My Imac keeps saying my startup disc is full & I need to delete things to make more space. I have tried deleting docs & downloads I know I don't need, but I don't know what else I can delete. I am afraid of deleting important things that may effect what I need. I can't even download the new itunes or pictures because of the lack of space.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)
I suggest that you download and install OmniDiskSweeper. It will quickly tell you which files and floders are using the most disk space. This will allow you to intelligently decide what to either move or delete.
Please provide us with the numbers on you disk drive as to size, used and free.
Allan
I don't think I can download anything at this point b/c of space. My storage says I have 250 GB on my startup disc & 992 MB free. It's says I have used up 232 GB on "other" everything else such as pictures, movies, apps are taking up under 7GB of space. Does that help?
I have heard as a start I can delete previous itunes libraries. But I have tried that before, & have deleted my whole library. I realize I may have done it wrong.
Have you emptied the Trash? When you put something in the trash it's still stored on the computer just like when you throw something in your trash can at home. It's still in the house until you empty the trash!
If you're not sure how, right click the trash can and select Empty Trash.
Yes my trash is empty. As well as my mail & iphoto trash. Thanks 🙂
Do you have Time Machine enabled?
Allan
I do have time machine enabled & backing up to a hard drive. I ended up being able to download the omnidisc sweeper. I just do not know what to delete based on the info it shows me. I cannot delete mail now, it says I do not have enough space.
Which folder are using the most disk space?
Which files are using the most disk space?
Allan
It shows that USR is using up 503 GB & Users are taking up 221 GB the library is next at 12 GB. To be honest I don't even know what the usr is.
I'm sorry, the usr is taking up 503 MB not GB. The other ones I listed are correct.
In the OmniDiskSweeper window if you click on Users, it will expand it out to fikes and folder contained within Users.
Allan
How Big is your iTunes and iPhoto libraries?
Are your Time Machine backups being backed up onto your internal hard drive?
Tthese factors could be what is eating up all of your internal hard drive space.
Time Machine backups really should be on an external hard drive.
Especially an HD that uses a FireWire and/or Thunderbolt connection, if you have a newer iMac.
You may need to purchase an external hard drive , format and partition it and make a bootable copy/clone of your internal drive on one partition and then use the remaining space on an external drive for your Time Machine backups.
Try running OmniDiskSweeper as root. It will enable you to see other Users, not available when run standard.
Open Terminal in Utilities and copy/paste and hit return. Give your admin pword when requested, which won't appear as you type it in. Hit return again.
sudo /Applications/OmniDiskSweeper.app/Contents/MacOS/OmniDiskSweeper
When run as root, which will give you unfettered access to all system processes, proceed with great caution before deleting anything. Ask first if in doubt.
See also http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html for some great tips.
I'm not sure what you mean by "fikes", but when I click on users, it shows my user using up 221 GB & then shared using 427 MB. Does the shared file need to be there?
Finger fingers that was supposed to be files. Sorry
Allan
when I click on users, it shows my user using up 221 GB (inside that are the files pictures 160 GB, Music 29 GB, Library 17 GB, Movies 10GB, ect...) & then a shared file using 427 MB (inside the shared is a Coldplay album using 262 MB, libray 164 MB (which is gray not black) then a file called SC info using 1.2MB (when I click on those folders the finder window opens with a ? & nothing there)) Does the shared file need to be there?
My Imac keeps saying my startup disc is full...
