Star Up Disk "full" problems...Which private/var files can I delete?

I have been having issues with my start up disk being full.
To the point where I could not copy to my clipboard as I had ZERO space left, programmes were shutting down etc.
I couldn't even delete the few pics I had as I couldn't open my Kodak software.
I have uploaded the photos now and deleted them, I have copied all the files I can to sticks, there is basically nothing I have added on the computer, yet I still have only under 700 MB of space on my HD.
I have downloaded and run Omni Disk...it is telling me I have 130GB of "private/var" files.
I know I cannot just go around deleting things, so need to know what I can and cant delete if possible?
I really need to sort this problem out!
I also need to know how to fix this problem from happening again - is this a log problem or what exactly?
Thanks for your help in advance!

Hi, Limeslice
just to make sure that there is not a dum mistake: did you empty the trash?.
Other:
Disk space consumers are typically large photo libraries, music and video files.
back them up, then delete them, and don't forget to empty the trash.
To find large directories :
open Terminal (under applications/utilities), then type "du -d 1 -h" (without quotation marks). this gives a list. for example, it says " 25G ./Pictures", it means that the Picture directory has 25 GB. you can then refine and ask for deeper levels, by typing "du -d 2 -h" or "du -d 3 -h".
Try to find out in this way. if this doesn't give you the correct hint, please, report back, there might be more complex problems.
Success, Thomas

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If you are willing to continue helping, here's what I found.
Just to clarify the two iTunes folders I am refering to are:
username-->Music-->iTunes
HD-->iTunes
I am presuming each location has a full set of files as outlined in the above links?
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From a 184kb file:
*PPD-Adobe: "4.3"
*%Auto Generated PPD from Tioga workset
*FormatVersion: "4.3"
*FileVersion: "1.0"
*LanguageEncoding: UTF-8
*LanguageVersion: English
*PCFileName: "AutoMake.PPD"
*Manufacturer: "EPSON"
*Product: "(EPSON SP820 Series (1,1))"
*LanguageLevel: "3"
*PSVersion: "(3011.104) 0"
*ModelName: "EPSON SP820 Series (1,1)"
*ShortNickName: "EPSON SP820"
*NickName: "EPSON SP820 Series (1,1)"
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*cupsManualCopies: True
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*PPD-Adobe: "4.3"
*%Auto Generated PPD from Tioga workset
*FormatVersion: "4.3"
*FileVersion: "1.0"
*LanguageEncoding: UTF-8
*LanguageVersion: English
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*ShortNickName: "Photosmart C4200 series"
*NickName: "HP Photosmart C4200 series"
*cupsVersion: 1.1
*cupsManualCopies: True
*cupsFilter: "application/pdf 0 /System/Library/Printers/Libraries/PrintJobMgr/Contents/MacOS/PrintJobMgr"
*% Paper Handling ===================
*OpenUI *PageSize: PickOne
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Hi Peter,
Why these temporary files are being created I don't know, but there is some malfunction in your printing system (software side).
Have you tried simply trashing those files from the Finder, or do you think there are too many of them to do it manually?
_Manual method:_
Open Finder > Go > Go to folder, and type in
/var/tmp
Then you can select them in groups and drag them to the trash.
You will be asked for your Admin password each time you move some to the trash.
Every so often empty your trash, to regain the space.
Another method is to use the Terminal Application, but some people are a bit wary of that application. Ask for directions if you are willing to try that.
Having removed those files, monitor your printing, or save as .pdf actions, and check again that folder in Finder to try and locate which action or process is responsible for creating those runaway temporary files there, because they are likely to be created again.
Message was edited by: roam

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file:///Library/Extensions/ATTOCelerityFC8.kext/
file:///Library/Extensions/ATTOExpressSASHBA2.kext/
file:///Library/Extensions/ATTOExpressSASRAID2.kext/
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Freeing Up Space on The Hard Drive
See Lion's Storage Display.
You can remove data from your Home folder except for the /Home/Library/ folder.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on freeing up space on your hard drive.
Also see Freeing space on your Mac OS X startup disk.
See Where did my Disk Space go?.
See The Storage Display.
You must Empty the Trash in order to recover the space they occupied on the hard drive.
You should consider replacing the drive with a larger one. Check out OWC for drives, tutorials, and toolkits.

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Star Up Disk "full" problems...Which private/var files can I delete?

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