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No Disk Space After Failed Disk Utility Erase Free Space

I was just going to recommend restarting, since I didn't see it mentioned. I had the same problem about a year ago, trying to do the same thing.

If you want to erase the free space still, I'd try it from the OS X Install Disk, see if that works better.

jW
 
Mal: Yeah, I was thinking to myself that to erase free space from now on, I'll just duplicate files into a new folder until I fill the HD up all the way. Then I won't risk having that problem again. Also, I was thinking of looking for a 3rd party "file shredder" app. There are so many for Windows, but I haven't been able to find one for Mac.

Blackburn: Yeah, I know. For one thing, I really like Tiger. But really, I'm just too lazy to upgrade. It is going to take me so long to get the new system to be like my current one, because I would want to do a clean install, as opposed to putting the new OS on top of everything.
 
So now that the problem is solved....however, before you do much else. Go to Disk Utility and run the Verify Disk service. This won't actually do anything, it just reports back if there are problems. If it finds problems, then make sure you have a backup and then Repair Disk. This verifies/repairs file structure problems.

OK - assuming there are no more problems (knock wood)....

why are you erasing free space? It won't make the system run any better...

And why the heck were you messing around with the file system just before an exam?? For pete's sake, we all know that if a system is going to bork itself, it will do so at the least convenient time.... mucking around with the files system just before a deadline is just asking for issues.... :)

And my final thought is... all of this file cleaning and cache clearing is probably doing more harm than good. Read the posts .... 8 times out of 10 the people who are looking for help with system issues are also running cleaners and clearers and optimizers. Apple engineers are good at what they do, they built the system to be self-optimizing and auto-cleaning. They also can't account for all of the unpredictable stuff that 3rd party cruft cleaners leave behind.

Once I stopped mucking about under the hood, I've had absolutely no issues. Not even a KP. I was forced into a complete reinstall when a 3rd party cleaner went pufftt. I've kept the system stock since then. Happily.
 
Yeah, I repaired the permissions already, but thank you.

To be correct, I wasn't messing with the file system until after the problem occurred. I know about the law of physics that dictates that a machine will mess up at exactly the worst time relative to an important exam. I've experience it before :)

Also, I share your resentment towards cleaner applications. I used one once and it decided to erase some files related to bluetooth connectivity, which cause my computer to be unable to boot, forcing me to reinstall. Luckily, Macs have the feature to archive the old files and drop them into the new system, so my life wasn't ruined, but it certainly stressed me out a bit.

In terms of cleaning out my caches, I like to do it just to get whatever is left behind by apps that weren't written well enough to be "self-cleaning".

Thanks for the suggestions. This is definitely the best site I've found for help with Mac-related issues.
 
steiney said:
Yeah, I repaired the permissions already, but thank you.
Click to expand...

Not Permissions, but Verify Disk. Though perhaps Tiger doesn't do that, or perhaps you need to run it from the Install Disk. Permissions aren't likely to be a problem, but the file structure may have some inconsistencies.

steiney said:
To be correct, I wasn't messing with the file system until after the problem occurred. I know about the law of physics that dictates that a machine will mess up at exactly the worst time relative to an important exam. I've experience it before :)
Click to expand...

That's where you and I disagree. In my book, anything that is being done through Disk Utility is either repairing a problems, or messing about with the file system. Why are you erasing free space? The only reason I know of is to prevent someone from being able to recover the deleted files.

steiney said:
Also, I share your resentment towards cleaner applications. I used one once and it decided to erase some files related to bluetooth connectivity, which cause my computer to be unable to boot, forcing me to reinstall. Luckily, Macs have the feature to archive the old files and drop them into the new system, so my life wasn't ruined, but it certainly stressed me out a bit.

In terms of cleaning out my caches, I like to do it just to get whatever is left behind by apps that weren't written well enough to be "self-cleaning".
Click to expand...

I was always under the impression that the OS took care of the vast majority of caches, and that OS did a good job of cleaning them.

steiney said:
Thanks for the suggestions. This is definitely the best site I've found for help with Mac-related issues.
Click to expand...

