Deleting "Other" on Hard Drive

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 06:01 PM

How would I go about deleting "other" on my hard drive? A few days ago I tried to partition the hard drive so I can install Windows 7. Long story short, I couldn't for some reason. Now I discover, there's almost 400GB of other and iMac is a little sluggish.

I'm using Mountain Lion. Any help would be great.

VAvW · Dec 12, 2012, 06:03 PM

Seen this before and "other" turned out to be images (photographs) in need of transfer to an external HDD.

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VAvW

Seen this before and "other" turned out to be images (photographs) in need of transfer to an external HDD.

How could I find out what the "other" is?

VAvW · Dec 12, 2012, 06:26 PM

Take a look at your personal files, see if there is a folder that is excessively large and could account for (a large part of) the "other" files.

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 06:44 PM

I can't seem to find any thing that large any where on the computer.

53x12 · Dec 12, 2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsstGreek

I can't seem to find any thing that large any where on the computer.

Format the drive and restore from a previous backup should help.

theSeb · 04:19 AM

There are posts on this forum which will explain what other is. I've created a detailed one. However, your case is quite specific. Other is many different files, but in your case it is probably mainly the remains of the failed partition operation. I would not recommend trying to fix this yourself, unless you have a good understanding of os x and the terminal. Doing a restore from a previous backup, as per the above advice, is the best option. You did do a backup before trying to repartition your hard drive? Right?

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theSeb

There are posts on this forum which will explain what other is. I've created a detailed one. However, your case is quite specific. Other is many different files, but I your case it is probably mainly the remains of the failed partition operation. I would not recommend trying to fix this yourself, unless you have a good understanding of os x and the terminal. Doing a restore from a previous backup, as per the above advice, is the best option. You did do a backup before trying to repartition your hard drive? Right?

Unfortunately I do not have a backup of my computer. The only important things are my photos and music that I just transfered to my flash drive. I have a somewhat decent understanding of OS X but can follow a guide to a tee.

tyche · Dec 12, 2012, 07:56 PM

Trace down where all the files are. You can start by doing a get 'get info' on each folder starting with your home directory. Or use a program like 'Disk Inventory X' and trace down the folder tree were all the space is.

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyche

Trace down where all the files are. You can start by doing a get 'get info' on each folder starting with your home directory. Or use a program like 'Disk Inventory X' and trace down the folder tree were all the space is.

I used the app but there's nothing that consumes 400GB. Should I follow theSeb's guide?

53x12 · Dec 12, 2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsstGreek

I used the app but there's nothing that consumes 400GB. Should I follow theSeb's guide?

Just pull the photos and music back to an external (if not still there) and format drive.

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 08:49 PM

Well the "other" is definitely from the failed attempts at my iMac trying to partition the hard drive and install Windows 7.

bflowers · Dec 12, 2012, 08:57 PM

Then absolutely format and start fresh if you have all your applications available to reinstall, and have backed up your personal data. 400GB is a lot for a Windows partition, especially on a 500GB drive! Good Luck

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 09:13 PM

The odd thing is, there aren't any partitions showed in Disk Utilities.

53x12 · Dec 12, 2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsstGreek

The odd thing is, there aren't any partitions showed in Disk Utilities.

Don't waste more time. Pull the files you need and just format. You can haven been done with this and back up and running several hours ago. Just do it. Format.

MatthewAMEL · Dec 12, 2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsstGreek

The odd thing is, there aren't any partitions showed in Disk Utilities.

That's what you would expect if it was a 'failed' attempt to create a partition. It allocated the space, but never wrote the new partition table. I have seen Boot Camp Assistant do this a few times.

Have you tried clicking on the physical disk itself in Disk Utility (not the volume) and running 'repair disk'?

That runs a partition repair, not a disk repair.

PsstGreek · Dec 12, 2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewAMEL

That's what you would expect if it was a 'failed' attempt to create a partition. It allocated the space, but never wrote the new partition table. I have seen Boot Camp Assistant do this a few times.

