Clean up hard drive

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RodneyB

Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

I have tried searching but I am unable to find out how to clean up the hard drive. I keep receiving a message that there is not much space left on my hard drive. I cleaned it up once before but cannot remember how I did it. I think by pressing f10 during boot up but when I go there now I cannot find an option to free up space. The hard drive gradually fills up during everyday use.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
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kc1di
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by kc1di »

There are several things you can do. That would help that situation.
1. I use both ubuntu-cleaner found here: https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/12/fre ... anitor-app and stacer found here: https://itsfoss.com/optimize-ubuntu-stacer/
2. clean all cashe such as apt.
3. Clean un needed log files.

Good luck.
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Moem
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by Moem »

RodneyB wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 10:06 am The hard drive gradually fills up during everyday use.
That should not happen. This is the underlying issue, which should be solved... otherwise you're just mopping while the faucet is running, as we say in Dutch.
Image

If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
RodneyB

Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

That should not happen. This is the underlying issue, which should be solved... otherwise you're just mopping while the faucet is running, as we say in Dutch.
I know it should not happen but it does. According to my settings the hard drive should clean up temp files when shut down but it does not. How do I solve the problem?
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by Moem »

RodneyB wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 10:50 am According to my settings the hard drive should clean up temp files when shut down but it does not.
First things first... How did you determine that this is what's filling up your hard drive?
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If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
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Flemur
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by Flemur »

RodneyB wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 10:50 am
That should not happen. This is the underlying issue, which should be solved... otherwise you're just mopping while the faucet is running, as we say in Dutch.
I know it should not happen but it does. According to my settings the hard drive should clean up temp files when shut down but it does not. How do I solve the problem?
You don't know that it's temp files - it sounds like log files getting filled with repeating error messages.

To check -

Code: Select all

du /var/log
(just for comparison, mine returns "7124 /var/log") and

Code: Select all

ls -l /var/log
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] if/when it is solved!
Your data and OS are backed up....right?
RodneyB

Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

Two times my hard drive has gradually filled up to the point where I receive a warning about low disk space. One time I did something to free up space but I do not remember what I did. I have not installed any other programs or saved any pictures or other things that would take up disk space. I only read the news and visit Facebook on this computer.
RodneyB

Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

You don't know that it's temp files - it sounds like log files getting filled with repeating error messages.

To check -

Code: Select all

du /var/log
(just for comparison, mine returns "7124 /var/log") and

Code: Select all

ls -l /var/log

I have no idea what you are talking about.
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kc1di
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by kc1di »

RodneyB wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:11 am
You don't know that it's temp files - it sounds like log files getting filled with repeating error messages.

To check -

Code: Select all

du /var/log
(just for comparison, mine returns "7124 /var/log") and

Code: Select all

ls -l /var/log

I have no idea what you are talking about.
He is asking you to issue those commands in a terminal and post the output here so we can look at them.
you may need to put sudo in front of the commands

Code: Select all

sudo du /var/log

Code: Select all

sudo ls -l /var/log
Last edited by kc1di on Wed Nov 28, 2018 6:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by Flemur »

kc1di wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 2:04 pmyou should put sudo in front of the commands
I tested 'em w/o sudo, they work fine. Whenever reasonable/possible, I run commands before posting them here, then copy 'em from the terminal to avoid typos.
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] if/when it is solved!
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by phd21 »

HI RodneyB,

I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well.

It would help to know more about your system setup. If you run "inxi -Fxzd" and "lsusb" from the console terminal prompt, highlight the results, copy and paste them back here, that should provide enough information.

You can install and run "QDirStat" or "baobab" to show what folders and files are taking up how much space.

How to check disk space on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux - LinuxConfig.org
https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-check-di ... aver-linux

You can also use system search applications like "Recoll" and "KFind" to locate files by size like show everything over 1 gb gigabyte in size.

8 Simple Ways To Free Up Space On Ubuntu and Linux Mint - It's FOSS
https://itsfoss.com/free-up-space-ubuntu-linux/

Linux Check Disk Space Command To View System Disk Usage - nixCraft
https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-che ... e-command/

Hope this helps ...
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by Pjotr »

Flemur wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 2:29 pm
kc1di wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 2:04 pmyou should put sudo in front of the commands
I tested 'em w/o sudo, they work fine.
Exactly. Restrict the use of sudo to the use cases in which it's absolutely necessary. Otherwise you run the risk of messing up file permissions.
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by kc1di »

Easy tips : https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/ Pjotr's Great Linux projects page.
Linux Mint Installation Guide: http://linuxmint-installation-guide.rea ... en/latest/
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RodneyB

Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

This is what I have: 50192 /var/log
RodneyB

Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

Is that my problem and if so how do I take care of it?
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Flemur
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by Flemur »

RodneyB wrote: Wed Nov 28, 2018 10:20 am This is what I have: 50192 /var/log
Is that my problem and if so how do I take care of it?
That's about 50MB, which isn't bad.
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] if/when it is solved!
Your data and OS are backed up....right?
RodneyB

Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

Thanks phd21. I think this will resolve my problem. The 8 easy steps is what I used. It is a long drawn out process but if it works that is fine. I will mark this as solved once I see that it is solved.
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by phd21 »

Hi RodneyB,

You are welcome from all of us that replied...

If you do not mind, what in particular was taking up the most space?
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RodneyB

Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by RodneyB »

phd21, I do not know what was taking up the most space but this did not fully resolve my problem. I have more space on the hard drive but still receive message about low space. I did not us the "expert" features of the 8 ways to clean up hard drive. Perhaps that would do it. I have not done much computer work in the past 10-12 years and am not confident enough to try.
phd21
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Re: Clean up hard drive

Post by phd21 »

Hi RodneyB,

What are you doing when you get the message that you are low on space? How much free space is left on the drive?

Have you changed your system to "put /tmp on tmpfs" in system memory as part of speeding up Linux Mint? If so, undo that, and restart computer.

Speed up your Mint 19! - Easy Linux tips project
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/3

Hope this helps ...
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