Mac Tip : Clean Up your Hard Drive

Apple Macintosh computers are great, but they all seem to have hard drive storage issues. Here I’ll show you how to:

1. Clean up your hard drive and eliminate clutter

2. Permanently delete files in your trash

3. Delete all cookies and cache system wide

4. Repair permissions on your mac files

5. Edit many system wide options using OnyX

First Get OnyX

I’m able to do all of the above with a free Macintosh tool called OnyX. Here is how you install it:

• Go to http://www.titanium.free.fr/download.php
• Select the version of OnyX based on the operating system you are using
• You can find your operating system info, by clicking the Apple icon and then About This Mac
• Choose to open with DiskImageMounter
• Drag the OnyX logo into you Application folder
• Double click on the OnyX icon to open it

How to Delete Mac Trash

If you have a Mac, eventually you will have a problem deleting your trash. Laugh it up PC’s! OnyX will delete the trash everytime.

• Just click on the tab in Onyx called Utilities
• Select Trash in the toolbar
• Make sure the Delete radio button is selected
• Click the Execute button

This might take a bit to process, but I guarantee it will permanently delete and over write all of your trash. It will even delete files that are locked or in use, so watch out.

Clean Up Mac Hard Drive

PC’s have a tool called CCleaner, that deletes cookies, and other garbage files system wide. You can do the same thing with OnyX:

• Click on the Cleaning Button in OnyX
• Click on the Internet tab
• Select what you want deleted, by clicking in the check boxes
• Click Execute and everything is gone

Fix Permissions on Mac

Permissions get messed up on the Mac as well, leaving you unable to access your files. You can fix them by:

• Click on the Maintenance Button in OnyX
• Selecting the Permission option
• Click Execute
• All of your Permissions should now be fixed

Change Settings on Mac

You can also change many settings in OnyX, that aren’t available in your general Settings program. Click on the Parameters icon in OnyX.

General OnyX Settings

Under the General tab you can:

• Define where arrow keys are located for scrolling
• Define the screen capture file format
• Define the number of files to display in your Recent Files menu
• Choose to have a Mac animated desktop background!!!
• Remove the warning you see, when you run an application you downloaded

Finder OnyX Settings

Under the Finder tab you can:

• Define many graphic effect options
• Choose to show hidden files by default
• Define the look of your Menu Bar Background
• There are also additional options you can choose to show

Dock OnyX Settings

Under the Dock tab you can:

• Define animations on the Dock
• Define where the applications will open on the screen
• Choose what will appear on your Dock
• Hide the Dock, when out of focus
• Lock down the Dock icons
• Define how Stacks operate on the Dock

The Rest of the OnyX Parameter Options

You can also tweak many options available in:

• QuickTime
• Safari
• iTunes
• Login Options
• Many other miscellaneous options

That’s All Folks

To put it simply, OnyX is a great tool if it only provided it’s Mac disk clean up tools. Try it out. It’s Free!

If you have any questions or comments leave them in the comment section below.

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Think Tank