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3stash3

Q: what is the best way to open up disk space on my macbook pro

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO FREE DISK SPACE ON MY MACBOOK PRO,  I NEED SPACE TO DOWNLOAD YOSEMITE

Apple TV (3rd generation), Mac OS X (10.0.x)

Posted on Feb 9, 2015 4:46 AM

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Q: what is the best way to open up disk space on my macbook pro

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  • by 3stash3,

    3stash3 3stash3 Feb 9, 2015 4:47 AM in response to 3stash3
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iTunes
    Feb 9, 2015 4:47 AM in response to 3stash3

    CAN ANY ONE HELP WITH THIS SPACE ISSUE

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Feb 9, 2015 4:49 AM in response to 3stash3
    Level 9 (73,747 points)
    Apple Watch
    Feb 9, 2015 4:49 AM in response to 3stash3

    You will need to delete or move existing content off the drive and onto an external drive.

  • by Matt Clifton,

    Matt Clifton Matt Clifton Feb 9, 2015 4:55 AM in response to 3stash3
    Level 7 (29,905 points)
    Feb 9, 2015 4:55 AM in response to 3stash3

    If you lack the space to even download Yosemite, you need to drastically reduce the ampunt of hard drive you're using up. Your system is likely to get very slow and start crashing (and may not even boot up). Installing Yosemite if you only have just enough room to do so is a recipe for disaster. You need a good 10% and preferably more drive space free at all times.

     

    As stedman says, delete or move files to an external drive. You can use Omnidisksweeeper to find large files and folders:

     

    http://omnigroup.com/more

     

    Also, please amend your profile on these forums to more accurately reflect what OS and computer you have. You don't have Mac OS 10.0, for example. That way we  can give you appropriate advice.

     

    Matt

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Feb 9, 2015 7:33 AM in response to 3stash3
    Level 6 (19,457 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 9, 2015 7:33 AM in response to 3stash3

    OmniDiskSweeper (free download)

    <http://www.omnigroup.com/more>

    <http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7402/omnidisksweeper>

     

    DO NOT delete files in your Home Folder -> Library tree as there are things like your iPhone backups, your email messages, your application preferences, etc...

     

    DO NOT delete files outside your home folder, as you may end up deleting something essential to Mac OS X, and turn your Mac into an expensive “Door Stop”.

     

    I will point out that you will find some very large files in private -> var -> vm (these are the Mac OS X virtual memory paging files (swapfiles) and where Mac OS X stores the copy of RAM when your Mac is put to sleep).  The swapfiles get deleted on reboot, and the sleep image is just going to be created again when you put your Mac to sleep.

     

    If you think you have found something to delete outside your home folder, it would be best to ask first before deleting.  There are many examples of people deleting files outside their home folder, or renaming files, or changing the ownership or permissions of files, and then their Mac stops running.  Do not be one of those people.  Ask first.

     

    PS.  Please do not use ALL CAPS for your entire messages.  In the world of text messages, forums, etc... ALL CAPS is shouting, and we haven't done anything that annoying yet

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Feb 9, 2015 8:18 AM in response to 3stash3
    Level 9 (71,487 points)
    iTunes
    Feb 9, 2015 8:18 AM in response to 3stash3