Thanks all for the kind replies...
Swampus, here's the results.
SMART Utility didn't find anything unusual, test status is 'PASSED'.
EtreCheck results below. A few questions...
(1) Can I remove ProTec6b from startup? how? Can I remove VirtualBox from startup? How?
(2) What are all the extensions in the Kernel section, they all seem to relate to VirtualBox? Seems like VirtualBox left lots of rubbish around my system? (I'm not using VirtualBox or Parallels anymore, I uninstalled both ages ago).
(3) How can I uninstalled the IKEA Internet plug in?
(4) What is the BrowserPlus under User Internet Plug ins and 3rd Party Preference Panes? I don't think I need it?
(5) I don't want Time Machine to be running in the background, I want to launch it only when I want to do a back-up. Shall I just enter Time Machine preferences and switch it off?
Any help/advice on the above (and anything you think might improve the performance of my system) is greatly appreciated.
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Hardware Information:
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,2
1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores
4 GB RAM
Video Information:
Intel HD Graphics - VRAM: 288 MB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 256 MB
System Software:
OS X 10.8.5 (12F37) - Uptime: 0 days 0:11:2
Disk Information:
Hitachi HTS545032B9SA02 disk0 : (320.07 GB)
disk0s1 (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 319.21 GB (176.75 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898
USB Information:
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Internal Memory Card Reader
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
FireWire Information:
Thunderbolt Information:
Kernel Extensions:
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (3.2.8)
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (3.2.8)
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (3.2.8)
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (3.2.8)
Startup Items:
ProTec6b: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ProTec6b
VirtualBox: Path: /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBox
Problem System Launch Daemons:
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
[System] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist 3rd-Party support link
[System] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist 3rd-Party support link
[System] Nalpeirond6b.plist 3rd-Party support link
Launch Agents:
User Launch Agents:
[not loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist 3rd-Party support link
User Login Items:
None
Internet Plug-ins:
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.5.0 - SDK 10.8 Outdated! Update
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.1
Flash Player: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update
NP_2020Player_IKEA: Version: 5.0.94.1 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link
CitrixICAClientPlugIn: Version: 11.4.3 - SDK 10.0 3rd-Party support link
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.2.7 3rd-Party support link
GarminGpsControl: Version: 4.0.3.0 Release - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.0 3rd-Party support link
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
Audio Plug-ins:
AirPlay: Version: 1.7 - SDK 10.8
iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.1 - SDK 10.8
User Internet Plug-ins:
BrowserPlus_2.9.8: Version: 2.9.8 3rd-Party support link
3rd Party Preference Panes:
BrowserPlus 3rd-Party support link
Flash Player 3rd-Party support link
Bad Fonts:
None
Old Applications:
Citrix Receiver: Version: 11.4.3 - SDK 10.0 3rd-Party support link
Time Machine:
Skip System Files: NO
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 297.29 GB Disk used: 132.68 GB
Destinations:
MacOS [Local] (Last used)
Total size: 465.44 GB
Total number of backups: 9
Oldest backup: 2010-11-30 22:21:15 +0000
Last backup: 2013-12-20 23:14:52 +0000
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 465.44 GB > (Disk used 132.68 GB X 3)
Time Machine details may not be accurate.
All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
Top Processes by CPU:
14% WindowServer
3% Safari
3% EtreCheck
1% hidd
1% WebProcess
Top Processes by Memory:
217 MB WebProcess
152 MB Safari
74 MB mds
55 MB WindowServer
37 MB Dock
Virtual Memory Information:
2.08 GB Free RAM
964 MB Active RAM
222 MB Inactive RAM
648 MB Wired RAM
206 MB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs