2008 13" MacBook help please!

WickedFabala · WickedFabala #1 (**permalink**)

05-01-2012, 03:09 PM

I have a white 13" MacBook from about 2008. And recently my computer has been saying my hard drive is full. When I start up my computer it says I have about 2.0GB free space left, but as I use it the space available goes down and down til there isn't enough for me to run Firefox. And if I restart all the space is back.
And about once a day I get the grey screen that says my computer needs to be restarted (in about 10 different languages). I used to only get this when my external hard drive was accidentally disconnected.

Are these problems fixable or should I just get a new computer.

Deckyon · Deckyon #2 (**permalink**)

05-01-2012, 03:24 PM

you need to free up a crap ton of space. 2GB is NOTHING. As you use a computer, any computer, it uses hard drive space for hot swapping of data and files. well, the longer you use it, the more space it takes up.

Connect the external hard drive, move off as much of your personal data as possible, and see if that doesn't help. You will want as much free space as possible.

considering you didn't say what size the HD is to begin with, you want roughly 15% of free space just for working room.

MYmacROX · MYmacROX #3 (**permalink**)

05-01-2012, 03:40 PM

Member Deckyon is correct. Your HDD is too full. Depending on what size drive you currently have, you may benefit from swapping it out with a larger one. I've seen 500GB 7200RPM drives on newegg.com for around $80-$100 USD.

WickedFabala · WickedFabala #4 (**permalink**)

05-01-2012, 04:07 PM

But should the space be disappearing?
I think my hard drive is a 150GB (it says its capacity is 111.47GB). It's not that big and I keep all my music for my ipod on my computer that's really all I keep on here. So I have to have 22GB free or 15% of 111?

Deckyon · Deckyon #5 (**permalink**)

05-01-2012, 04:16 PM

temp files will not show up in finder. space drops as you use the computer as the temp files build up. this is the same no matter what system you are using.

WickedFabala · WickedFabala #6 (**permalink**)

05-01-2012, 04:20 PM

ok thanks for the help!

btw will freeing up space stop the grey-you-must-restart-screen too? It happens for no reason all the time now, not just with external.

Deckyon · Deckyon #7 (**permalink**)

05-01-2012, 04:48 PM

It may.

An app called Onyx will help clear space and temp files and such. After going though it, open Disk Utility and Verify/Repair disk and permissions.

Deckyon #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 06, 2011 Location: Louisville, KY - USA Posts: 1,254 Mac Specs: MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM	05-01-2012, 03:24 PM you need to free up a crap ton of space. 2GB is NOTHING. As you use a computer, any computer, it uses hard drive space for hot swapping of data and files. well, the longer you use it, the more space it takes up. Connect the external hard drive, move off as much of your personal data as possible, and see if that doesn't help. You will want as much free space as possible. considering you didn't say what size the HD is to begin with, you want roughly 15% of free space just for working room. MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1GB RAM MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6630M 256MB RAM iPhone 4S 64GB, iPad Gen3 32GB WiFi, iPod Nano Gen6 8GB, Apple TV 3 & 2
	QUOTE Thanks

Deckyon #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 06, 2011 Location: Louisville, KY - USA Posts: 1,254 Mac Specs: MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM	05-01-2012, 04:16 PM temp files will not show up in finder. space drops as you use the computer as the temp files build up. this is the same no matter what system you are using. MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1GB RAM MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6630M 256MB RAM iPhone 4S 64GB, iPad Gen3 32GB WiFi, iPod Nano Gen6 8GB, Apple TV 3 & 2
	QUOTE Thanks

Deckyon #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 06, 2011 Location: Louisville, KY - USA Posts: 1,254 Mac Specs: MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM	05-01-2012, 04:48 PM It may. An app called Onyx will help clear space and temp files and such. After going though it, open Disk Utility and Verify/Repair disk and permissions. MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1GB RAM MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6630M 256MB RAM iPhone 4S 64GB, iPad Gen3 32GB WiFi, iPod Nano Gen6 8GB, Apple TV 3 & 2
	QUOTE Thanks

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2008 13" MacBook help please!

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WickedFabala #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 18, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 8	05-01-2012, 03:09 PM I have a white 13" MacBook from about 2008. And recently my computer has been saying my hard drive is full. When I start up my computer it says I have about 2.0GB free space left, but as I use it the space available goes down and down til there isn't enough for me to run Firefox. And if I restart all the space is back. And about once a day I get the grey screen that says my computer needs to be restarted (in about 10 different languages). I used to only get this when my external hard drive was accidentally disconnected. Are these problems fixable or should I just get a new computer.
	QUOTE Thanks

WickedFabala #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 18, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 8	05-01-2012, 04:07 PM But should the space be disappearing? I think my hard drive is a 150GB (it says its capacity is 111.47GB). It's not that big and I keep all my music for my ipod on my computer that's really all I keep on here. So I have to have 22GB free or 15% of 111?
	QUOTE Thanks

WickedFabala #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 18, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 8	05-01-2012, 04:20 PM ok thanks for the help! btw will freeing up space stop the grey-you-must-restart-screen too? It happens for no reason all the time now, not just with external.
	QUOTE Thanks

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