MacBook hard drive question

ElkDung · ElkDung #1 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 06:53 PM

Is there an easy way to see where most of my memory space is being used on my macbook?
I'm trying to manage my files onto an external hard drive. I've got movie files etc.. would like to see where most of the memory is being used to free up the hard drive space...

6string · 6string #2 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 08:09 PM

Disk Inventory X

ElkDung · ElkDung #3 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6string

Disk Inventory X

surely this is a joke? the link provided is an advertisement?
I'm just looking for some advice on a mac system. Is this the norm for this Blog?

6string · 6string #4 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 10:00 PM

It's also a link for a free application that many Mac users use for what you are asking....
So, no it's not a joke, and it's a pleasure!

ElkDung · ElkDung #5 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6string

It's also a link for a free application that many Mac users use for what you are asking....
So, no it's not a joke, and it's a pleasure!

then there must be something to this... I'm on my macbook and your link took me to another advertisement. Kinda strange.
I'm just looking for a way to view/navigate files that are taking up the most space on my hard drive. I've removed the files that I see but that wasn't enough. So -without advertisements... can someone type a fix?

smithk2719 · smithk2719 #6 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 10:54 PM

works fine for me.

Disk Inventory X

6string · 6string #7 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElkDung

then there must be something to this... I'm on my macbook and your link took me to another advertisement. Kinda strange.
I'm just looking for a way to view/navigate files that are taking up the most space on my hard drive. I've removed the files that I see but that wasn't enough. So -without advertisements... can someone type a fix?

Can you post a screenshot (shift+command+3) of the page that you are getting when you go to that link?

ElkDung · ElkDung #8 (**permalink**)

03-13-2010, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithk2719

works fine for me.

Disk Inventory X

I appreciate the link.. looks like it's the answer to what I'm looking for, but there are so many other links to click... I'm not foreign to navigating the internet. but is there ONE link for this cure?

6string · 6string #9 (**permalink**)

03-14-2010, 12:04 AM

Disk Inventory X - Downloads and click on the blue Disk Inventory X 1.0 at the top of the page.

chas_m · chas_m #10 (**permalink**)

03-14-2010, 12:16 AM

You could also try the free Grand Perspective (no ads, promise!).

ElkDung · ElkDung #11 (**permalink**)

03-14-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chas_m

You could also try the free Grand Perspective (no ads, promise!).

Cool, this one worked for me. Thanks!
The graphic squares are nice. I guess I'm looking for something that would appear like the "explore" on the PC side. Being able to sort the files by size and file name and drag and drop into an ext hard drive.

DaFlake · DaFlake #12 (**permalink**)

03-14-2010, 07:11 PM

Finder can do that easily....

vansmith · vansmith #13 (**permalink**)

03-14-2010, 07:21 PM

Yeah, I'm a little unclear as to what you're looking for. Finder can sort by size and file name. Simply click "Size" or "Name" in Finder to sort by either file size or file name.

6string · 6string #14 (**permalink**)

03-14-2010, 07:33 PM

I just had a horrible thought that the OP might start deleting things in the system folder and Library folder willie nilly.
So Elkung, don't touch anything in the system folder, and anything that you choose to delete, be sure that you know what it is and what it does before you do.
The items that are going to take up significant space on your HD that are safe to remove are going to be movies, music, and perhaps pictures if you have tens of thousands of them.

ElkDung · ElkDung #15 (**permalink**)

03-15-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6string

I just had a horrible thought that the OP might start deleting things in the system folder and Library folder willie nilly.
So Elkung, don't touch anything in the system folder, and anything that you choose to delete, be sure that you know what it is and what it does before you do.
The items that are going to take up significant space on your HD that are safe to remove are going to be movies, music, and perhaps pictures if you have tens of thousands of them.

yeah... thats why I wanted to view the files like a pc would. The graphs are all ok, nice squares and all... just would like to have a grasp on what the files are actually names. I have not deleted anything yet. I've already removed my Imovie files onto my ext hard drive. As well as the photographs and songs...
Thanks for your concern!!

chas_m #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 22, 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 13,705 Mac Specs: 2009 MacBook Pro, Black speakers, Black Benq second monitor, black iPhone 4, Black 2012 iPad, etc.	03-14-2010, 12:16 AM You could also try the free Grand Perspective (no ads, promise!). Cheers, chas_m -- My essay for switchers and newbies
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,329 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	03-14-2010, 07:21 PM Yeah, I'm a little unclear as to what you're looking for. Finder can sort by size and file name. Simply click "Size" or "Name" in Finder to sort by either file size or file name. Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
	QUOTE Thanks

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ElkDung #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 27, 2009 Posts: 15	03-13-2010, 06:53 PM Is there an easy way to see where most of my memory space is being used on my macbook? I'm trying to manage my files onto an external hard drive. I've got movie files etc.. would like to see where most of the memory is being used to free up the hard drive space...
	QUOTE Thanks

6string #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	03-13-2010, 08:09 PM Disk Inventory X
	QUOTE Thanks

6string #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	03-13-2010, 10:00 PM It's also a link for a free application that many Mac users use for what you are asking.... So, no it's not a joke, and it's a pleasure!
	QUOTE Thanks

smithk2719 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2010 Location: Latrobe, Pennsylvania Posts: 50 Mac Specs: 15.4" MacBook Pro 8GB Ram, 500GB HD, Have been an Apple guy since 2002, and will NEVER GO BACK =)	03-13-2010, 10:54 PM works fine for me. Disk Inventory X
	QUOTE Thanks

6string #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	03-14-2010, 12:04 AM Disk Inventory X - Downloads and click on the blue Disk Inventory X 1.0 at the top of the page.
	QUOTE Thanks

DaFlake #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 02, 2008 Posts: 709	03-14-2010, 07:11 PM Finder can do that easily....
	QUOTE Thanks

6string #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	03-14-2010, 07:33 PM I just had a horrible thought that the OP might start deleting things in the system folder and Library folder willie nilly. So Elkung, don't touch anything in the system folder, and anything that you choose to delete, be sure that you know what it is and what it does before you do. The items that are going to take up significant space on your HD that are safe to remove are going to be movies, music, and perhaps pictures if you have tens of thousands of them.
	QUOTE Thanks

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