Startup Disk says it's full but it's not

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Level 1

51 points

Startup Disk says it's full but it's not

Hi Guys

I wonder if somebody can help me please, I' having some serious problems with my computer at the moment. All of a sudden I get an error message along the lines of: "startup disk full etc etc" however the computer I'm using has over 160 Gb of space left on it. I've checked for viruses, repaired my permissions, deleted my 'deleted' mail and followed this thread but Startup Disk almost full - No Chance!!! but nothing seems to work, please can somebody help as I'm getting really worried about this.

I'm using a 2009 iMac 27" running Snow Leopard.

Thank you in advance.

Posted on Jul 7, 2014 3:44 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Carolyn Samit

Level 10

165,615 points

Jul 7, 2014 3:50 AM in response to Lucy O'Hara

The startup disk may need repairing. Not the same as repairing permissions.

Launch Disk Utility located in HD > Applications > Utillities

Select the startup disk on the left then select the First Aid tab.

Click: Verify Disk (not Verify Disk Permissions)

If DU reports errors, start up from your Mac install disc to make repairs.

You mentioned that you checked for viruses. Do you have anti virus software installed. Or any apps such as MacKeeper or CleanMyMac?

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Answer 2

Lucy O'Hara Author

Level 1

51 points

Jul 9, 2014 5:01 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thank you, that really helped.

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Answer 3

kahjot

Level 4

2,462 points

Jul 9, 2014 6:03 AM in response to Lucy O'Hara

Be careful wirh anti-virus software, some of it can cause problems.

You didn't mention what apps you use regularly. Some apps (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, for example) need quite a bit of free space to run properly, and could be eating up some or all of the 160GB for swap files and caches.

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Answer 4

Lucy O'Hara Author

Level 1

51 points

Jul 9, 2014 6:11 AM in response to kahjot

I regularly use Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya, ZBrush and Keyshot. The problem was only occurring when I was trying to render just one scene in Keyshot. I'd made sure I'd quit everything else was only running that.

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Answer 5

iPhoned

Level 1

18 points

Aug 17, 2015 6:21 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

My MBP 7.1 w 250GB HDD showing 10GB avail, with about 100GB actually used adding up the Users, Applications, Library, System, User Guides and Information calculated folder sizes in / .

Disk Utility found nothing wrong running it with the Hard drive or / selected.

Are there files or caches that didn't delete properly, or could the system be calculating the folder sizes incorrectly?

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Answer 6

iPhoned

Level 1

18 points

Aug 18, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

I ran Disk Utility/Repair Disk on the Boot Volume from the Snow Leopard Install Disk and from Lion USB Thumb Drive but it didn't find the problem.

Next step scan for malware?

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Answer 7

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Aug 19, 2015 7:44 AM in response to iPhoned

You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is marked solved, less people are likely to look at it. You can link to this one.

Try re-indexing Spotlight.

Spotlight – Re-index

Spotlight not working see post by Linc Davis

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