How to free space on your start up disc...help??

KateG · KateG #1 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 05:39 PM

I have a Macbook and it keeps telling me that my start up disc is full. It won't let me download small word document files now, or import photos as it says the disc is full. I have done what it says and deleted A LOT of pictures and music files from my libraries and I have emptied my trash and my iphoto trash, yet still my disc is full! Please can anyone suggest what I should try next? Thanks.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #2 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 05:47 PM

G'day Kate and welcome to the forums.

I think your solution is a larger capacity hard drive with a clean install of the operating system whatever it may be as you have not told us this, nor the model, and use the current drive as an external with the OS removed for storing music etc. If the drive is say 1TB and full you need to clear it right out as that is a large capacity drive. If on the other hand it is say 200GB, that is small by today's standards.

KateG · KateG #3 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 05:53 PM

This is my first time on a forum and haven't had a Mac before this one, so I apologise if I'm not giving enough info.

My Macbook is Mac OS X with 2.4 GHz processor and 2GB memory. Does that info help at all?

toMACsh · toMACsh #4 (**permalink**)

04-16-2012, 01:15 PM

Memory does not mean disk capacity. The latter is the most pertinent info for your dilemma.

vansmith · vansmith #5 (**permalink**)

04-16-2012, 01:26 PM

Open up any Finder window and in the status bar (the grey bar at the bottom), you should see how much disk space is free. If it's not there, go to View > Show Status Bar.

KateG · KateG #6 (**permalink**)

04-16-2012, 04:18 PM

Thank you. It says zero KB available!!

I have quite a few photos and music files on here, but no more than I did when I had a PC! If my PC could handle that many files, I would assume a Macbook could. Would you suggest I take it into an Apple shop to have a look at or is it simple to create some space? Thanks.

vansmith · vansmith #7 (**permalink**)

04-16-2012, 04:47 PM

It's possible that your Mac has a smaller hard drive than your Windows machine. Regardless of whether or not that's the case, you'll need to do one of two things: either start deleting some content or move content to another hard drive (such as an external one). Either will work but if you want to keep the content, the external hard drive route is the route you'll want to go.

KateG · KateG #8 (**permalink**)

04-16-2012, 04:56 PM

Thank you.

harryb2448 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,079 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	04-15-2012, 05:47 PM G'day Kate and welcome to the forums. I think your solution is a larger capacity hard drive with a clean install of the operating system whatever it may be as you have not told us this, nor the model, and use the current drive as an external with the OS removed for storing music etc. If the drive is say 1TB and full you need to clear it right out as that is a large capacity drive. If on the other hand it is say 200GB, that is small by today's standards. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,307 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	04-16-2012, 01:26 PM Open up any Finder window and in the status bar (the grey bar at the bottom), you should see how much disk space is free. If it's not there, go to View > Show Status Bar. 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

vansmith #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,307 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	04-16-2012, 04:47 PM It's possible that your Mac has a smaller hard drive than your Windows machine. Regardless of whether or not that's the case, you'll need to do one of two things: either start deleting some content or move content to another hard drive (such as an external one). Either will work but if you want to keep the content, the external hard drive route is the route you'll want to go. 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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KateG #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 15, 2012 Posts: 4	04-15-2012, 05:39 PM I have a Macbook and it keeps telling me that my start up disc is full. It won't let me download small word document files now, or import photos as it says the disc is full. I have done what it says and deleted A LOT of pictures and music files from my libraries and I have emptied my trash and my iphoto trash, yet still my disc is full! Please can anyone suggest what I should try next? Thanks.
	QUOTE Thanks

toMACsh #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 30, 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,807 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core 2 Duo	04-16-2012, 01:15 PM Memory does not mean disk capacity. The latter is the most pertinent info for your dilemma.
	QUOTE Thanks

KateG #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 15, 2012 Posts: 4	04-16-2012, 04:18 PM Thank you. It says zero KB available!! I have quite a few photos and music files on here, but no more than I did when I had a PC! If my PC could handle that many files, I would assume a Macbook could. Would you suggest I take it into an Apple shop to have a look at or is it simple to create some space? Thanks.
	QUOTE Thanks

KateG #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 15, 2012 Posts: 4	04-16-2012, 04:56 PM Thank you.
	QUOTE Thanks

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