0 speeds makes the entire link USB 2.0. The likely suspect is the hub, but it could easily be an old cable.


Maybe, but old out-of-date software almost certainly written for an intel CPU, could also be a major cause.


Is that Etrecheck or Etrecheck Pro (freeware or paid?) -- there is a difference!


I have no idea what I would see that“J”” hasn't already commented on, his analysis seems complete and thorough. But you could share the Etrecheck Report on your iCloud drive and post the URL here and I could look at it. To be honest, I don't think you would like my response any better than his. If you do “Nuke & Pave”, and do it correctly, there is no reason for you to lose passwords or email settings. Apple has provided for that through iCloud. You might have to spend a little time a day or two in advance preparing for a thorough “spring-cleaning”, but the actual process should not take that long. If you decide to do it, detailed instructions can be provided.

ok JOe, did not of empirical testing and it seems that dang 10 port hub is the culprit. I think hybrid or something. But all that USB 2 stuff is from that 10 port hub.

Also, being stupid, I should have put the two hardrives that were in the hub as type As, gotten C coverters, and into the 2 c ports on the Mini. So I'll just by converters and get those right into the back of the mini.

The two new Seagates both tested great plugged into the mini A, with no hub in the mix.

But one Seagate, the older 5 year old one, (test fine in drive x) the only old one in mix, did beachball, so I'll destroy that and buy a new external.

J, mentioned both new Seagates, have, pre-boot , recovery, and VM volumes. I don't see any of those three volumes anywhere, they do not show up in DU, none. (where can one see those, or maybe not there?) He mentioned they could interfere or launch apps.

That said, if culprit is the Hub, would you worry about that? Would not buy those again? I I do like Seagate expansion drive, would consider that being the final new one to buy, great price and ventilated well, and test well in Drive X.

Even on spec here: https://www.seagate.com/products/external-hard-drives/expansion-external-drives/

I don't see anything about a preboot, Recovery, and VM volumes.. so not sure where J is getting that from... But open, is see another external out there at these prices that have good ventilation without that junk, let me know.


Final Question: So if culprit is the hub, and when hub is out mix, no beachballing.. then no need to do tedious erasing and installing... You were implying erase not just Mac OS, but also passive data on data drives? Anyway, maybe that wont be needed, if get that one new external and new hub... and put in all externals direct into Mini, instead of having 2 in the hub as was case. But maybe do all that, and some trimming/ pruning, using Ira's link above, maybe no need for erasing all that?

Final question on Hub.. Will it be case with even a new hub if you plug in... things I have in there not hardrives are like Logitech Mouse, still love this corded one because great buttons used to and feel, Have not found any wireless as good. Though open. Mouse, and Card Reader, etc, are these thing these peripherals considered to be USB 2 OR 3 or neutral devices. I look on packaging of mouse don't see any referance, Just says USB.

If these perhaps are a specific USB Category, then maybe should just only plug them in a hub as needed?



The mouse love is this: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-MX518-Gaming-Grade-Optical-Mouse/dp/B07NDVF9V7

I don't do any gaming, just love feel and buttons, if you know of a wireless version let me know.. But I tested 4-5 logitech wireless with few buttons and none came close as good...

So in short my corded moused even in new hub (think this is usb 2? does not say, and even though passive device, no software.. could slow everything else down?)


But printer, though -- $500 Canon printer/ copier still work great,..

https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p/imageclass-d530
Ok do see here at bottom says it's usb 2. connection. darn:

Same question, the printer is in a new great Hub, and is NOT BEING used or even on, you believe just face plugged in could beach ball everything? or does at least have to be running.

Hard to get my head around idea something that is passive, not even on or doing anything can cause havoc..

I don't think it's been suggested yet, so I'll ask if there's possibly anything to be learned about kevs's setup from looking in System Information > USB?

Wouldn't it display the USB version of every connection?

ARtie yes I took 6 scrrenshots last night with all the variations of stuff unplugged/ plugged and USB 2 ONLY appeared when the USB "3" ha ha Hub (guess its a hybrid 3/2), was plugged in and only when stuff like card reader, mouse was plug into that....

All Externals direct into Mini, showed USB 3...

Okay, you have identified a major cause of the beachballs. But that only happens when you are reading from or writing to the drive. Rather than destroying your old drive, I wouls suggest you change the way you use it. It may not be fast, but it should still be adequate for use as a Time Machine drive. As long as it is on its own circuit, it should not affect the performance of any other part of your system.


Finder, Disk Utility, and any other Apple GUI utilities are specifically coded NOT to see those volumes. There are third-party utilities, such as TinkerTool System, and Etrecheck, that use command line tools and can see them. “J” saw them in the Etrecheck report. So regardless of whether you can see them or not THEY ARE THERE. (If you want to know why Apple hides them, the next time I have four or five hours free, I will write a dissertation explaining why. For now, take it as a security feature.) And "J's" concerns are justified. My question is how the H___ they got there. It had to happen on your iMac and can only be the product of the MacOS installer or a clone utility such as SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner.


Your so-called data drives are apparently boot drives as well as witnessed by the presence of the additional hidden volumes. Basically, you have a confused hodgepodge of “stuff” on those drives including old applications and application fragments, and a thorough housecleaning is desperately needed. You could spend days or even weeks in a tedious file, by file, folder by folder, volume by volume disposal and restructuring process or a few hours of a well planned and executed nuke & pave. You could even cross your fingers and hope that the detritus will never overwhelm your system and allow it to continue to accumulate until Murphy's Law and McGillicuddy's kick in (probably 15 minutes before the deadline to submit your tax return or some other similar moment.

REGARDING THE MOUSE AND PRINTER Both are relatively low data-rate devices and a USB 2.0 connection, even when connected via the USB 2.0 hub should be more than adequate.

I am working on a good analogy to help you understand how all the USB parts fit together, and will share it with you when I get it all worked out.

Joe sounds good, in meantime, couple things:

I'm on Etra normal not pro. I've asked J difference and could discern much by pro, even he said not much difference. OPen hear more..

The mini is not beachballing last two days, who knows maybe it needs 2 weeks and not 3 days to stabilize or maybe come back.. Set up is still same.

Per you text: I'm going to keep that older hardrive with Drive x says is 99% ok, and just as my main improvement get converters to the 2 hardrives that were in a hub and get those into the back of the mini direct which you concur is very smart right, get hub out the mix for hardrives.

The hub is a 3, but says 2 once a a peripheral is attached, but correct me if I wrong you are saying having a 2 device like a printer or mouse, card reading attached to the hub, should not make beach balling, , not the culprit? So ok just keep that hub and those few things attached? If understood.

The etra report, has has few list of items that should be cleared out.. love maybe ask J, if I could pay him on zoom meeting to really dig in and find and remove, or if you do that... not easy to read Etra report and find and delete.

Thanks Ira -- that software remove apps fabulous... So I did remove 25 apps, good.. I should probably open the preference folder t? though and delete names dont recognize or use app wise.. There might be things in there a decade or two old in there possible. Any other ideas on pruning, got the Etra report.which is hard to read and prune with, .. and ... never bothered with those spring cleaning softwares, but if there great one you or Ira recommend, I'll try it out.

On mouse again, I love that corded one, but if you know of a comparable cordless let me know. Have not found it.. But again the corded mouse maybe not a cause of this?

Again you are saying don't worry about garbage that Seagate includes in these brand new hardrives, not culprits. pre boot, apps, volume this/ that.. don't don't see on computer (or even their specs online)....

I gave up on the analogy. I finally realized I think in computer terms so much that any "real world" analogy would have too many holes to satisfy me, so I drafted Networking 101 (although it is more like Networking Kindergarten) but spend some time reviewing it and hopefully, it will clear out at least some of the fog you are encountering. (Trust me, you have a LOT of company in that fog bank, and the vast majority of them don't even know they are in one.)

Joe, thanks, looks good nice pdf.. If you have energy to check out my question last post, above, let me know!

Same data, but Etrecheck PRO provides more detailed analytics, explanations, and tools (see below). I think you would more likely to comprehend what it is saying.


