Help! Full Hard Drive

Here's the setup:
Macbook Pro
1 T Time Capsule
Airport Express (for network printer)
iMac (belongs to my daughter, I'd prefer not to have to put any of my files on her computer)
Apple TV
Basically, I use the Macbook as my own desktop-replacement computer and the drive is now nearly full (I only have 9.7G remaining). Most of the space is consumed by my iTunes files (more than 100G), so I'd like to move my iTunes folder somewhere else (although this will screw me up when I travel, I can probably just use my iPod). At the same time, I'd like to continue to have everything backed up to the Time Capsule and be able to access the iTunes files for synching and streaming to my Apple TV.
I'm willing to purchase an outboard drive to hold all of my media, but I'd like to know what the optimal arrangement is such that my various devices can continue to use the media with the least friction. Any ideas?

I decided that, rather than mess with cracking open my Macbook Pro, an external drive was the right solution. I've attached a 1T WD USB 2.0 drive to the Time Capsule and transferred my iTunes library to that drive. So far this has worked out perfectly. I'm still a little puzzled why iTunes doesn't have a "briefcase" function that allows you to mark some media to live locally, so that I could travel with some of my TV shows and movies.

Similar Messages

Please Help! Hard drive problem "Mystery Gb Space"

I recently ripped a lot of CD’s into itunes, so much that I filled up my hard drive. I cleaned up my music by deleting music I didn’t need. I also burned a majority of music to CD so that I could delete it off my hard drive. I have a 80gb hard dive; I freed up 20gb of space. I did not secure the trash when I deleted the music files. So for a while I had 20gb of free space, but a few days ago I looked at my istat pro and noticed that I now have a full hard drive again. I have not ripped any CD’s, downloaded any thing, or done any thing that would take up this much space. I contacted apple but all they would help me with was buying a plan. The only advice I was given was to secure trash. I would like to know where this “extra gb space” came from.
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Get "Disk Inventory X" (it is freeware.)
http://www.derlien.com/
It searches your hard drive and gives you a visual representation of all of your hard drive space usage. It seperates each file type into groups of colors etc so you can see where you have 15gb of mp3's and such. You can use it to open finder windows to those files. Just be careful not to delete any system files with it!
Also, you can save yourself about 7gigs right off the bat by deleting all of the sound files your computer comes with for garageband (unless you use garageband.) I know I don't, and I couldnt believe they ship these machines packed with almost 7 gigs of sound files that you may or may not use...

Restore iTunes library from Time Machine, after full hard drive wipe

I had to do a full hard drive wipe on my MBP running 10.6.6, so I made a full Time Machine backup before hand. I reinstalled os x (10.6.3) and used migration assistant to restore my files from the Time Machine backup.
Most of this process has been painless, however, when I open iTunes it's empty. I have all the music files, iTunes Library.itdb, iTunes Library Extras.itdb and iTunes Library Genius.itdb. Is there a way to restore my previous iTunes library with these files? I feel like this should be a pretty basic thing to do but I haven't found much/any documentation of it online. Any help would be much appreciated.

Take the files that you list and the iTunes music folder from the TM b/u and drag them to the iTunes folder. To put it in simpler terms - drag the iTunes folder from the TM to the same location on the internal HD.
By default the path should be HD>User>Your Account>Music>iTunes(your iTunes files are here)>iTunes Music (your music files are here)
MJ

Full hard drive, but i am backed up and want to clear it

my 80gb disk is full, but i have a 250gb external drive. is there a way to clear the drive on my computer, but have the other information on the external via time machine?

Hi,
You have a couple of options. You can delete some of the older back ups on the Time Machine drive and drop some of your data onto it. Just open the drive in a finder window and select and delete the back ups. Or, erase and partition the Time Machine drive to give yourself some space to play with, which would be my preferred suggestion. You really only need double your hard drive size for Time Machine, so if you give yourself a 50GB partition for data it'll be OK. Or, start backing up your data to DVD (DL if possible) to give yourself some hard drive space. And, the final option would be to get a bigger ext HD. At least 500GB partitioned would be the best bet.
Also, you can manage Time Machine, by turning it off and only backing up weekly or fortnightly. It won't stop TM sucking up all your ext drive space, but it will slow it down.
Finally, using your Mac with a full hard drive is a recipe for disaster. Whatever you decide to do you should do it asap.
Hope this helps.
SR

Help, my hard drive is about to die and icloud won't let me sign in it's saying you can't sign in becauseof server error

Help, my hard drive is about to die and icloud won't let me sign in it's saying "you can't sign in becauseof server error"

The best approach would be to take the iPad to the school's IT person and see what is going wrong, why it will not accept your sign-in. That person can make sure the userid and password are correct on the iPad.

