which files are safe to delete?

Question

which files are safe to delete?

Hello,

I want to make some room on my computer and want to delete some files, but am not sure what I can delete safely. For example, I really don't need all the OS 9 stuff that came bundled with OSX. Can I just drag that folder to the trash? Anything else anyone can recommend that's redundant? For example, After upgrading to Tiger I had two calculators...

Thanks,
Gregory.

PowerBook G4

Posted on Jan 26, 2006 9:50 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 26, 2006 10:08 AM in response to Gregory Shushan

Hello Gregory:

You can delete the OS 9 files without danger - simply drag them to the trash (be sure you do not delete the 'system' file - that is OS X). One of the folders will say 'in use.' Simply drag the individual contents to trash and then delete the empty folder.

Be VERY careful when (and if) you delete Apple supplied software - it is sometimes used in other programs. Look in the application folder - most computer come with some preinstalled software that you (and I) would not use.

Barry

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Answer 2

Jan 27, 2006 4:03 AM in response to Barry Hemphill

Thanks, Barry.

I had an OS9 Applications folder (which I've now deleted -- just a bunch of old programs like Outlook) -- but also an OS9 System folder which sits next to my OSX System folder when I double-click the hard drive icon. Is it okay to remove that as well?

All the best,
Gregory

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Answer 3

Jan 27, 2006 4:32 AM in response to Gregory Shushan

Hello Gregory:

Yes, you may safely delete the OS 9 system folder. As I remember, that is the one you will have to move the contents to the trash before the system will let you delete the folder itself.

My warning above was to let the folder called "system" strictly alone - that one is OS X.

Barry

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Answer 4

Jan 27, 2006 5:46 AM in response to Barry Hemphill

Great, thanks!

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Answer 5

Jan 27, 2006 6:43 AM in response to Gregory Shushan

Hi Gregory;

How much free space do you have on your system drive?

Allan

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Answer 6

Jan 27, 2006 8:21 AM in response to Allan Eckert

Hi Allan,

I have an 80GB drive, and about 40GB free (after deleting the OS9 files).

Thanks,
Gregory.

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Answer 7

Jan 27, 2006 8:43 AM in response to Gregory Shushan

Hi Gregory;

The reason I asked is generally deleting the OS 9 files does return very much disk space so I thought I would check just to be sure. It sounds like you have plenty of free space now.

Allan

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Answer 8

Jan 27, 2006 10:29 AM in response to Allan Eckert

You're right, it didn't free up as much as I'd hoped. The thing is, these Garageband Jampacks take about 22GB all together.... Though while I was cleaning up I discovered a long-forgotten DVD on my hard drive which I can get rid of...

Thanks,
Gregory.

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Answer 9

Jan 27, 2006 11:41 AM in response to Gregory Shushan

On a slightly related topic, a person recommended a program called WhatSize that apparently shows you what is taking up hard drive space.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/21149

I haven't installed or used it (so I can't report on it's usefulness), but it may help you recover space on your drive.

PowerBook G4 12 1.5GHz and a bag full of goodies! Mac OS X (10.4.4) 80GB HD, 512 MB ram, 300GB Maxtor OneTouch II FireWire 400 External HD.

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Answer 10

Jan 27, 2006 12:14 PM in response to Gregory Shushan

Here's Dr.Smokes Freeing up Hard Disk space link in case you need it.

Cheers!
DALE

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