HelpMacBookProGirl

Q: Help!! Delete big files/folders and still no disk space!

I have a Mac Book Pro OSX 10.9.5..

I was running low on space and decided to take off recent pics/videos.. Transferred to external HD, deleted files, emptied trash and restarted computer.. nothing happened as far as my capacity I had left, still getting warning sign start up disk space is low...

Looked on here for answers, I tried Daisy Disk, Appcleaner, TidyUp...

Proceeded to transfer and delete iTunes library and iPhotos library (66GB!!), still no change!! Infact disk space is at zero as I downloaded those three apps...

I don't use Time Machine, so it's not like there are hidden back up files still storing this items... I just don't know what to do.. and I'm not very ted davy.. I can follow instructions pretty good... but don't know what things I "shouldn't" be messing with.. and which I should and don't need on laptop!!

Hope to get some help!!!

Thank you!!!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Nov 21, 2015 9:40 PM

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Q: Help!! Delete big files/folders and still no disk space!

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  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Nov 22, 2015 5:40 AM in response to HelpMacBookProGirl
    Level 6 (19,272 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 22, 2015 5:40 AM in response to HelpMacBookProGirl

    Start with having Spotlight reindex your disk.  It is possible Spotlight is out-of-sync and the cause.

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201716

     

    I like OmniDiskSweeper for finding where my storage is being used, but I run it as root so it can see everything.  However, running as root, means you can delete anything, especially stuff you shouldn't so pay attention to the warnings below.

     

    OmniDiskSweeper (free download)

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

     

    When using OmniDiskSweeper, or any utility that shows all your files...  See the following article if you want to run it as root

    <http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_recover_missing_hard_drive_space>

     

    Boiler Plate Warnings:

     

    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…  If you think you have found something in your Home Folder -> Library that can be deleted, you should ask first.

     

    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 file permissions, and then their Mac stops running.  Do not be one of those people.  Ask first.