From Small Dog…
Occasionally, user permissions associated with files or applications are set incorrectly. I find this happens after installing software or if I have Widgets installed. Each Mac comes with an application called Disk Utility, which is usually found in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. Launch Disk Utility, click Verify or Repair Permissions, and you are all set.
Next – do a full backup and consider an archive (copy to an other drive or DVD/CDR) of stuff you don’t need – perhaps do a search on files not accessed since 1/1/2005 or archive installation programs. This clears space and allows you to do more with what you have.
Mac OS X performs background maintenance tasks at certain times if the computer is not in sleep mode. (3:15 and 5:30AM) If your computer is shut down or in sleep at the designated times, the maintenance does not occur. In that case, you may want or need to run these manually.
Mac OS X: How to force background maintenance tasks (logs and temporary items)
How to force maintenance tasks:
You have two options: using a third-party application or using Terminal.
Use a third-party application
Some third-party applications may allow you to run these tasks whenever you wish. Three examples include:
* Macaroni by Thomas Harrington
* Mac Janitor by Brian R. Hill
* CronMaster by Dan Klein
* weRclean by Parental Advisory
You can search for these or other solutions at VersionTracker (http://www.versiontracker.com/).
Advanced: Use the Terminal
1. Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities).
2. Type: sudo sh /etc/daily
Optionally, for Mac OS X 10.2 or later, you can use: sudo periodic daily
Tip: Typing “daily” runs tasks normally scheduled for a daily interval. Type “monthly” or “weekly” in place of “daily” to runs tasks scheduled for those intervals. Weekly tasks usually require a longer time to run than others.
3. Press Return.
4. Enter your Admin password when prompted, then press Return.
5. Quit Terminal when the task is complete.