Creating room on full hard drive

Creating room on full hard drive: suggestions for best item to remove.

Restart in Safe Mode:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564?viewlocale=en_US
Empty the trash.
- Delete all files in the Downloads folder.
Empty the Trash.
- Start iPhoto. Empty its trash.
- Delete "Recovered Messages", if any.
    Hold the option key down and click "Go" menu in the Finder menu bar.
    Select "Library" from the drop down menu.
    Library > Mail > V2 > Mailboxes
    Delete "Recovered Messages", if any.
- Empty the Trash.
- Restart.
- Re-index your system disk:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2409
Backup:
Run a Time Machine (or other) backup since you are about to delete and move files and you may need to recover from any inadvertent mistakes or decisions.
Deleting and Offloading files:
Use OmniDiskSweeper find large folders and files to delete or offload. If you are running 10.8 or 10.9 download it from http://www.omnigroup.com/more. If you are running 10.6.8 or 10.7 down it from https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7402/omnidisksweeper. Do not touch any system files. Do not offload files onto a Time Machine disk.   Do not offload your entire user folder. Do not rely on restoring files from Time Machine; delete only those files you never want to see again.   Do delete or offload seldom use folders/files in your user folder. Remember to empty the trash after trashing the files.
 > System Preferences > Time Machine > Options… > Remove the offload HD name from the exclusions list. Now both your system disk and your external offload disk will be backed up onto your Time Machine disk.
From: "More ways to save space if you have a spare partition or second hard drive."
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/freeingspace.html
- Compress and archive old files.
- Clean up system logs and temporary files.
- Uninstall Mac OS 9.
- Move your iTunes Music folder to another disk or partition.
- Move your iPhoto Library folder to another disk or partition.
(Includes instructions on moving subsets of the libraries.)
Additional references on freeing disk space:
http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html
http://www.macmaps.com/diskfull.html

Hi Apple, Is there a way to move some of my less frequently used music out of my iTunes Library to free up some space on my full hard drive but with the option to re-add it later?

Hi Apple, Is there a way to move some of my less frequently used music out of my iTunes Library to free up some space on my full hard drive but with the option to re-add it later?

Hi Apple, Is there a way to move some of my less frequently used music out of my iTunes Library to free up some space on my full hard drive but with the option to re-add it later?

Help With A Full Hard Drive Partition

I'm hoping someone can help as I've searched previous threads but not found the total answer I need. I have a large external drive that is partitioned. I have completely filled one partition with itunes music and would like to create a second itunes music folder within another partition on the same drive. My goal is to synch both music folders with my 80GB Ipod. Many thanks for your time. BTW I'm using Windows XP.

Thanks very much Toons for the response. Let me make sure I understand correctly. In addition to unchecking the "copy files to Itunes Music Folder ..." option, should I change the Music Folder location to a new one within the empty partition on my hard drive? Since the current music file is located within a drive partition that is full, where will the new music I add be stored without my creating a new folder in another partition that has empty storage space?
Thanks again for your valuable assistance.

Half full hard drive became 100% full suddenly! HELP

I have a 160gig harddrive in my MBP. I always keep my internal HD as empty and organized as possible. It was only 70 gigs full this morning, I went out to lunch, came back, and suddenly, the hard drive is 100% full!
I have no idea why it did that, after a reboot, I could not reach the desktop after I sign in. So I booted off the snow leopard os disk, and did a check in my disk utility. Says it's OK.
After, I signed on in Safe Mode, checked my backup drive (using Carbon Copy Cloner), and it didn't seem to duplicate, not even full like my internal drive.
Does anyone know what the cause for this may be? Should I just wipe out my drive, and restore my drive from my backup (I'm a little hesitant to do that at the moment, becuase I haven't backed up for a week, and there is still new work I don't want to be wiped out). Thanks for any help in advance!

Use Disk Inventory X or OmniDiskSweeper to find out what made your hard drive full.

My MacBook Pro does not boot beyond the login screen. I have a full hard drive. Help!

I Have a 15" MacBook Pro with Retina display. I tried to move files off the hard drive when I got a message warning me that the drive was almost full. I shut down, connected an external hard drive to move some files, but on reboot, the screen went blank (white) after typing in my login details. what else can I try to correct this problem?

