I've done something stupid - Help!

[JeffL]

I’ve done something stupid! Not being a techie, I shouldn’t have touched it!

This is what I’ve done - I read that the Chrome Browser could make macs slow so I googled and followed the instructions below to remove all its contents. BUT, while I was doing that I noticed other files in there that appeared not to have been used since 20216/2018 etc and I’d read something about iLife…. being malware so I deleted anything I saw regarding iLife. I also deleted Macromedia and Microsoft files (maybe some others).

Google Chrome reportedly destroys Mac performance — here’s how to fix it

And Brichter has detailed a way to tackle this Google Chrome slowdown problem. Here's how to sort it.
Deleting Google Chrome and Keystone
If you’re experiencing issues with Chrome, clearing your cache, cookies and site data can be a good first step in helping improve your Mac’s performance. But if you're still experiencing slowdown, you'll want to remove Chrome and Keystone.
The bad news is that the process is not as straightforward as dragging the icon to the Bin. But here are some steps to follow to get rid of Chrome within macOS.

. Go to your /Applications folder and drag Chrome to the Trash

• In the Finder click the Go menu (at the top of the screen), then click "Go to Folder...".
• Type in /Library and hit enter.
• Check the following folders: LaunchAgents, LaunchDaemons, Application Support, Caches, Preferences.
• Delete all the Google folders, and anything else that starts with com.google... and com.google.keystone...
• Go to "Go to Folder..." again.
• Type in ~/Library and hit enter. (Note the "~")
• Check the following folders: LaunchAgents, Application Support, Caches, Preferences.
• Delete all the Google folders, and anything else that starts with com.google... and com.google.keystone...
• Empty the Trash, and restart your computer.

As an alternative to Chrome, Loren suggests using Mac’s native browser Safari, though if you’re insisting on using a Chromium-based browser, you can also use Brave or Vivaldi.


Two things I’ve noticed since then:
1.
I get an update offer as follows:

iLife Support 9.0.4
Provides system software resources that are shared by iLife and other applications. This update improves overall stability for the Media Browser and iPhoto slideshows. It also provides compatibility between Aperture 3 and the Media Browser. The update is recommended for all users of iLife ’09, iWork ’09, and Aperture.

But when I try to download an install I get the following message:

The update package has been corrupted since being downloaded from the Apple Software Update server. An error occurred while installing the selected updates

2.
When I try to add a photo to an email (from within the email, i.e. clicking the attachment icon) a blank area appears where my photos are normally shown.
All the above on the iMac which I am selling imminently.

But I have also removed the same files on my MBA M1 !!!! I’m not getting the update offer on the MBA but I do have the same problem with uploading a photo in email.
Can you help me please. I’m in a bit of a panic mode.

PS - I've emptied the trash bin as instructed.

Thanks
Jeff

 

[badshoehabit]

Hang on... if you're selling the iMac the only thing you should be worried about is removing ALL your apps and content for personal security reasons.

If it's urgent that you send a photo in an email on this machine, go into photos, select the images then drag to the content area of the email. Try switching off and switching back on with the MBA.

 

[JeffL]

Hang on... if you're selling the iMac the only thing you should be worried about is removing ALL your apps and content for personal security reasons.

If it's urgent that you send a photo in an email on this machine, go into photos, select the images then drag to the content area of the email.

Thanks for replying. But what do I do about restoring the new MBA M1 ? Thanks.

 

[JeffL]

Thanks for replying. But what do I do about restoring the new MBA M1 ? Thanks.

Also I will need to use Migration Assistant from old iMac to the new iMac and don't want the new iMac to be missing anything.

 

[badshoehabit]

Just did an edit - have you tried the old 'switch off and back on again'? Not sure after that - you could check all is where it should be in System Preferences > Internet Accounts.

 

[badshoehabit]

Also I will need to use Migration Assistant from old iMac to the new iMac and don't want the new iMac to be missing anything.

Any back up? If you have, you can solve all this with a restore from that.

 

[JeffL]

Any back up? If you have, you can solve all this with a restore from that.

Yes I've got back up. Will a back up restore all those things I removed, if it does that's ok as the new iMac arrives soon so I can live with the slowness.

 

[badshoehabit]

Certainly will if you restore to a date before you started deleting Chrome. I use Firefox but have Chrome and Safari installed for some sites.

