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How to resolve low disk space error in iPod Touch

Posted in How To, iPod | By AhTim

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Recently after I hacked my iPod touch, I start to install many third party softwares to suit my needs using iPod touch as a PDA. But somehow it shown “low disk space” error and ask me to clear some photo or video to get more disk space.

This make me confused because my iPod Touch has 16GB disk space and I only used up to 4GB plus, it should not be any problem by installing few hundred KBs software. After do some research and testin, I found a solution to resolve the low disk space in iPod Touch ( same method applied to iPhone).

1. Download and install “Term-vt100” and “BSD Subsystem” located in the Installer.app under “System” category (if you don’t have enough space to install Term-vt100, delete some applications temporarily)

2. Launch Term-vt100, it’s a black color screen with command line.

3. Type the commands below exactly step by step (Warning: Type wrong command might cause your iPod Touch or iPhone useless. You will need to reload or restore the whole things)

cd /
cp -pr Applications /var/root
mv Applications Applications.old
ln -s private/var/root/Applications /Applications

Up to here, you have link your Applications folder from root folder to the private var folder which allocated your whole disk space. For my case, I can use up to 16GB! :)

Now, restart your iPod Touch or iPhone and type commands below in Term-vt100 to remove the old Applications folder

cd /
rm -rf Applications.old

My two cents

After finish the tweaks above, I have installed up to total of 35 softwares in my iPod Touch. But anyway there are still 11GB disk space for me to use :)

If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, why don’t you hack your Applications folder for more disk space?

[source: iPhone Atlas]

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30 Responses to “How to resolve low disk space error in iPod Touch”

  1. noob Says:
    February 9th, 2008 at 9:33 am

    I just tried the whole process but when when i get to “ln -s private/var/root/Applications /Applications” in term-vt100 i keep getting “zsh: command not found: In” on my command line. whats the problem here?

  2. AhTim Says:
    February 9th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
    @noob: Suspect your BSD Subsystem was not installed properly. Try reinstall your BSD Subsystem.
  3. J Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    It’s an “L”, not an “I” as in symbolic LINK

  4. noob Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 1:36 am

    I cant get around to checking my BSD Subsystem, after I type the commands in term-vt100 I still get the zsh: command not found: In”. After that, none of my Icons will show up after I restart. Can I get my icons back with out having to downgrade then up grade again to jailbreak (1.1.3) and then give this a second shot?

  5. AhTim Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 10:04 am
    @J: You’re right.

    @noob: The command is “ln” (l=london), NOT capital letter “i”.

  6. Melissa Says:
    February 14th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Don’t you get frustrated that you can only use iTunes?

    I found it far too restrictive. It’s like buying a Toyota and only being allowed to use gas from the Toyota garage - or a Hotpoint Washing Machine, but only being allowed to use their own brand of washing powder.

    They should open up the spec of the iPod so that you can use any kind of audio format, instead of trying to monopolize the marketplace.

    Just my two pence! :o)

    Peace out x

  7. AhTim Says:
    February 15th, 2008 at 9:04 am
    @Melissa: Yes I agreed with you. Just wait for third party multimedia player to come then we can ignore the iTunes sync. By the way, which iPod model do you have?
  8. Big Dom Says:
    February 22nd, 2008 at 5:13 am

    Use Installer.app to install BossTools.
    It’s under the Utilities –> BossTools.

    Once installed you can move your fonts(Big) and Appz.

    This will create more space and it’s easy to use.

    AhTim thanks for the tip anyway..

    BigDom U.K

  9. AhTim Says:
    February 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
    @Big Dom: Thanks for the tips. I will try to install on my iTouch. BTW, is it compatible with firmware 1.1.3?
  10. Big Dom Says:
    February 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    I have firmware 1.1.2 so i’m not sure if it will work with 1.1.3 !!!

  11. kenny Says:
    February 24th, 2008 at 12:54 am

    DON’T DO IT I BRICKS YOUT PHONE/TOUCH
    I DID IT AND NOW WHEN I TURN ON MY IPOD ALL I SEE IS A BLANK BLACK SCREEN

  12. AhTim Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 11:33 am
    @Big Dom: I have installed Boss tool in my ipod touch 1.1.3, but have not try to move my application folder.
    @kenny: Thanks for you tip. Then I ‘ll do it manual way. BTW, have you resolve you blank screen error?
  13. Big Dom Says:
    February 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am

    Sorry to hear that kenny..

    What version do you have…?

  14. justin Says:
    March 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 am

    i typed a - instead of a / and now i cant see anything on my ipod menu, by any chance is there a way to reverse my major screw up??

  15. humm... Says:
    March 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 am

    im at kennys status right about now. kenny what did you do, just restore and go aagin?? and does any 1 know if 1.1.4 can be jail broken yet cause that is the version that will b instealled if i restore…?

  16. Earl Says:
    March 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 am

    I input every step except for “ln -s private/var/root/Applications /Applications.” Before I could input that, I accidentally hit the home screen and exited Terminal. My iPod Touch then became useless. I plugged it into iTunes and update to 1.1.4. Now, iTunes doesn’t recognize the iPod, so I can’t restore. What do I do?

  17. AhTim Says:
    March 3rd, 2008 at 9:31 am
    @Justin: Suggest you to restore and jailbroken firmware 1.1.3 (not necessary have to update the latest firmware). Refer to http://ahtim.com/upgrade-and-hack-ipod-touch-113-firmware/
    BTW, no bad word is allow in this blog, so I’ve removed it.

    @Earl: Haven’t heard about firmware 1.1.4 jailbreak yet. Suggest you restore and jailbreak to 1.1.3 (http://ahtim.com/upgrade-and-hack-ipod-touch-113-firmware/) or wait for the latest jailbreak.

  18. Disbelieve-r... Says:
    March 4th, 2008 at 12:05 am

    yeah i highly recommend NOT doin this…i dont care what ppl say, ive tryed like 5 times n did absolutly nothing for me…jus meessed up my ipod then i gotta restore/downgrade from 1.1.4 to 1.1.1…

  19. AhTim Says:
    March 4th, 2008 at 10:04 am
    @Disbeliever: I know it’s painful when ipod get messed up. Which firmware version you are using?
  20. Lol Says:
    March 27th, 2008 at 8:07 am

    It worked for me lads!

  21. AhTim Says:
    March 28th, 2008 at 11:57 am
    @LOl: Congrates. You also can use BossTool to do the task. Which iPod model are you using?
  22. chun Says:
    May 16th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    mv Applications Applications.old
    when i type taht in why do i get this message “permission denied”?

  23. AhTim Says:
    May 16th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
    @chun: Login your vterm with root password. Type SU, enter to login as root.
  24. ccons Says:
    June 12th, 2008 at 8:33 am

    I type root as the password and it says it is incorrect… :(

  25. AhTim Says:
    June 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
    @ccons: The default password should be “alpine”.
  26. kieran Says:
    June 13th, 2008 at 7:54 am

    I type su. then return. i then type alpine, but nothing comes up, i hit return and it says its incorrect :s

  27. AhTim Says:
    June 13th, 2008 at 10:14 am
    @kieran: the user is “root”.
  28. DrEvil Says:
    June 22nd, 2008 at 11:32 pm

    Thank you for the quick tip–worked like a charm for me. And, I really appreciate the beautiful Jesse Cook music early on a Sunday morning.

  29. ccons Says:
    June 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    I still get the incorrect password message
    I typed:
    su root
    Password: alpine
    and also
    su
    Password: alpine

    and still didn’t work. please help

  30. Dave Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    do this:

    ssh root@localhost

    then for the password enter: alpine

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