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iMac 24" need to clean up and reinstall OS

S

snowmaan

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 29, 2008
125
0
Sydney Australia
So, My beautiful 24" iMac has been good to me, but is now slower than a windows 95 laptop.

500gb HDD, 4GB, latest OS

In short, I need to clean up the HDD and backup what I need, wipe the lot and do a clean OS install, so I get that lovely as new feeling of everything running buttery smooth when i bought it 4 years ago

Any ideas of the best way to do this?

Challenges to overcome:

1. Can't seem to find files to delete - finder shows most things as being normal files, can't find what I can delete!! Are there any recommended file manager programs I can download to view where movie, image files etc reside?

How the heck has 500gb been filled up? I just can't figure out where temp, video, music files etc are sitting. I checked the usual spaces, temp, downloads, etc

2. My external HDD (where my iPhoto directory file is located, gives an error) can't copy files to it, or open the iphone file to view files - Can't open the HDD at the moment to recreate the issue, will do in the morning

3. Whats the best way to "wipe it all" and put it back, and will this give me that new iMac feeling I used to enjoy so much?

Thanks
 
snowmaan said:
So, My beautiful 24" iMac has been good to me, but is now slower than a windows 95 laptop.

500gb HDD, 4GB, latest OS

In short, I need to clean up the HDD and backup what I need, wipe the lot and do a clean OS install, so I get that lovely as new feeling of everything running buttery smooth when i bought it 4 years ago
Click to expand...
More RAM might help.
Open Activity Monitor after a typical day of usage and go to the System Memory* tab and look for Page Outs and Swap used and report back.

1. Can't seem to find files to delete - finder shows most things as being normal files, can't find what I can delete!!
Click to expand...
If you want to do a CLEAN INSTALL, you do not need to delete files beforehand, as the ERASING/FORMATTING of the HDD will do that for you.

Are there any recommended file manager programs I can download to view where movie, image files etc reside?
How the heck has 500gb been filled up? I just can't figure out where temp, video, music files etc are sitting. I checked the usual spaces, temp, downloads, etc
Click to expand...
To find out, where you storage capacity is being used, you can use the following free applications:
Maybe try a combination of several, if you still can't find the "missing" capacity.

2. My external HDD (where my iPhoto directory file is located, gives an error) can't copy files to it, or open the iphone file to view files - Can't open the HDD at the moment to recreate the issue, will do in the morning
Click to expand...
Have you checked Finder > select external HDD >> GET INFO >>> Format and Sharing & Permissions yet?
MR_SS_2011_04_GET-INFO_format_permissions.png

3. Whats the best way to "wipe it all" and put it back, and will this give me that new iMac feeling I used to enjoy so much?
Click to expand...
Depends on your Mac OS X version, therefore if you use the following search terms with the www search engine of your choice, you will get those guides on how to do a clean install: "mac os x clean install (snow leopard)/(lion)/(mountain lion)".


Also consider putting an SSD into the iMac for that feeling you miss. iFixIt has many guides on how to do this on 2009 iMacs.
 
blueroom said:
Install the latest OSX that's compatible with your Mac and restore from a Time Machine backup.
Click to expand...

Back looking at doing this in the next few days.

If I restore from a time machine backup, won't I be bringing back all the junk files filling up the HDD now?

Been trying to work out what files to delete + backup still and really finding this a difficult thing to do.

Can you simply copy all files onto an external HDD then wipe the lot and drag and drop everything back I wonder? I am amazed this is so difficult to be honest.

On my wife's Windows 8 laptop, I can find all files by easy folder location, copy to backup and restore. It's a nightmare doing it on the Mac due to the "simplified" file system

Also I downloaded the new OS update from memory, so not even sure I have a disc to restore from to start fresh, but not 100% here

I don't want to miss anything (family photos, docs etc) or else my head will be put on a block...so appreciate any additional thoughts here.
 
snowmaan said:
Back looking at doing this in the next few days.

If I restore from a time machine backup, won't I be bringing back all the junk files filling up the HDD now?

Been trying to work out what files to delete + backup still and really finding this a difficult thing to do.

Can you simply copy all files onto an external HDD then wipe the lot and drag and drop everything back I wonder? I am amazed this is so difficult to be honest.

On my wife's Windows 8 laptop, I can find all files by easy folder location, copy to backup and restore. It's a nightmare doing it on the Mac due to the "simplified" file system

Also I downloaded the new OS update from memory, so not even sure I have a disc to restore from to start fresh, but not 100% here

I don't want to miss anything (family photos, docs etc) or else my head will be put on a block...so appreciate any additional thoughts here.
Click to expand...

All your OS files (read: junk) will also be backed up with TM.

I suggest you use something like SuperDuper, exclude all files and only include files that you need.

4GB of RAM is obviously not enough. You should be going for at least 8-16GB of RAM.

Go for an SSD and it'll be like a new system entirely.
 
Upgrade the machine to an SSD. The install takes some patience but really isn't too tough. Also you can get 6Gb of RAM into that thing.

My 24" is still plugging away.
 
