Hard drive space not adding up?

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Level 1

5 points

Hard drive space not adding up?

Hey all. I have added an extra internal drive to my MBP with and OWC Data Doubler.

I have moved all my Documents, Music, Pictures and things to the spare drive, leaving Apps, Utilities, System and USR on the main drive, along with my Lightroom Catalog.

My issue is that the space isn't adding up right according to the numbers, as in there should be like an additional 100GB free on my main drive.

Here are the stats:

Main HD: Toshiba 500GB SSD

Second Drive: Toshiba 500GB 7200rpm platter drive

MAIN:

Applications: 25GB

Library: 19GB

System: 5.5GB

LR: 162GB

USR: 134GB

That gives me around 153.5GB of free space, but the HD says there is only 110GB free.

Where did the rest of it go?!

If I have no music, no documents, and no images on the Main HD, then what is taking up so much space?!

I did notice HIdden Folders like "private" are around 40GB in size, and a few others that are in the 1-2GB of space taken up, is there anyway to trim these suckers down?!

Thanks for any input.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Dec 22, 2013 3:49 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Dec 22, 2013 3:59 PM in response to amtpict

amtpict wrote:

I did notice HIdden Folders like "private" are around 40GB in size, and a few others that are in the 1-2GB of space taken up, is there anyway to trim these suckers down?!

Not a good idea. Please read this:

http://macs.about.com/od/tipstricks/qt/hiddenfolder.htm

Ciao.

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Answer 2

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Dec 22, 2013 4:08 PM in response to amtpict

Are you really running OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8? If you are running a newer version of OS X. like 10.7, 10.8 or 10.9 Apple has included, IMHO, a completely uselss feature called Local Snapshots that saved copies of files you delete or move to some other location, which moving is deleting them from the original drive, just in case you didn't mean to move/delete them.

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Answer 3

amtpict Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 22, 2013 4:17 PM in response to LowLuster

Opps! No way....running Mavericks. Forgot to update that bad boy.

Where is that "snapshots" folder at?

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Dec 22, 2013 4:20 PM in response to amtpict

These two links should explain your situation:

pondini.org/OSX/LionStorage.htmlhttp://

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

Ciao.

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Answer 5

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Dec 22, 2013 4:26 PM in response to amtpict

Open About this Mac then the More Info button then the Storage item at the top and look at what is listed under Backups.

I don't have any because I have turned it off.

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Answer 6

amtpict Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 22, 2013 10:51 PM in response to LowLuster

Same as yours: ZERO. 🙂

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Answer 7

amtpict Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 22, 2013 10:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks for the info on the pages linked. I'll take a look at them and see if I can trace out the log files, and false volumes etc. Appreciate it.

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Answer 8

amtpict Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 22, 2013 11:05 PM in response to amtpict

Just in case, here is a screen shot of the HD in question.

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Answer 9

amtpict Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 22, 2013 11:20 PM in response to amtpict

Basically my User folder is 290gb in size.

The only I have in it right now is the LightRoom files and cataloge, which is 160gb in size.

What is making 130gb of used space?!?!

I have moved everything else: music, docs, mail, etc.

Very strange.

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Answer 10

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Dec 23, 2013 3:26 AM in response to amtpict

To assist you, download from the Internet OmniDiskSweeper (free) and open it. It will show all of your files and the respective sizes. You may find this utility useful.

Ciao.

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Answer 11

amtpict Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 23, 2013 12:12 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Got it. Now the big question: what isn't completely needed?!

I did find a way to move the hidden "/Library" folder, Mail, Doc, and Music folders to the platter drive, which helped a little.

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Answer 12

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Dec 23, 2013 12:39 PM in response to amtpict

Highlight the User folder entry then the largest folder in that next column and then again the largest folder in the next column. Then post a screen shot.

You have the usr folder highluighted that has just over 1GB of spaced used.

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Answer 13

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Dec 23, 2013 12:33 PM in response to amtpict

The only categories that you should touch are Applications, only those that you have installed, and Users where you may delete files. Delete any thing else and you may find your self with an inoperable MBP.

Ciao.

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