 

[IWT]

Yes, @JeffL, as long as your backup was BEFORE you waded into the deep water without a lifejacket , then restoring from it to your new Mac will be fine. All data, all settings, the lot, will be copied to the new machine.

Ian

 

[JeffL]

Yes, @JeffL, as long as your backup was BEFORE you waded into the deep water without a lifejacket , then restoring from it to your new Mac will be fine. All data, all settings, the lot, will be copied to the new machine.

Ian
[/QUOTE)
I back up every month but never done a restore.
1. I imagine I can get step by step instructions from the apple site?
2. Also should I do the restore to the old iMac and then do an MA from old iMac to new iMac so that old iMac works properly for the new owner?
3. Is restore or MA best for the new iMac?

 

[badshoehabit]

Restore instructions Restore your Mac from a backup

You can restore to the 'old' Mac if you are going to use it but you must strip this Mac to its basics, remove all data, before selling. Here's how: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac

 

[JeffL]

Restore instructions Restore your Mac from a backup

You can testore to the 'old' Mac but you must strip this Mac to its basics, remove all data, before selling.

Thanks for the link. Yes I will reset the old iMac to factory settings before I let it go. I'm feeling more relaxed now. I'll let you both know once I've done everything. Thanks to both of you.

 

[JeffL]

I've done the transfer using the last backup 7th July (did the stupid thing yesterday) but Photos and Music can't be found when I try to attach a file to an email. Photos and Music have been restored to the iMac. Any ideas?

 

[badshoehabit]

Can you open Photos and drag thumbnails? This is beyond me so hope someone else pitches in.

 

[Slydude]

I'm a little confused, so please bear with me. It seems like we are dealing with two different systems here. Let's clarify something: Please list the versions of macOS on each machine.

If the M1 Mac is the one giving you the error about Life, that's to be expected: Any files related to Life pre-dates M1 Macs. Those files are probably 32-bit and won't run under the most recent Os versions.

 

[JeffL]

I'm a little confused, so please bear with me. It seems like we are dealing with two different systems here. Let's clarify something: Please list the versions of macOS on each machine.

If the M1 Mac is the one giving you the error about Life, that's to be expected: Any files related to Life pre-dates M1 Macs. Those files are probably 32-bit and won't run under the most recent Os versions.

Hi, thanks for offering to help. The new iMac 24" arrived yesterday! So the old iMac will be sold and the problem there should be solved once I have put it back to factory settings.

1. So the problem remaining is with the MBA M1 which has the latest updates. I removed some files as described in my original post and one thing I've noticed so far is that when I try to add a photo to an email (from within the email, i.e. clicking the attachment icon) a blank area appears where my photos are normally shown.

2. I do now have a further problem in that my Canon MG4250 is showing as 'offline' on the new iMac 24" but idle on the MBA M1. At one stage the iMac and MBA didn't recognised the printer, however, I did get the printer to work on both once I'd downloaded new drivers but the printer is now working intermittently and currently showing as offline on the iMac 24" and idle on the MBA M1

Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks. Jeff

 

[JeffL]

Edit to above: Printer now showing offline on the MBA as well.

 

[NSMacGuru]

The scariest email I ever received, from a friend trying to please me (their computer instructor), who wrote to say their computer would not start up: "I just cleaned up the hard drive". This was before Apple took the long-overdue step to hide the /Library/ folder by default from people. I had to drive two hours to fix that mess.....

 

[JeffL]

Update: All is now well (almost) I took the MBA to a fairly local computer repair shop. I only discovered their existence last week by doing a google search. They specialise in Apple devices and I was very impressed when I got there as I listened to a conversation with another customer while I was waiting to be served. I got the right vibes about the place! In addition to the problem I mentioned re photos at the beginning of this thread, I later discovered the MBA could not find my printer. With my agreement they kept the MBA overnight, did a back up, wiped the MBA, reloaded the OS, reloaded all my backed up stuff and hey presto it now works with my printer (as does my new 24" iMac M1). They charged me £50, well worth it to me to rid myself of this self-inflicted problem. Never again am I going into the parts of the Mac I don't understand! The 'Almost' referred to in my first line is that is that although I can print now, I cannot scan but I'm expecting to solve that problem by speaking to Canon Helpline next week. That is if no one on here can help. Please see my other thread today 'Anyone here using a Canon printer/Scanner?'