My 24 inch, now with a happy relative as his first Mac, got a real boost by a fresh install of Mavericks. Didn't need to restore any data to it though, really there is no short cut to that than working through your files and not restoring junk.
For apps you may be better off noting any serial numbers needed, and then reinstalling from scratch odds are you might omit half of them.
 
Tumbleweed666 said:
My 24 inch, now with a happy relative as his first Mac, got a real boost by a fresh install of Mavericks. Didn't need to restore any data to it though, really there is no short cut to that than working through your files and not restoring junk.
For apps you may be better off noting any serial numbers needed, and then reinstalling from scratch odds are you might omit half of them.
Click to expand...

tumbleweed666, lucky you didn't need to keep all your data.

My 500gb HDD is full, so I need to deal with that first. I searched manually, as best I could and I can't find 500gb of files to begin with!!

I'll look into SuperDuper and see if I can get that to help sort out these files.

Thanks guys for the help and ideas too, that's great!

So, my 24" iMac is a bit older (probably 4-5 years or so), so I'm not sure if:

1. It would take an SSD drive
2. I think it's at it's maximum ram capacity (it said max 4GB when I bought it, unless you can go above that now?)
 
snowmaan said:
tumbleweed666, lucky you didn't need to keep all your data.

My 500gb HDD is full, so I need to deal with that first. I searched manually, as best I could and I can't find 500gb of files to begin with!!

So, my 24" iMac is a bit older (probably 4-5 years or so), so I'm not sure if:

1. It would take an SSD drive
2. I think it's at it's maximum ram capacity (it said max 4GB when I bought it, unless you can go above that now?)
Click to expand...

First of all, get Disk Inventory X. It will help you figure out what is taking up all the space on your HDD.

As for your other questions:
1. Yes, it can. Many of us have done it already.
2. The stated max is 4gb, but you can put in 6gb and it will be recognized.
 
GimmeSlack12 said:
First of all, get Disk Inventory X. It will help you figure out what is taking up all the space on your HDD.

As for your other questions:
1. Yes, it can. Many of us have done it already.
2. The stated max is 4gb, but you can put in 6gb and it will be recognized.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot gimme.

I'll look into the drive and application.

Which model did you get for the SSD drive, and was it easy to install yourself? I got blank looks at the Apple store today and mixed messages around which model will work in the 24" iMac I have

Budget is running out for the drive but I may be able to swing it if I can find the right one at the right price...

(Can't wait to have my beautiful, speedy iMac back)
 
I put a 120gb OWC Mercury Electra 3G with a NewerTech Adapata Drive in my wife's 24" iMac. Total cost was about $130. The speed increase was noticeable. I also maxed out the memory at 6gb. You could get a cheap external USB drive enclosure and use the old hard drive for more storage capacity.
 
snowmaan said:
Which model did you get for the SSD drive, and was it easy to install yourself? I got blank looks at the Apple store today and mixed messages around which model will work in the 24" iMac I have
Click to expand...

I put a Samsung 830, 128gb drive in mine. It was about $160, though that was about 2 years ago.

I highly recommend going 256gb if you can. Even though I have external storage like crazy, my internal only has about 30gb available and thats as low as I'll let it get.

What iMac do you have exactly? I have the Late-2007 model, and installing the SSD only requires a suction cup (I used my loofa) and a few torque screwdrivers and a little patience. Really helps to have a second set of hands to avoid having to unplug the monitor (just tilt it up and have someone hold it).
 
GimmeSlack12 said:
I put a Samsung 830, 128gb drive in mine. It was about $160, though that was about 2 years ago.

I highly recommend going 256gb if you can. Even though I have external storage like crazy, my internal only has about 30gb available and thats as low as I'll let it get.

What iMac do you have exactly? I have the Late-2007 model, and installing the SSD only requires a suction cup (I used my loofa) and a few torque screwdrivers and a little patience. Really helps to have a second set of hands to avoid having to unplug the monitor (just tilt it up and have someone hold it).
Click to expand...

Thanks gimme

Its:

24" imac, 2.8ghz, intel core duo 2
4 gb 800 mhz ddr2 sdram
ATI radeon HD 2600 pro 256mb
OS X 10.8.3

Bought around mid 2008, and was top of the range at the time
 
snowmaan said:
Thanks gimme

Its:

24" imac, 2.8ghz, intel core duo 2
4 gb 800 mhz ddr2 sdram
ATI radeon HD 2600 pro 256mb
OS X 10.8.3

Bought around mid 2008, and was top of the range at the time
Click to expand...

Your specs match my beloved iMac, which is an:
"Early 2008" 2.8 GHz Core2Duo (bought May, 2008)
MB325LL/A
Model A1225
EMC 2211

I have 6 GB of 800 MHz PC2-6400 RAM (a 2 GB and a 4 GB stick) and it's great. Have also installed an SSD in the main HDD bay, and a new HDD into the optical bay (by removing the DVD drive), combined as a DIY Fusion drive. So, it can be done. Not sure I'd all it "easy," but if you are the patient, methodical type and you read the guide at ifixit.com, it's definitely doable.
 
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