iMac 7 years old, I7 with 16gb internal, one TB harddisk.
In the last couple of weeks it got slower. after checking rescue tool which still works, saw that I almost used all disk space available. Now only ball is running and cannot transfer files to an external disk
what to do?
thanks for guidance
Bill
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 13.7
If that iMac's startup disk is so full that you cannot even get it to work, try restarting it in "Safe Mode" and deleting files while in that mode:
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
Among other things Safe Mode deletes certain cache files maintained by the system. In so doing you might be able to reclaim sufficient space for macOS to work well enough to offload files to other storage.
This amounts to desperate measures though.
You did not explain what this "rescue tool" is. That may be a significant detail. Many such things are scams that will ruin your day, if not your Mac also.
When running Disk Utility First Aid in Recovery mode, what errors did it report?
Be sure to create a Time Machine backup, if you haven't already: Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support. You can do that in Safe Mode if necessary. Lacking a TM backup, be sure to have backed up all your essential files because the solution is likely to require erasing the startup disk (Fusion Drive), reinstalling macOS, followed by restoring the TM backup or otherwise rebuilding the Mac from the ground up. Even that is likely to be a temporary solution assuming the startup drive has been operating in a state of failure. Those errors should not have occurred to begin with, and are likely to occur again.
Thanks John
by rescue tool I meant under disk utility (which was still accessible) you have something probably in English : disk first aid. there I could see that all space was used.
tried safe mode, and after 15 minutes it opened. now transferring 576 gb to an external disk which will take approx 13 hours.
kyp on developments, hope you are still available if in the end I would still be stuck. Thx again.
Probleem remains. I transferred and dumpt 576 gb. all went well in the safe mode, where I deleted all through the bin. Restarted and disk utility and info of MAC HD still indicates disk is full. Read some articles about it but all provided does not work.
Method 1. Open Storage Tab to Free Space,
Method 2. Restart Mac in Safe Mode
Method 3. Run First Aid in macOS Recovery Mode
I also checked in the safe mode, disk utility where in the Fusion Drive I see several errors pop up i.e. found file extend (ID 12948275242 at logic address 425984, 430080, 434176, 438272 beyond the end of the dstream 389120
I am not sure if you want and or are able to help me but it would just be great again to receive your advise
Thanks. Disk Utility's "First Aid" is ok.
Yes, if literally all a startup disk's space is used that can be a problem. By all means write back if you still experience trouble.
How do I free up disk space and speed up my 7-year-old iMac?
