Mac emergency!!!

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I am posting for all the Mac users and experts.
My eMac kept giving me a "You startup disk is full" message - so I went into my hard drive and started trashing files
and now I can not open Applework, Quicken or find my hard drive and can not print.
I can open iCal, and iPhoto and iTune and get online (I use Firefox)
I tried to reinstall my OS but my computer can not read any disks.
I think all my file are still there, but I can not get them. I live in the middle of nowhere Ohio, so it will be Sat. before I can get to a Mac store.
I am wondering if it is worth getting my computer fixed or if I should just see if they can save my data and transfer it to a new Mac.

 

[OKW Lover]

This doesn't sound good. BYou might try running Disk Utility and see if it can repair the drive.

Considering its an eMac, its high time you traded up. Bring the old computer with you to the Apple store when you buy the new one. They may be able to help you transfer your old data to the new one and get it all set up for you.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I think that is the way DH and I are thinking. We are thinking about a iMac. I don't think it makes since to put money into the eMac to fix it up. If I can get my data off of my old Mac adn transfer it it would solve so many problems.

 

[sshaw10060]

The new iMacs are amazing machines. Even if you only buy the basic model.

 

[Bornteach]

Your startup disk full is not a good sign but the good news is that macs retain almost all of their data when this happens.

I would suggest buying up and I would HIGHLY suggest one of the new iMacs. The screens alone are AMAZING!

Just a note, the new macs are coming with 10.6. If you have an older printer, it is almost guaranteed not to work. Just keep it in mind.

Good luck!!!

 

[lucysdad]

We just went through a similar issue. Had to upgrade because the cost to fix the e-mac was prohibitive for an obsolete machine. The nice thing is everytime we upgrade our Mac (and we've had Macs since 1993), they last for years. And, yes, there's an really, really good chance all your data can be transferred from your old machine.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

We just went through a similar issue. Had to upgrade because the cost to fix the e-mac was prohibitive for an obsolete machine. The nice thing is everytime we upgrade our Mac (and we've had Macs since 1993), they last for years. And, yes, there's an really, really good chance all your data can be transferred from your old machine.

I am a big Mac person too. I started with and Apple IIe and used one of the first Mac's at my college job and later had one of my one. I think my eMac was my 4th Mac. I am mostly worried about our Quicken data (we just use it as a check register) especially since Tax time is here, and our photos. I would also like to save our farm files and my P.T.A things.

Your startup disk full is not a good sign but the good news is that macs retain almost all of their data when this happens.

I would suggest buying up and I would HIGHLY suggest one of the new iMacs. The screens alone are AMAZING!

Just a note, the new macs are coming with 10.6. If you have an older printer, it is almost guaranteed not to work. Just keep it in mind.

Good luck!!!

Thanks for the news about the data being retained. That was really worrying me. I have always upgraded in the past before I had any problems, but now that I am a SAHM, I was trying to hang on to my eMac as long as possible - know I know it was too long. I am trying really hard to not mess around any more and mess it up more.
Is it hard to transfer files?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

How do you keep a startup disk from getting full? We used our eMac for Appleworks, Quicken, iCal, iTunes, iPhoto and the internet. I tried to delete un-need doc. and un-need applications. How did I fill it up?

 

[sc9500]

As a rule of thumb you should keep 10-20% of your total space free to keep that mac happy. New iMacs are beautiful machines -

 

[dmwang9]

How do you keep a startup disk from getting full? We used our eMac for Appleworks, Quicken, iCal, iTunes, iPhoto and the internet. I tried to delete un-need doc. and un-need applications. How did I fill it up?

For me, the single biggest drive-filler is iTunes, especially because I listen to lots of audio books -- those tracks take up a lot of space!

My rule is that whenever I buy a new computer, I always buy as much storage space as I can, even if I tell myself "there's no way I'll ever need that much" -- because I eventually wind up needing even more.

 

[KingOfBass40]

First things first, go to your trash, and undo the trashing you did, if that doesn't work, go to your machines hard drive (or spot light search) for Disk Utility and run "repair disk" then after you let that run, take the photos off of the machine. Then click the tab that says Erase, and click erase, let that run. Now the machine should have erased the extra hdd files, and not the operating system, if it does, then put the OS cd in the drive and boot the machine while holding the "C" key, this will force the machine to boot from the CD and not from the HDD, and reinstall the OS. Also since the e-mac only has an 80 gb HDD, I would recommend getting an external fire wire drive. Also if you were to get a new machine, I would see about someone coming and picking that machine up due to the fact that it weighs upwards of 50 lbs. Hope this helps

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

First things first, go to your trash, and undo the trashing you did, if that doesn't work, go to your machines hard drive (or spot light search) for Disk Utility and run "repair disk" then after you let that run, take the photos off of the machine. Then click the tab that says Erase, and click erase, let that run. Now the machine should have erased the extra hdd files, and not the operating system, if it does, then put the OS cd in the drive and boot the machine while holding the "C" key, this will force the machine to boot from the CD and not from the HDD, and reinstall the OS. Also since the e-mac only has an 80 gb HDD, I would recommend getting an external fire wire drive. Also if you were to get a new machine, I would see about someone coming and picking that machine up due to the fact that it weighs upwards of 50 lbs. Hope this helps

I tried to get my eMac to start for an older OS disk (10.3.5- I could not find the newer one) and it will not recognize any disk I put in. It would not play a music CD either. I did try to find Disk utility, but it would not pop up. I think I am done messing with it - I am calling MacDepot today and discussing a new Mac and getting my files back.