Is it safe to clear my downloads folder? Basically, it has become very large (~20gb). I want to create some more space because my hard drive is partitioned. Basically, what I'm wondering is, if, for example someone sends me a song. I play the song through itunes. Doesn't the song then get copied into an iTunes folder? Assuming it does, does that mean there is a duplicate file in the downloads folder as in the iTunes folder? Otherwise, do I have to manually go through my downloads folder and decide whats needed and whats not? Thanks.
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Downloads folder
- Thread starter DarkRevenant
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If the following is checked in iTunes Preferences, you can safely delete the song in your Downloads folder.
But I recommend going through your Downloads folder manually and select/check what you can delete.
But I recommend going through your Downloads folder manually and select/check what you can delete.
You can probably remove the stuff in your downloads folder... probably.
For songs if you right click on it in iTunes and do "Get Info" it will list where the song is on the "Summary" tab at the bottom. If it's not referring to your downloads folder then you're probably okay. Also if you check in iTunes preferences you can see if you have "Kepp iTunes Media folder organized" checked. If you do that means it copies it elsewhere.
As for other data, who knows...
The safest thing to do would be to copy all that data to a source you can disconnect from your computer, such as an external hard drive. Then try to use the data in the location you think it's in. If it still works, you're golden and if not, you have a backup.
For songs if you right click on it in iTunes and do "Get Info" it will list where the song is on the "Summary" tab at the bottom. If it's not referring to your downloads folder then you're probably okay. Also if you check in iTunes preferences you can see if you have "Kepp iTunes Media folder organized" checked. If you do that means it copies it elsewhere.
As for other data, who knows...
The safest thing to do would be to copy all that data to a source you can disconnect from your computer, such as an external hard drive. Then try to use the data in the location you think it's in. If it still works, you're golden and if not, you have a backup.
Take the plunge. I did and everything doesn't just seem to be in order, there's so much order here now that it actually sped up my computer. It was like splashing a bucket of magical order water on my computer. That's how much order there is now.
There is also this software, which finds duplicate files:
http://www.araxis.com/find-duplicate-files/index-eur.html
Sound advice.
SEEM ‡ IS
http://www.araxis.com/find-duplicate-files/index-eur.html
Sound advice.
SEEM ‡ IS
It would be easy enough to find out. Try it. (Save one somewhere else just in case before you do.)
Or, you could trust the answers you get here...
Or, you could trust the answers you get here...
What are you guys debating here? Of course you can delete stuff in the Downloads folder. I too would not recommend deleting the Downloads folder. Just delete the contents. Easy. Have iTunes move the music or whatever as spinnerlys suggested and you're done.
They aren't all music files and it sounds like he's using his Downloads folder as his Documents folder.
Hey guys - thanks for all the prompt detailed replies. My iTunes was copying songs into the music folder so I went ahead and cleared the contents. I was never trying to delete the folder, but every time I received a file from someone or e-mail it would automatically go there and it has been doing that for almost 2 years now so it was sucking up a lot of space. Thanks again!
If you want to keep track of files opened from Mail more tightly, you can change the folder used to save attachments and downloads, to your Desktop for example.
Select Mail | Preferences... from the menu.
Go to the General category.
Select the desired folder under Downloads Folder:.
from http://email.about.com/od/macosxmai...ents_Opened_from_Mac_OS_X_Mail_Are_Stored.htm
via http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mac+os+x+mail+downloads+folder&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Select Mail | Preferences... from the menu.
Go to the General category.
Select the desired folder under Downloads Folder:.
from http://email.about.com/od/macosxmai...ents_Opened_from_Mac_OS_X_Mail_Are_Stored.htm
via http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mac+os+x+mail+downloads+folder&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8