Removing "dead data" from hard drive...

[kapz28]

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?

 

[Parallels User]

The default paths for storing Parallels virtual machines are http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v6/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/22694.htm/Users/<UserName>/Documents/Parallels/ and /http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v6/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/22694.htmUsers/Shared.

 

[kapz28]

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.

 

[Parallels User]

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).

 

[kapz28]

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).

Nope, wasn't bootcamp based.

 

[Parallels User]

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/