Cluster of annoying symptoms, happening simultaneously

[Crobox]

Hi there-
First thread posted here...
Powerbook Pro 13", early 2011
OS Sierra 10.12.6
Computer has served well for many years. I've performed various repairs and upgrades myself.

Recently the following has started happening:
I will notice one weird symptom, then realize that several of these symptoms are all happening at the same time.
If I restart the computer, everything goes back to normal. But within 24 hours, typically, the symptoms resume and I must restart again.
Symptoms include:
Unable to move files from one place to another (-50 error)
Unable to take screenshots (Message says that I do not have permission to store files in the specified location)
Connection (to the internet) problems
Unable to download files (download error message)

It's as if some "switch gets flipped" (metaphorically) and all these problems suddenly happen.
They often appear shortly after waking my computer from sleep, so I don't think it's something that I am doing...

I've already run the disk utility, but it didn't help.
Also relaunched the Finder from the Force Quit menu, didn't help.
I'm not much of a software guy, so I'm not sure what to do...
Reinstall the system software? Upgrade system software?
Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Christian

 

[Lufbrarunner]

How much free Hard disk space do you have?
Have you tried doing an NVRAM, SMC reset?

 

[Crobox]

OK, I've established now that that did not help.

Any other ideas?

Cheers

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello and welcome.

I strongly suggest you create a Time Machine or other backup of your data, if you don't have one already.

Once your data is protected, there are several things you can check/try:
-What type of upgrades did you perform yourself - HDD/SSD, RAM, etc.?
-Is there more than say 25-30 GB of free space?
-Does the screen ever go black, or the MBP restart on its own?
-Do you have FileVault enabled?
-Have you had to force power off your Mac?
-Try running Malwarebytes for Mac and see if it finds anything.
-Are there any specific applications running when things go awry?
-Do you have any third-party utilities/apps running - i.e. antivirus, MacKeeper, CleanMyMac, etc.?
-Have you checked your Login Items and any Safari or other browser extensions?

That will get us started, and we'll go from there.

C

 

[Crobox]

Hi, Thanks for replying.

-Recently backed up entire computer with Time Machine
-Only real upgrade was a solid state hard drive in the super-drive space, which has been working flawlessly for years. Everything else I did was repairs... new battery, trackpad, screen glass, etc. All hardware
-140 GB of free space
-Screen doesn't go black by itself, laptop doesn't restart by itself
-Don't know what FileVault is, don't have it enabled
-I have had to force power it off very infrequently over the years, but more often in the last 10 days
-Just ran Malwarebytes, it found one "threat" called PUP.MacKeeper, removed it.
-Lately I've really only been able to run Chrome, and maybe Stickies. Not running many apps simultaneously. "Download failed" message from within Chrome is usually how I notice that "the problem" has struck again.
-Not running any third-party apps. I pretty much never do...
-I don't know what "login items" are, and I don't use Safari, and my Chrome only has one extension which is AdBlock

Thanks for your help and expertise in this....
-Christian

 

[Lufbrarunner]

To find your login items, open System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.