Ubuntu

hard drive full

Asked by thomaslanierwilliamsmatheis

where is a disk clean up utility? I keep getting a message that my hard drive is full, but I have no idea how to free up disk space without screwing up everything else.

I can't even get to applications. All that comes up when I click on the ubuntu icon are: Places, System, and Quit.

Places brings up: Home Folder, Desktop, Computer, CD/DVD Creator, Lexar (the flash drive), Network, Connect to Server..., Search for Files..., Recent Documents

Recent Documents are: DVD burn, disk, applications-utilities.png, applications-science.png, applications-system.png, InHome.pdf, file:%2F%2F%2Fmedia%2Fdisk.xml, saved-session-ATAOPU, +EOBMXqy.html.part, and kbload.jsp.html

System brings up: Preferences, Administration, Help and Support, about GNOME, About Fluendo, About Ubuntu

Preferences are: About Me, Airplane Mode, Appearance, Assistive Technologies, Default Printer, Encryption and Keyrings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, Main Menu, Mouse, Network Proxy, OpenJDK Java 6 Policy Tool, Palm OS Devices, Power Management, Preferred Applications, Remote Desktop, Removable Drives and Media, SCIM Input Method Setup, Screen Resolution, Screensaver, Sessions, Sound, Sun Java 6 Plugin Control Panel, Sun Java 6 Policy Tool, Switch Desktop Mode, and Windows

Administration is: Authorizations, Hardware Drivers, Hardware Testing, Language Support, Login Window, Network, Network Tools, Printing, Services, Software Sources, Synaptic Package manager,System Log, System Monitor, Time and Date, Update manager, Users and Groups

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actionparsnip
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Revision history for this message
Ishan A B Ambanwela (ishanaba) said : 		#1

this command will clear the downloaded cached files.

$ sudo apt-get clean

and try empty trash because until you empty trash hard disk space will not be claimed by default.

if your problem still remain

=>its better if you explain how did you get your hard drive full?
    i.e. are you using softwares which claim more space like multimedia editing software or something
=>make sure your hard drive space is enough for your installation.
    (actually it should be considered before installation) check

Revision history for this message
Andre Mangan (kyphi) said : 		#2

Yes, there are disc cleanup utilities but first of all let us determine where your drive is full. Perhaps you have a backup program running.

Open a terminal (Applications, Accessories, Terminal) and type: df -h

Post the result back here please.

Revision history for this message
thomaslanierwilliamsmatheis (maximumshred) said : 		#3

I have emptied the trash which was empty and tried the $ sudo apt-get clean command, but it says it cannot exectute the command, that the drive is full.

Revision history for this message
thomaslanierwilliamsmatheis (maximumshred) said : 		#4

Thank you Andre, but I'm having other problems. I just posted some more details regarding my situation.

Sincerely,

Tom Matheis

--- On Tue, 4/21/09, Andre Mangan <email address hidden> wrote:

> From: Andre Mangan <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #68101]: how do I clean up my full hard drive?
> To: <email address hidden>
> Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 1:54 AM
> Your question #68101 on file-roller in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+question/68101
>
> Andre Mangan proposed the following answer:
> Yes, there are disc cleanup utilities but first of all let
> us determine
> where your drive is full. Perhaps you have a backup
> program running.
>
> Open a terminal (Applications, Accessories, Terminal) and
> type: df -h
>
> Post the result back here please.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following
> page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+question/68101/+confirm?answer_id=1
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go
> to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+question/68101
>
> You received this question notification because you are a
> direct
> subscriber of the question.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Can you please give us the full output of:

sudo apt-get clean
df -h

These are to be ran in terminal (Gnome) or Konsole (KDE)

Thanks

Revision history for this message
thomaslanierwilliamsmatheis (maximumshred) said : 		#6

Here is what came up after running commands:
root@allana:/home/allana# sudo apt-get clean
root@allana:/home/allana# df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda2 3.4G 3.1G 153M 96% /
varrun 247M 100K 247M 1% /var/run
varlock 247M 0 247M 0% /var/lock
udev 247M 44K 247M 1% /dev
devshm 247M 80K 247M 1% /dev/shm
lrm 247M 1.9M 245M 1% /lib/modules/2.6.24-22-lpia/volatile
overflow 1.0M 32K 992K 4% /tmp
root@allana:/home/allana#

Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

ok this is a similar setup to my own system, I have a VERY small / partition (my current install occupys 2.6Gb).

You needs to read through

dpkg -l | less

and uninstall the stuff you dont use or need.

Classic examples of this are the xorg drivers for graphics cards that arent in the system, old kernels which you dont use etc.

Ubuntu is a 1 glove fits all so comes with MASSES of stuff you won't use. If you dont use bluetooth for example you can uninstall those too, take some time to customise your system a little and you'll be ok.

Revision history for this message
Ishan A B Ambanwela (ishanaba) said : 		#8

actually its not very easy to overcome your problem without uninstalling some useless programs.and also u can free up your disk space by removing your unnecessary private files from your home directory but it should done manually on your own.I tell this to you because most of PC users keep many unnecessary files on their Desktop and in Documents.

Revision history for this message
thomaslanierwilliamsmatheis (maximumshred) said : 		#9

Thank you, ishanaba. I did just that, and everything is just fine now. Have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,

Tom Matheis

--- On Wed, 4/22/09, ishanaba <email address hidden> wrote:

> From: ishanaba <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #68101]: how do I clean up my full hard drive?
> To: <email address hidden>
> Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 4:31 AM
> Your question #68101 on file-roller in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+question/68101
>
> ishanaba proposed the following answer:
> actually its not very easy to overcome your problem without
> uninstalling
> some useless programs.and also u can free up your disk
> space by removing
> your unnecessary private files from your home directory but
> it should
> done manually on your own.I tell this to you because most
> of PC users
> keep many unnecessary files on their Desktop and in
> Documents.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following
> page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+question/68101/+confirm?answer_id=7
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go
> to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+question/68101
>
> You received this question notification because you are a
> direct
> subscriber of the question.

Revision history for this message
thomaslanierwilliamsmatheis (maximumshred) said : 		#10

Thanks to everyone for their help. This is a Dell n series mini computer with a teeny tiny drive. It took a little "hunting and pecking", but I was also able to get the stuff back up on the menu that I wanted. I also removed the automatic updater, which I think is what filled up the drive in the first place.

Revision history for this message
thomaslanierwilliamsmatheis (maximumshred) said : 		#11

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#12

Sweet dude. Its a massive flaw that is inherent in Ubuntu that plagues small hard drives. Glad its working now :)

Revision history for this message
Bremner (paullinden) said : 		#13

got same problem and can not upgrade to 12.04