My wife 's Imac is having so many problems, runs slow, software locks up etc

[G+_Rud Dog]

My wife's Imac is having so many problems, runs slow, software locks up etc. So looking for opinions on this software before buying. All input is welcome.

[G+_Damien Wessling]

Get the drive out and run Spinrite on it. 9 times out of 10 it's a flaky drive causing all the hangups.

[G+_Arcturus Lancaster]

Older iMac? My guess is the HDD is in sad shape and tossing errors. Replace the HDD and reinstall is on new drive.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Removing the drive is a no-go she is afraid I will damage it. I know there are ways to backup the drive as I already do but need a quick way to use windows instead of Mac OS. This is based on the fact she sees my computer handle all the software for printers, scanners etc with no problems. And she gets what she wants.

[G+_Ben Reese]

My guess is that Spinrite would get you back up and running, but probably still not a bad idea to replace it. If you can get a compatability SSD, it should breathe new life into the old machine.

[G+_Rud Dog]

My luck with Spinrite so far has been a bit on the slow side meaning the time to complete is so long ridiculous amount of time but recently Steve stated if you let it run it will settle into a reasonable time to complete. So far after running it for 24 hours this has not been the case.

[G+_Matt Koglin]

I'm with Ben. Backup the data and replace the drive with an SSD. iFixIt will show you how to do it. Just be careful with the delicate connectors and you'll be fine. Or, take it to a shop and spend a fortune.

[G+_Rud Dog]

I viewed the ifixit video and is the reason for going another route. Knowing my luck the screen will get damaged and invite a whole new set of problems. I might just pickup a external drive and run it from that via thunderbolt connection. Then if that software , based on recommendations here, sounds ok will load it.

[G+_Matt Koglin]

While you're at it, just to be safe, backup your important data but install a fresh OS on the new drive. Yeah, you'll have to futz with some settings and reinstall applications, but then you know for sure there's no malware and the machine will seem like you just bought it off the shelf. I'm using a 2009 iMac with an SSD and have no plans on replacing it soon.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Just finished reviewing this video and think it is going to be a smooth project.

[G+_Matt Koglin]

That seems like a good compromise!

[G+_Akira Yamanita]

Wouldn't you want to dual boot using Boot Camp? What's the point of running Windows in a VM if the host (the Mac environment) is sluggish?

[G+_Ben Reese]

If the host is sluggish because of a bad drive and the VM is running from a different drive, I'd kinda expect the VM to run better.

[G+_Rud Dog]

You are answering questions to my problem in your responses as solutions are reviewed. Thinking might setup external drive via Thunderbolt then install fresh version of OS X then boot camp a copy of Window 10.

Of course I have some videos to watch to achieve this goal.

 

BTW our computers sit side by side (my wife and I) and I run Windows 8.1 inevitably she will lean over and say this is not working or this is hung up so in the case of printers and scanners and other hardware I end running the item for her on my PC and dropping it into my network WDCloud for her pickup.

This has been the case since day one even when the Imac was not running slow so I finally said enough is enough either dump Windows on her Imac or sell it and get her a Windows machine.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Turns out my wife's Imac is currenlty running Maverick 10.9.3

on Imac11.3 Intel Core i3

Does not have Thunderbolt rather has Firewire800.

Now for the details on cable and external drive. Still welcome input, thanks all.

[G+_Ben Reese]

So Akira Yamanita? probably has the best solution... If the end goal to to run Windows 10, dual boot will basically let you remove Mac OS from the picture and run Windows natively.

[G+_Rud Dog]

I agree, sometimes the bells don't ring till you hear someone's ideas and they are ringing now. So off I go to shop around for the hardware so I can get the wife on the road to constructive projects. Thanks all.

[G+_Rud Dog]

How to ask this question?

Can I take a SATA SSD put it in an enclosure which has connections for Firewire 800 and expect true Firewire 800 speed between said enclosure and Firewire 800 port on the Imac?

I say this due to a long ago search on Google of some of these external cases not doing end to end technology whether it be USB2, USB3 or Firewire800.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Wow did not think downloading OS X was going to be such a nightmare. Maybe I have to be on a mac was hoping I could get the image and nike-net it to my wife's computer.

How does one do a fresh install rather then an update which I did find?

[G+_Damien Wessling]

The SATA SSD will perform like a lawnmower on methanol, the limitation is the Firewire connection speed. (same goes for any external connection, USB2, USB3, eSATA) In my opinion, the most logical option is to perform a full backup of the drive asap, get the drive mirrored onto the SSD so you can replace the drive in the Mac, running it straight off the SATA bus. You're going through a lot of options to (essentially) avoid pulling a terminal drive from there are machine. Explain to your wife that if the drive collapses completely, you're left with 1 thing to do... and that's pull the drive anyway. Better to do this while you still have control of the situation rather than being in a pure disaster recovery mode. Once the new drive is operational, it'll probably run better than it ever has. Food for thought... ??

[G+_Rud Dog]

Thank you was wondering if you could clear something up for me. Is the internal bus faster then the external Firewire port?

So many things can go wrong when opening the hardware would like to spend time on my other passions rather then gain more headaches then I care to shake a stick at, especially with apple products.

[G+_Damien Wessling]

Oh yes, SATA on the bus should be at least 3Gbps, an SSD is typically capable of 6Gbps... As a comparison, USB2 480Mbps, Firewire 400 & 800, 400 & 800Mbps respectively, USB3 has a potential for 5Gbps though reported to rarely see the higher end speeds. Logic would dictate the SATA direct to the bus will provide the better option, being the most direct connection to the cpu. USB3 while fast on paper, still requires translation via the USB3 driver and channel, introducing a bottleneck and potential point of failure.

 

Even with the use of an external solution beit USB3, Firewire or Lightning, the unknown variable here is how the machine will respond once the primary drive passes out. Chances are the externally connected drive won't work either while there's a dead drive on the bus.

Rud Dog, you're already tech minded, you're in this community filled with people and their knowledge & experiences from all over the planet to resource from, you're in good company. I wouldn't stress about popping open the machine to replace the drive, you've see the iFixit teardowns, following them step by step, using their methodical processes should see you with a minimal risk of damage or failure.

A alternative is to take the machine to your nearest Apple approved service centre and ask them to pop the cover/s off to extract the HDD.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Thank you Damien Wessling as always will take any and all ideas to heart. Again thank you for your time and explanation as always learning something great and new from you and others like you willing to share their knowledge.

[G+_Peter Hanse]

I have installed SSD in a few iMacs makes them run like new. Backup and using carbon copy cloner. May want to find a local Mac shop to do install of drive if you do not feel you can do it. Always do backup of data before bringing to shop

[G+_Rud Dog]

Peter Hanse My biggest worry, the removal of the screen without damaging it. Just how hard is it to remove it? Do you need the suction cups?