How do I find and delete invisible files?

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joel209 Author

Level 1

0 points

How do I find and delete invisible files?

Mac Hard Drive info window says 157.58 GB used and 159.56 GB capacity, leaving 1.99 available.

Total for all folders in Mac HD is 133.344 GB.

14.13 GB Library

04.81 GB System

114.4 GB Users

16.58 GB Applications

.004 GB User Guides and Info

I appear to missing about 20 GB storage that I desperately need.

What is going on?

How do I clear out "invisible file" if that's what's taking up the 20 gigs?

How do I prevent this from happening again?

Please advise.

Thank you.

I have a MBPRO 2.26 running OSX 10.6.8

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jun 19, 2013 1:55 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jun 19, 2013 2:02 PM in response to joel209

Download from the Internet OmniDiskSweeper (free) and open it. It will show all of your files and the respective sizes. Delete waht you do not need or want or transfer to an external drive. Leave the 'invisible files' alone. They are in all probability require OS files.

The best solution is to install a larger capacity HDD. They come now up to 1 TB and that would solve this issue for less than $100. The OWC web site is a good place to investigate options.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/

Ciao.

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Answer 2

joel209 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2013 2:34 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks so much for your response.

Do you have any idea why there are 20 GB unaccounted for?

My hard drive seems to fill itself up continouously...I'd like to figure that one out.

Yes...Getting a larger HD is a great idea.

Does having a large HD impair performance?

I am thinking about getting a 1.5 TB Seagate Barracuda.

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1500DM003/dp/B005T3G RPU/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=AVCN3MVCVULPH

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Answer 3

Jun 19, 2013 2:39 PM in response to joel209

Many of those hidden files and directories will be system files that are essential to proper function of OS X. Do NOT just delete willy nilly - make absolutely sure you know what you are actually deleting if messing about in the default hidden folders.

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jun 19, 2013 3:13 PM in response to joel209

A larger HDD will not have an adverse affect on performance. The HDD that you reference is a 3.5" HDD which is NOT compatible with your MBP. (It is for desktop computers.) You need a 2.5" SATA HDD. Look at the link I provided.

Look at this link regarding disk space:

http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html

OmniDiskSweeper may assist you in accounting for that 'missing' 20 GB.

Ciao.

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