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startup disk keeps filling up

iMac G5, OSX 10.5.8, not running iMail, no cloud account, time machine and vault currently turned off. Mac is dual processor has about 250GB storage and is almost all filled up. Bought 1TB external HD transferred music and photos as well as apps. It cleared up about 132GB but soon began to mysteriously fill back up. cannot find what is taking all the space. Started in 'Safe mode' but could only reclaim about 110MB of space and it fills up while I'm logged in. Have seen on here where it needs at least 15GB of space to operate and one can download clean up software that takes care of problem but can't get enough space freed up. Tried running my McAfee virus protection and it fails before it completes scan.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 19, 2015 9:01 AM

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2 replies

Aug 19, 2015 10:00 AM in response to gobi23

Hi, I advise against any cleanup software.


You might be getting huge log files...


Open Activity Monitor, Show:>All Processes, sort on CPU%, see if anything using too much CPU% when this happens, click on Memory tab, do you have many Pageouts?


Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this happens.

Aug 24, 2015 1:37 PM in response to gobi23

Get rid of the Antivirus!

OS X doesn't need it!

Search online to find the proper way to uninstall Mcafee.


Antivirus software is NOT needed if the Mac you are running is only running OS X. Antivirus apps interfere with normal performance and operation of a Mac because they program too many controls (program extensions) into the main OS X system software impacting/impeding general performance of a Mac.

Here are some of my tidbits of advice on how to avoid viruses in the future, if you encounter a virus, again.

Some anti-virus solutions can slow down your Mac, but to be honest, the best anit-virus app is you, the user and your brain.

Don't visit questionable websites or website you are unsure about.

Don't use Torrents or engage in "Torrenting"

Don't install pirated software or software downloaded from a questionable or unknown websites or untrutsted sources.

Java is still a vulnerability concern, if you do not need it, don't use it.

Use a browser filter and pop-up blocker

Don't open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize.

Install security updates when they become available

Educate yourself as to what threats are common and active.

In effect, use your own brain as the antivirus filter.

Follow that advise and in MOST cases, you will be fine and won't risk your Mac to potential Trojans, malware or viruses.


Here are some general tips to keep your Mac's hard drive trim and slim as possible


You should never, EVER let a computer 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 Mac's Trash icon in the Dock?

If you use iPhoto or Aperture, both have 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 are an iMovie/ Final Cut user, both apps have their own individual Trash location that needs to be emptied, too!

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.

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.


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.


Moving iTunes library


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449


Moving iPhoto library


http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2506


Moving iMovie projects folder


http://support.apple.com/kb/ph2289

A disclaimer,

Things to consider before moving your iPhoto Library Folder to a new or external location like an external hard drive.

If you make movies on any iDevices using iMovie for iOS,, then transfer the video footage, the IOS version of iMovie saves the footage as a movie file in IPhoto for IOS and will automatically get transferred to iPhoto for the Mac when you upload the video from your iDevice.

Newer versions of iMovie will work and link those video files found in your iPhoto Library on your Mac, but those links can be lost if you move your iPhoto library and you will not be able to relink that video afterwards as the current versions of iMovie seem to not have a relink option for the video portion of the files (ironically, current versions of iMovie HAVE the ability to re-link the audio files from the video footage, though (The inability to re-link the video files could be a possible bug or oversight in current versions iMovie).

The lost video links show up as "blacked-out" video blocks with no content.

Before moving the iPhoto Library

If you make movies with iMovie using iPad or iPhone video then 'Consolidate' the files before you finish. This will gather (albeit by duplicating) all the relevant files in the project in one place. After consolidating/duplicating all of the audio and video footage to a seperate, independent location,it should be safe to move your iPhoto library.

The potential way to circumvent this issues maybe to try and import iPad and iPhoto video directly into iMovie which would be another solution.

Good Luck!

startup disk keeps filling up

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