Leopard & Snow Leopard (Previous Systems folders).

Question

Leopard & Snow Leopard (Previous Systems folders).

Hi, I've had a problem with my sturdy and usually trusty Macbook.

As a result of said problem I had to re-install Leopard onto it. No problem at all thats done and it's stable, so I updated the OS to Snow Leopard which again had been done before and again it's stable.

So here is the next step I need help with. I know there is an old Systems folder on this fricken thing somewhere hogging almost 100gb of Hard disk space and I need to get rid.

I've trawled forums, I've trawled the web, I've trawled the macbook but cannot find the folder to delete it.

Can someone p-alease help me out. The sooner the better as I need to get Office and Lightroom re-installed on it too and all of the software updates but I can't as I only have at present 2GB of free space!!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Apr 14, 2013 1:37 AM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

Apr 14, 2013 2:50 AM in response to DavidPalfreeman

If everything is working as it should you can safely delete that Previous System folder. Being the size it is it might take awhile.

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Answer 2

Apr 14, 2013 3:05 AM in response to Klaus1

Thanks Klaus,

I have been trying to for days, well I've been trying to locate it, and thats the thing anywhere I've been told to look it's not there.

I've got the admin account.

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Answer 3

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

Apr 14, 2013 3:10 AM in response to DavidPalfreeman

Sorry, I speed-read your question and overlooked that you can't find it!

It should, I think, be in your System Library - but where else have you looked?

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Answer 4

Apr 14, 2013 4:52 AM in response to Klaus1

The Snow Leopard installer doesn't have the 'Archive & Install' option which leaves you with a 'Previous System Folder' (which older installers would piut at the root level of the hard disk). Something else must be hogging the space.

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Answer 5

Apr 14, 2013 5:26 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

I have a feeling that I should have dealt with the "previous system folder" prior to re-installing snow leopard and this wouldn't have been an issue. Ah well lesson learned. I'm just going to start again and select erase HDD and re-install Leopard from scratch.

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Answer 6

Apr 14, 2013 5:27 AM in response to Klaus1

I've checked everywhere I can think of. I've decided to start again from scratch selecting the erase HDD and install again.

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Answer 7

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

Apr 14, 2013 9:11 AM in response to DavidPalfreeman

I would perform an archive and install instead:

How to Archive & Install:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710

and this also:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2196?viewlocale=en_US

BUT: Don't install older versions of Mac OS than what came with your computer:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2186?viewlocale=en_US

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Answer 8

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Apr 14, 2013 11:12 AM in response to Klaus1

" I only have at present 2GB of free space"

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Answer 9

Apr 15, 2013 2:34 AM in response to DavidPalfreeman

I think taking into account what's been said above, doing an erase and install, whilst time consuming is probably more beneficial.

Any issues with the macbook have now been resolved and there was nothing I needed or could have been deemed vital.

I think if this issue were to arise again I'd expect the obvious answer to be re-install leopard, use for a whilst ensurer it's stable. Dump the previous systems folders AND THEN do the upgrade to snow leopard.

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