'Insufficient disk space'

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Please move if not in correct forum.

I'm trying to copy some random music tracks from iTunes onto a 4gb memory stick. It's copied two but I get the message 'insufficient disk space' when I try to copy a third. The tracks are between 7.7mb and 20.3mb in size.

I've removed items which amounted to many more mb, but now the disk space required has gone up from 14.9 to 15mb and I have no idea what is going on. Am I to cut items on the MBP or the memory stick? The photos shown on the memory stick must be the album covers for the tracks as I wiped it before starting this.

Help, please.

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Raz0rEdge

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Based on the Disk Utility screenshot, you do not have space on the USB stick. Once you delete stuff from a USB stick (by dragging contents to the trashcan), you should also empty the trash. Otherwise, the files aren't really deleted from the USB stick.

Do the emptying and you should free up some space (check with DU as to how much) and then copy again. If the files you trashed don't yield enough free space, continue deleting and emptying until you do.
 
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If emptying the trash doesn't work, open the USB drive in Finder. Press CMD + SHIFT + . to see hidden files and folders. Click on the .trashes folder and delete everything inside it. Then empty the trash. In fact, I'd do this in any case just to be sure nothing's there taking up space without you knowing.
 
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badshoehabit
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Done what you both suggested - no difference.

Decided to reformat and ta dah!, I have space and have copied the tracks.
 
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Done all you both suggest - no difference. Nothing on disk other than two tracks.

Well that's bizarre. Check any other hidden folders to see if there is anything at all. If not, then I'd suggest re-formatting/erasing the drive. Just be sure to move any files off it first that you need, if any.
 

Raz0rEdge

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The scorched earth method always works, but I didn't want to suggest that if you had important stuff on there, but that's usually the best way to get back in working order.
 
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Decided to reformat and ta dah!, I have space and have copied the tracks.

Great! It's water under the bridge now, but in case this happens in the future, after deleting anything in the hidden .trashes folder, be sure to empty the trash folder after that (I've edited my previous comment to clarify this). That may have been why it didn't work (if there were indeed things you deleted in that folder).
 
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The scorched earth method always works, but I didn't want to suggest that if you had important stuff on there, but that's usually the best way to get back in working order.

Nothing of any importance and I thought I'd emptied it.

It's always good to have the forum to consult.
 

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