You can delete many of them from within Etrecheck PRO version with no need to dig through Finder to locate them. I am too lazy to spend time looking for remnants that Etrecheck has already located and can eliminate on command.


The corded mouse is not at fault unless it is connected to the same USB network as one or more of the external drives. Have you read the paper I wrote? It explains how USB works and why one device can, and will, slow an entire USB network.


I reserve the right to disagree on that. Personally, I would have re-partitioned the Seagates with a GUID partition table and then formatted them APFS before I ever placed them in service. That would have assured they were pristine clean and any factory included Windows/DOS junk eliminated. As to the Boot volume structures, just because you cannot find them without resorting to third-party utilities or the command line does not mean they are not there and they shouldn't be. They remain a potential problem.

Thanks JOe,

Ok Etra Pro.. but what if I don't know if dangerous to delete things? For example not sure I understand unsigned items, launch agents, Ok looks like I have Pro actually (says pro but then ask if want Power user package $18)
..

Network, ok if can get hardrive into Mini direct and not on hub then those are 2 different networks?

All 3 external Seagate's were made erased by me to APFS, so then ok? J still sees from report this garbage, I'm telling you there was erase and reformat to APFS

Last 2 days no beachballs, even with 2 externals in hub still (waiting on converters to get those externals into Mini) Maybe some relief as I was unplugging and replugging in all externals quite a bit, or just something settles in extra days by coincidence?










Here is some Etra data:

EtreCheckPro version: 6.7 (67009)
Report generated: 2022-08-18 18:21:08
Download EtreCheckPro from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime: 2:11
Performance: Excellent

Problem: Beachballing

Major Issues: None

Minor Issues:
These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems or opportunities for improvement.
Small backup drive - Time Machine backup drive is too small.
Apps with heavy CPU usage - There have been numerous cases of apps with heavy CPU usage.
Clean up - There are orphan files that could be removed.
Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed. These files could be old, incompatible, and cause problems. They should be reviewed.
System modifications - There are a large number of system modifications running in the background.
Runaway user process - A user process is using a large percentage of your CPU.
x86-only Apps - This computer has x86-only apps might not work on future versions of the operating system.
Kernel extensions present - This computer has kernel extensions that may not work in the future.
Sharing enabled - This computer has sharing services enabled that could be a security risk.

Hardware Information:
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
Mac mini Model: Macmini9,1
2.40 GHz Apple M1 (m1) CPU: 8-core
16 GB RAM - Not upgradeable

Video Information:
Apple M1
ASUS PA279 5120 x 2880

Drives:
disk0 - APPLE SSD AP1024Q 1.00 TB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)
Internal Apple Fabric NVM Express
disk0s1 [APFS Container] 524 MB
disk1 [APFS Virtual drive] 524 MB (Shared by 4 volumes)
disk1s1 - iSCPreboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (8 MB used)
disk1s2 - xART (APFS) (6 MB used)
disk1s3 - Hardware (APFS) (254 KB used)
disk1s4 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (20 KB used)
disk0s2 [APFS Container] 994.66 GB
disk3 [APFS Virtual drive] 994.66 GB (Shared by 6 volumes)
disk3s1 (APFS) [APFS Container] (15.42 GB used)
disk3s1s1 - Macintosh HD (APFS) [APFS Snapshot] (15.42 GB used)
disk3s2 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (422 MB used)
disk3s3 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (805 MB used)
disk3s4 - Update (APFS) (5 MB used)
disk3s5 - Data (APFS) [APFS Virtual drive] (416.20 GB used)
disk3s6 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (20 KB used)
disk0s3 [APFS Container] 5.37 GB
disk2 [APFS Virtual drive] 5.37 GB (Shared by 2 volumes)
disk2s1 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (797 MB used)
disk2s2 - Update (APFS) (29 KB used)

disk4 - Seagate Backup+ Desk 5.00 TB
External USB 5 Gbit/s USB
disk4s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB
disk4s2 [APFS Container] 5.00 TB
disk6 [APFS Virtual drive] 5.00 TB (Shared by 4 volumes)
disk6s1 - 2*******************P (APFS) (3.15 TB used)
disk6s4 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (20 KB used)
disk6s5 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (20 KB used)
disk6s6 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (20 KB used)

disk5 - Seagate Expansion HDD 8.00 TB
External USB 5 Gbit/s USB
disk5s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB
disk5s2 [APFS Container] 8.00 TB
disk7 [APFS Virtual drive] 8.00 TB (Shared by 6 volumes)
disk7s1 - 1*****************P (APFS) (2.77 TB used)
disk7s2 - 1************************P (APFS) (1.35 TB used)
disk7s3 - 1***********************P (APFS) (401.12 GB used)
disk7s4 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (20 KB used)
disk7s5 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (20 KB used)
disk7s6 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (20 KB used)

disk8 - Seagate Backup+ Hub BK 8.00 TB
External USB 5 Gbit/s USB
disk8s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB
disk8s2 [APFS Container] 8.00 TB
disk9 [APFS Virtual drive] 8.00 TB (Shared by 1 volumes)
disk9s2 - T**********E (APFS) (6.81 TB used)

Mounted Volumes:
disk1s1 - iSCPreboot [APFS Preboot]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/iSCPreboot
Used: 8 MB
Shared values
Size: 524 MB
Free: 505 MB

disk1s2 - xART
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/xarts
Used: 6 MB
Shared values
Size: 524 MB
Free: 505 MB

disk1s3 - Hardware
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Hardware
Used: 254 KB
Shared values
Size: 524 MB
Free: 505 MB

disk3s1s1 - Macintosh HD [APFS Snapshot]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /
Read-only: Yes
Used: 15.42 GB
Shared values
Size: 994.66 GB
Free: 561.60 GB
Available: 658.63 GB

disk3s2 - Preboot [APFS Preboot]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Preboot
Used: 422 MB
Shared values
Size: 994.66 GB
Free: 561.60 GB

disk3s4 - Update
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Update
Used: 5 MB
Shared values
Size: 994.66 GB
Free: 561.60 GB

disk3s5 - Data [APFS Virtual drive]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Data
Encrypted
Used: 416.20 GB
Shared values
Size: 994.66 GB
Free: 561.60 GB
Available: 658.63 GB

disk3s6 - VM [APFS VM]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/VM
Used: 20 KB
Shared values
Size: 994.66 GB
Free: 561.60 GB

disk6s1 - 2*******************P
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /Volumes/2*******************P
Used: 3.15 TB
Shared values
Size: 5.00 TB
Free: 1.85 TB
Available: 2.23 TB

disk7s1 - 1*****************P
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /Volumes/1*****************P
Used: 2.77 TB
Shared values
Size: 8.00 TB
Free: 3.48 TB

disk7s2 - 1************************P
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /Volumes/1************************P
Owners enabled: No
Used: 1.35 TB
Shared values
Size: 8.00 TB
Free: 3.48 TB
Available: 4.52 TB

disk7s3 - 1***********************P
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /Volumes/1***********************P
Used: 401.12 GB
Shared values
Size: 8.00 TB
Free: 3.48 TB
Available: 3.51 TB

disk9s2 - T**********E
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /Volumes/T**********E
Used: 6.81 TB
Shared values
Size: 8.00 TB
Free: 1.19 TB

disk10s1 - P*****************r
Filesystem: Case-Sensitive Journaled HFS+
Disk Image
Mount point: /Volumes/P*****************r
Owners enabled: No
Read-only: Yes
Used: 473 MB
Size: 537 MB
Free: 64 MB

Network:
Interface en0: Ethernet
Interface en4: Ethernet Adapter (en4)
Interface en5: Ethernet Adapter (en5)
Interface en1: Wi-Fi

Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge
iCloud Status: one pending file

Screen sharing: Enabled
Remote login: Enabled

System Software:
macOS Monterey 12.5.1 (21G83)
Time since boot: About 10 hours

Notifications:
EtreCheckPro.app
2 notifications

DriveDx.app
4 notifications

SuperDuper!.app
13 notifications

CCC Dashboard.app
one notification

Creative Cloud.app
one notification

Security:
Gatekeeper: App Store and identified developers
System Integrity Protection: Enabled

