Safe to Delete VAR Folder?

[John Doe 57]

I have done some searching, but haven't really gotten a straight answer. In my Private Folder is a Folder entitled "var." It is 4.6GB in size and I was wondering if it is safe to delete it.

Contents of Folder var:
- vm (4.06 GB)
- db (396 MB)
- folders (91.9 MB)
- tmp (40 MB)
- log (7.54 MB)
- run (832 KB)
- samba (72 KB)
- spool (32 KB)
- yp (16 KB)
- named (12 KB)
- amavis (8 KB)
- msgs (4 KB)
- agentx (0 bytes)
- root (0 bytes)
- mail (0 bytes)
- rwho (0 bytes)
- empty (0 bytes)
- backups (0 bytes)
- audit (0 bytes)
- virusmails (0 bytes)
- at (0 bytes)
- xgrid (0 bytes)
- netboot (0 bytes)

 

[jabrowntx]

DO NOT DELETE - it's part of the underpinnings of Unix.

 

[-aggie-]

No, don't delete, unless you want this:



Then you can have all sorts of fun.

 

[Eidorian]

I had a strong feeling that you stumbled upon /var or /private this way.

 

[Tumbleweed666]

I have done some searching, but haven't really gotten a straight answer. In my Private Folder is a Folder entitled "var." It is 4.6GB in size and I was wondering if it is safe to delete it.

Why are you even considering deleting random folders? Get an external disk or upgrade to a larger internal, if disk space is the issue. Or, if you are just a tidy sort of person, and cant bear to have a file or two you dont need, stop fiddling or one day you'll delete something and regret it big time.

 

[old-wiz]

Why are you even considering deleting random folders? Get an external disk or upgrade to a larger internal, if disk space is the issue. Or, if you are just a tidy sort of person, and cant bear to have a file or two you dont need, stop fiddling or one day you'll delete something and regret it big time.

One of the worst mistakes is to simply start deleting folders when you don't know what they are for. The next worst is to go off and monkey around with permissions on a global level, which easily leads to an unbootable system.

 

[-aggie-]

One of the worst mistakes is to simply start deleting folders when you don't know what they are for. The next worst is to go off and monkey around with permissions on a global level, which easily leads to an unbootable system.

Yeah, we had a member the other day change all permissions to read/write. I don't know if she ever got that fixed. Crazy stuff. At least look on the internet to see if what you are going to do is going to cause catastrophe.

 

[Tumbleweed666]

Yeah, we had a member the other day change all permissions to read/write. I don't know if she ever got that fixed. Crazy stuff. At least look on the internet to see if what you are going to do is going to cause catastrophe.

Which to give credit to the OP they did do, but once you have a couple of successful experiences doing this, its only a matter of time before you get over confident and all of a sudden your Mac sto

 

[John Doe 57]

Why are you even considering deleting random folders? Get an external disk or upgrade to a larger internal, if disk space is the issue. Or, if you are just a tidy sort of person, and cant bear to have a file or two you dont need, stop fiddling or one day you'll delete something and regret it big time.

You're making assumptions without even knowing who I am. I clean my hard drive every 6 months or so. In this clean up, I delete my Cache Folder, a folder that I believe many Mac users don't even know about. I was just WONDERING if it was safe to delete the var folder and clearly it isn't. And I have 2 external hard drives. I'm not trying to be mean and don't think you were either but I'm just saying.

 

[Tumbleweed666]

You're making assumptions without even knowing who I am. I clean my hard drive every 6 months or so. In this clean up, I delete my Cache Folder, a folder that I believe many Mac users don't even know about. I was just WONDERING if it was safe to delete the var folder and clearly it isn't. And I have 2 external hard drives. I'm not trying to be mean and don't think you were either but I'm just saying.

Fair enough but bear in mind the common profile here of a new poster appearing with "I deleted X folder" or "I changed permissions on Y" ...and then a tale of woe

But if you have additional background info, about knowing what you are doing, then perhaps a good idea to post it ? ( Plus, even if you know what you are doing, maybe the next person doesn't, answers can be useful for who else might read the thread and not just the OP. )

And I'll still ask the question, why are you looking to delete stuff? Is it because you are low on space? Seems not. Then what are you accomplishing? AFAIK deleting the cache wont speed anything up except the odd backup (and then by a minute amount) and will likely slow thinsg down initially.

Plus, you may have been deleting the cache folder, but seems you are looking to branch out to other areas for 'tidying' now?

 

[John Doe 57]

And I'll still ask the question, why are you looking to delete stuff? Is it because you are low on space? Seems not. Then what are you accomplishing? AFAIK deleting the cache wont speed anything up except the odd backup (and then by a minute amount) and will likely slow thinsg down initially.

No I was just looking to delete folders and files for the hell of it.

Conversation ended.