Unexpected "startup disk full" messages and 0kb available on harddrive

[jessismith]

Hello fellow mac users,

I'm having a strange problem that i hope someone can help me with. I'm using a G4 cube with a 500mhz processor, 1.25 gig ram, and a 40 gig harddrive.

As I knew, I had 10 or 12 gigs available on my hard drive a couple of weeks ago- I keep all storage on an external drive, and only have program files and occational things on the desktop.

Yesterday when I used my computer, I began getting error messages saying "start up disk almost full". When I viewed the hard drive in the finder window, I noticed that there was less than 1 gig of space left. Tonight when I went on my computer, it says 0 kb left. How is this possible? I have saved nothing on the internal hard drive! I have restarted several times (in attempts to dump the cache), and ran a permissions repair in disk utility. Still no space left on HD.

If anyone can help, I would be so appreciative. I know I'm using an ancient computer here, but I don't have the cash for a new one, and with the memory upgrade, this one is usually efficient. Please please please help me! Thank you so much.

[sinclair_tm]

sounds like a runway log file, which means that there is somrthing going on that the os doesn't like, so it writes to the logs. if you can, download cocktail and run the cron scripts and clear the caches with it. if that doesn't help, search for all files over 50mb in size (including hidden) and see if there are any that are safe to delete.

[jessismith]

Thanks so much, but unfortunatly, i can't get online with my computer. I'm actually on my roommate's laptop, borrowing wireless from our neighbor. My cube doens't have the airport card. Is there anything else I can do? How do I know which are safe to delete, and where did 10 gigs of info come from?

[barhar]

01. Select and copy ('Edit, Copy' menu item, or 'Command C') the following (UNIX command) line ...

rm -rf /var/vm/ /Library/Logs/ $HOME/Library/logs/ $HOME/Library/Caches/Safari $HOME/Library/Caches/Software\ Update/

02. Open (launch, run) 'Terminal' ('/Applications/Utilities/' folder).

03. Enter ...

sudo bash

... and press the <return> key. When 'Password:' is displayed - enter an administrator's password and press the <return> key.

04. Do a paste (select 'Terminal's 'Edit, Paste' menu item, or 'Command V') and press the <return> key.

05. Optional. Reboot (restart) the Macintosh.

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The 'rm .... vm/' UNIX line will delete the virtual memory, 'Logs' (global - all users), 'logs' (local - current user), 'Safari' and 'Software Update' cache (local - current user) - folders of files and folders.

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Always exercise caution when using 'rm -rf '.

[jessismith]

Just wanted to give you guys an update- it turns out my hard drive was going bad. When I restarted the computer, I got this gray screen with the mac classic smiley face on it (which my roommate calls "the screen of death"). The mac certified guy checked it out and said the hard drive was dead. So now I have a new hard drive. Thanks so much for your help and suggestions!

-Jessi

[sourcehound]

Originally Posted by jessismith

Thanks so much, but unfortunatly, i can't get online with my computer. I'm actually on my roommate's laptop, borrowing wireless from our neighbor. My cube doens't have the airport card. Is there anything else I can do? How do I know which are safe to delete, and where did 10 gigs of info come from?

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/28430

It'll tell you exactly what files are taking up space.