Slow Response Times on a Mac OS X Leopard
Slow response times on your Mac can be incredibly frustrating, but you need only a few steps to help isolate (and potentially solve) issues that are causing the slowdown. Failing hardware, a full hard drive, incompatible or conflicting software, and inappropriate system software can all contribute to the system's overall speed. Before beginning any troubleshooting procedure on an Apple computer running Mac OS X 1.5 (known as Leopard), you should back up any important data to an external hard drive, writable optical media (e.g. CD-R or DVD-R), or Internet-based storage system.
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Compromised Hardware
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As your Mac ages, its components become increasingly susceptible to failure, and general system slowness can be an indicator. If you can hear an audible noise, describable as clicking, scratching, or beeping, it could indicate a failing hard drive. Back up any crucial data immediately. Running a full hardware diagnostic is a good first step. To run this test, insert the Installation Disk 1 that came with the system and restart while holding the "D" key. Follow the on-screen prompts to run the diagnostic. For basic tests, all you have to do is hit "Return." To perform a more thorough diagnostic, select the "Perform extended testing" check box under the "Test" button before you click that button.
Failure to Meet System Requirements
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Just because a Mac can run a newer version of the Mac OS doesn't mean it should. If you have noticed your Mac slow down after upgrading the operating system, it may not meet the specifications for optimal usage. Determine which version of Mac OS X you have by selecting the "Apple" menu and clicking "About This Mac." That dialog box provides critical information about your computer's specifications (including RAM and processor speed) and which version of the Mac OS it is currently running. Check those specifications against Apple's recommended requirements for Mac OS Leopard.
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Full Hard Drive
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If your hard drive is full or nearing capacity, your Mac's speed will suffer. Mac OS X Leopard uses part of your hard drive's available space as "virtual memory," which increases its ability to open and run multiple programs simultaneously. As available space dwindles, your Mac will slow. To see how much available space you have on your hard drive, select your hard drive's icon on the Desktop (by default, it is called "Macintosh HD"). Select the File menu and click "Get Info." If the available space is less than 10 GB, delete unnecessary files or move them to external storage.
Incompatible Software
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After confirming the health of your system's hardware, and that your Mac meets the minimum specs to run Mac OS X Leopard, you should try to determine whether the slowness has been caused by an incompatible or conflicting application. To do this, restart your Mac in Safe Mode to temporarily disable all user-added extensions. To accomplish this, restart holding the "Shift" key until the white Apple icon appears on-screen. If your Mac's speed returns to normal, you should make sure you have the latest versions of any installed software.
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