Mac Slow Even After Formatting

[magic8ball88]

First off I would like to say that I did try searching (I know it's hard to believe that coming from a member with no posts) but its difficult to search for my problem because I don't really know how to describe it in keywords and get results. This probably isn't the right section but once again I'm not really sure how to describe my problem.

Here is the story. I primarily use Windows 7 on my computer through Bootcamp. (I also have Linux Mint 10 on my computer, don't think either of these are part of the problem but I thought I should let you know) I have had both of these installed for a while, and switch between them with no problems until yesterday. I booted into Snow Leopard (10.6.5) to update my iPhone firmware. The first time I booted into it, it would only load my wallpaper. I rebooted and this time I got my dock and task bar, but was unable to do anything other than move the mouse. I got right down to business and started the formatting process. I put the Snow Leopard disk in, but that somehow kicked my computer into action. I was able to use it, but it was very slow. So I uninstalled my themes thinking this was the problem. the themes required me to log off so I did that but it froze from there. Then I rebooted and tried the Snow Leopard disk trick again. It didn't work, but my computer was responsive after a few minutes (I don't think the disk had anything to do with it becoming responsive either, just think my computer was being slow) After that I ran Onyx thinking it would fix all of my problems. It didn't.

From here I started the formatting process. The first time around I really messed up (it was 2am and I had only gotten three hours of sleep, give me a break) instead of doing a clean install I accidentally did an upgrade. I woke up to find my computer still being it's slow self. I then spent the entire day today, formatting, reinstalling multiple times. It was slow even when I didn't restore from a backup. No matter what I would do my Mac would be unbearably slow (it wouldn't even load the welcome video, just show a blue screen while playing the music)

Here is the part that baffles me. My Windows partition still works (haven't tried my Linux Partition but I assume it also works) I don't think that my multiple partitions are the problem because I have had them all working since about July (I even upgraded Linux 9 to 10 two months ago without a problem)

I don't think I'm technologically inept but this is beyond me. My next step will be to replace my hard drive, but I have low hopes for that doing much, unless bad sectors are my problem (dunno if that could even be a culprit)

Hopefully I can fix this problem without sending it into Apple. I do have Apple Care but I doubt that warranty actually does anything, they'll just blame it on me so I have to spend another $1,000 to fix it or buy a new computer. Lets just say it won't be another Mac.

I have the late 2008 aluminum MacBook (non pro) intel core 2 duo

Thank you for reading.

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

I imagine that it's got to be a hardware issue, since you seem to have hit all the software things. Hard drive is my guess, or bad RAM. Verify the hard drive in Disk Utility, and look at the RAM in System Profiler.

How was the system when booted off the disc? Responsive enough?

You should give AppleCare a try before you think it's not going to be any good. Why did you buy it if your assumption is that it's worthless (unless, of course, you bought the computer from someone else who had bought AppleCare). The more your expectations are that AppleCare won't work out, the more likely it won't.

 

[magic8ball88]

I imagine that it's got to be a hardware issue, since you seem to have hit all the software things. Hard drive is my guess, or bad RAM. Verify the hard drive in Disk Utility, and look at the RAM in System Profiler.

How was the system when booted off the disc? Responsive enough?

You should give AppleCare a try before you think it's not going to be any good. Why did you buy it if your assumption is that it's worthless (unless, of course, you bought the computer from someone else who had bought AppleCare). The more your expectations are that AppleCare won't work out, the more likely it won't.

It was meh. It wasn't as fast as I would have expected but it was running off a cd. It gave me the beach ball a few times but not for very long.

I don't think its the ram though because Windows 7 works great. I'm using it right now. I can't see why the hard drive would be the problem either unless just a small part is messed up, thats what baffles me.

I was planning on giving AppleCare a call tomorrow but I've dealt with them before and they have never helped me. My mom forced me to buy it haha.

 

[magic8ball88]

Does anyone know how I can put the stuff from my time machine backup on my Windows 7 partition? I'd really like my music back while I'm waiting for my Mac to be fixed.

 

[jenzjen]

Sorry, I'm confused. How does your Windows partition still work after multiple reformats and reinstalls? If you did a real clean install, you would have to reinstall Boot Camp as well.

I would try one more time, this time before the actual reinstall starts, go into Disk Utility and completely zero out your hard drive first then install SL onto this disk.

 

[astrorider]

Did you run the hardware diagnostic on the System Disk? I believe you hold down the "D" key while booting with the System Disk in the DVD drive.

 

[vistadude]

I think he formatted just the mac partition, so he doesn't need to run bootcamp again.

It looks like your hard disk is going bad. Try to backup what you can asap, and replace the hard disk.

 

[jenzjen]

I think he formatted just the mac partition, so he doesn't need to run bootcamp again.

It looks like your hard disk is going bad. Try to backup what you can asap, and replace the hard disk.

Got it. I thought it still might be software since he wrote that his Windows side works well, but I would agree. Make a backup first, schedule an Apple visit then try a true clean install just I see what happens. After the reinstall, reset your PRAM and SMC.

 

[magic8ball88]

I thought it might be the hard drive. A few questions before I do this.

I have a 320 gb western digital scorpio black 7200 rpm drive. I don't really want to put this in my mac because the higher rpm would result in less battery life, but by how much? If I do replace the hard drive myself would this void my apple care warranty? Lastly, I know this is an Apple forum, but can anyone recommended any good backup methods for Windows 7? I just got this partition the way I want it. Could I copy the partition to my new hard drive after installing Snow Leopard on it without any further tinkering or should I just start this fresh too after copying my files?

 

[Nermal]

The hard drive is a customer-installable part so you won't void your warranty. However, I suggest hanging onto the old drive and reinstalling it if you ever need to send the machine back; I've heard stories of Apple replacing entire machines and not transferring the upgraded components over.

 

[jenzjen]

I thought it might be the hard drive. A few questions before I do this.

I have a 320 gb western digital scorpio black 7200 rpm drive. I don't really want to put this in my mac because the higher rpm would result in less battery life, but by how much? If I do replace the hard drive myself would this void my apple care warranty? Lastly, I know this is an Apple forum, but can anyone recommended any good backup methods for Windows 7? I just got this partition the way I want it. Could I copy the partition to my new hard drive after installing Snow Leopard on it without any further tinkering or should I just start this fresh too after copying my files?

To be complete, I would do a fresh install of both SL and Windows so simply recopy your Windows files back over after you reinstall it.