Macintosh HD takes up 211GB of 256GB flash drive

crr100 wrote:

Should I then do a factory hard reset and back up docs from the cloud (and reinstall the apps)?

Yes to keep the confusion to a minimum—I would simply start over with a clean slate

From Internet Recovery>DiskUtility>View>Show All Device

Erase/reformat the "parent" drive as new and reinstall the macOS, then restore your user data.

GUID partition map (GPT) / APFS file format

How to reinstall macOS from macOS Internet Recovery: How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

You can restore user data—Restore your Mac from a backup - Apple Support

crr100 wrote:

Thank you

Here it is

Last login: Sat Jan 21 04:17:43 on console

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *251.0 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 314.6 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 250.7 GB disk0s2

/dev/disk1 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +250.7 GB disk1

Physical Store disk0s2

1: APFS Volume Macintosh HD - Data 187.3 GB disk1s1

2: APFS Volume Macintosh HD - Data_... 22.1 GB disk1s2

3: APFS Volume Preboot 3.6 GB disk1s3

4: APFS Volume Recovery 2.2 GB disk1s4

5: APFS Volume VM 3.2 GB disk1s5

6: APFS Volume Macintosh HD 8.8 GB disk1s7

7: APFS Volume Macintosh HD - Data_2 8.9 GB disk1s8

8: APFS Snapshot com.apple.os.update-... 8.9 GB disk1s8s1

There is your problem...not a clean reinstall or what ever you did...

As you can see you have added two extra volumes:

Macintosh - Data_

Macintosh- Data_2

The good news is all Volumes share space within the Container at no penalty

ref: Add, delete, or erase APFS volumes in Disk Utility on Mac

crr100 wrote:

Hello leroydouglas

I am sorry I am back, but I am stuck at internet recovery (hopefully only a poor internet cnnection). I got an error 2003F message.

I am unable to get out of that and start all over again. (and is internet recovery the only option?)

Thank you in advance

Ram

You can always force quit a shutdown by holding the power button/TouchID for ~6-10 sec.

Force Shut down your Mac.

Log out, sleep, wake, restart or shut down your Mac

Shut down or restart your Mac - Apple Support

Sounds like you best bet Visit an Apple Store, AASP (Apple Authorizes Service Provider) in your area—all can help you get going.

Alternatives Boot off a Time Machine Backup to erase/reinstall, Boot off a Bootable USB Installer

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

< -20033F error> your internet is suspect.

ref: 2002F error - Apple Community

crr100 wrote:

Hello,

I have a MacBook Air 13" 2020 model with a 256GB Flash drive.

1.After updating to Ventura 13.1 yesterday I noticed the following

Macintosh HD has used 211GB, with Data_2 taking up just 33GB. I am now running into space problems

Why is HD taking up so much space.

2.The problem may be an old one but noticed it only yesterday when I tried to update from 13.0.1. The machine said there was not enough space. I then optimised and released some space by enabling all docs and photos on iCloud, removing programs not used, and emptying the bin.

Please advise...I can't see how system files can take up 211GB. I have not tried to drill down the directory of the Macintosh HD. I could if I need to but wish to do it under advice.

(Perhaps another symptom of the problem:

When I updated the OS to Ventura 13.1, I ended up with a factory hard reset. This has never happened before and I had gone through the usual steps for an update.

After Ventura 13.1 was installed, I had to backup Document directories from the cloud and reinstall the major apps (Microsoft 365, Adobe readers, Evernote, Whatsapp and Signal for the desktop, Google and Dropbox for the desktop, VLC player.)

Please advise...I am so nervous about the space problem, I have not yet reinstalled the printer drivers.

Ram

For the big picture lets see the out put from the Terminal.app copy and paste:

diskutil list internal

Follow the advise from previous Contributor

The " Data_2 taking up just 33GB " appears to be a portion of this " I am now running into space problems "

Under Normal Drive Structures, there should be only 1 ( one ) " Data " Volume