100% Finder CPU usage

Randomly, I wasn't doing anything specific — my system starts getting sluggish. I check the activity viewer — wow, Finder is at 150% CPU!

This is what I have tried so far:

Trashing com.apple.finder.plist, com.apple.systemuiserver.plist and com.apple.loginwindow.plist
Trashing all apple.* namespaced .plist files
Turning off Calculate All Sizes in Finder
Turning off Show View Options in Finder
Disabling all startup items
Unplugging external hard drives
Getting rid of all data on desktop

However, if I create a new account or use my wife's account, the Finder CPU usage is normal.

I analyzed the Finder's CPU pattern, it goes like this: If active, it's always between 70 and 150% CPU usage. If i kill it, and stay 100% idle — it goes from 0-ish% to 100+% slowly, and the "Real Memory" column in Activity Monitor goes from 0MB to ~2GB+ slowly, and when it gets around there, it dies and cycles all over again.

What are some methods I can use to trace what's happening in Finder?

Ali Zendaki

Posted 2011-06-20T13:54:51.230

Reputation:

Try http://apple.stackexchange.com

– Paul R – 2011-06-20T13:58:57.080

Go in Console and see if anything's bothering Finder. – Vervious – 2011-07-12T15:29:28.233

Random guess: you're trying to automount a volume that's no longer there. – barrycarter – 2011-10-22T00:00:01.080

Are you using Time Machine? Were you connected to the Time Machine volume when finder went berzerk? – Nathan – 2012-02-14T04:13:21.190

Answers

Go to Terminal, type iosnoop, and see what Finder is doing. You can also go to AM and click "Sample" to figure out what threads Finder has open.

Matt

Posted 2011-06-20T13:54:51.230

Reputation: 437

There are a few things to try, first check if you have anything in dashboard. Sometimes widgets can run away with your processor. Close widgets by holding down the option key and clicking the close circle that appears next to the widgets.

I'd also check console to see if there are any messages there about a process that's getting stuck. All messages (all logs) should show up anything that's repeatedly running over and over while you're logged in.

Finally try checking in the LaunchAgents folder in your home folder in the Library folder. Sometimes apps will install processes there that they want to start when you log in. If you subsequently delete an app the process in here may simply try and start something it can no longer find over and over. This often causes problems and slowdowns with no visible cause. This isn't the same as start up items in accounts so is often overlooked.

Mark Reid

Posted 2011-06-20T13:54:51.230

Reputation: 146

Have you tried to start your Mac in Safe Boot mode? Hold Shift key immediately after startup sound, and release when you see the Apple logo. Does the problem occur then as well?

myhd

Posted 2011-06-20T13:54:51.230

Reputation: 107

Try 'Repair Permissions' through Disk Utility. You can get more info from http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1452.

This had worked for me.

Saneef

Posted 2011-06-20T13:54:51.230

Reputation: 225