Performance and Reinstall

[shadowfayre]

Two issues:

1. Performance.

Hardware: Macbook Pro 2ghz, 1GB Ram, 7200RPM HDD.

For the past several weeks, I have noticed a significate reduction in speed on my MBP. Everything from starting applications (Word) to in-game speed in WoW. My understanding is that you do not need to defrag OSX; however, this speed is driving me nuts. I have already restarted and reapplied patches. What can I do to improve speed? HDD free space is 10gb. Thanks,

2. Reinstallation

In attempt to fix the above problem, I thought I would do what anyone would do running Windows. Format and Reinstall! However, placing the OSX install disk does not seem to work. Turning off and on, holding down C or D nothing. Just launches me back in OSX. Inserting the disk within OSX and attempting to install, I receive an error; that this version is not compatible? It is 10.4.6 (Intel CD). The only Install disk I have.

Obviously, I would prefer fixing problem 1 without having to reinstall OSX; however, the time may come up where I have to reinstall, and would like to figure out how to fix that problem. Example, I have boot camp installed (no longer use it) but I would like to retrieve that wasted space for later use. No big deal now, but I understand I have to boot from the CD to get to a console.

Thanks,

 

[plinden]

Hold down the option key when rebooting.

 

[projectle]

I have had real success in using Macaroni in speeding up my system.

One of its options is to remove additional language support from all applications including the operating system.

It is surprising to see a fully configured system with a bunch of programs instantly clearing out 4.2 GB of data (just the localized data files besides English, German and French)

Also, in doing so the memory utilization dropped by about 130MB.

 

[shadowfayre]

Sorry, should have mentioned that I tried the control key as well. Even as such, the CD/DVD does not show up as an option. It is as if the CD/DVD is not bootable. I know the XP and Vista CD worked this way.

I am long ago removed all of the unneeded languages and print drivers.

Thanks,

 

[mad jew]

Strange. I know the Installer will kick up a fuss if you try to use it on a machine with a more current version of the OS. Is there a chance you have actually booted from the disc, not realised it, tried to install the OS without reformatting first and been told to bugger off?

Also, if you're experiencing slow downs and you have plenty of free space, then maybe open up Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder and see if there's a process that's using up a lot of your resources or that is crashed (highlighted in red).

 

[IJ Reilly]

Also, if you're experiencing slow downs and you have plenty of free space, then maybe open up Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder and see if there's a process that's using up a lot of your resources or that is crashed (highlighted in red).

MJ is right as usual. Find out what is causing the slowdown before doing anything else. Reinstalling the OS to fix trivial issues is a Windows habit.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Also, if you're experiencing slow downs and you have plenty of free space, then maybe open up Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder and see if there's a process that's using up a lot of your resources or that is crashed (highlighted in red).

And while you have Activity Monitor open: What's your VM size?

If that is well over the 10 GB free HD space you got, then you could benefit from freeing up (even more) HD space and/or reduce the size of the VM (by running fewer applications, utilities and widgets).

Even if 10 GB HD space should be sufficient, I've notices that the VM size on my MacBook tends to fill up much more quickly than it did on my iBook, especially when running a couple of PPC applications through Rosetta.