Have you tried clicking on the physical disk itself in Disk Utility (not the volume) and running 'repair disk'?

That runs a partition repair, not a disk repair.

I did that and nothing seemed to work. I formatted the drive and re-installed ML. All is well now. Thanks for the help guys.

53x12 · Dec 12, 2012, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsstGreek

I did that and nothing seemed to work. I formatted the drive and re-installed ML. All is well now. Thanks for the help guys.

You are welcome.

apedance · Dec 13, 2012, 01:27 AM

try the demo of this app.

http://www.daisydiskapp.com/

Dec 12, 2012, 06:01 PM	#1
PsstGreek macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa Bay	Deleting "Other" on Hard Drive How would I go about deleting "other" on my hard drive? A few days ago I tried to partition the hard drive so I can install Windows 7. Long story short, I couldn't for some reason. Now I discover, there's almost 400GB of other and iMac is a little sluggish. I'm using Mountain Lion. Any help would be great. Attached Thumbnails __________________ *iMac 21.5" + T-Mobile* iPhone 5 16GB + iPad 4 16GB**
	0

Dec 12, 2012, 06:03 PM	#2
VAvW macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012	Seen this before and "other" turned out to be images (photographs) in need of transfer to an external HDD. __________________ Desktop computer \| Laptop computer \| Tablet \| Phone \| Small black device attached to television
	0

Dec 12, 2012, 06:26 PM	#4
VAvW macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012	Take a look at your personal files, see if there is a folder that is excessively large and could account for (a large part of) the "other" files. __________________ Desktop computer \| Laptop computer \| Tablet \| Phone \| Small black device attached to television
	0

Dec 12, 2012, 06:44 PM	#5
PsstGreek Thread Starter macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa Bay	I can't seem to find any thing that large any where on the computer. __________________ *iMac 21.5" + T-Mobile* iPhone 5 16GB + iPad 4 16GB**
	0

Dec 12, 2012, 07:04 PM	#7
theSeb macrumors 603 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Poole, England	There are posts on this forum which will explain what other is. I've created a detailed one. However, your case is quite specific. Other is many different files, but in your case it is probably mainly the remains of the failed partition operation. I would not recommend trying to fix this yourself, unless you have a good understanding of os x and the terminal. Doing a restore from a previous backup, as per the above advice, is the best option. You did do a backup before trying to repartition your hard drive? Right? __________________ What is Other on my HDD? Upgrading to Mountain Lion? Check out my free iBook with video tutorials on iTunes 2012 iMac comparison chart Last edited by theSeb; Dec 13, 2012 at 04:19 AM. Reason: correct bad ipad typing
	2

Dec 12, 2012, 07:56 PM	#9
tyche macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2010	Trace down where all the files are. You can start by doing a get 'get info' on each folder starting with your home directory. Or use a program like 'Disk Inventory X' and trace down the folder tree were all the space is.
	0

Dec 12, 2012, 08:49 PM	#12
PsstGreek Thread Starter macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa Bay	Well the "other" is definitely from the failed attempts at my iMac trying to partition the hard drive and install Windows 7. __________________ *iMac 21.5" + T-Mobile* iPhone 5 16GB + iPad 4 16GB**
	0

Dec 12, 2012, 08:57 PM	#13
bflowers macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2006	Then absolutely format and start fresh if you have all your applications available to reinstall, and have backed up your personal data. 400GB is a lot for a Windows partition, especially on a 500GB drive! Good Luck
	0

Dec 12, 2012, 09:13 PM	#14
PsstGreek Thread Starter macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa Bay	The odd thing is, there aren't any partitions showed in Disk Utilities. Attached Thumbnails __________________ *iMac 21.5" + T-Mobile* iPhone 5 16GB + iPad 4 16GB**
	0

Dec 13, 2012, 01:27 AM	#19
apedance macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vienna	try the demo of this app. http://www.daisydiskapp.com/
	1

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