Hi, you guys! :)

I have been, or so I thought, making sure that I have cleared out my Mac of any unnecessary clutter. I have a 80gig hard drive. Since I am using Final Cut, I have been going to the FCP document file and clearing out the capture scratch file.

I have a bypass card that allows me to save all my work onto my external hard drive, as suggestioned by our own knightly, thank you very much.

However...
when I look at my finder, it says that I only have 17gig left available. Nothing on my desktop is that big, only one file that is 6gig. Everything else is kilobites or megabites and not that many of them.

Since all my FCP stuff is on my external, and even now I don't have the external hooked up to my Mac, what could be cluttering up more than 50% of my hard drive and how do I clear it out? Can I clear it out? The only program I have on it is FCP, I wouldn't think that it would take up that much room. I would like to install After Effects on it because I really need to teach myself how to use it.

Maybe I am forgetting something. So, how do I empty out some space? I thought I was clearing it out, obviously I was not.....:rolleyes:

-- spinner :cool:

Have you emptied the trash lately?

Trash is empty...I check it regularly...


-- spinner :cool:

To investigate disk usage, open the root folder of the volume in question (double-click the volume on your desktop), and select detail view. Then, from the "View" menu at the top, select "View Options", or use Apple-J to get the options dialog. Down towards the bottom there should be a check box for "calculate all sizes". Turn that on and patiently wait for the sizes of each folder to appear in the detail listing. You can then drill down into the folders that seem inordinately large and continue until you find out where your disk space is being used. It also helps to sort the detail view by file/folder size. Just click on "Size" in the bar at the top of the finder window.

Chances are, you've got something cached somewhere. Since you don't want to go around deleting system or application files, you might want to start the process in your home folder. If that doesn't do it, there are lots of files that can be removed from your OS X installation (like video tutorials) to recover some space.

I am trying that now....and waiting. I'll let you know what happens....

...er, I am online in other browsers, its that going to effect how long it takes for the files to show up?

-- spinner :cool:

Okay,

If I am looking at things right, and it is entirely possible that I am not :D I have about 8 files that are less than 2 gb, with the exception of 2 which are less than 3. I have alot of of other files, but I am not really seeing where anything is stashed. When I click on size, the order changes, but that is all I am getting....

how come I can't be a computer nerd? :grumpy:

-- spinner :cool:

You probably need to start looking at the root of the volume's file system. The reason you need to check "calculate all file sizes" is so you can see the amount of space consumed by each folder. My Applications folder, for example, takes 4.84GB and my Library folder consumes over 10GB. The Library/Audio folder is 4GB (audio loops and samples). Final Cut Suite is huge. I did not install all of it. If you have only Final Cut Pro, your root Library folder should be smaller than mine.

Like I said before, you can't do much to trim down the system, without risking some damage, although you can remove a few spacious items. It's safer to work in your home folder to find the big consumers you may not need anymore. My home folder is 30GB and I try to keep it cleaned up!

Sorry I can't be of more help. If you're feeling adventurous, you could open terminal and type "du -h -d 3 ~/ > ~/Desktop/usage.txt", and then send "usage.txt", which will magically appear on your desktop to someone who can interpret it for you!

oakstreet,

This is what I am looking at:

I am trying to figure out what I should be looking at. Maybe I am looking at the right thing and don't know it.

When I open the finder, on the left hand side, I am clicking on 'documents' because that is where my FCP files are. I did Apple-J and changed over to calculate all sizes. I am assuming that my 'documents' is the root that you refer to.

I see four 'lists': Name, Date Modified, Size, Kind

In the Size row, it tells me all the sizes of the files in my documents. This is as far as I got...
Yes it did tell me how large the files were, but this doesn't add up to 60-70gb.

When I Apple-I for information, my documents file is 12gb.

I am in no way brave enough to mess with the codes of my computer. The last thing I need is for my computer not to work at all.

Thanks for your help, however....

-- spinner :cool:

....maybe its all my other stuff. How many megabites in a gigabite???? :huh:

-- spinner :cool:

1000 megabytes in a gigabyte. ;)

Assuming you don't leave your computer on all the time, it's possible your log files and such have gotten to be quite huge. Have you tried running something like MacJanitor (http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill/macjanitor.html)?


