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General discussion

Low disk space message shown on my macbook

Nov 15, 2010 9:49PM PST

I'm a new bird to use Mac OS. This is my 1st Mac.
Initially I'm very satisfy with my Macbook performance, fast response. But after some time, I notice it running is a very very slow operation, even worst that my Samsung laptop.

I was install some software, like OnlyX, CleanMyMac, MacScan 2, MacTuneUp, SpeedTools Utilities Pro. I hope this things can give back my speed, but it doesn't sound that way.

Sometimes, the system it show a message, the content of the message is saying that, my startup disk is low disk space. So, I immediately using CleanMyMac to uninstall some software, finally it able to recovery over 7G. But the system is still the same, running at very slow respond. Especially when I open the Google Chrome (last time very fast), it take about 1 min to loading! Sometimes the message regarding the "startup disk is low disk space" is still popup.

When I open the Finder, I notice the disk space at "Macintosh HD" and "user" is ZERO byte (but sometime it could be >1G but sometime is lesses).

Thus, someone please help me. I would like to know what was happening in my Macbook? What is "start disk" mean? Is it the "Macintosh HD"? Why even I uninstall so many software ,recovery >7G, but the system is still popup the message, and the disk space shown in the Finder (Machintosh HD + user)is less than 7G? And why the disk space figure shown at the Finder is variate? How do make it back into the good old day, fast respond?

Thanks.

Spec:
Macbook Pro 13"
Mac OS X 10.6.5 (latest)
Processor 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 2GB 1067MHz DDR3

Discussion is locked

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Your hard drive problem
Nov 16, 2010 4:28AM PST

could be a couple of things.

1. The hard drive could be faulty
or
2. The hard drive really is Full.

Double click the Macintosh HD icon. In the open window you will see, at the bottom, the amount of free space available on that drive. Whatever the original size of the drive was, you would ideally have around 15%, or more, free space on the drive.

I'm not a big fan of "Spring Cleaning" or "CleanMymac", I have seen too many people burned by that sort of utility.

How much free space does the HD window tell you is available and is your computer still under warranty?
P

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Few tips ro free space
Nov 16, 2010 1:45PM PST
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Your hard drive problem
Nov 16, 2010 11:06PM PST

I think the HD should be ok. Because after I use the OnlyX, the capacity become >82G. My HD total capacity is about 160G, now I have >15%, but the performance still lagging. Of cause it show me some improvement after the free space is increased. However, the overall performance is still slow if compare with last time. Especially when I open the Chrome browser (last time is fast). And I notice, when I load with the flash in any browser, the performance drop rapidly. It this a normal scenario at Mac? Because my laptop w/ Win7 wouldn't show me this. So, any suggestion? Should I increase the RAM? Or the problem come from the flash? I need further assist.

Thanks.

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Flash, on a Mac, will eat your resources
Nov 17, 2010 3:00AM PST

like unwanted relatives at Christmas.

Do you get the same slow behavior when you use Safari?


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