freeing up disk space-help

[tlend]

first I have a mac mini g4 40gb hd with a 500gb ext running leopard. I have about 8gb of memory left internally and about 460gb left on the external. my question is can i move some factory apps that i don't use or some i use little to the ext drive to speed the main system up. i'm pretty pleased with the way it runs but a little more speed can't hurt.

Thanks. This is my first mac and my first post so go easy on me.)

 

[BlueRevolution]

Most Apple apps should be able to run just as well from your external drive, but I wouldn't move the utilities folder or QuickTime. I can't think you'll save very much space by doing so, though. Most of the big stuff is hidden in /Library, and that you can't mess with.

OmniDiskSweeper is a good app for working out where you can trim some fat. Just don't mess with anything unless you put it there and know what it does.

 

[Nate.Newton]

Most Apple apps should be able to run just as well from your external drive, but I wouldn't move the utilities folder or QuickTime. I can't think you'll save very much space by doing so, though. Most of the big stuff is hidden in /Library, and that you can't mess with.

OmniDiskSweeper is a good app for working out where you can trim some fat. Just don't mess with anything unless you put it there and know what it does.

Great app. Use that, one of the best.

-N

 

[EndlessMac]

first I have a mac mini g4 40gb hd with a 500gb ext running leopard. I have about 8gb of memory left internally and about 460gb left on the external. my question is can i move some factory apps that i don't use or some i use little to the ext drive to speed the main system up. i'm pretty pleased with the way it runs but a little more speed can't hurt.

Thanks. This is my first mac and my first post so go easy on me.)

Are you sure your apps are taking up that much space? You must have a lot of apps installed. On my computer my other files take up way more space than my apps and those data files can be easily stored externally. Open a Finder window and right click your applications folder and see how large it is. It will take awhile to calculate. If it is indeed your applications folder that is taking up so much space then you can definitely delete factory apps that you don't use. I'm assuming you mean apps that came with your computer when you say factory apps.

I also recommend OmniDiskSweeper. It's a great app to see what is taking up so much space on your hard drive. Things such as unused printer drivers, etc take up unnecessary space. You'll be surprised how much you can delete if you really look hard enough.

 

[tlend]

Thanks. i'm downloading omni as i type this. Here is a quick rundown of my system.

35 apps

in the icon that looks like a harddrive i have-
apps 2.91 gb
library 7.08 gb
system 4.21 gb
users 10.71

In itunes i have about 1.5 gb of stuff and in iphoto maybe 1 gb thats about it.

thanks again

 

[EndlessMac]

Thanks. i'm downloading omni as i type this. Here is a quick rundown of my system.

35 apps

in the icon that looks like a harddrive i have-
apps 2.91 gb
library 7.08 gb
system 4.21 gb
users 10.71

In itunes i have about 1.5 gb of stuff and in iphoto maybe 1 gb thats about it.

thanks again

35 apps isn't really that much. Most of your space is being taken up by other data files so since you are getting Omni it's your best choice to see what specifically is taking up space. Things like video, pictures, mp3s, etc can easily be moved over to your external. Your Users folder is probably the best place to look for things to move over to your external because that folder is where you personally put items you have either downloaded, transferred over, placed into your computer, etc.

 

[Perrumpo]

Languages, Printer Drivers (/Library/Printers), and GarageBand extras (/Library/Application Support/GarageBand) take up enormous space and are unnecessary. In iLife '08, GarageBand extras were taking up a whopping 8 GB. In '09, most of that is gone.

 

[MacKiddyWiddy]

omnidisksweeper is a must! also delete apps like garageband which never get used