Does your Alum Macbook have this folder..."private"?

[MacLadybug]

I was just reorganizing some files in my Documents folder and I found an unidentified folder. In the finder, when you click Macintosh HD, I have the following folders: Applications, Developer, Library, private, System, User Guides and Information, and Users. I recognize all of them but "private". And it's just like that... lower case, all the other files the first letter is in caps.

There is nothing in that folder that identifies any software. It has four folders in it: etc, tftpboot, tmp and var. All of the folders have stuff in them except "tftboot" which is empty.

Can anyone identify what this "private" folder is? I have 2 other macs and they are running mostly the same software and neither of them has a folder anywhere on the hard drive called "private".

Do you think I can delete it? It's nearly 4.5 GB. Is this an Alum Macbook file?

 

[tubbymac]

I do not have that folder on my Macbook 2.0 Aluminum. No idea what that folder is for, but it doesn't come with the default install.

 

[VSMacOne]

Nothing here... Maybe it was created by one of your Apps.. Are you running anything different on this particular mac than the other ones?

 

[MacLadybug]

Nothing here... Maybe it was created by one of your Apps.. Are you running anything different on this particular mac than the other ones?

The only apps that I have that they don't are: Bento2 and Moneydance. That's it. I looked all through each folder and couldn't find any reference to either one.

 

[Molopo]

Do you share your computer with anyone? Could be a massive porn collection.

...In which case, you probably shouldn't look at it. Right?

 

[richard.mac]

private is part of the Unix system and should be invisible. to make it invisible enter this command into Terminal and then enter your password.

sudo chflags hidden /private

 

[MacLadybug]

Do you share your computer with anyone? Could be a massive porn collection.

...In which case, you probably shouldn't look at it. Right?

Already looked at all of it and it doesn't make any sense to me... no photos... nope, I don't share it. This is strictly my MB.

 

[VSMacOne]

Try to get some info on it.. Will it pull up Get Info?
Sounds odd though... I dont know what other explanation would work, besides some application creating it.. but 4.5GB?!?
Is anyone else using the computer? Or do you have it shared on a network accessible from the outside?

EDIT: The UNIX explains it... https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/151072/

 

[Sky Blue]

No idea what that folder is for, but it doesn't come with the default install.

errr... it's part of every default install.

 

[MacLadybug]

private is part of the Unix system and should be invisible. to make it invisible enter this command into Terminal and then enter your password.

sudo chflags hidden /private

Are you saying that this file exists on everyone's macs, it's just invisible?

 

[Sky Blue]

Are you saying that this file exists on everyone's macs, it's just invisible?

yes, exactly.

 

[MacLadybug]

Thanks

private is part of the Unix system and should be invisible. to make it invisible enter this command into Terminal and then enter your password.

sudo chflags hidden /private

yes, exactly.

Good to know... then I won't mess around with it. Why is mine visible and no one else's is I wonder? Not that it matters. I'll quit snooping around. This is how I screw things up and get into trouble. Augh! Just can't leave things alone.

 

[richard.mac]

its fine to make it invisible again as i have tried and tested the chflags command so you can trust me. just dont go around doing random unix commands of stuff when you have no idea what it does.

 

[MacLadybug]

its fine to make it invisible again as i have tried and tested the chflags command so you can trust me. just dont go around doing random unix commands of stuff when you have no idea what it does.

Did what you said and it's invisible now. Thanks.

This is the first time I did anything with Terminal. I wouldn't know how to do any unix commands. Where I screw up is browsing through my HD and perhaps delete stuff I shouldn't which is how I found this file. I still have no idea why it wasn't hidden like everyone else's. I'll fight the urge to tinker.

 

[tubbymac]

errr... it's part of every default install.

I stand corrected. Didn't realize it was an invisible folder; hence why I didn't see it.