I have a 13" MBP, running OSX 10.6.8. I keep getting beach balls and slow downs to the point where the computer is practically unusable at times. It seems to be mostly related to Safari. For example, if I'm getting slow downs in Safari the whole computer starts to slow down. It's really starting to annoy me to no end. All updates have been installed, I'm currently repairing disk permissions though I'm not sure I selected the right disk. There were two options, one just said "Mactintosh HD" and the other said "160 Fuju yada yada." Well, I selected the top one that said "160 Fuju..." Is there anything else I can do to save this MBP from the hammer?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Ready to throw my MBP in the trash
- Thread starter CorvetteZR1
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yeah, relax.
If the problem occurs with Safari it's probably a plug-in or something similar.
Do you have Flash installed? Download a Flash Blocker extension for Safari like ClickToFlash and set it so that it always blocks Flash elements until you click to activate them.
Flash is defiantly a big reason for crashing Safari. Ive had the same sort of issues with my macbook. Another reason for that could be that there are some files in your system library that have been corrupted. If you take it on to a Mac Store or to the Genius Bar, they are able to go through and fix those. If it gets down to it, then you can back up your documents to a external drive and just do a complete wipe of your drive. When your putting your document back on, make sure that you don't just do a restore. You have to put them back on manually, or the corrupted files will be reinstalled. Hope I helped. It worked for me 
I downloaded click to flash and installed it. Nothing happened. I tried to find the program, nothing. I'm ready to smash this computer and post photos of the aftermath.
*sigh*
Chill, dude. You're trying to use a Mac like it's running Windows. That's like flying a plane like you drive a car. Is that a sensible thing to do? Is it?
With Safari running and in the foreground, go to Safari>Safari Extensions in the Menu. If you install something from this page, nothing is downloaded to anywhere that you should be able to see. It's installed automatically.
To configure ClickToFlash (let's assume it already has installed since you say you "downloaded" it) go to Safari>Preferences in the Menu and click the Extensions tab.
Magic.
Chill, dude. You're trying to use a Mac like it's running Windows. That's like flying a plane like you drive a car. Is that a sensible thing to do? Is it?
With Safari running and in the foreground, go to Safari>Safari Extensions in the Menu. If you install something from this page, nothing is downloaded to anywhere that you should be able to see. It's installed automatically.
To configure ClickToFlash (let's assume it already has installed since you say you "downloaded" it) go to Safari>Preferences in the Menu and click the Extensions tab.
Magic.
I did what you told me to do and nothing is under extensions. I downloaded and installed click to flash twice. I still see nothing in safar extensions and extensions are turned on. I went to Safari/Pref/Extensions = blank. Also, I went to Safari/Safari Extensions/ = Apple website trying to get me to download twitter. This is hopeless.
You installed ClickToFlash from...where?
If you did it from Apple's site, it would be installed and running in Safari automatically with no further steps. If you actually downloaded something to your Downloads folder and ran an installer, you will have to Quit, not close, Safari and start it again.
Right click (or control+click) the Safari icon in the Dock and click Quit. Then open it again.
If you did it from Apple's site, it would be installed and running in Safari automatically with no further steps. If you actually downloaded something to your Downloads folder and ran an installer, you will have to Quit, not close, Safari and start it again.
Right click (or control+click) the Safari icon in the Dock and click Quit. Then open it again.
I downloaded it from the click to flash website, ran the installer, twice. Quit safari and reopened, twice. Extensions = empty.
You should instead go to Safari>Safari Extensions. Find ClickToFlash and click Install. Keyword, install. Nothing more will need to be done if doing so via this route.
The new Safari may have broken the old plug-in, since Safari allows Extensions now.
Tell us how that works for you.
The new Safari may have broken the old plug-in, since Safari allows Extensions now.
Tell us how that works for you.
Well, I had to dig for it on Apple's website but I found it. Installed from the apple site and now it's working. I'm so pissed.
----------
Ok, so here's what I did:
Step 1 = Software update/Installed all available updates
Step 2 = Repaired disk permissions (though I'm still not sure I picked the right disk item to repair)
Step 3 = Downloaded and installed click to flash as a safari extension and basically turned off flash
Everything seems to be working much better now. I guess I can see why Apple has chosen to leave flash off their current mac lineup. I really don't think flash will ever be on my computer again. It basically turned my computer into a paper weight. Now, if only I could get youtube to work...