Go step by step and test.
1. Start up in Safe Mode.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11212
2. Empty Trash.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10677
   http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13806
3. Delete "Recovered Messages", if any.
    Hold the option key down and click "Go" menu in the Finder menu bar.
    Select "Library" from the dropdown.
    Library > Mail > V2 > Mailboxes
    Delete "Recovered Messages", if any.
    Empty Trash. Restart.
4. Repair Disk and Permissions
    Steps 1 through 7
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
5. Disk space / Time Machine ?/ Local Snapshots
Local backups
   http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4878
6. Delete old iOS Devices Backup.
    iTunes > Preferences > Devices
    Highlight the old Backups , press “Delete Backup” and then “OK”.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
7. Re-index Macintosh HD.
   System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy
   http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2409

Full hard drive resulting in lost photos

Hello,
Could someone please help me with this:
I just imported a large batch of photos from my iphone into iphoto, iphotos said the photos were imported successfully as usual, and so I deleted the photos from my iphone.
Then only after the photos were deleted I got an error message saying my computer hard disk was full, and could not import certain photos.
I checked my itunes library, the thumbnails were there, but when I click on individual photos it wont open, i just get a pic of a grey exclaimation mark. I restarted iphotos, now not even the thumbnails appear anymore, all I get are empty squares where the photos would have been.
Is there anyway to recover those photos? Please any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks again!

Well wehn you run out of hard drive space you lose things
How much free space do you hav on your had drie? Note you need a minimum of 10 GB at al times.
Until you resolve this you can not do anything
once you have adaquate free space then you can try Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild your iPhoto library database
LN

Full hard drive?

hi, i have a 2009 macbook 250gb hard drive, and in the last few weeks my hard drive says it is full and on shut down of my macbook it always uses file vault to recover memory, yet i only have 40-45gb of media and files stored on my macbook, i have searched everywhere for the rogue 100 plus gb to get the info on every folder to see the size of it but nothing, the HD lists the missing gb amount as other and displays it as a yellow bar. can anyone help with this or has anyone had a similar problem?
thanks in advance,
Jon

Hi, ive removed what little media i had from the mac, re-purchased all of my itunes content and i have installed Disc Inventory X, a fantastic application, and now i have 154 free gb again, i think that my information in the "about this mac" section may be slow in updating as i have only removed my 40-45gb of files and yet i have gained 100gb, im not sure why this is but everything is running fine now,
thanks for the help
i really appreciate it

Full Hard Drive and Missing iPhoto Library

I have having serious problems with my iMac. I am running Mac OS X Version 10.5.8 and iPhoto '08 Version 7.1.5.
I recently began receiving a message stating that my start up disk was nearly full, so I began "cleaning up" my iPhoto. By cleaning I mean I was deleting specific events and single pictures from events. Once I finished I restarted my computer. When I returned to my computer I reviewed the trash bin to see if there was anything that I did not want to delete from the computer and emptied the trash. (Not the trash in iPhoto, but the trash on the desktop). After these actions, my iPhoto library was completely empty.
I downloaded iPhoto Library Manager and followed the steps found on the internet to rebuild my library, but was unsuccessful. None of the pictures selected would populate back into iPhoto. I tried several ways, but now I just have several new libraries that are also empty.
I have been able to locate a folder with all of my pictures by going to my HD-->Users-->Pictures_-->iPhoto Library--->Originals.
The "Pictures_" folder was somehow created during one of the attempts to rebuild the library and is not the default "Pictures" folder from the computer. iPhoto Library is an icon along side the other libraries I created, but I am assuming that this is the original library, now empty, although once I right click it and choose "Show Package Contents," a folder named "Originals" contains all of my "missing" photos broken down by year since 2000 to 2012.
I tried to rebuild the library once more to access this "Originals" folder, but I am unable to select the iPhoto library that contains the folder.
Now, I am no longer receiving messages stating my start up disk is full, but that my "Disk is full." It will not even allow me to open many Office or PDF documents that are saved on my computer or that I try to open via email or online. Sometimes it shows a message that the "Disk is full" or that it is in use by "Another User" and will allow me to open a read-only copy. Who is another user? Do I have a virus too? Have I been hacked?
I have since deleted any documents and photos that I could, but I hasn't changed my problems. I have also purchased a Western Digital for Mac 2TB External Hard Drive, but I am clueless as to what I am doing. I can find my documents on the hard drive, so I assume I have successfully backed my computer up to the external hard drive.
Please help!
Thank you!!!

I recommend you take a look at this freeware that it is very easy to use and it will show you exactly what is taking up your space.
Then you can choose to delete things if you see they are doubled.
http://www.id-design.com/software/whatsize/index.php
PS: Before you mess up with your home folder, be sure you have another account with admin rights so you can always login to your computer in the event of deleting the wrong things.

Start up disk full - hard drive shows all as "other" ???

