appluser88

Q: can't reinstall os because hard drive doesnt have enough space

Hi,

 


I was very stupidly playing around with some system files to try and get rid of some malware, when I mistakenly deleted something important.
My computer froze, and upon trying to restart I was suck at the turning gear.

 

I went to recovery system (cmd+r) and tried to reinstall the OS, but my hard drive doesn't have enough space...

 

I am currently waiting for the loading of OS X internet recovery, but I'm not sure if that will make any difference.

 

The only other thing I can think of is installing os X on a portable hard drive, but I'm not sure what the result of that will be.

 

My main question: Is there any way I can delete some files to make room for the re installation of the OS on my HD?

 

Thanks very much

MacBook Pro with Retina display

Posted on Nov 18, 2015 4:07 AM

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Q: can't reinstall os because hard drive doesnt have enough space

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  • by OGELTHORPE,Helpful

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Nov 18, 2015 4:38 AM in response to appluser88
    Level 9 (52,516 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 18, 2015 4:38 AM in response to appluser88

    You have two options:

     

    Try a safe boot and see if that will give you enough room to access your HDD and delete/offload data:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

     

    The other is Target Disk Mode:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201462

     

    Another variation would be to take out the HDD and connect it to another Mac via USB.

     

    IN ALL OPTIONS, EMPTY TRASH,  Only then is space allocated for new data.

     

    Ciao.

  • by appluser88,

    appluser88 appluser88 Nov 18, 2015 4:38 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 4:38 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thanks so much for your quick reply.

     

    Ive tried safe boot, (holding shift) but nothing happened, it simply stayed on the cog screen.  I assume this means safe mode isnt working for me.

     

    I will try target disk mode next, thanks.

     

    In regards to taking the hard drive out, is it practical for someone not experienced with hardware?

     

    Thanks again

  • by OGELTHORPE,Helpful

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Nov 18, 2015 4:50 AM in response to appluser88
    Level 9 (52,516 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 18, 2015 4:50 AM in response to appluser88

    appluser88 wrote


     

    In regards to taking the hard drive out, is it practical for someone not experienced with hardware?

     

    Since you have a retina MBP, it probably is not a good idea.  It requires a pentalobe driver to open the MBP, which is not easy to get and a special enclosure as well.

     

    If Target Disk Mode fails, you may be able to get assistance at an Apple store genius bar.

     

    Ciao.

  • by dwb,Solvedanswer

    dwb dwb Nov 18, 2015 5:01 AM in response to appluser88
    Level 7 (24,231 points)
    Notebooks
    Nov 18, 2015 5:01 AM in response to appluser88

    Here’s an Apple Knowledgebase article showing how to install OS X on an external drive from recovery: How to install OS X on an external drive connected to your Mac - Apple Support

     

    You can then boot your computer with this drive and then copy enough BIG files from the internal drive to the external drive so you can free up space to reinstall the OS on the internal drive.

     

    I don’t want to preach (well, maybe I do) but if you were regularly backing up your computer with TimeMachine you could simply erase the internal drive and restore from the TimeMachine backup.

  • by appluser88,

    appluser88 appluser88 Nov 18, 2015 5:41 AM in response to dwb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 5:41 AM in response to dwb

    Thanks for your reply.

     


    I've already formatted my portable hard drive to be able to download the OS, thank you for confirming that I will be able to run it from there.

     

    Once its downloaded, how do I run the OS from it, system's manager?

     

    Thanks.

     

    P.S Its my first Mac, never realised it didn't back up automatically. Will make sure to utilise time machine properly from now on.

  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Nov 18, 2015 6:05 AM in response to appluser88
    Level 7 (24,231 points)
    Notebooks
    Nov 18, 2015 6:05 AM in response to appluser88

    Generally the Mac is ‘smart’ enough to find a drive with a valid OS on it to boot from but if you hold the option key while restarting you’ll get a menu of the available drives and you can use the mouse or keyboard to choose.

  • by appluser88,

    appluser88 appluser88 Nov 18, 2015 4:38 PM in response to dwb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 4:38 PM in response to dwb

    Hi,


    After installing the OS it has booted from the portable hard drive.

     

    However, it is acting like a new mac, and none of my old files are to be seen.

     

    How can I go about accessing my old files?

     

    Thanks very much

  • by appluser88,

    appluser88 appluser88 Nov 18, 2015 4:39 PM in response to appluser88
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 4:39 PM in response to appluser88

    Actually, please ignore hits question.

     

    I have been able to access my hard drive under devices in finder : )

  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Nov 18, 2015 4:44 PM in response to appluser88
    Level 7 (24,231 points)
    Notebooks
    Nov 18, 2015 4:44 PM in response to appluser88

    wwhile you were doing the installation, right at the end you were given the chance to migrate. Had you done so your stuff would be on the external. you  run the migration assistant program now to do the same thing.  It is in the utilities folder. But given your description I figure you probably would be better off looking at your internal drive now that you've gotten it mounted and move some large files to the external so you can reinstall the OS on the internal drive. 

  • by appluser88,

    appluser88 appluser88 Nov 18, 2015 5:10 PM in response to dwb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 5:10 PM in response to dwb

    Hi dwb

     

    I've now moved some large files and freed up space on the main hard drive.

     

    However I haven't backed up my main hard drive entirely.

     

    I am now reinstalling the OS on the main hard drive.

     

    Just making sure, there is no chance of my hard drive being wiped when reinstalling OS X Mavericks is there?

     

    Thanks

  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Nov 18, 2015 5:07 PM in response to appluser88
    Level 7 (24,231 points)
    Notebooks
    Nov 18, 2015 5:07 PM in response to appluser88

    TThe chance exists but is very small. So small I've personally never seen it happen and I maintain several computer labs.

  • by appluser88,

    appluser88 appluser88 Nov 18, 2015 5:26 PM in response to dwb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2015 5:26 PM in response to dwb

    Thank you.