Thanks Cheeto, you saved my computer from the guillotine.
With ClickToFlash, you just click any Flash Element you wish to use. You can also right-click on any page and choose Disable ClickToFlash or to Load all Flash (on that page).
As well, it allows Youtube to play videos in formats that don't require Flash.
Step one with using your Mac is to forget everything you know about Windows and just let everything come natural. Click every button and search every Menu to find features and settings.
To change you settings for ClickToFlash, go to Safari>Preferences (every app should have preferences) and go to Extensions and carefully read and configure ClickToFlash's settings so that you can optimize it for your needs.
Enjoy and be patient, you'll see the light. XD
As well, it allows Youtube to play videos in formats that don't require Flash.
Step one with using your Mac is to forget everything you know about Windows and just let everything come natural. Click every button and search every Menu to find features and settings.
To change you settings for ClickToFlash, go to Safari>Preferences (every app should have preferences) and go to Extensions and carefully read and configure ClickToFlash's settings so that you can optimize it for your needs.
Enjoy and be patient, you'll see the light. XD
OP, have you considered using another browser instead? I keep trying to like Safari but there's always something about it that keeps me away from it.
I'd suggesting using Chrome over Safari for Snow Leopard users, there's no sandboxing feature for Safari 5.1 unless you upgrade to Lion and Chrome does. Speed is faster with Chrome, tabbed browsing IMHO is simpler, better HTML5 support, doesn't get screwed up so easily from Flash... I don't see any benefit from using Safari-anything in SL.
Even if you were using Lion and Safari 5.1, I find it to be a very terrible browser, so slow, doesn't support HTML nearly as well as the other common browsers, and security effectiveness at least to my knowledge has not been tested/confirmed by unbiased 3rd party testing.
I'd suggesting using Chrome over Safari for Snow Leopard users, there's no sandboxing feature for Safari 5.1 unless you upgrade to Lion and Chrome does. Speed is faster with Chrome, tabbed browsing IMHO is simpler, better HTML5 support, doesn't get screwed up so easily from Flash... I don't see any benefit from using Safari-anything in SL.
Even if you were using Lion and Safari 5.1, I find it to be a very terrible browser, so slow, doesn't support HTML nearly as well as the other common browsers, and security effectiveness at least to my knowledge has not been tested/confirmed by unbiased 3rd party testing.
MrCheeto,
I don't know why you got the impression that I'm new to Mac. I've been using Macs exclusively for over seven years.
If Flash is causing problems you could get rid of it altogether:
http://daringfireball.net/2010/11/flash_free_and_cheating_with_google_chrome
http://www.verticalforest.com/
I've uninstalled Flash and followed the instructions in these links and it works well.
Google Chrome has a built in option to disable Flash:
http://osxdaily.com/2011/06/03/enable-click-to-play-plugins-flash-chrome/
http://daringfireball.net/2010/11/flash_free_and_cheating_with_google_chrome
http://www.verticalforest.com/
I've uninstalled Flash and followed the instructions in these links and it works well.
Google Chrome has a built in option to disable Flash:
http://osxdaily.com/2011/06/03/enable-click-to-play-plugins-flash-chrome/
What is causing your problem?
Low RAM or high CPU usage?
What you described is abnormal for a Mac. If under warranty, contact Apple for support.
Low RAM or high CPU usage?
What you described is abnormal for a Mac. If under warranty, contact Apple for support.
Chrome is excellent. I use it all the time. My problems were almost entirely related to Safari.
Remove all Safari plug-ins
Remove Safari
Disk Utility
Reboot
Reinstall Safari
Test - not slow? Continue
Install plug-in 1
Test - not slow? Continue
Install plug-in 2
.
.
.
etc...until you find out what plug-in is causing the slow down.
If all else fails, use FF
Remove Safari
Disk Utility
Reboot
Reinstall Safari
Test - not slow? Continue
Install plug-in 1
Test - not slow? Continue
Install plug-in 2
.
.
.
etc...until you find out what plug-in is causing the slow down.
If all else fails, use FF
I'm using lion and I find that safari also slows down to a crawl every once in a while, especially when I use the reading list. Shift-command-L to open or close reading list will make safari freeze for a second and freeze again when I close it. It's also a system wide response. Opening reading list, then opening another app from doc also responds very slowly. How can something so simple as a "reading list" do this? Just to be sure, I did a clean install of lion after I found it to be very buggy on top of snow leopard. But this still happens.