Antivirus software: Apple and Malwarebytes

Screen sharing: Enabled
Remote login: Enabled

Unsigned Files:
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.OneDriveStandaloneUpdaterDaemon.plist
Executable: /Applications/OneDrive.app/Contents/StandaloneUpdaterDaemon.xpc/Contents/MacOS/StandaloneUpdaterDaemon
Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper
Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.OneDriveUpdaterDaemon.plist
Executable: /Applications/OneDrive.app/Contents/OneDriveUpdaterDaemon.xpc/Contents/MacOS/OneDriveUpdaterDaemon
Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.flipvideo.FlipShare.AutoRun.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Flip Video/FlipShareAutoRun.app/Contents/MacOS/FlipShareAutoRun
Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK

Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/SwitchBoard/SwitchBoard.app/Contents/MacOS/launch.switchboard
Details: Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK

Plugin: ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/fbplugin_1_0_3.plugin
Plugin: ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/WebEx.plugin
Plugin: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/HAL/DVCPROHDAudio.plugin

Preference panel: ~/Library/PreferencePanes/QuickTimeXPref.prefPane

Apps: 25

Old Applications:
27 x86-only apps

Kernel Extensions:
/Applications/EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.app
[Not Loaded] EaseUSDriver.kext - com.easeus.driver (1.0.0 - SDK 10.14)

/Applications/Parallels Desktop.app
[Not Loaded] prl_hypervisor.kext - com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (18.0.0 53049 - SDK 10.11)
[Not Loaded] prl_netbridge.kext - com.parallels.kext.netbridge (18.0.0 53049 - SDK 10.9)
[Not Loaded] prl_usb_connect.kext - com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (18.0.0 53049 - SDK 10.9)
[Not Loaded] prl_vnic.kext - com.parallels.kext.vnic (18.0.0 53049 - SDK 10.9)

/Library/Application Support/Roxio
[Not Loaded] TDIXController.kext - com.roxio.TDIXController (1.6)

/Library/Application Support/VirtualBox
[Not Loaded] VBoxDrv.kext - org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (6.0.6)
[Not Loaded] VBoxNetAdp.kext - org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (6.0.6)
[Not Loaded] VBoxNetFlt.kext - org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (6.0.6)
[Not Loaded] VBoxUSB.kext - org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (6.0.6)

/Library/Extensions
[Not Loaded] Soundflower.kext - com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (2.0b2 - SDK 10.10)
[Not Loaded] FTDIKext.kext - com.FTDI.driver.D2XXHelper (1.0 - SDK 10.14)
[Loaded] SATSMARTDriver.kext - com.binaryfruit.driver.SATSMARTDriver (0.10.3 - SDK 10.16)
[Not Loaded] EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext - com.epson.print.kext.USBPrintClass (2.2.7)
[Not Loaded] hp_qc_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.hpio.hp_psa530_630_io_enabler (1.0.1)
[Not Loaded] hp_designjet_series.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Designjet.kext (2.1)
[Not Loaded] hp_Deskjet_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Deskjet.kext (3.0)
[Not Loaded] hp_Inkjet_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Inkjet.kext (3.0)
[Not Loaded] hp_Inkjet1_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Inkjet1.kext (2.1.2)
[Not Loaded] hp_Inkjet3_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Inkjet3.kext (2.0)
[Not Loaded] hp_Inkjet4_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Inkjet4.kext (2.2)
[Not Loaded] hp_Inkjet5_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Inkjet5.kext (2.1)
[Not Loaded] hp_Laserjet_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Laserjet.kext (1.0)
[Not Loaded] hp_Officejet_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Officejet.kext (3.0)
[Not Loaded] hp_Photosmart_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.Photosmart.kext (4.0)
[Not Loaded] hp_PhotosmartPro_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.PhotosmartPro.kext (3.0)
[Not Loaded] hp_Inkjet8_io_enabler.kext - com.hp.print.hpio.inkjet8.kext (2.1)
[Not Loaded] JMicronATA.kext - com.jmicron.JMicronATA (1.1.6)
[Not Loaded] LexmarkUSBMerge.kext - com.lexmark.print.usbmerge (1.10.04)
[Not Loaded] ufsd_NTFS.kext - com.paragon-software.filesystems.ntfs (15.4.19 - SDK 10.10)
[Not Loaded] Seagate Storage Driver.kext - com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.0.1)
[Not Loaded] SiLabsUSBDriver64.kext - com.silabs.driver.CP210xVCPDriver64 (3.0.0d1)
[Not Loaded] Wacom Tablet.kext - com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (Wacom Tablet 6.3.15-3 - SDK 10.11)
[Not Loaded] BJUSBLoad.kext - jp.co.canon.bj.print.BJUSBLoad (10.58.0 - SDK 10.6)

System Launch Daemons:
[Not Loaded] 36 Apple tasks
[Loaded] 187 Apple tasks
[Running] 156 Apple tasks
[Other] 2 Apple tasks

System Launch Agents:
[Not Loaded] 17 Apple tasks
[Loaded] 180 Apple tasks
[Running] 158 Apple tasks
[Other] One Apple task

Launch Daemons:
[Loaded] TinkerToolSystem-PrivilegedTool.plist (Marcel Bresink - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (Not signed - installed 2010-05-10)
[Running] com.adobe.acc.installer.v2.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-06)
[Loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Not Loaded] com.apple.installer.osmessagetracing.plist (Apple - installed 2020-03-26)
[Running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (Bombich Software, Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Running] com.code42.service.plist (Code 42 Software - installed 2022-08-11)
[Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.rtprotection.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2022-07-14)
[Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.settings.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2022-07-08)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.OneDriveStandaloneUpdaterDaemon.plist (Not signed - installed 2020-06-14)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.OneDriveUpdaterDaemon.plist (Not signed - installed 2020-06-14)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-16)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (Not signed - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-04)
[Not Loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (Not signed - installed )
[Loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist (TeamViewer GmbH - installed 2022-08-04)
[Not Loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (TeamViewer GmbH - installed 2021-01-28)
[Loaded] com.wacom.RemoveTabletHelper.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Running] com.wacom.UpdateHelper.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2020-04-13)
[Loaded] com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (Apple - installed 2022-08-10)
[Running] com.xrite.device.xrdd.plist (X-Rite, Incorporated - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] us.zoom.ZoomDaemon.plist (Zoom Video Communications, Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)

Launch Agents:
[Not Loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Not signed - installed 2018-12-02)
[Other] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a23d420d.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-01-07)
[Running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Running] com.adobe.GC.AGM.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-06)
[Not Loaded] com.adobe.GC.Invoker-1.0.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-06)
[Loaded] com.adobe.ccxprocess.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Other] com.ccProfiler.tray.plist (Not signed - installed 2021-07-15)
[Loaded] com.ccStudio.tray.plist (X-Rite, Incorporated - installed 2022-08-04)
[Not Loaded] com.flipvideo.FlipShare.AutoRun.plist (Not signed - installed 2009-02-17)
[Other] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2020-03-11)
[Loaded] com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2020-03-11)
[Loaded] com.maintain.CocktailSystemEvents.plist (Apple - installed 2022-08-10)
[Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.frontend.agent.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2022-07-08)
[Other] com.microsoft.OneDriveStandaloneUpdater.plist (Not signed - installed 2020-06-14)
[Loaded] com.microsoft.update.agent.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-16)
[Other] com.paragon-software.ntfs.notification-agent.plist (Paragon Software GmbH - installed 2018-10-02)
[Other] com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist (Not signed - installed 2010-03-10)
[Not Loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (TeamViewer GmbH - installed 2021-01-28)
[Not Loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (TeamViewer GmbH - installed 2021-01-28)
[Running] com.wacom.DataStoreMgr.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2020-04-13)
[Running] com.wacom.IOManager.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2020-04-13)
[Running] com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2020-04-13)
[Loaded] com.xrite.device.softwareupdate.plist (X-Rite, Incorporated - installed 2021-07-28)
[Running] jp.co.canon.ScanGearMF.appl.Canon-MF-Scan-Agent.plist (Canon Inc. - installed 2020-11-25)
[Running] jp.co.canon.ScanGearMF.appl.Canon-MFSU-Agent.plist (Canon Inc. - installed 2020-11-25)

