MacBook Pro HD used space

[dantevn]

Hi!
I just bought a new MacBook Pro 13" and I'm new to the Mac OS. This is the first time I'm using it and I'm getting to know it pretty well now.
However, I have a doubt that I want to get it solved.
When I look into my Hard Drive, it says that 20GB out of my 500GB is in use. I dont know why I have that amount used if its a brand new computer.
It shows me that it's been used in audio, image, video files, among others. But I have none of those.
I know that Mountain Lion OS is just 8GB size. So, how come I'm "losing" 12GB?
Please can someone explain it to me?
I'll appriciate it!!
Thank you
Sincerely,
Dante V

 

[GGJstudios]

If you're wondering what "Other" category in the Lion/ML storage tab is about, this may help explain:

What is this "Other" in the storage tab? What is eating my space​

For space issues not explained by the above, there are a few things you can try, some of which may or may not apply:

• Begin by restarting your computer as a first step. This sometimes resolves issues.
  
  
• For Time Machine users on notebooks running Lion or later, space may being consumed by Time Machine local snapshots, which can be disabled.
  
  OS X: About Time Machine's "local snapshots" on portable Macs​
  
  
• Check to see if some of the space is being used by your sleepimage file.
  
  
• Check the System Memory tab in Activity Monitor to check page outs and swap used. If swap used is significant, restart your computer and track that value under your normal workload. If you have significant page outs under normal use, you could benefit from more RAM.
  
  
• Search with Finder to see if the space is being consumed by a very large file or several large files. Adjust the 50GB in the illustration to whatever size you deem appropriate.
  
  
• Use OmniDiskSweeper, JDisk Report, Disk Inventory X, DaisyDisk or GrandPerspective to see how space is being used on your drive. Some of these apps may show more detail than others, so try several.
  
  
• Check your drive with Disk Utility: Using Disk Utility to verify or repair disks
  
  
• Try re-indexing your drive: Spotlight: How to re-index folders or volumes

Here are a few resolutions found by others with the same question:

• Encrypted drive
• Time Machine backup files and needed disk repair
• App filling log file
• App or file was 89GB
• Drive needed to be re-indexed
• Time Machine backup file
• Large app cache file
• Garageband files and video podcasts
• Oversized email being duplicated
• Another email issue

Freeing up space in Mac OS X

How OS X and iOS report storage capacity

 

[simsaladimbamba]

To find out, where you storage capacity is being used, you can use the following free applications:

• DiskInventory X
• OmniDiskSweeper
• JDisk Report
• GrandPerspective

Maybe try a combination of several, if you still can't find the "missing" capacity.

 

[Weaselboy]

When I look into my Hard Drive, it says that 20GB out of my 500GB is in use. I dont know why I have that amount used if its a brand new computer.
It shows me that it's been used in audio, image, video files, among others. But I have none of those.

20GB combined for the OS and default apps sounds about right. I think you are fine. Some of the default iLife apps like Garageband include audio and video/image files and that is what you are seeing in those categories. You could open a new Macbook out of the box and you would see space used in reach of those categories.

 

[dantevn]

thank you for your information!!
i guess it does sounds right!
i was just concerned that it showed me images videos and audio files when i havent got any yet!
but ya it makes sense that those could be iphoto or garageband or wallpaper files.
thank you!!
Dante V