Smithysplace

Q: Can anyone help with clearing space on my Mac Mini, it says the hard drive is full and runs slowly.

Please help, we got the Mac Mini from a family member so it may have his stuff on it but no longer required, we have only put a smal amount of data on it so don't believe we have over filled it. I backed up to a hard drive all photos etc as I thought it may be them filling it, now I cannot even scan a document to it. Is there any way to Defrag it as you can normally do to a windows system as well as either declutter it or restore the whole thing.

 

Best Regards

Smithy

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Feb 26, 2014 6:09 AM

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Q: Can anyone help with clearing space on my Mac Mini, it says the hard drive is full and runs slowly.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Feb 26, 2014 6:15 AM in response to Smithysplace
    Level 10 (190,740 points)
    Apple Watch
    Feb 26, 2014 6:15 AM in response to Smithysplace

    Try:

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5526399?tstart=0

    start up disk full: Apple Support Communities

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 26, 2014 8:17 AM in response to Smithysplace
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Feb 26, 2014 8:17 AM in response to Smithysplace

    The first thing to do with a second-hand computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You — not the previous owner — must do that. How you do it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.

    1. You don't own another Mac.

    If the machine shipped with OS X 10.4 or 10.5, you need a boxed and shrink-wrapped retail Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) installation disc from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller — not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.

    If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for some MacBook Air models. For early MBA models, you may need a USB optical drive or Remote Disc. You should have received the media from the previous owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.

    To boot from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then reboot and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.

    If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should boot into Internet Recovery mode when you hold down the key combination option-command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a spinning globe.

    2. You do own another Mac.

    If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to create a bootable USB device and boot the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can boot from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.

    Once booted in Recovery, launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive — not any of the volume icons nested beneath it. In the Partition tab, select the default options: a GUID partition table with one data volume in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. This operation will permanently remove all existing data on the drive.

    After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. You will need the Apple ID and password that you used to upgrade. When the installation is done, the system will automatically reboot into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.

    Then run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the previous owner. He or she can't legally transfer it to you, and without the Apple ID you won't be able to update it in Software Update or reinstall, if that becomes necessary. The same goes for any App Store products that the previous owner installed — you have to repurchase them.

    If the previous owner "accepted" the bundled iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band) in the App Store so that he or she could update them, then they're linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.

    If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to  authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.

  • by Smithysplace,

    Smithysplace Smithysplace Feb 26, 2014 8:37 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 8:37 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Wow thanks for that, I did update it to Mac OSX Snow Leopard and its running OSX 10.6.8, I have to go back to work now so I will have a go at this Wednesday If I can,

    Thank you

    Any more advice would be greately appreciated.

    Best Regards

    Smithy

  • by Smithysplace,

    Smithysplace Smithysplace Mar 3, 2014 6:20 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 6:20 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Good Afternoon,

    I just tried to follow the advice that you so kindly gave me but did not get anywhere, I rebootd whilst holding down the C button & let go on the appearance of the grey apple, it started as normal even though the Snow Leopard disc was in there. I then signed in but launched Disc Utility then to Partition tab, the default discetc was there but the other action buttons were grey & could not be used. It said this was the start up disc & could not be erased.

     

    Would you be able to help with more advice please.

    Regards

    Smithy

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 3, 2014 10:00 AM in response to Smithysplace
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 3, 2014 10:00 AM in response to Smithysplace

    You must boot from the disc in order to partition. If you can't, there's something wrong either with the disc or with the machine. Try running a cleaning disc through the optical drive.

  • by Smithysplace,

    Smithysplace Smithysplace Mar 5, 2014 2:52 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 2:52 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thank You so much Linc your a star, it now seems like I have a new Mac.

    So pleased that people such as yourself are there to help others.

    Thank You.

  • by Smithysplace,

    Smithysplace Smithysplace Mar 6, 2014 1:13 AM in response to Smithysplace
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 1:13 AM in response to Smithysplace

    Good Morning Linc, apologies for being a pest but I would appreciate the benefit of your knowledge again, before I cleared out & reloaded the Snow Leopard on my Mac mini I did have Pages installed on it & some other Apps, It now seems that I need to purchase it again but it will not download it as this PC needs a duel core something or other ?? can I download the Apps from somewhere that I had previously purchased.

     

    Best Regards

    Smithy

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Mar 6, 2014 2:58 AM in response to Smithysplace
    Level 10 (190,740 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 6, 2014 2:58 AM in response to Smithysplace

    Have you tried reinstalling iWorks from the install disks?

    Have you went to the Purchased section of the Mac App Store to see if you can redownload them there?

  • by Smithysplace,

    Smithysplace Smithysplace Mar 6, 2014 9:10 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 9:10 AM in response to lllaass

    Hi lllaass, no discs for iworks they were never passed on to me, I'm sure that I purchased Pages for this a couple of years ago but cannot find it on App store under "Purchased".

    Tried to purchase the new Pages but it wil not download onto this mac as it needs a higher spec operating system. I suppose I need an earlier version of Pages but do not know how to find it.

    Best Regards

    Smithy

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Mar 6, 2014 9:49 AM in response to Smithysplace
    Level 10 (190,740 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 6, 2014 9:49 AM in response to Smithysplace
  • by Smithysplace,

    Smithysplace Smithysplace Mar 11, 2014 6:26 AM in response to Smithysplace
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2014 6:26 AM in response to Smithysplace

    Thank you lllaass and Linc for all your assistance.

    Smithy