Basic tech question: Out of memory

I don't do anything fancy...

[258cib]

I live on my Apple Powerbook G3 with 128 MB SDRAM.

I'm getting warnings that my startup harddrive is about full. Only 187.9 MB available out of 5.59 MB capacity. Performance has gone to pot.

I'm running OS X.3 with all of the updates. I have to have OS 9 in the background to open some documents (I think), but I seldom turn 9 on.

Seems I recall there is some software I can buy to clean up my memory allocation. Or, do I just need to install more memory?

Thanks. I'm no hardware guy, obviously.

[258cib]

OK, I've ordered a 40 GB harddrive and 256 MB more memory.

Anyone got any advice on where or how to download my files? I was thinking of using .mac at Apple.

(Note: Great service at MacZone.)

[Macguru]

Hi 258cib,

I guess your PowerBook has a network card?

You need to store your files on a bigger disk before the swap. I would go by plugging your Mac into a network or directly into another Mac using a crossover cable. It would be a big time saver if you dont have a CD writer or external drive.

[258cib]

MacGuru-
Thanks. Yeah, I have a network card (I'm pretty sure) but I'm Mr. Lonely otherwise. Hmmmm. Maybe time to buy that CD burner? I have broadband, but you think the CD burner would be better than using the .mac service at Apple?

[Macguru]

I believe iDisk provides you 100 Mb of storage? (I could be wrong here)

I you have 6 Gigs to back up it means 60 chunks. You will need all 6 Gigs somewhere at once before you swap the disk, or you will have to swap it about 60 times. Not to mention a basic system folder if usually larger than 100 Mb...

If you can't access a Mac or an external drive, with more than 6 Gigs of free space (Some Mac shops will do that for a fee), I guess its time to buy a CD burner.

But if iDisk has more than 6 gigs, go for it.

[258cib]

Heyyyyy, I bought myself a Western Digital External Hard Drive (USB) with 160 Gigabits. Got it as Sam's for $179. (Bought a gross case of Oreo's, too.) I'm going to download the entire Internet.

[258cib]

Uh oh. The Wester Digital External USB 2.0 drive is really slow with my Powerbook G3 with USB 1.1. Reallllllllly slow. I should have gotten a machine with Firewire.

Now I can either upgrade the Powerbook with a USB 2.0 or I can get drive with Firewire.

But (going back to the original problem) it's clear I can't run this G3 with OS X.3 with the hard drive that came with the machine because of all of the plug-ins and extensions we are all required to carry.

[microcars]

A: what Powerbook do you have? Is it a Pismo? does it HAVE a firewire port?

If it has a Firewire port, try borrow the use of someone's iPod (that's what friends are for....to borrow their stuff) and backup your files on the iPod. that's what I do.
B: I forgot what B was...

[258cib]

I have the Powerbook G3 with the bronze keyboard. It has Firewire.

I've got everything backed up now. I'm concerned about reloading the OS and getting it up to snuff--I suppose the automatic updater will fix that. But, what about the Mail and all of the messages?

[ytswy]

I think what you want is Carbon Copy Cloner: [bombich.com...]

I would read around the subject carefully (there are a number of possible issues on the linked page that may be relevant to you) before proceeding, but I believe it may be able to do what you need.

Whatever you do, make sure you keep your old hard drive safe, so you can put it back in if it all goes pear shaped.

[added: if you want to be safe, just take your machine to an Apple Centre - they'll be able to clone your old drive easily to your new one. You'll pay a fair amount for it however]

[258cib]

Thanks y. Our local Apple shops have had most of their good techs leave in the past few months. And I have never been happy with the service. But, still, I might take it to them yet after I check out your link.

[258cib]

Ah, gooooood info. I'll use CCC, I'm buying an iPod tomorrow.
Thanks much.

(Firewire is the way to go with Mac; avoid USB unless you have 2.0.)

[258cib]

ytswy, thanks so much. Carbon Copy Cloner rocks! Not for the faint of heart, for sure (read the directions!) but, it worked after two runs at it. (If you don't get a message saying cloning complete or successful, do it again.) I checked the clone by operating off of the external hard drive.

FYI for those of you opening the back of the Mac using the guides/manuals--what you see in the book isn't always what you get when you open up the machine. (Some access screws were not in place, there were two instead of three screws on the heat sink, etc.) But, it's close enough. They really do not expect Joe and Betty Consumer to be inside there, so you need to be careful and use some common sense, and you'll be fine.

I didn't buy an iPod. Instead, I found a discontinued iomega 20 GB for $99 at Circuit City with Firewire.

Thanks again to all.