MacBook Air - Identify 'Other' Files

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hello all.

This is Claudia's Dad here and just helping out creating her first post on this forurm.

Her school macbook air has 25.75GB of 'Other' files listed as part of the total storage capacity of 60.7GB.

I need to free up more space on this small Flash HDD.

How to identify this 'other' lot of files so i can possibly delete some unused files?

also - more tips on optimising space on this laptop and make it faster?

Claudia's Dad.
 

bobtomay

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http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/switcher-hangout/291480-hard-drive-storage-other-10-7-10-8-a.html

The MBA has a SSD drive, there is no need for any "optimizing" of disk space to make it faster.

-------------------------
edit:
The only cleaning utility recommended here is Onyx.
While I run it perhaps once every 2-4 months on my mechanical drives, I have not really found the need (as it relates to the speed of my MBA) to run it at all.
(Having said that, I have used it to clear out some of the junk, I think twice in the just over 2 years I've had my current MBA.)
And I am a speed junky - I typically notice the slightest change in the speed of my computers.

edit 2:
With that small size drive, would recommend getting an external drive for additional storage of amy music, video, etc. type files along with a backup drive if she doesn't already have one. Backup, backup, backup...
 
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many thanks bobtomay.

will take on board your references.

we have an external hdd connected but it cannot be found for some reasons?

she had it working 1 day ago - perfectly fine.

thoughts?

Dad
 

bobtomay

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Cannot be found where?

It doesn't appear on the Desktop, in Finder or Disk Utility does not see it?
 
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that's correct - nowhere to be found.

but it could be found yesterday and workign fine.

Dad
 
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also, we located some 'other' files - word files and cannot delete them.

tried dragging to trashhcan - no luck.

tried right click - no luck.

thoughts?

Dad
 

bobtomay

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It is plugged into external power?
Or is this drive connected only via and is suppose to get it's power from the USB port?
If the latter, is the MBA plugged in to power?

Shut down the MBA - unplug the external - reboot and try again.
 

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Make sure none of the files are in use.
I would "assume" with word documents, you've opened them to verify what they were and are safe to delete.
Did you "quit" Word prior to attempting to delete them?

Has she emptied out the downloads folder? the trash?

With some pesky files - boot to safe mode and try deleting them from there.
This should be an extremely rare need.
 
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still no external drive appearing

can only view word documents if word is open. do not know how to access files without going into word at this stage.

no files are in use and trash has been emptied.


Dad
 

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You can't delete a file that is open or "in use".
You need to close the files - open the Finder and delete them from there.
I would guess in .doc files would be in the Documents folder.

Is the MBA plugged in to power?
Have you tried the other USB port?
 

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Running 10.8.2? Have my ways. ;) Would also suggest getting into the habit (perhaps once a week) of checking for updates and keep the software up to date - the current version is 10.8.4. Open the App Store app and head for the Updates tab.
 
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ok - will try.

what is the normal extension of word files created in the word mac format (sorry i am normally a MS windows user.. ??? :-(

yes, the mba is plugged into ac power.

yes, other usb port has been used.

trials and tribualtions..... :-(

Dad.
 

bobtomay

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??? Have never owned an external drive that got it's power only from USB port, so, if Disk Utility does not show the drive, I can only grasp at straws from here.

Files will have the same extension as they do in Windows. File extensions are the same across operating systems. However, like Windows, they are not shown by default. Can only suggest opening Finder and browsing through her user account - Documents folder, Pictures, etc. or get one of the apps listed in the link provided in my first post above. Cleaning out documents, however, is not going to free up much space unless she has boatloads of them.

And same as in Windows, if she's storing a bunch of stuff on the desktop instead of in folders where stuff belongs, that is still a bad idea.
 
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back again.

just completed installing new updated OS version.

we just went in to see her word documents and no word documents are there - however the outline of the file is there still (file name and a a dotted box and number of files).

she is devastated at the moment.

help?

dad
 

bobtomay

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Use Spotlight - the magnifying glass at the right hand side of the menu bar to search for the file.

Updating the OS, in and of itself, would not have any impact on Office files.
 
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thanks - tried the spotlight - nothing.

when i look at the 'where' lcoation of each word document - it states it is in trash - but when i search in trash - nothing is there....???

dad (in the sh..t now)
 
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i go into word and see none of her documents under her sub-folders.

looks like everything was deleted.

nothing in trash.

any way of this ?

claudia is in tears as this was work for her whole next term at school.

dad
 

bobtomay

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Why I mentioned deleting documents not going to regain much space.
If they were moved to the trash and the trash was subsequently emptied...
It's going to take recovery software to get them back.

The backup drive was used for Time Machine backups - hopefully?
And most current backup was yesterday?
Need to get it working.

Am "assuming" this is the Mac version of Office - which one?
I do not use Office on my Macs (actually, not on any computer here at home - 8-10 hrs a day in Excel at work is enough for me) - but if it has a similar auto save/recovery to latest Win versions, they could still be there. I am not familiar enough to assist unless I am sitting in front of Office myself - need help from someone familiar with Mac version.
 

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