How do I free up space on a start up disk?
I cannot download the new operating system because I get an error message that my start up disk is almost full.
Afraid to move programs to trash can. Not sure it will even help.
Where do I start?
Processor 2.6 Ghz Intel Core i7
Memory 8 GB 1600 Mhz DDR3
Start Up Disk Macintoss HD
First Apple Computer
Need basic instructions
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
Hate to ask...is your trash empty?
Hate to ask...is your trash empty?
See my comments above. if you disk is that full, you have a mroe basic problem - you ALWAYS need to leave a drive 15-20% empty for a bunch of technical reasons. So you need to either:
1. throw away junk
2. get a bigger drive
3 get an external storage drive
Macs work much like wondows for moving folders. All your "stuff" is on your hard drive in your users --> you folder, called "home". Documents are in documents, pictru sin pictures etc.
Only you know what can be thrown away or moved.
Typically video/movies are the culprit. A single HD video can be 1GB or more. I have hundreds - all on an external drive.
For baic mac skills why not read the online help or PDF manual - gt it from apple.com
or better yet, buy a good book like "OSX: The missing manual"
Grant
You should never, EVER let a conputer hard drive get completely full, EVER!
With Macs and OS X, you shouldn't let the hard drive get below 15 GBs or less of free data space.
If it does, it's time for some hard drive housecleaning.
Follow some of my tips for cleaning out, deleting and archiving data from your Mac's internal hard drive.
Have you emptied your iMac's Trash icon in the Dock?
If you use iPhoto, iPhoto has its own trash that needs to be emptied, also.
If you store images in other locations other than iPhoto, then you will have to weed through these to determine what to archive and what to delete.
If you use Apple Mail app, Apple Mail also has its own trash area that needs to be emptied, too!
Delete any old or no longer needed emails and/or archive to disc, flash drives or external hard drive, older emails you want to save.
Look through your other Mailboxes and other Mail categories to see If there is other mail you can archive and/or delete.
Other things you can do to gain space.
Once you have around 15 GBs regained, do a search, download and install OmniDisk Sweeper.
This app will help you locate files that you can move/archive and/or delete from your system.
STAY AWAY FROM DELETING ANY FILES FROM OS X SYSTEM FOLDER!
Look through your Documents folder and delete any type of old useless type files like "Read Me" type files.
Again, archive to disc, flash drives, ext. hard drives or delete any old documents you no longer use or immediately need.
Look in your Applications folder, if you have applications you haven't used in a long time, if the app doesn't have a dedicated uninstaller, then you can simply drag it into the OS X Trash icon. IF the application has an uninstaller app, then use it to completely delete the app from your Mac.
Download an app called OnyX for your version of OS X.
When you install and launch it, let it do its initial automatic tests, then go to the cleaning and maintenance tabs and run the maintenance tabs that let OnyX clean out all web browser cache files, web browser histories, system cache files, delete old error log files.
Typically, iTunes and iPhoto libraries are the biggest users of HD space.
move these files/data off of your internal drive to the external hard drive and deleted off of the internal hard drive.
If you have any other large folders of personal data or projects, these should be archived or moved, also, to the optical discs, flash drives or external hard drive and then either archived to disc and/or deleted off your internal hard drive.
Good Luck!
🙂
how do I free space on a start up disk?
