cleanmymac x any good

[gregmac19]

The only attraction I have to Mac clean up applications is the potential ability to do something about System Data problems. Of the 251 GB of flash storage on my iMac, 111 GB is currently taken up by System Data. Frustratingly, I cannot figure out what is taking up so much space. Fortunately, I still have 73 GB of available memory left, so I don’t have to solve this issue right away. However, for the first time, I think I will have to do a clean install to reclaim this space.

I discovered why “System Data” is taking up so much space on my SSD: there is a hidden file, in a hidden folder that is 53 GB in size: Users/.username/.username.sparsebundle. The file and folder were created a long time ago, but I am not sure why. It seems like this could be a Time Machine file, but I don’t use that program, although I possibly looked at it once. I suppose it is possible that Migration Assistant could have created the file as well.

I downloaded a trial version CleanMyMac X, and readily found the file using the “Space Lens” feature of the program. Interestingly, EasyFind will find the file but does not report the size. Thus, listing the files in order of size didn’t help in locating this problem.

As you likely know, the MacOS included tools for locating large files (e.g., About this Mac>Storage>Manage>Large Files, or in Finder using File Size) won’t find this file because it is hidden.

Bottom line: Score 1 for CleanMyMac X.

 

[chrfr]

I discovered why “System Data” is taking up so much space on my SSD: there is a hidden file, in a hidden folder that is 53 GB in size: Users/.username/.username.sparsebundle.

Rather than being a Time Machine file, it'd most likely be the preserved disk image of a deleted user account that was in a hidden folder named .username (or whatever your username's account was.)

 

[gregmac19]

Ahh...that makes sense. My memories are faint, but I think I remember trying Migration Assistant a couple of times trying to get something to work correctly. So even though the hidden folder and file are the same name as my account, they are probably from when I initially tried Migration Assistant. Thanks for solving the mystery!

Greg

P.S. As an aside, for multiple reasons I wouldn't be using Migration Assistant again.

 

[Chozun]

I discovered why “System Data” is taking up so much space on my SSD: there is a hidden file, in a hidden folder that is 53 GB in size: Users/.username/.username.sparsebundle. The file and folder were created a long time ago, but I am not sure why. It seems like this could be a Time Machine file, but I don’t use that program, although I possibly looked at it once. I suppose it is possible that Migration Assistant could have created the file as well.

I downloaded a trial version CleanMyMac X, and readily found the file using the “Space Lens” feature of the program. Interestingly, EasyFind will find the file but does not report the size. Thus, listing the files in order of size didn’t help in locating this problem.

As you likely know, the MacOS included tools for locating large files (e.g., About this Mac>Storage>Manage>Large Files, or in Finder using File Size) won’t find this file because it is hidden.

Bottom line: Score 1 for CleanMyMac X.

Glad you found the culprit. But what you said about EasyFind seems incorrect.

I just did a search of "1Password" with EasyFind on my 2020 M1 MacMini (I use 1 Password). The results displayed are in "Modified" order. But I can click on the "Size" column heading, and it will list the files/folders in descending Size order. Click that heading again, and it "turns" that list around. Same with using "LibreOffice" as the search term.

BTW, I also have used Migration Assistant a "good" amount via the Setup program after doing a clean, fresh installation of a Mac OS. Just did an EasyFind search of "sparsebundle, and it found 39 small files with a portion of the name being CSparseBundle, and they are all located in the directory /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiskImages.frameworks/Versions.

 

[Queen6]

I was Project manager specializing in healthcare and food service, I used a windows desktop and windows laptop, both of which have been in storage for about 5 years, wish I had my Macs back then, don't miss windows a bit. Like I said mine is heavily upgraded, and more on plan. Am getting into cyber security and web development and it has been working fine, so far.

I've decided to leave the late 2011 15" as stock, it's over 11 years old and have far faster HW on Apple Silicon. Given the notoriety of this model, think its best left to run its course and stay in the family. So far so good as it seems impervious to high temperature on both CPU/GPU which is not the norm for this one.

2012 barring RAM and the addition of an SSD only other is to force a newer OS. Migration Assistant never used the app as always set up the Mac's as new. Of the opinion it's more likely to bring unwanted garbage over to the new system from the old one.

I'm a quality engineer in the oil & gas industry so tend to be picky by nature and likely why I picked through the OS versus a clean install

Q-6

 

[gregmac19]

Glad you found the culprit. But what you said about EasyFind seems incorrect.

I don't know what the issue is. If I hit the "info" button it will give me the correct size in EasyFind. However, it just shows two dashes (--) for the size in the Size column. And, of course, I can use the column toggle to list files in ascending or descending size order. By the way, although it shows sizes for most files, there are a handful of files that it just shows "--".

 

[Chozun]

I don't know what the issue is. If I hit the "info" button it will give me the correct size in EasyFind. However, it just shows two dashes (--) for the size in the Size column. And, of course, I can use the column toggle to list files in ascending or descending size order. By the way, although it shows sizes for most files, there are a handful of files that it just shows "--".

The dashes "--" are for folders.

 

[gregmac19]

The dashes "--" are for folders.

Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be, but it is not the case here:

 

[Chozun]

Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be, but it is not the case here:

View attachment 2117137

I have Files & Folders (and Name) checked off. You have Only Files (and Name). I believe the "default" for EasyFind is the way I have it. I am certain I have never changed it.

 

[gregmac19]

I purposely changed it to "Only Files" to prove to you that the items listed are indeed files. And as you can see, the size for these files shows up as "--". Thus, my original comment about EasyFind stands.

 

[Chozun]

I purposely changed it to "Only Files" to prove to you that the items listed are indeed files. And as you can see, the size for these files shows up as "--". Thus, my original comment about EasyFind stands.

I've never had an issue. Also, seems like all of the files on that list (including small ones) show nothing about the space each of them occupy.

What happens if you change it back to "Files & Folders"? What does it show then?

 

[Chozun]

OK, looks like you are correct. The largest files I have are 1) macOS Monterey.app, and 2) Install macOS Ventura.app (found them graphically using Grand Perspective (forgot I had that useful program)). Both of them are over 11 Gig, but just "--" in the Size Column when doing a search with EasyFind. Weird.

 

[gilby101]

The dashes "--" are for folders.

Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be, but it is not the case here:

The kind "EPUB Publication" is a single file and, for me, does show the size.
The kind "Electronic Publication (ePub)" is a bundle of files. EasyFind treats it as a folder - which it is! Hence -- for size.

EasyFind is not my tool of choice for finding large folders and files.

 

[Chozun]

The kind "EPUB Publication" is a single file and, for me, does show the size.
The kind "Electronic Publication (ePub)" is a bundle of files. EasyFind treats it as a folder - which it is! Hence -- for size.

EasyFind is not my tool of choice for finding large folders and files.

Yeah, not sure if EF is good for that. But Grand Perspective can graphically show large files (and small ones also).