User Launch Agents:
[Loaded] com.DigiDNA.iMazing2Mac.Mini.plist (DigiDNA SARL - installed 2022-08-10)
[Not Loaded] com.adobe.GC.Invoker-1.0.plist (Adobe Inc. - installed 2022-08-06)
[Other] com.akamai.client.plist (Not signed - installed 2010-06-12)
[Running] com.c-command.SpamSieve.LaunchAgent.plist (C-Command Software, LLC - installed 2022-08-04)
[Running] com.code42.menubar.plist (Code 42 Software - installed 2022-08-18)
[Loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2022-06-13)
[Other] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2022-08-04)
[Loaded] com.shirtpocket.backupbytime.plist (Bruce Lacey - installed 2022-07-29)
[Running] com.smallcubed.suite.helper.plist (SmallCubed Inc. - installed 2022-08-10)
[Running] jp.plentycom.boa.SteerMouse.plist (Plentycom Systems - installed 2022-07-29)

User Login Items:
[Not Loaded] AppCleaner SmartDelete (Julien Ramseier - installed 2022-03-14)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/AppCleaner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/AppCleaner SmartDelete.app

[Running] CCC Dashboard (Bombich Software, Inc. - installed 2022-06-22)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/Carbon Copy Cloner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CCC Dashboard.app

[Running] Carbon Copy Cloner (Bombich Software, Inc. - installed 2022-06-22)
Application
/Applications/Carbon Copy Cloner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CCC Dashboard.app

[Loaded] DriveDxLoginItemHelper (Kirill Luzanov - installed 2021-06-16)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/DriveDx.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/DriveDxLoginItemHelper.app

[Running] Dropbox (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2022-08-18)
Application
/Applications/Dropbox.app

[Running] Keyboard Maestro (Stairways Software Pty Ltd - installed 2022-02-11)
Application
/Applications/Keyboard Maestro.app/Contents/MacOS/Keyboard Maestro Engine.app

[Not Loaded] Launcher Disabler (App Store - installed 2022-08-14)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/OneDrive.localized/OneDrive.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/Launcher Disabler.app

[Not Loaded] OneDrive Launcher (App Store - installed 2022-08-14)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/OneDrive.localized/OneDrive.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/OneDrive Launcher.app

[Loaded] OverflowLauncher (Stunt Software - installed 2022-02-11)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/Overflow 3.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/OverflowLauncher.app

[Not Loaded] BkmxAgent (Jerry Krinock - installed 2022-07-02)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/Synkmark.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/BkmxAgent.app

[Not Loaded] TeamViewerMeetingLoginItem (TeamViewer GmbH - installed 2022-02-11)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/TeamViewer.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/TeamViewerMeetingLoginItem.app

[Not Loaded] WhatsApp Login Helper (App Store - installed 2022-08-09)
Modern Login Item
/Applications/WhatsApp.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/WhatsApp Login Helper.app

[Running] aText (Tran Ky Nam - installed 2022-02-11)
Application
/Applications/aText.app

[Running] SteerMouse Manager (Plentycom Systems - installed 2022-07-19)
Modern Login Item
/Library/PreferencePanes/SteerMouse.prefPane/Contents/Library/LoginItems/SteerMouse Manager.app

[Running] Mail (Apple - installed 2022-08-10)
Application
/System/Applications/Mail.app

[Running] Application Wizard (Marco Damaschi - installed 2021-11-17)
Application
~/Library/PreferencePanes/Application Wizard.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Application Wizard.app

Internet Plug-ins:
AdobePDFViewer: 20.009.20067 (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2022-02-11)
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 17.012.20098 (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2022-02-11)

Audio Plug-ins:
BlueJeans Audio: 1.0.6 (Blue Jeans Network, Inc. - installed 2020-06-04)
ZoomAudioDevice: 1.0 (Zoom Video Communications, Inc. - installed 2022-02-01)
DVCPROHDAudio: 1.2 (? - installed 2022-08-04)

3rd Party Preference panels:
Application Wizard (Marco Damaschi - installed 2022-08-04)
NTFS (Paragon Software GmbH - installed 2022-02-11)
QuickTime Player X Preferences (? - installed 2022-08-04)
SteerMouse (Plentycom Systems - installed 2022-07-19)
WacomTablet (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2022-02-11)

Backup:
Skip System Files: No
Auto backup: Yes
Volumes being backed up:
1*****************P: Disk size: 8.00 TB - Disk used: 4.52 TB
Destinations:
T**********E [Local] (Last used)
Total size: 8.00 TB
Total number of backups: 40
Oldest backup: 2022-06-28 21:13:14
Last backup: 2022-08-18 18:07:06
22 local snapshots
Oldest local snapshot: 2022-08-17 18:30:27
Last local snapshot: 2022-08-18 17:54:20

3rd party backup: Carbon Copy Cloner

Performance:
System Load: 5.96 (1 min ago) 3.63 (5 min ago) 3.05 (15 min ago)
Nominal I/O usage: 0.34 MB/s
File system: 7.49 seconds
Write speed: 3086 MB/s
Read speed: 2236 MB/s

CPU Usage Snapshot:
Type Overall
System: 13 %
User: 9 %
Idle: 78 %

Top Processes Snapshot by CPU:
Process (count) CPU (Source - Location)
Pinegrow --annotation=plat=OS X --annotation=prod= --annotation=ver= --handshake-fd=6 91.98 % (Not signed - Translocated)
WindowServer 17.96 % (Apple)
kernel_task 14.90 % (Apple)
EtreCheckPro 11.96 % (Etresoft, Inc.)
Google Chrome Helper (Renderer) (7) 6.48 % (Google LLC)

Top Processes Snapshot by Memory:
Process (count) RAM usage (Source - Location)
EtreCheckPro 699 MB (Etresoft, Inc.)
Google Chrome Helper (Renderer) (7) 589 MB (Google LLC)
nwjs Helper (Renderer) 535 MB (Pinegrow Pte. Ltd.)
Mail 299 MB (Apple)
Google Chrome 291 MB (Google LLC)

Top Processes Snapshot by Network Use:
Process (count) Input / Output (Source - Location)
Code42Service 131 MB / 6 KB (Code 42 Software)
mDNSResponder 21 MB / 2 MB (Apple)
Mail 16 MB / 5 MB (Apple)
rapportd 331 KB / 188 KB (Apple)
Dropbox 216 KB / 244 KB (Dropbox, Inc.)

Top Processes Snapshot by Energy Use:
Process (count) Energy (0-100) (Source - Location)
Pinegrow --annotation=plat=OS X --annotation=prod= --annotation=ver= --handshake-fd=6 42 (Not signed - Translocated)
WindowServer 6 (Apple)
Google Chrome 5 (Google LLC)
Microsoft Excel 3 (Microsoft Corporation)
Google Chrome Helper (Renderer) (7) 2 (Google LLC)

