Can't open iMac cause HD full

[Raven]

27” IMac. 2017. 1TB. Intel. 8GB RAM.
OSX10.14.6.
(Need that OS for use of my Adobe CS6 apps)
2 external drives 2TB & 6TB.

I posted topic last month how I could work off my backup drive as my main drive was getting full with only 11% free space. I use Super Duper for cloning.This is related to that topic and is worse now. Probably my fault as I did not address it properly. 

A few days ago, I started seeing messages that my hard drive was out of space. I removed about 60 GB of my working files & transferred them to the EHD hoping that would give me a bit extra space & time to figure out what to do. Several TS people offered advice that I was trying to understand.
I emptied Trash & Download folder hoping for a bit more space.

Yesterday, it wouldn’t let me copy any document. It said - Disc is Full. I couldn’t even open my Apple Mail. It said - Quit Mail, delete files, open again. Tried that a few times.

Yesterday I participated in a webinar using Zoom app.
Afterwards I opened one app only to work on a document stored on Dropbox. It wouldn’t let me work or copy a document on my main hard drive. I had to use the same app on MBP to work on that document stored on EHD.

Today, my iMac won’t start at all! When I restart using power button, I see the Apple logo on a black screen, the gas bar goes to halfway, and stopes. It gives me a text message-, “You have a problem. Push key to restart.” Had to use power button to shut down and same to restart. Did this several times but comes up with the same message.

Wow! What can I do to access all my files? Is the problem simply that the HD too full?
Or how to get at my HD files to remove some documents and free up some space? This puts me in a very serious bind.

Also, I have 22,000 images in PHOTOS. Stored on iCloud. I know I have a Photo Library somewhere on the iMac. Don’t know if that has anything to do with my problem. I hope someone here has a solution. Please! :-)

FYI:  From GET INFO -
Apps folder 256 GB
Library 17
System 8
Work files ?

I have a 15 inch iMac (2012 OS10.15.7) that is giving me partial access to files and full email access. Also have access to some Dropbox documents. But I need to access my iMac HD asap. Can anybody suggest a fix PLEASE? Won’t be able to read any replies until late today. I am willing to pay someone to walk me through what I have to do, as it my take several questions on my part.
:-(

[krissel]

Won't be able to walk you through it but here are a couple thoughts. Did you manage to make a full copy of the HD with Superduper on an external? If so, you may also be able to start up from that drive and use it to copy off new files. Hold Option key on startup with external attached to see if it gives you an icon for that external as a startup drive.


Also do the simple things like reset NVRAM:


https://www.macworld.com/article/224955/how-to-reset-a-macs-nvram-pram-and-smc.html#


Try starting up in Recovery mode:


https://support.apple.com/en-us/102518


Also try to use one iMac in target mode to transfer files to another or to an additional external).

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/transfer-files-mac-computers-target-disk-mode-mchlp1443/mac


Ultimately it sounds like you may have to wipe and reinstall OS to your original drive on the iMac.

[Raven]

Krissel,
Thank you very much for that!!  The NVRAM process worked. Now have my screen and HD files back. Whew! But other items have gone astray. 

I did the start up on my EHD. It seems to work, but a bit confusing because my screen shows 100s of dated screen shots and files that I have to sort through.

My main issue now is my Apple Mail is constantly freezing. And working VERY slowly. I'll open up a new topic for that problem. I seem to be the main person posting problems lately on TS. This is the only place I'm able to get good answers and appreciate VERY MUCH everyone's help. I still have to get back to my first issue in January of a full HD.