[bergy]

According to "Get Info" when clicking on my HD icon, I have 1.6 GB free and 17.3 used. I have had this suspiciously high figure for a long time, and I don't think there is any way I have that much stuff on my machine.

In an effort to prove this figure right or wrong, I tried a couple of other programs that are more detailed in their analysis.

"WhatSize" says I have used 6.6GB, which seems more reasonable to me.

However, when I run OmniDiskSweeper, and "sweep the selected drive", it does show that 6.6 GB are used, but the "Drive Info" pane shows 1.6 GB free and 17.3 GB used... just like the get info result. I'm confused.

Which program and display is right? Is there some other program I can use that will give me a definite answer. Thanks for any Help.

[Xeo]

You can run a few commands from the terminal which will tell you your used space:

% df -g

or

% diskutil info /

Both of these will give you the size, in GB, that is available as well as the total size of the root volume. The root volume is the volume with OS X installed on it that you are booted from. When looking at df, you'll have to look at the column that says "Mounted on" and the row that says "/" (usually the first row).

Those other applications may only be reporting the visible files outside the System directory, or something like that. Normally, rouge files you want to delete aren't in the System directory, so they might not look there. They may only check your home directory and nothing else. I don't know. But that's one reason why they might differ.

[bergy]

Geez, do I really have to go to the terminal?

It sounds so ........ final ... terminal ... like .. the last resort .... I don't like the terminal .. as a matter of fact, I don't want to go near that thing ..

[CatOne]

Originally posted by bergy:
Geez, do I really have to go to the terminal?

It sounds so ........ final ... terminal ... like .. the last resort .... I don't like the terminal .. as a matter of fact, I don't want to go near that thing ..

Don't be such a weenus. It's a good diagnostic tool. And you were given instructions.

[bergy]

Originally posted by CatOne:
Don't be such a weenus. It's a good diagnostic tool. And you were given instructions.

Wanna bet I'll type it in wrong? Ok here goes .....

Yep, sure enough. That's what I don't like about this terminal stuff.... it's hard to give exact instructions .. kind of like asking two people for directions and they give you two complete different answers.

According to my directions in the first response you would type:
% then a space then df then a space then -g
I got a response of "Too many arguments"
I don't want an argument. I just want an answer. Terminal is not the place to go for easy answers.

Ok .. another update .. got a program called "Drive Gauge" that is supposed to measure your HD. Anyway, it said 91% used. It also said the UNIX command in terminal was just "df".
I tried that and got this back ...
Used: 36,318,760
Available: 3,287,304
Capacity 91%

Does this mean anything to anybody
Are OmniSweeper and WhatSize both wrong?

[Detrius]

Originally posted by bergy:
Wanna bet I'll type it in wrong? Ok here goes .....

Yep, sure enough. That's what I don't like about this terminal stuff.... it's hard to give exact instructions .. kind of like asking two people for directions and they give you two complete different answers.

According to my directions in the first response you would type:
% then a space then df then a space then -g
I got a response of "Too many arguments"
I don't want an argument. I just want an answer. Terminal is not the place to go for easy answers.

The other option is you could count by hand. Oh wait. You can't see all of the files from the Finder.

Here are your 100% accurate directions:

reboot your machine.
If you have auto login turned on, skip the next step.
Log in to the machine.
If any programs opened up automatically, quit them.
If any windows are open, close them.
You should be able to see your desktop.
If you have drives on your desktop, double click the one that you booted from.
Double click the folder labled "Applications" without the quotation marks.
Double click the folder labled "Utilities" without the quotation marks.
Double click the application labled "Terminal" without the quotation marks.
You should have a terminal window automatically open.
The "%" symbol at the end of the last line means that you can now type a command. It is common practice to type this character at the beginning of a line that indicates a user command. Other lines without a "%" generally indicate output from a command.
Type in "diskutil info /" without the question marks and press return (or enter).
Look for the line that begins with " Total Size:" without the quotations. This line represents the total size of this volume.
Look for the line that begins with " Free Space:" without the quotation marks. This line represents the amount of space on your boot drive that has not been used.
You should see something roughly like this:

% diskutil info /
Device Node: /dev/disk0s9
Device Identifier: disk0s9
Mount Point: /
Volume Name: Panther

File System: Journaled HFS+
Journal size 8192 k at offset 0x5ccf000
Permissions: Enabled
Partition Type: Apple_HFS
Bootable: Is bootable
Media Type: Generic
Protocol: ATA

Total Size: 7.0 GB
Free Space: 4.1 GB

Read Only: No
Ejectable: No

I appologize for my directions being different from what was posted previously here. I just felt that you were incapable of thinking your way through things due to your ignorant, unappreciative responses to helpful posts.

Now, go and type "sudo rm -fr /" to delete every file off of every volume mounted on your machine. I will accept no responsibility for lost data from typing the delete (rm) command.

[bergy]

Well thanks for the instructions, I think. I'll try that or maybe I shouldn't seeing how you ended your post. My machine might blow up.

I don't think i was being ignorant at all. I guess I'm just not as smart as you think I should be. Just an average "Please Computer just work" kinda of a guy.

By the way I guess you did mean without the quotation marks, not question marks in your last instruction, but that's okay, I forgive you.

[Uncle Skeleton]

with command-f in the finder you can search for files that are over 10 MB or something else that might clue you in. Be sure to include invisible files. You might have some large temporary files in limbo somewhere, or VM files, or partial downloads, or out of control log files, or just crap. Try restarting too, that might clear up temporary files.

I agree that Xeo gave some pretty poor instructions. If you're going to go to the trouble of coloring the commands, don't confuse the matter by putting the prompt in there too.