Virtual Memory Information:
Physical RAM: 16 GB

Free RAM: 58 MB
Used RAM: 11.38 GB
Cached files: 4.56 GB

Available RAM: 4.62 GB
Swap Used: 0 B

Software Installs (past 60 days):
Install Date Name (Version)
2022-07-27 macOS 12.4 (12.4)
2022-07-27 Setup macOS Recovery Dependencies (202103122236)
2022-07-27 GarageBand (10.4.6)
2022-07-27 iMovie (10.3.2)
2022-07-27 Keynote (12.0)
2022-07-27 Numbers (12.0)
2022-07-27 Pages (12.0)
2022-07-27 MobileAssets (1.0.0.0.1645860813)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0048_AlchemyPadsDigitalHolyGhost (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0310_UB_DrumMachineDesignerGB (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0312_UB_UltrabeatKitsGBLogic (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0314_AppleLoopsHipHop1 (2.1.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0315_AppleLoopsElectroHouse1 (2.1.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0316_AppleLoopsDubstep1 (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0317_AppleLoopsModernRnB1 (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0320_AppleLoopsChillwave1 (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0321_AppleLoopsIndieDisco (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0322_AppleLoopsDiscoFunk1 (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0323_AppleLoopsVintageBreaks (2.1.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0324_AppleLoopsBluesGarage (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0325_AppleLoopsGarageBand1 (2.1.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0354_EXS_PianoSteinway (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0357_EXS_BassAcousticUprightJazz (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0358_EXS_BassElectricFingerStyle (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0371_EXS_GuitarsAcoustic (3.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0375_EXS_GuitarsVintageStrat (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0482_EXS_OrchWoodwindAltoSax (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0484_EXS_OrchWoodwindClarinetSolo (3.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0487_EXS_OrchWoodwindFluteSolo (3.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0491_EXS_OrchBrass (3.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0509_EXS_StringsEnsemble (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0536_DrummerClapsCowbell (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0537_DrummerShaker (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0538_DrummerSticks (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0539_DrummerTambourine (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0540_PlugInSettingsGB (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0554_AppleLoopsDiscoFunk2 (2.1.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0557_IRsSharedAUX (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0560_LTPBasicPiano1 (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0593_DrummerSoCalGBLogic (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0597_LTPChordTrainer (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0598_LTPBasicGuitar1 (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0615_GBLogicAlchemyEssentials (2.0.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0637_AppleLoopsDrummerKyle (3.1.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0646_AppleLoopsDrummerElectronic (3.1.0.0)
2022-07-27 MAContent10_AssetPack_0806_PlugInSettingsGBLogic (2.0.0.0)
2022-08-09 WhatsApp (2.2228.12)
2022-08-11 CrashPlan for Small Business (10.2.1)
2022-08-13 MRTConfigData (1.93)
2022-08-14 SAT SMART Driver for DriveDx (0.10.3)
2022-08-14 macOS 12.5 (12.5)
2022-08-14 macOS Monterey (12.5)
2022-08-14 OneDrive (22.151.0717)
2022-08-16 Microsoft AutoUpdate (4.50.22081401)
2022-08-16 Microsoft Excel (16.64.22081401)
2022-08-16 Microsoft OneNote (16.64.22081401)
2022-08-16 Microsoft PowerPoint (16.64.22081401)
2022-08-16 Microsoft Word (16.64.22081401)
2022-08-18 XProtectPayloads (68)
2022-08-18 macOS 12.5.1 (12.5.1)
2022-08-18 RosettaUpdateAuto (1.0.0.0.1.1660202702)

Clean up:
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.akamai.client.plist
/Applications/Akamai/loader.pl
Executable not found
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist
/Library/Application Support/Seagate/Seagate Storage Gauge.app/Contents/MacOS/Seagate Storage Gauge
Executable not found
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ccProfiler.tray.plist
/Applications/ccProfiler/ccProfilerTray.app
Executable not found
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
/Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/UWA/UpdaterStartupUtility
Executable not found
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.microsoft.OneDriveStandaloneUpdater.plist
/Applications/OneDrive.app/Contents/StandaloneUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/OneDriveStandaloneUpdater
Executable not found

Diagnostics Information (past 7-30 days):
2022-08-18 17:38:51 nwjs Crash
Executable: /private/var/folders/*/Pinegrow.app

2022-08-18 14:38:08 mdsync High CPU Use (8 times)
Executable: /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Metadata.framework/Versions/A/Support/mdsync

2022-08-18 10:52:24 Mail.app High CPU Use (12 times)
Executable: /System/Applications/Mail.app

2022-08-18 08:32:18 Code42.app High CPU Use (5 times)
Executable: /Applications/Code42.app

2022-08-16 20:26:55 signpost_reporter High CPU Use (3 times)
Executable: /usr/libexec/signpost_reporter

2022-08-16 17:04:58 OneDrive File Provider Crash (2 times)
Executable: /Applications/OneDrive.localized/OneDrive.app
Details:
libsystem_c.dylib: abort() called

2022-08-14 09:53:30 xrdd High CPU Use
Executable: /Library/Application Support/X-Rite/*/XRiteDevice.framework/Versions/B/Resources/xrdd

2022-08-13 18:52:14 fileproviderd Crash
Executable: /System/Library/Frameworks/FileProvider.framework/Support/fileproviderd


End of report

The “Power User” option has all the extra goodies.


A network begins at the USB or Thunderbolt port on your Mac mini and includes all devices connected through that port.


The Seagate drives came formatted for Windows and using a Windows partitioning scheme. Erasing and reformatting the drive has no effect on the partitioning scheme. So your Seagates now have a DOS partitioning scheme and are formatted APFS (exept for one that is formatted HFS+). While this will work, it is suboptimal and a GUID partition table would be prefereable. Changing the partition table requires using Disk Utility to repartition the drive.

1. Select the Drive in the Disk Utility side bar
2. Click on the icon labeled “Partition”
3. Select the APFS formatted

CAUTION: THIS WILL TOTALLY ERASE YOUR DRIVE

NOTE: In prior versions of macOS there was an option to choose either the DOS or GUID partition table. That option has been removed.


More like, all of the processing finally finished.


I will comment on notable items from the Etrecheck Report, but to do a full detailed analysis and commentary would take several hours and I have neither the time nor the inclination to do one.


This is pretty much routine


Standard configuration for the internal boot drive. disk0s3 is the APFS “snapshot” that is the actual bootable configuration.


Standard configuration for a bootable external clone. It appears to have been created by Carbon Copy Cloner. If it was created by the installer, a bootable snapshot would appear as a separate volume. NOTE: the MS-DOS partition resulting from your failure to re-partition the drive.


Standard configuration for a bootable external clone. It appears to have been created Carbon Copy Cloner. If it was created by the installer, a bootable snapshot would appear as a separate volume on that. NOTE: the MS-DOS partition resulting from your failure to re-partition the drive.


A standard data drive configuration. NOTE: the MS-DOS partition resulting from your failure to re-partition the drive.


These are potential slowdown items. You have a LOT of Extensions, and third party “stuff” running.


[color:#FFR66OO]DO NOT BACK UP THE SYSTEM FILES![/color] The only way to successfully restore system files is to reinstall the system from the Recovery Drive. So backing them up is a waste of disk space.


DANGER WILL ROBINSON! Time Machine and CCC should never ever use the same backup drive.

NO APPLICATION CAN TELL WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU DON’T NEED! That decision can only be made by YOU. My personal rule of thumb is to look at each item and ask myself if I have actually used it in the past year. If not, then it goes. if I have used it then I keep it. The trick is figuring out what many those extensions, login items, LaunchDaemons, and LaunchAgents belong to or support. That can take some pretty good detective work to determine.

Which bring us back to the app I referenced (waaaay) above, or something comparable. I have used that one, App Cleaner, and it finds the items joemikeb mentions. Does it find every single one of them every time? Who knows? But it seems to.

Joe, so I have Pro versions says Pro, can delete, but recommend getting power user version? What are best extra goodies you like?


"A network begins at the USB or Thunderbolt port on your Mac mini and includes all devices connected through that port."
4 ports at back of the Mini.. Ok think I'm there: If hub is going into one of those ports, and ... answer is that, if external drive gets it's on port, then it's ok, it's on own networK? Ie, each of those 4 ports at back up the Mini are in effect their own USB networks?


Joe, that One Drive stuff, not sure on it... I don't use One Drive, but I think every few years I post on Word/ Excel forum and a senior tech, will say please upload you file to One drive... or Maybe One drive helps with my iphone versions or word/ excel? not sure. I don't use One Drive for anything... You know what One drive is?


Adobe switchboard. Have no idea what that is do you? I have Photoshop/ LIghtroom etc.



"[color:#FFR66OO]DO NOT BACK UP THE SYSTEM FILES![/color] The only way to successfully restore system files is to reinstall the system from the Recovery Drive. So backing them up is a waste of disk space."

I have no idea , or dont understand a word what going on with that. Tell me what to delete, I'll do so...

Ok now see, CCC, TM is NOT on the same drive. TM gets it's own drive.

I have a CCC backup of Mac HD, and I have an SD back up mac HD, why is that bad? Those backups have all apps and desktop... etc, you need them in case TM was corrupted and I want to get back to normal.


