Where are all these files? (I already used a disk sweeper)

[Porkplan]

In about this mac> storage, it says that I only have 90 GB of space from my 500 GB hard drive.
the movies occupies 68 gb and photos occupy 121 gb etc.

I don't get it. I already used Omni Disk sweeper and I cannot find these bulk of files. I understand that they may be separated.
I tried going to all my files, selected all the photos and used get info, they only contain around 4GB while all my movies were only 11GB compared to the 68 GB and 121 GB that my Mac is saying.
Why is this?

I also checked the other users on my mac and all they have is around 1GB only.

According to Omni Sweeper I only occupied less than 200 GB in my 500 GB hard drive. But my Mac says I only have 90 GB left when it should have around 200-300 more space.

Basically this is all that there is in Omni Disk.

But according to my Mac I have spent much more than that. So where are all those files? Any thoughts? I appreciate your help

 

[Weaselboy]

I think you have a combination of things going on here.

First that About this Mac storage graphic gets it data from the Spotlight index, and if that index is corrupt the readings will be wrong.

Run the command below in Terminal and wait for the reindex then check the graphic again and see if it looks closer.

Also, tell me if there is space used there for Backup?

If you have Time Machine turned on, there is some hidden space used for local snapshots. That is shown in that Backup section and is not included when you look at Finder space totals.

 

[Porkplan]

I think you have a combination of things going on here.

First that About this Mac storage graphic gets it data from the Spotlight index, and if that index is corrupt the readings will be wrong.

Run the command below in Terminal and wait for the reindex then check the graphic again and see if it looks closer.

Also, tell me if there is space used there for Backup?

If you have Time Machine turned on, there is some hidden space used for local snapshots. That is shown in that Backup section and is not included when you look at Finder space totals.

Hi thanks for your answer. Which command are you referring to though?

 

[Dave Braine]

Try Grandperspective. This will show all your files as squares. The bigger the square, the bigger the file.
http://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net

 

[GGJstudios]

Hi thanks for your answer. Which command are you referring to though?

Try re-indexing your drive:

Spotlight: How to re-index folders or volumes​

If that fails to index, enter the following command in Terminal:

sudo mdutil -i on "/Volumes/your drive name"​

If you're wondering what "Other" category in the 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 by entering the following command in Terminal: sudo tmutil disablelocal.
  About Time Machine's "local snapshots" on portable Macs​
• Check to see if some of the space is being used by your sleepimage file.
• 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
• 18.45EB of movies shown
• Duplicate movies in iPhoto app

Freeing up drive space in Mac OS X

 

[Weaselboy]

Hi thanks for your answer. Which command are you referring to though?

Whoops... sorry.

Just run this in Terminal.

sudo mdutil -E /