Hi, I have a macbookair 120GB and I have been receiving the startup disk is full warning. When I first looked at my hard drive it showed 40GB in photos, 40GB in other and the rest in apps audio etc. Today when I looked at it I had 120GB in "other". Last night I deleted a bunch of photos in my dropbox which freed up 6GB which is now gone. What is going on???? I got an external harddrive to put my pictures on that should be arriving today. (Never done it before hopefully it's pretty instinctual). Any advice? I don't have any big programs or movies or anything.

About "Other"
For more on this and very helpful tips:
http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html
http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html http://pondini.org/OSX/LionStorage.html
1. Empty Trash.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10677
2. Repair Disk
    Steps 1 through 7
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5836
3. Disk space / Time Machine ?/ Local Snapshots
   http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4878
4. Re-index Macintosh HD
   System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy
   http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2409

Help Regarding Hard Drive Upgrade (Method, Model, Raid)

Hello,
I have a W520 with two 500GB drives in stripped RAID configuration. One of the two drives has been making a crunching noise, followed by a beep.
I called tech support, and it was not very helpful. I have the next business day at your door warranty, and they are sending me a new hard drive to install myself, in about 5 business days (not sure how this is, given the warranty I've had, and never used until now...).
In any event, my drives are nearly full, and if I'm going to go through the trouble of changing one anyway, I'd rather just replace them both with larger drives.
My goal is to have the largest drives possible, and do the upgrade as easily as possible. I don't really care if RAID is in effect or not, as I don't feel I've noticed any real performence increase anyway.
I have in the past upgraded Thinkpad drives to larger drives, but these were in single drive systems. I'm "handy" with computers, in a do it yourself kind of way, but really just an amateur with this stuff. I'm concered about the dual drive aspect and the RAID aspect with this one. The tech support guy said they have no information to share about how to do a drive upgrade, that they just ship the drive (which I'm probably not going to use now anyway).
So these are my questions, and thanks to anyone who takes the time to share any advice...
1) What is the best, largest compatible replacement drives to get? I don't care about speed of the drive as much as size.
2) What is the best way to copy off/clone/mirror the existing content on my existing drives? I bought a device off Amazon to do this a few times - one of the times, the device literally started smoking... I'm not sure where I put the last one I used (where you connect to the new, bare drive).
3) Can I just disable RAID in the bios once I've copied the old drives to the new drives (or to an external backp-up drive)? If it is easier to just disable it and have two separate drives on my system, I'm fine with that.
Again, thanks for any help with this.
Jason

Hi, Denny.
...and when I took it apart and proceeded to
load in the new hard drive I noticed that the new one
did not have connector pins to hook up to the flex
cable on the hard drive.
So you removed the old drive, you detached the short flex cable from it, and now you find nothing on the new drive to connect the cable to? Am I understanding correctly?
If so, is it possible that the connector on the new drive is covered with some sort of temporary shield to protect it during packing, shipping and handling? If it is, the shield should come off if you pull it in the same direction you pulled the flex cable to detach it from your old drive.
I'm tempted to say you are surely missing something. For Hitachi to have shipped a drive that has no cable connector seems about as likely as for Toyota to have shipped a car with no tires installed, but I suppose anything is (barely) possible.

HELP! Hard drive no longer recognized

Installed Lion on my MBP first day. Everything worked great except that my TM backup would no longer work on my WD external hard drive, so I had no backup. WD is supposed to be working on this.
Yesterday, while checking email I get the spinning wheel. Spun for about 15 minutes so I did a hard boot. (Held the button down until shutdown)
When the computer tried to come back, all I get is the apple screen with a spinning wheel again. So I restart with option key down so I can look at the drives. The drives shown are the Lion recovery disc, Bootcamp, and EFI boot disc. Everything I read said I need to erase the Macintosh HD and reinstall OS. I erased the disc, still no luck. When I run disc utility, verify disc, it says the volume MacintoshHD appears to be OK, but when I try to reinstall the origional OS from the DVD that came with my computer, it says the disc is not available.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I can see it in the disk utility, but not in the install window. This is the part that I don't understand.
I don't understand it either. I think there may be issues involved in installing Lion on a drive with a Boot Camp partition. That's why I think you should start over with a blank drive. Restore everything except Boot Camp to the state it was in before you installed Lion. Go through the whole installation process again, and when everything is working, run Boot Camp in Lion if you wish.
By the way, for future reference, you made mistakes that may have made matters worse.
When an application hangs, force-quit it. Don't do a forced reboot except as a last resort.
If you can't boot, try booting in safe mode, or from the Lion recovery partition. Don't erase a boot volume except as a last resort.
You need at least two independent backups of all your data, one of which should be off-site.

Help! Full Hard Drive

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