Thanks Joe!

Ira, thanks app cleaner awesome.

But it does not find what you must decide is old and get rid of.... Thats Etracheck right? Is anything besides ETrachek.. Got Daisy Disk, nice but tedious interface whereas ETracheck really points out things. Any other software you guys use, like to pointing out what you might want get rid of? Or we have it covered..

There are are seven ports on the back of your Mac mini:

• One 3.5 mm audio
• One HDMI
• Two USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 101 Gbps) Type A
• Two Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40 Gbps) Type C
• One Gigabit Ethernet

Any connection to any one of those ports would be a separate unique network. The two Type A ports would, of course, be USB networks. The two Type C ports would be Thunderbolt 4 networks, but Thunderbolt 4 is backward compatible with USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.1 Gen 2, 3.2, and 4.0. NOTE: I encountered difficulty connecting USB devices to one of the Thunderbolt ports unless I used a certified Thunderbolt 4 cable with an adapter on the other end. YMMV.


I have never used One Drive personally, but it is the rough equivalent of iCloud, Google Drive, etc.


Perhaps this Adobe Forum thread will answer your question.

[/quote=keys]I have no idea , or dont understand a word what going on with that. Tell me what to delete, I'll do so...[/quote]

At one time, Time Machine would automatically back up the system files as well as the data files. With the advent of the Recovery Drive, backing up the system files became optional because the System files can be installed as part of a recovery drive installation. In Monterey and Ventura, backing up the System Files in Time Machine, is no longer offered as an option because, for several technical reasons, it is no longer possible to recover system files without performing a complete reinstall. Any attempt to reinstall a system file or files would immediately render the system un-bootable.


That was the only explanation I could come up with for the boot volumes on the Seagates. That leaves an intentional installation of either Big Sur or Monterey on the Seagates.


Mike Bombich, the developer of CCC, no longer recommends bootable clones. Instead, he recommends cloning ONLY THE DATA VOLUME and installing the system only, if it is actually needed. Updating a Monterey or Ventura clone will break the boot image volume and render it useless. Even using Apple's own cloning tool, clones of recent versions of macOS systems on Apple Silicon may be bootable but are often not fully functional. I don't even bother to install the system on a clone, but the clone can be used to restore the user after a re-installation and is a bit faster than using Time-Machine. But the Time machine backup is inevitably more current. I have mentioned before, that I have two Time Machine drives and Time Machine automatically alternates backups between the two. In case my internal drive get damaged, and a Time Machine backup drive fails, I never lose more than two hours of work.

You have TinkerTool which has an app uninstaller function that has turned up bits parts and pieces missed by other app cleaner tools. I expect Artie will chime in with his recommendation of using FindAnyFile or EasyFind and I have to agree they get the most thorough results, but they also require significant knowledge and detective skill on the part of the user. But not even those apps can't identify app related files with UUID file names.

Thanks JOe!

"unless I used a certified Thunderbolt 4 cable with an adapter on the other end."

Darn , I was hoping/ assuming the cords supplied with new Seagate 3.0 ( with the 3rd party converters that are coming soon) will work in those 4 ports.


"At one time, Time Machine "
But you can lets say if did not have SD or CCC, reinstall you Mac HD with all your apps and desktop and all from TM I think? ie and that's the system in there. (or wrote below, maybe Apple is inserting stuff on the fly per the OS)

"intentional installation of either Big Sur or Monterey on the Seagates.
"
.... one Seagate is and another Seagate TM both backing up Mac HD -- Maybe that why we are seeing all those pre boot volumes etc? .ie........ system users, mac os install data, libary, boot.. etc. appl
And one Seagate has Mac HD by CCC, and SD, and both have full mac HD


"Mike Bombich, the developer of CCC, no longer recommends bootable clones.
I confirmed this with --I asked Mike this too... Yeah he confirmed that.. Personally I don't care about bootable clones, ie clones that will boot into for emergency work, BUT, CCC, AND SD clones will restore a full Mac HD back to the way it was.. all I care about.. Bootable clones just mean you can boot into them on the fly. Never done it, well I used to test that .. but really not necessary. Do restore the whole thing, fine.. Had to do that few months ago. Kind of traumatic -- but worked, saved the day.....which is why I like to know Got SD, CCC and TM ready to go. (The TM did not work few months ago so hanging by thread and SD backup saved day).... BTW, Dave at SD, says/ claims SD are still and will remain bootable.

BTW I will admit, since I'm 1/100th on you level... maybe some system things that Apple is inserting in now, to restore your Mac HD... as you do have to use their tool to use SD, CCC or TM... is what saying,

I use Find Any File in root mode, and I've always assumed that it's finding everything, but a while back, Jon posted that EasyFind found items that FAF missed. I expect to uninstall Excel (in favor of Numbers ) soon, and when I do, I'll d/l EF and compare it results with those of FAF. The massive number of files that Microsoft Office installs make Excel an excellent comparison candidate.

As far as "require significant knowledge and detective skill on the part of the user" go, pretty much every app I've ever uninstalled was totally straightforward, with every item located by FAF searches for app & dev name being obviously deletable, the rare exceptions I've run into being apps such as Microsoft and Firefox, which turn up exceptions which do, indeed, call for a bit of thought before deletion.

You've mentioned "related files with UUID file names" more than once, and I've always been curious about what they might be. Can you direct me to a location in macOS in which such files can be found?

ARtie, can send screenshot, what is root mode? Kind of a noisy interface, I choose file and folders, root mode something innovating beyond that?

And isn't true that tons of gunk files that don't have name? Search Excel, maybe some junk does not have excel.. Junk always has the name of app sure?

How compare to App Cleaner, that seems to be pretty impressive, though that wont work once have the app deleted and then junk is around years later, which is case ... in fact nothing works, cause years later, you don't even know what app was the foundation for the junk.

Because App Store apps are “Sandboxed” all of their support files are encapsulated in the application package itself. Therefore, the recommended way to delete them is through the Launchpad app. Simply click and hold on the icon in Launchpad until the icon shakes and an X appears at the upper left corner of the icon. Click on the X, approve the deletion and it is a complete deletion. It even works on Microsoft and Adobe apps purchased and installed through the App Store.

Microsoft and Adobe apps not purchased through the App Store usually have an uninstallation option in their installer, which should remove all application and settings files but leave the data files.


And unless you really know what you are doing, it is easy to delete more than you intend. (Don't ask how I know that )


Without knowing specific file names, UUID files are almost impossible to find among the 2,500,000+ files on my system. But if you want to know what UUID file names look like go to ~/Library/Mail/V9 and you will find UUID file names such as C6D6B6FA-4BBF-4BC8-9669-BDE542ED07C7 which is a Universally Unique Identifier also known as a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier). { I wish you hadn't brought that up. Now I have to figure out the relationship, if any, between a Globally Unique Identifier and the GUID partition scheme favored by Apple. }

PMFJI but a good friend who earned his living as a Unix System administrator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation who told me that after 20+ years of experience he never logged in as Root if there were any other alternatives because a single typo in a command can all too easily erase the entire system.


That is where the detective work comes in.


But there are apps that will search for old unused files.

JOe, thanks, good post. What are apps you recommend.

Just checked out Launchpad, never really tried it before, still don't get why one would use launchpad when have dock, but nice to see all icons so large.

But keep in mind that now that macOS is rooted in an untouchable snapshot, the ability to find system stuff has become more or less pointless, because such stuff can't be manipulated by either software or users.

(A note for the curious: At the bottom of the FAF home page <https://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile> there's an enumeration of "Alternatives to Find Any File" which discusses both capabilities and GUIs...VERY COOL DEV!)

I can't monitor my entire system, but I can say with 100% certainty that some apps (e.g., TurboTax) place files with names other than their own or those of their devs, so only an uninstaller can find them, so, yeah, all our Macs may be loaded down with years-old unidentifiable files that were placed by unknown, long since trashed apps. As for files with UUID IDs only, I've never run across any...but I've also never specifically searched, because I've got no idea where to start looking.

