Removing "dead data" from hard drive...

Discussion in 'General Questions' started by kapz28, Nov 4, 2013.

  1. kapz28

    kapz28 Bit poster

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    I removed Parallels before installing a new copy of it. I did NOT remove the virtual machine I had. I reinstalled windows on the new installation of parallels, but the old windows files are still sitting on my hard drive taking up tons of space. How can I locate and remove these files?
     
  2. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    3,236
    The default paths for storing Parallels virtual machines are /Users/<UserName>/Documents/Parallels/ and /Users/Shared.
     
  3. kapz28

    kapz28 Bit poster

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    3
    Thanks for the reply Specimen. The .pvm file from the new windows installation is there (approx 16gb), but the old one is not. Yet I know that 15-20gb is being consumed by the old installation on my hard drive. Spotlight search doesn't find it, and nor can Clean My Mac 2.
     
  4. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    3,236
    Was it a Bootcamp based VM?

    The only way to reclaim back the space, if you really don't need it anymore is using Bootcamp Assistant.app and delete teh Bootcamp partition (all data there will be lost).
     
  5. kapz28

    kapz28 Bit poster

    Messages:
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    Nope, wasn't bootcamp based.
     
  6. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

    Messages:
    3,236
    If it isn't in any of the default folders (different user? Shared), if it wasn't bootcamp based.

    Either
    It's still in the trash
    or
    You used a non default location.

    I suggest using GrandPerspective: http://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2013

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