Have you tried the Apple Community Forums? I get the best help for obscure problems there.... but this site is way more fun.
 
steiney said:
Also, I was thinking of looking for a 3rd party "file shredder" app. There are so many for Windows, but I haven't been able to find one for Mac.
Click to expand...

If you're willing to get into the Terminal, you can use srm to "shred" files on an individual basis. Not quick, and slightly dangerous, though you can minimize that by being very careful and by dragging files to fill in the filenames instead of typing paths manually (so you don't hit / and then accidentally hit enter instead of shift, as I have done before).

In case you're not familiar with what I'm talking about, you would just enter the following into the Terminal:
Code: 
srm /path/to/file
and hit enter. It then writes zeros to the address space where that file resided.

I suppose you could use an AppleScript to put a simple GUI on the process and to give you a failsafe confirmation before it actually deleted the file.

jW
 
Unless you've uninstalled various apps or your caches are corrupted you shouldn't delete caches. They help programs launch faster. I use onyx to do the normal system wide clean up.
Looks like you are running out of ram, go to activity monitor when running multiple programs and check the page out section.
 
snberk103: Well I'm glad you mentioned about repairing the disk. It turns out there is a problem with it:

Verifying volume
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
%)
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking volume bitmap.
Volume Bit Map needs minor repair
Checking volume information.
Invalid volume free block count
Invalid volume free block count
uld be %@ instead of %@)",2)
1513596
1513563
The volume needs to be repaired.

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit


1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair
Click to expand...

I wouldn't have thought to check that. Who knows what kind of problem that could have caused down the road.

I have been to the Apple Community Forum once or twice, but Macrumors is definitely better in my opinion.

You probably know better than I do about the system cleaning caches. I was mainly operating under assumptions and tidbits of info.

Well, off to repair my disk. I hope nothing awful happens.
 
steiney said:
snberk103: Well I'm glad you mentioned about repairing the disk. It turns out there is a problem with it:
....

Well, off to repair my disk. I hope nothing awful happens.
Click to expand...

Do your back up first, eh? Glad the info was helpful. Let us know when you are back up to speed.

ps I don't anything about clearing caches. I don't clear them, I let the system manage it. Now, I don't do anything to the system except use it to run my programs. I used to be a fiddler, way back. Now... I just use it, and figure the engineers have earned their salaries.
 
Last edited:
Haha, yeah, us fiddlers eventually learn our lesson and stop messing around with the system. I would have done a back up, but I proved to be too lazy in this particular situation. I'm employing the "wing it" method of computer repair.
 
next time try..

next time try to delete your trash.. that file was located there when happened to me, it was only one huge file
 
Thanks. This one's a throwback. I just reread my post #25 and it makes me sound like I think computers are some type of sentient beings. Hahaha!
 
steiney said:
Thank you very much for your reply! I tried entering the command in terminal and it didn't seem to do anything. I double checked to make sure I typed in exactly what you said. Am I supposed to substitute something in place of the asterisk? I'm not the most terminal-savvy person.

Also, would it be possible to show the hidden files, then go in and manually remove the file you are talking about?
Click to expand...

I use muCommander to view all hidden files.
 
Easy fix

1. Secure erase a file from your hd

2. The file will not erase so go to force quit and force quit finder.

3. Now you will see the temperary disk image in the trash

4. Empty trash availible memory should be back to normal.

Enjoy.........Joeknows1010
 
Finally!

So i had the same problem with mavericks and finally solved it, so here'S what i've done to solve it, just in case some still have the same problem..

i tried to fix the problem by using IceClean etc. but nothing seemed to help, so here are the Steps that helped me in the end:

First you gotta make your hidden Folders visible:
Copy the command:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder

Now you should see all the hidden folders in Finder

next and VERY important step is to enable and using the "root"
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1528

without this the next steps won't work!!!(took me hours to figure out)

NOW you can use this command:

sudo rm -f /var/root/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/*


enter your password and you should be finde by now

to hide your hidden folders again :

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder

hope i could help some people

Nils
 
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