A year or two ago, in connection with another discussion about uninstallers, I d/l'ed (I'm almost certain it was) AppCleaner as an experiment immediately after having used Excel's built-in uninstaller, and it found significantly fewer remaining files than Find Any File did. It turned out that AC does not search for files, but relies on uploaded reports of files users have found - more or less hunt and peck methodology - which is obviously "no way to run an airline." (My apologies to AppCleaner if my memory is faulty and it's not the app I d/l'ed.)

As I reported earlier, both here and to Apple, and including the latest Monterey update to v 12.5.1, none of my app store purchases or 3rd party apps in /Apps appear in Launchpad with the sole exception of one that's in /Apps/System Prefs/Utilities.

In my experience (non-App Store) Microsoft's built-in uninstaller doesn't come close to deleting all of its associated files.

Agreed! It's not for either the amateur or fainthearted.

First is that Find Any File doesn't require logging in as root, it merely searches as root when so enabled.

I've had root enabled pretty much forever, but strictly for deleting stuff that can't be deleted from my Admin account (I've NEVER logged in as root user for any other purpose.), and your friend's warning has been drilled into my brain since day one, but it really only applies to using Terminal, which I'd NEVER EVER consider doing other than from my Admin account.

But lack of use doesn't negate the possibility that those files are still pertinent.

I have never felt the need to use Launchpad but I have two procedures that work well for me:

1. I dragged /Applications into the right side of the dock and selected List view, Folder, and Name in the Options dialog (hold the mouse down on the Applications folder in the dock and select Options). I can then either scroll to the app that I want or type the first few letters to highlight it, then press Return.

2. Use Spotlight to launch an app. Press Command-space bar to access Spotlight and then type the name of the app that you want. Click the appropriate response to launch the app.

TinkerTool works only with apps that have been installed by drag & drop, not those that have been installed by installers. <https://imgur.com/FysgKso>
For the heck of it, I'll try it after I uninstall Excel and see what it says.

JOhn how compare to just using the very easy nice app, app cleaner? Ira posted? I go with app cleaner unless you say otherwise.

Oops! I can't perform that experiment, because after I run the uninstaller I won't have anything to drag into TinkerTool.

There are probably half a hundred app launcher apps including some that are strictly keyboard activated with no graphic interface to speak of, some that group apps by project, and any number of other organizational structures. Each has its own fiercely loyal group of users. MacOS includes several built in launchers including, Siri, Finder, Dock, and Launchpad. Like all such utilities the one you use is a matter of personal choice, work style, and brain orientation. I am visually oriented and can never remember the keyboard shortcuts, and therefore prefer the Dock and Launchpad over the shortcut and keyboard oriented launcher styles.

I use Dock for a select few apps that I use almost continuously every day such as Strongbox, Fantastical, ToDoist, Mail, Message, Safari, Notes, Feedback Assistant, DEVONThink 3, Dictionary, and ScanSnap Home. But I have 260 apps and don't remember all their names for a Finder or Siri search. Attempting to put all 260 in the dock would render Dock unusable. Using Launchpad I have organized all 260 into 22 stacks of functionally related apps for quick easy access and it works well with my cognitive style and workflow.

There are Launchpad related items on my wish list;

1. The ability to have any app appear in more than one stack so I could create project oriented stacks.
2. Safari Technology Preview has a new feature called Tab Groups that permits creating named groups of that can all be opened automatically simply by opening the "Tab Group". I would love to see that feature extended over Launchpad and Stage Manager groups.

Joe thanks Launchpad, just looked at neverd used before.

Can you make huge icons smaller so fit more on one page? As it too huge/ weird to be practical
Can you choose what want or don't want?
Can you arrange them to taste? Put what want on page 1 or alphabetical
Baffling: I see tiny circles on bottom to navigate, but arrows keys don't seem to move from page 1 to page 2? Clicking arrows on keyboard, nothing happens.

I never noticed the dots at the bottom of a Launchpad screen that kevs just mentioned, and clicking on the grayed out one revealed my missing apps.

I wonder why that one Utility - all the others are Apps - appears on the main page?

Rather than making the icons smaller, create stacks or folders of related icons by dragging and dropping the icons on one another


Launchpad is automatically populated with any application (.app) in the /Applications folder or sub-folders. There is no other selection option.


Yes, using simple drag and drop


I have never seen the tiny circles. Because I use a keypad, I control Launchpad with gestures. Pinch with thumb and three fingers to open Launchpad, and swipe left or right with two fingers to change pages. (I had to look those up because they have become so automatic I wasn't certain how I performed the gestures.)

Thanks Joe

"Rather than making the icons smaller, create stacks or folders of related icons by dragging and dropping the icons on one another
Not cray about that.. they do that on iphone too.... just like to see all apps in front of me now... dont want dig into a folder.... I don't have as many as you.... REmember drag thing 3rd party dock.. so nice.. gone now..

" never noticed the dots at the bottom of a Launchpad screen that kevs just mentioned, and clicking on the grayed out one revealed my missing apps"

Good news for Artie.

But either of you know how one can advance the page without mousing to the next page? With normal keyboard? Anyway though don't think use as too many pages, ie, Joe says can't get them tighter together..

Just tested making folder, ok but call two in row productivity..Can rename?

command-left/right arrow works for me.

(Thanks for mentioning those dots! )

Got it ARtie thanks. Is there a way to alphabetize it all if you decide you want that?

If you hold down the option key, the icons "wiggle," and while they're wiggling you can drag them around.

I mean is there an alphabetize quickly option?

Open the folder then click on the name and type your new folder name.

Or just click and hold on either a folder or app icon and all of the folders and icons within the folders will start to wiggle around and can be moved to a new location.

TIP: If you are moving an icon into a folder at the right end of a row of folders there is a tendency for the folder to move out of the way, so I will move the folder one position to the left before adding a new app icon and then the folder will stay in place.

Dream on!

Seriously, though, I imagine that if there's a way to alphabetize, it would be default.

I wonder what sort of algorithm places those icons? Judging from my screen, it certainly has nothing to do with usage patterns.

• Open Launchpad, click on the screen anywhere outside a folder or icon, and a search bar will appear at the top of the page, which makes alphabetic sorting unnecessary.
• The iOS/iPadOS equivalent of Launchpad, App Library, does sort automatically, by application type, and I would not be surprised if "App Library" appeared in Ventura's successor.
• High production professionals generally prefer sorting by project, which is why Monterey and Ventura have a setting in System Preferences > Dock & Menu to “Show recent applications on the menu bar”.

My point is there is an almost infinite variety of workflows and personal organizational preferences. Launchpad is only one of the several alternatives built into macOS, and is relatively unique in permitting users to create the specific App organization that works for them at the nominal cost of some work on their part.

I''ve been creating folders and wiped out... Maybe continue later.

Drag thing was 100x better than Launch Bar.

I found this (couple years ago) since it went out of business and been going good: I think better than Launchbar:

https://stuntsoftware.com/overflow/

All on one nice easy page, see everything in front eyes...

I've uninstalled Excel 2016 - drag to trash/no more uninstaller - and Find Any File and EasyFind returned identical results when I searched for remnants.

However, since TinkerTool System couldn't deal with Excel (because of its having been installed by an installer), I did a complete (in this context) test with DaisyDisk, and here are my results. (The second screenshot should obviously be the final one.)

As you can see,

• with identical rules, Find Any File and EasyFind (FAF runs faster than EF.) again returned identical search results,
• AppCleaner, which has only a default mode, returned fewer results, but it found the actual app, which lives in a separate container from the other items on its list, and
• TinkerTool System, following the displayed rule, returned even fewer results, but it also found the app itself.

Conclusion: Based upon my experience, the most complete uninstalls are accomplished by searching for both app and dev names with either FAF or EF. The results they return are totally unambiguous in virtually all instances, the exceptions being things such as Microsoft Office which plant files all over your OS.

...but for many users is just an unappealing way of doing business. (In my Monterey, the search bar is present, albeit inert, by default, and can be activated by either command-F or clicking in the field.)

I can't find that setting in Monterey. A screenshot will be appreciated.

Thanks, I've got no idea how I missed it.

BTW beachball is back, darn, thought over..