Otherwise... Do you use FileVault per chance? If so, it might be a sparseimage file that's grown extremely massive in size. Resizing them is apparently possible, though not "simple" in the strictest sense. Though with a bit of reading and some command-line love, it's managable..

Here's the wiki on sparseimage files: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparse_disk_image

1000 megabytes in a gigabyte. ;)

Thanks, Will... I am going to go check my other files. :blush:

......let's see..... one, two, three, four......talk amongst yourselves.....six, seven, eight,.....:rolleyes:


-- spinner :cool:

Assuming you don't leave your computer on all the time, it's possible your log files and such have gotten to be quite huge. Have you tried running something like MacJanitor (http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill/macjanitor.html)?

Otherwise it might be a sparseimage file that's grown extremely massive in size. Resizing them is apparently possible, though not "simple" in the strictest sense.

Not normally, but lately I have been leaving it on...well, letting it sleep, but not shut down.

Is MacJanitor yet something else I have to buy??? Damn these computers, I am not made of money! :grumpy:

Where should I look for my log files?

-- spinner :cool:

MacJanitor is free.. download, install, run.. if there are logs to be cleaned up it'll do it. ;)

I added a bit more to my previous post too.. so make sure you look at it again.

Since I am really wary of just downloading anything into my computer, are there any drawbacks to putting this into my computer? I am running Mac OS X. Does it have the tendency to do any thing to the programs I have on my computer already? Do I have to change anything so that it will work with FCP?

Right now, my computer will run. I don't want to do anything that will change that fact....

-- spinner :cool:

First of all: I love Wikipedia.

I read the page on sparseimage or whatever it is called. Okay, I think I get it.

And MacJanitor is a system that keeps the files from getting to big.

Will, you like this MacJanitor? No adverse effects?

-- spinner :cool:

I don't have a mac. But I read about it elsewhere. Basically all it is is a front end that allows you to run some scheduled jobs that are supposed to run automatically anyway -- but when you don't leave the computer ON (and awake) 24/7 they end up not being run... this gives you the option to run them periodically on your own.

So, no there can be no adverse side effects.

I use Mac Janitor all the time, it's a great app... basically, if you're using your mac for video editing all the things Mac OS does for self maintenance get knocked out of whack.

So, all the things they tell you, like your mac will take care of it's own maintenance and it'll never need a defrag... well for us they don't apply.

Mac Janitor and idefrag are all part of regular computer care, if you're using your machine for video editing.

Another way of finding bulky files in OS X is by elimination of the usual suspects.

To do this, open up a finder window... in the left hand column you'll see a list that normally reads "Applications," "Documents," "Movies," "Music," and "Pictures."

If you click on one of these, say for instance "Applications" and then click Apple "I" the information box with spring up and will automatically calculate the total size of the objects in the folder.

If you do this for each of those elements, chances are the problem with become obvious.

So, if your "Music" file is say "30 Gbs" you'll suddenly remember that you've downloaded a million songs into iTunes and forgotten they actually take up space.

Usually when my HD space is running low, it's because I've a couple of QT files sitting in the "Movie" section that I completely forgot about!

Your documents folder is not the root folder. You may well have a ton of cached garbage in your Library folder. However, if you have 12GB in your documents folder, it's not s huge leap to think your 80GB disk may be nearly 50% full.

You can get to the root of your home folder simply by clicking on the icon a couple steps above Documents that has a little house icon (home) and your log-in name.

To get to the root of the system, you double-click the boot volume in the upper right corner of your desktop, or find it on the left side of an open finder window. At the root, you should see folders like "Library", "Applications", "System", and "Users". Looking at the sizes of those folders will give you a general idea of the distribution of your files. "Users" represents your user folder, and any other user folders that might exist on your machine. "Applications" represents all installed applications, and "Library" is where your templates, audio samples, plug-ins, etc. are stored.

