[Hidden-tech] halp ......so many duplicate files

[Hai Nguyen Ly]

Hi Elyssa:
I highly recommend starting the process by making a time machine backup of your newest MacBook using an external drive. Once this is done, I would make a bootable copy of your MacBook drive using software such as Super Duper or Carbon Copy Cloner. Once the bootable drive has been created, you might consider booting from this drive to verify that works. Once this bootable drive has been verified, shut down your mac and disconnect any attached drives. After the attached drives have been disconnected, you can power back on the machine and start deleting user's and contents to free up space with the knowledge that you have two backups just in case something goes sideways. Regarding data backups, remember the mantra, two is one and one is none.
After you have freed up space on your MacBook, use another external drive for active time machine backups of your cleaned up Mac. Depending on the importance of the data, it may be worth considering keeping an encrypted bootable backup drive in another location.
I hope this helps a bit. Please feel free to reach out off-list if you would like clarification regarding any of the above.

Cordially:
Hai Nguyen Ly

> On Jan 3, 2020, at 12:43 AM, Elyssa Serrilli via Hidden-discuss <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote:
> 
> Hey friends and neighbors,
> 
> A few years ago, my old Macbook died.  Some nice folks were able to "rescue the data", and put it on my new Macbook.  They created a new user to do this, and duplicate files of all my data and apps.  Then my old new Macbook died.  Some nice folks were able to "rescue the data", and put it on my new new Macbook.  My new new Macbook has three users on it, each with the old old data 3 times, and the old data 2 times and the new new data once.  This sucks.  Almost all my memory is used up.
> 
> I tried to download a duplicate file deleter app, but I couldn't because I don't have enough memory to download the one app, and I don't have a recent enough version of Mac Os to download the other.
> 
> What can I do?  I have kerzillions of files.  I tried going through the list one by one using a "Smart Folder", but I have over 12,000 just jpgs.  I have an external hard drive... I wonder if that could be put to good use in this endeavor.
> 
> Oh good techies of the valley... what do you know about this? <3
> 
> 
> In the dance of Service to all Life 
> In Magycke and Divine Play
> 
> Elyssa Marie Serrilli 
> 
> Cultural Engineer
> 
> 
> 
> 
> "If you have come here to help me, you are wasting our time. 
> But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, 
> then let us work together." 
> ~ Lilla Watson
> 
> 
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