Have you recently installed the macOS 12.15.1 update?

The next time you get a “beach ball”, look closely at the Time Machine icon on the menu bar to see if it is “rotating”.

Thanks JOe, I'm on 12. 5. 1 (though was not sure till you brought it up!)

Ok never looked at that TM icon before, will do. KEep an eye on it.

Also Code 42 is in activity monitor top a lot. Crash Plan, nice 3rd party cloud back up for Terrabytes you back up.. in cloud...... though I do remember the beachball when Code 42 was disabled. So not sure culprit I 'll try to test that more.

"Window Server" is also at very top, All the time, though not sure what that is.

Joe don't think maybe that exist anymore where TM spins in menu bar?

From the layers of protection in your system, I presume you wear at least two belts and two pair of suspenders. Seriously, multinational corporations don't have as many levels of protection as you. Code 42 duplicates a portion of Apple Platform Security, but only a portion. Crash Plan replicates of what is already provided by Time Machine and CCC. With all of that going on in the background, slowdowns, collisions, etc. are inevitable.


It is a macOS function that manages the windows and icons on your desktop. The more icons on your desktop, the more CPU cycles Window Server will use to generate the desktop image.


It still exists here on Intel and M1 Macs running Monterey and one running Ventura. However, the processing time is so short it is hard to notice.

JOe thank, so $10 month Crashplan, but here is deal: While have TM in house and have external at Bank.... this is let's say robbery/ fire, and have not updated at bank for couple months.. so all you work would be safe, ie in cloud Crashplan, still think overkill? or worth $10 in that "robbery/ fire " situation.? Not using Apple icloud as you are I think ( I just use iclould for 30GB of important documents), so that the backup for that.. opinion

Ok not Crashplan, Code42, I did pause, and beachball still up.

That older external Seagate however just rated 92% down yesterday from 99% in Drive X, hence, think might be good for $110 or so replace right? At 97% this morning, hang onto it, ok.. or?

Ok have been using desktop as convenience for projects, for sure, a lot, you say bail on that? Not actually only 7-8 things on desktop, still beachball. so? Could Try clear desktop? . Window servers is always top of activity monitor, but this article says, lot of other issues Window server, including Launch agents, tone other thing, too much to deal with quickly,

https://macsecurity.net/view/393-windowserver-mac#:~:text=First%20things%20first%2C%20here%20is,behavior%20on%20the%20Mac's%20screen.

Not even sure mention desktop in article.

Ok, will clear desktop as test. see what happens, but that article?

Update, break for beachballing bit, not sure why but Window server still high in activity monitor even with desktop cleared off. 27%

Aslo CCC and Dropbox in there quite bit, even though not being used, wonder way,/ good get them our of activity monitor somehow.

Activity Monitor is a useful tool that has been around since the days of single core processors and while it has been updated to work with multicore processors, it has not been fully adapted to the new reality. Too many people still read Activity Monitor as if the system still has only a single processor core, which makes it easy to misinterpret the statistics. Focusing entirely on the percentage will invariably lead you to false conclusions, and bad decisions.

• The number is a percentage of the CPU cycles for a single CPU core. The M1 processor has eight CPU cores. So, even if a task shows it is using 100% of a given core that is still only 12.5% of the available CPU cycles.
• In your case that would mean Activity Monitor is using a bit over 3% of the available CPU cycles. (It is a bit more complicated than that because not all cores are equal. Some are much faster than others, and macOS switches tasks between the high-speed and low-speed cores on demand.)
• Any given task can show it is running 200, 300, or greater percentage of the CPU cycles by running on multiple cores, which occurs frequently.
• Activity monitor does not indicate whether the core is a high-speed or low-speed core
• Window barely reaches the level of background noise and is certainly nothing to worry about.

The only way to get Dropbox and CCC out of Activity Monitor is to delete them from your system. That way, they can't run and therefore will not use any CPU or GPU cycles. Activity Monitor is intended as an analytical tool. To remove items from the analysis would distort the results and render the analysis invalid.

Thanks JOe.

1- would say don't look at activity monitor? Is better tool invented yet?
2- Would you say that if DRivex shows a hardrive 97%, then dips to 92% replace that drive (this is one 5-6 years old) or the drives is still good to go?
3- Did see that link on Windows issues, and is this culprit or not culprit. Would you keep things off the desktop? (did test oddly even with desktop cleared that still shows) maybe negligible? That article had endless amount of possible culprits.
4- From what described as backup system, ie, bank, every 2 -3 months, would still bail on Crashplan, and save the $120 year.... and the extra processes takes from computer? ( ie is unlikely calculated risk, that all local drives here could be wiped out..in one shot.. fire/ theft/nuclear war.. never happened but, curious your opinion)

Activity Monitor is useful tool when the results are carefully analyzed by an informed and knowledgeable user. When used by the average or uninformed user, it can be very misleading.
Marcel Bresink's System Monitor and the add on System Monitor Plus provides some of the same information and offers multiple ways to display it, but it still requires informed analysis to use correctly. He also has Macpower Monitor that is custom tailored for M12 Macs and shows usage/peformance on a CPU by CPU basis, but tells nothing about what tasks are using the CPUs. To get the full picture, a knowledgeable user would end up using all of these tools.


When it gets down to the 25 to 30% I would start shopping.


I never have more than one or two items on my desktop.


In the event of a nuclear war, I can't believe you would give a D@^& about your data. I put my Desktop and Documents folders on iCloud which is free and uses a negligible amount of CPU resources.

Ok Joe thanks final bits

1- going to get those three monitor apps thanks.
2- ok lets say burglary/ fire... never happend but don't think crashplan worth trade off if did? I'd have to go bank, and that could be 2 months old... I think, too expensive Mac to do icloud for 3-4 tB I have on main data drive. IDea: Maybe cold some new folder icloud for "new" work and transfer that over every couple months after updating the bank drive, but bit of hassle. Also I've had a conflict in past where lost some icloud files, thing got mangled there, so kept it to minimum
3. I did not know having things on desktop is so bad... but that's what you have realized? Why is that? DEsktop is just another folder in Mac HD, no? And it's not that many things... 6 screenshot, few new folders, then all get eventually sorted to other drives.
4 That link on Window server... is bunch of hocus pocus or is that a good link?

No offense, but based on your questions and responses, this additional information is more likely to cause you more confusion and less clarity.


If you go to System Preferences > Apple ID an...n [url=https://imgur.com/ghmhCET]Options and check Desktop & Documents folders, everything on your your Desktop and in the Documents folder are automatically and transparently mirrored on the iCloud Drive. Whaat could be simpler and easier than that?


The Desktop is a folder but a special kind of folder as well as a Window. Everything you see [b]in any window is a graphic image that must be processed, generated, and managed by Window Manager. The only way of eliminating Window Manager is to open Terminal and do all of your work using nothing but command line tools.


It is a good attempt at explaining everything that is going on in Window Manager. Window Manager is not a single task with a single purpose rather a collection of many tasks necessary to provide the GUI interface that is the hallmark of macOS. To re-iterate, The only way of eliminating Window Manager is to open Terminal and do all of your work using nothing but command line tools.

Ok Joe, thanks, will try to learn these (System Monitor, Power Monitor, and System Plus) over time, but ask now : If you had a beachball flare up, what is the first things you would immediately, look for there?

In Activity Monitor I would start by attempting to discern the bounding hardware resource by looking at...

1. The overall system CPU load to see if the beachball is a result of a “compute bound” task.
2. IF the CPU load is high then I would look at how much of that load is due to user tasks
3. I would also look at Memory Pressure to see if the problem was caused by insufficient memory resources.
4. Finally I would look at how much disk activity to see if the task is I/O bound.

System Monitor will give a more dynamic customized picture of CPU, Memory, and I/O load and does not use as many CPU cycles as Activity Monitor but requires constant user attention. Mac Power Monitor provides a unique picture of how the load is distributed among the M12 cores. But neither of these indicate specific tasks.

Once the bounding resource is determined, then, and only then, will you know where to look for potential problem tasks. If none of these areas is maxing out, the beachball may be related to the physical connections to external devices or the configuration or those connections.