You need to look at the root of the boot volume to get some idea where you should be looking for lost space. If "Users" is taking 30GB, then you need to delve into your home folder. If "Applications", or "Library", or "System" are really huge (greater than 10GB), then there is probably something superfluous hiding in one of those.
Here is what I'm looking at in my boot volume:
http://www.oakstreetphotovideo.com/rootfs.png

Okay, here's what we've got:

Users file: 34.23gb

Library files: 5.03gb

Applications: 4.45gb

render files: 5.4gb

home: 33.87gb ...thats the little house thingy with my name :)

desktop: 20gb

documents: 13.34gb

system: 1.63gb

render: 5.4gb

FCP book files: 3.96gb

...I'm still looking around. My capture scratch, audio render, are both under 1gb apiece....

-- spinner :cool:

20gb sounds like an awful lot on the desktop to me...

...Yeah I think so, too. I think that I am going to move it to my external or get rid of it. But I have to figure out what to dump. I think I am being paranoid about the stuff I want to keep.

Still, does anything look too full?

20gb on desktop; 33.87gb in home; 4.45gb in applications; 13.34gb in documents...

I guess it would explain why my finder only registers 16.85gb left, but I didn't think that the 80gb hard drive would fill up like that when I am not saving anything to my laptop...I'll be moving that 20gb of stuff on my desktop to my external....and maybe I should get the MacJanitor....

-- spinner :cool:

What about the "render files" ? what is that all about? Can you put the FCP book files on a DVD and use the DVD for reference?

p.s. Your system folder, applications folder, and library folder all look about right, so if anything can be cleaned up, it's in your home folder. You must have a whopping lot of e-mail! ;-)

It's scary how quickly 80gig will fill up. I have an 80gig drive, and two 160gig drives that are all virtually full on my desktop. I have two external 500gig drives that are both about 1/3-1/2 full --but that's from my DJing stuff.. it's a mirrored copy of all my DJ music.

It's amazing to think about the old days though. I remember when a 20megabyte hard drive seemed huge. My first "real" computer (not counting the TI 99/4a) didn't have a hard drive, and only have 1 meg of ram. :D

What about the "render files" ? what is that all about? Can you put the FCP book files on a DVD and use the DVD for reference?

I checked out my render files and I can dump those. I think I want to keep the book files though...

-- spinner :cool:

p.s. Your system folder, applications folder, and library folder all look about right, so if anything can be cleaned up, it's in your home folder.
Desktop and Documents are the only big files. 20gb and 13gb respectively



You must have a whopping lot of e-mail! ;-)

Nah, I don't have any friends...:lol:

-- spinner :cool:

It's scary how quickly 80gig will fill up. I have an 80gig drive, and two 160gig drives that are all virtually full on my desktop. I have two external 500gig drives that are both about 1/3-1/2 full --but that's from my DJing stuff.. it's a mirrored copy of all my DJ music.

It's amazing to think about the old days though. I remember when a 20megabyte hard drive seemed huge. My first "real" computer (not counting the TI 99/4a) didn't have a hard drive, and only have 1 meg of ram. :D

When I was purchasing things for my little set up, people kept telling me how I would never fill up my hard drive. I always knew it would fill up fast. Right now what I am trying to do is figure out what I can trash and what I should keep. All the writing I have shouldn't take up GBs of space.

That is why I was trying to figure out if maybe I didn't empty my capture scratch files or something else that I didn't need....

-- spinner :cool:

I've got a half Tb (terra byte) in my machine and about another Tb in full external drives on my desk. I use the external drives to archive all of my stuff, so I just let them fill up, then set them aside and use another 180 Gb at a time. I use the wiebetech external drive dock to sling them.

I've got a half Tb (terra byte) in my machine and about another Tb in full external drives on my desk. I use the external drives to archive all of my stuff, so I just let them fill up, then set them aside and use another 180 Gb at a time. I use the wiebetech external drive dock to sling them.

...I want a terrabyte....:grumpy::D

-- spinner :cool:

It definitely looks like Documents and Desktop are your culprits. I say that because the content from both folders can be moved to an external drive without affecting your system. Start with the desktop, as that's an awful lot of stuff to be cluttering up your space.

But simply moving the bulk of those two folders is going to free up 33 gigs.

I personally never keep anything but temporary files on my desktop or in my documents folder. I have external drives for EVERYTHING, which really saved my bacon a few weeks ago when my Mac died in the middle of a project. I just hooked up the project drive to a different Mac and I was good to go.

