High Sierra disk space over 120Gb

I apologize in advance for the length and detail of this question. I have been through three AppleCare visits without any workarounds or fixes so I want to kick it to the group with as much detail as possible.


Last weekend, 9/23/17, I worked on my computer (MacBook Pro, Retina, 13", Early 2015, 250 Gb) and another, both under OS 10.12, to try and free up hard drive space that was being taken up by Mail. I mention this only to set the background because I know specifically through doing that how much drive space was available and how much was taken up by System prior to the High Sierra install. Prior to the High Sierra install on 9/25/17 my computer had just over 100Gb available drive space. After installing High Sierra there is between 39 and 53Gb available and the System takes up 150Gb.


The statements about System size are based on the About This Mac/Storage reportUser uploaded file


and Disk Utility


User uploaded file


The problem is not just the size that System is taking up, but that any check of the specific System or Library folders does not add up to anywhere close to the size that is being reported. I also cannot, other than the two reports above, confirm the space available numbers that are being shown. The file sizes are fluctuating significantly, but I ran du -shc | sort -n several times to try and show the actual sizes of the individual folders and I am getting results that do not match the above.


du: private/var/db/ConfigurationProfiles/Store: Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/zx/q8r82tq12qz0815ybm06bb0h0000gq/0/SafariFamily: Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/zx/q8r82tq12qz0815ybm06bb0h0000gq/0/com.apple.LaunchService s.dv: Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/zx/q8r82tq12qz0815ybm06bb0h0000gq/0/com.apple.nsurlsessiond : Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/zx/q8r82tq12qz0815ybm06bb0h0000gq/0/com.apple.routined: Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/zz/zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000y800007k/0/com.apple.nsurlsessiond : Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/bg/5mbvpkz53gv6g4hjkd3w2zp00000gp/0/SafariFamily: Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/bg/5mbvpkz53gv6g4hjkd3w2zp00000gp/0/com.apple.LaunchService s.dv: Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/bg/5mbvpkz53gv6g4hjkd3w2zp00000gp/0/com.apple.nsurlsessiond : Operation not permitted

du: private/var/folders/bg/5mbvpkz53gv6g4hjkd3w2zp00000gp/0/com.apple.routined: Operation not permitted

0B Groups

0B Network

0B User Information

0B Volumes

0B cores

0B etc

0B tmp

0B var

1.0K home

1.0K net

1.1M sbin

2.6M bin

4.0K installer.failurerequests

4.5K dev

5.7G System

7.7G Library

8.0K Incompatible Software

8.0K Shared Items

11G private

20G Applications

43G Users

88G total

685M usr


The total space from the du report is only 88Gb and the individual folders, Users, Apps, etc. match the size results you would get if you did a Get Info on those folders. Is it possible that any of the /private/var files is accounting for the remainder of the size? Is About This Mac and Disk Utility just incorrectly reading the file sizes?


Any ideas would help. So far at the recommendation of AppleCare I have reset SMC, performed Disk Utility Repair and reinstalled High Sierra. No change in results with any of the above.


Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13), Standard build 2.7Ghz, 256 Gig HD

Posted on Sep 30, 2017 4:21 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 22, 2017 4:30 PM

I just upgraded from a 2007 MacBook Pro to a new iMac with Sierra installed. I used Time Machine to migrate all my User files to the iMac, and manually transferred my applications (leaving behind unused applications that I seldom used).


I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I ended up with the 2TB Fusion drive in my iMac practically full. My MacBook Pro drive only had 950GB on it, so I knew there was no way that I should see the Fusion drive 3/4 full.


I tried all the usual recommended methods to fix the problem. I finally saw this recommendation to use the "DaisyDisk" app, which is available from the App Store.


Right away, I found the problem...I had a hidden folder named, "xxx xxx_Home Folder_1" that contained almost 900 GB of data duplicating my actual Home Folder.


If you are uncomfortable with using Terminal, you CAN use DaisyDisk to delete hidden files, if you wish. I suggest you download the paid version from the DaisyDisk website. The App Store version doesn't allow you to delete hidden files.


However, if you do download and pay for it from the App Store, and try to delete hidden files, a window will open advising you how to obtain a registration code from the DaisyDisk website that will allow you to do so. Follow the instructions.


Bottom line, if you don't 'see' a file, or files, that are obviously taking up space, I strongly suggest you try "DaisyDisk" to see if you have some hidden files that are hogging space.


Worked like a charm for me. I'm now a happy camper!

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High Sierra disk space over 120Gb

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