Appologies if this is a rehash; this must be an old topic but I don't seem to have the knack for searching these gnutella forums efficiently.

1. How much disk space does LW need?
Or is it more salient to ask the same question about Java? My understanding when I had much older versions of both, was that in running LW Java used a large and fluid amount of disk space. Is that still true?

2. Is there any way to limit how much space it can rob me of?
Lately if I use LW long enough it gradually reduces my available disk space from about 1.5GB down to as low as 400MB (the longer LW stays on, and connected, the worse it gets). My computer slows way down because it spends much of its time paused while the disk grinds along. I'm pretty ignorant about how OSX handles memory or allocates disk space, or whether those 2 things are even related. But I presume this incessant grinding the disk is doing means it's hunting around for, or rearranging, space.

Hopefully there's a generic answer to these 2 questions. But in case you desire more info:

I always keep my incomplete dl's tidy. LW rockets along nicely for the first [few hours? I've never timed this]. Even after the HD has one of its grinding fits, once it gets its bearings again then LW resumes rocketing along nicely for a while. If I disconnect LW then the disk space levels off where it is. If I quit LW then the space slowly rises to a workable level and things return to normal.

Often--maybe always--this space problem happens while I also have other app.s open, esp. Safari. I wonder if LW and Safari might be competing for disk space. I clear Safari's disk cache regularly.

G4 -- OSX 10.4.9 -- LW 4.12.3 -- Java 1.5.0_02 -- 384MB SDRAM
Avail. HD space varies from 1 GB to 2.5 GB before starting LW.

1. Keep in mind ALL OSX progams including the system itself uses virtual memory (VM) which means it temporarily stores memory onto your OSX drive. LW can use a lot of VM if you have a lot of incompletes & shares, & the program has been running for a long time (many days.) Ways to reduce this are to keep shares under 2,000. Keep LW hidden in dock when not in front of computer. Have all downloads & uploads automatically clear after completing. Go to LW's prefs & tick disable Ultrapeer Cap. & press apply button. Tip: Purge the Downloads Queue! (click on blue link). Let LW settle before using. Keep in mind that as soon as you close a program, the VM is returned to the OSX drive. LW can use up to & over 1 GB in VM depending on those things specified above. You can go to your Utilities folder & open Activity Monitor to keep a check on VM used. This will also give you an idea about exactly how much VM each program & the system is using at any given time.

2. 2 GB really is a bit small for any major program due to VM the larger programs can potentially use. If possible, get another internal or external drive. Move your programs across. This is what I did. It saved quite a few GB's. OH & I also save my LW downloads onto a different drive. My iTunes Library is on an external drive. I keep the iTUnes program on there also so I don't open the progam by mistake & corrupt the iTunes Library prefs. (Sorry for the late reply.)

Thanks LOTR, good answer and tips. Late answer wayyy better than none.

A side issue: I've noticed in many posts that you steadfastly preach the clicking of the apply button. I've found over several revs of LW and Mac OS that the OK button works equally well. You appear to be a cross-platform guy; I'm wondering if maybe this frequent stressing of the apply button might be a Windows thing? Just curious. Thanks again!

Perhaps it's a hang over from earlier versions of LW. But the Apply button definitely 'was' required for some things to be immediately applicable.

I'm not sure how Mac does things, but I know in windows a user can set their page file space as they want...the general rule for performance is to make it static, and 1.5x the amount of physical RAM...up to a limit of 4GB...

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