...I want a terabyte....:grumpy::D

-- spinner :cool:

Get one.. they're not ridiculously expensive these days..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136061
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8387051&type=product&id=1179876185932
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8355497&type=product&id=1177112455081

...I want a terrabyte....:grumpy::D

-- spinner :cool:

Keep in mind, I have several 180Gb drives sitting on my desk...not a single Terrabyte. I use them 'til their full, then buy a new one for $90ish dollars (250Gb is getting more standard and cheaper).

This workflow is specifically why I got the drivedock. keeps me from having to buy the more expensive external enclosure drives and keeps my space expandable and accessible just by switching out the drive.

80 Gb seems really tiny confined space to work in for video (to me). I think I showed you how to switch your scratch disks at one point, you can use that to target your footage to the external disk and create projects there. I always start a new project by making a folder for the project, then targetting it with the scratch disk preferences. That way, the whole project, including render files are all stored with the project. Then to move it around, I just plug in the disk and select that project folder in the prefs before opening the project. Makes it very simple to move from disk to disk without clogging up my system disk...which is not a separate editing machine from my day to day machine.

I am cleaning everything out of my hard drive now.

When I check my desktop, it says that I have 18.4 gb on it. I don't have anything that would add up to 18gb on my desktop.

I think I remember someone saying I don't need my render files. I am not saving anything to my laptop, so I would think that I could get rid of the render files on my laptop. However even they do not add up to 18gb.

My user file is 36gb and I am looking it over, it also doesn't seem to have that much on it.

I should have at least 30gb of open space. Anyone have anymore suggestions while I clean out some of this stuff?

I might have to get the MacJanitor after all.....

-- spinner :cool:

You mean you haven't yet? *gasp*

I haven't read through every single post in this thread but if it hasn't been suggested and you haven't tried it, go to Disk Utility in your Utilities folder and do a Repair Permissions on that drive. That might fix your problem.

You mean you haven't yet? *gasp*

...no...:blush:

I think I'll be getting it in a day or so.

..and Thunderclap, I did run the disk utility, no change....

Anyway after looking in all my files, the most that my laptop should have on it is maybe a little over 40gb, but certainly not 74gb...

what makes me nervous is the idea that I would have to know what I was looking at in terms of the "code" stuff on my computer. I don't have any knowledge of that sort of thing.

-- spinner :cool:

I'd be willing to bet a lot of the space is being used up by files in your libraries, both the user and system library. There are a lot of files, such as preferences and such for applications, that as far as I know the computer needs to run efficiently and correctly. For example my Library takes up 10gigs of space and my system library is another 4gigs. Also, is it just FCP you are using not Finul Cut Studio? Because if have Final Cut Studio or any applications like Live Type or Soundtrack Pro chances are you may have installed all the additional fonts and sound fx that end up taking up gigs upon gigs of space. Why do you need to clear up space anyway? It is quite normal to have 40+ gigs of applications and system files. Theoretically your startup drive should only contain these thing s and everything else should be stored on external or secondary drives...this reduces the chances of crashing your startup drive. Anyway, hope this helps.

Why do you need to clear up space anyway? It is quite normal to have 40+ gigs of applications and system files. Theoretically your startup drive should only contain these thing s and everything else should be stored on external or secondary drives...this reduces the chances of crashing your startup drive. Anyway, hope this helps.

...because the last project I did was about 120gigs, the one before that was about 80gigs. As soon as I get my tax rebate, I'm high-tailin' it to Best Buy for my TB, dang it! Plus when I export to create DVDs, I use iDVD and some of the exports I have just been putting on my desktop. The projects are saved to my external, however. And I would also like to leave my writings, my notes etc on my Mac, but it just seems to fill up so quickly. Right now, I only have 7 gigs left on my laptop....


-- spinner :cool:

you should be putting all your project files including media, render, and exports and DVD authoring exports on external drives. I see you are planning on buying a Terabyte of external space, but you may want to consider something smaller. For example if instead of a terabyte you were to get 2 500G harddrives you would have the same amount of space, but also have the possibility to backup your important project and media files to a second external harddrive. It is something you may want to consider as harddrives are constantly failing and thus it is a good idea to backup your files.