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Reinstalling OSX to get more HDD space on my new Macbook

A

Anoi

macrumors member
Original poster
May 18, 2006
90
8
My Macbook should arrive in a few days (i hope!), and i've heard a few people mention reinstalling OSX to get a bit more HDD space. I only have the 60gb hdd, so additional space would be great :) Though if it's only 1gb or so, then there would be little point really. So, how much space can i get back? and is it quick to do? (this is my first Mac!).

Thanks
 
I don't know personally, but I've heard a little bit here and there adds up. Like if you're only using english, or you don't use garageband and don't need all the loops.
 
Anoi said:
My Macbook should arrive in a few days (i hope!), and i've heard a few people mention reinstalling OSX to get a bit more HDD space. I only have the 60gb hdd, so additional space would be great :) Though if it's only 1gb or so, then there would be little point really. So, how much space can i get back? and is it quick to do? (this is my first Mac!).

Thanks
Click to expand...

I cut my install down to under 8.? GB.

Cut out the languages in OS X. Cut out the sound loops in GarageBand. Cut all the demo software. Cut any apps you don't need. It is easy to save almost 10GB, and I wasn't even being ruthless. I kept iLife and a bunch of useless little apps like comic strip. Bottom line, my OS X install was less than 9 GB, cutting the original size in half, and I could have been saved quite a bit more if I had needed to do so.

Yes, do a custom reinstall.
 
ManchesterTrix said:
By default OS X installs a gig of Language translations and 4-5 gigs of Printer drivers.
Click to expand...
So what happens if I dont install all of those printer drivers then end up buying a printer whose driver I deleted?
 
bursty said:
So what happens if I dont install all of those printer drivers then end up buying a printer whose driver I deleted?
Click to expand...

You can download the most recent drivers from the printer company's web site.
 
bursty said:
So what happens if I dont install all of those printer drivers then end up buying a printer whose driver I deleted?
Click to expand...

Then you can just install them when you get said printer. If I recall correctly, there is an option to install individual packages after installing OS X and otherwise there's always Pacifist.
 
As this is my first Mac, i don't know a great deal about them. How do i actually go about formatting and reinstalling?

This should give me enough space to put on Windows to (i need it for my .NET development for work).
 
Anoi said:
As this is my first Mac, i don't know a great deal about them. How do i actually go about formatting and reinstalling?

This should give me enough space to put on Windows to (i need it for my .NET development for work).
Click to expand...

Same question... could someone please help us in this cold, dark world? :D
 
1. Boot into Mac OS X
2. Insert Mac OS X Install Disc 1 into your Mac
3. Double click 'Install Mac OS X and Bundled Software'

and your off, make sure you hit the 'Custom' button on Mac OS X installer to add/remove unwanted packages.

edit: Oh, you'll want the 'Erase and Install' option if you don't want to keep any data (if its a new Mac for example)
 
Malcster said:
1. Boot into Mac OS X
2. Insert Mac OS X Install Disc 1 into your Mac
3. Double click 'Install Mac OS X and Bundled Software'

and your off, make sure you hit the 'Custom' button on Mac OS X installer to add/remove unwanted packages.

edit: Oh, you'll want the 'Erase and Install' option if you don't want to keep any data (if its a new Mac for example)
Click to expand...

So "Erase and Install" will totally clear the hard drive?
 
ncook06 said:
So "Erase and Install" will totally clear the hard drive?
Click to expand...
Yes and no. Will it erase everything in the common usage of "erase"? Yes
Will it totally erase everything? No. If you want to do that chose to write the drive with 0's or the more intensive 7-pass wipe.

So unless there is sensitive documents that you want totally deleted, erase and install with the default erase options is fine.
 
faintember said:
Yes and no. Will it erase everything in the common usage of "erase"? Yes
Will it totally erase everything? No. If you want to do that chose to write the drive with 0's or the more intensive 7-pass wipe.

So unless there is sensitive documents that you want totally deleted, erase and install with the default erase options is fine.
Click to expand...

Its a new macbook so I do not think there are sensitive documents, NSA phone records, on there. The OP just wanted to save a few GBs.
 
ncook06 said:
So when I pull my brand-new Macbook out of the box and do this will it produce a completely empty HD?
Click to expand...

No...it will produce a fresh install of OS X that allows you to customize what gets installed.

You can get a completely empty hard drive by booting from the DVD and using Disk Utility to wipe the hard drive. Not sure why you'd want to do that though...
 
WildCowboy said:
No...it will produce a fresh install of OS X that allows you to customize what gets installed.

You can get a completely empty hard drive by booting from the DVD and using Disk Utility to wipe the hard drive. Not sure why you'd want to do that though...
Click to expand...

I meant completely empty before I install only the components of OSX that I want :eek:

I should have worded that better.
 
New thread-related question...

I don't have any use for Apple Loops now, but I might later. Can I do my fresh install without them and add them when I need them?
 
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