How can I see what's eating my disk space?

You didn't mention it, but some people have it and do not realize it until they check for it, so I'm asking

If you can, try du -h ~ > files.txt to create a text file (files.txt) of what all files are in your home directory.

if will show somthing like:

Note first it lists the individual files, then at the bottom gives you the total for the directory (dir 1 has 45k, dir 2 has 43k) etc.

You may need to check with hosting company as to where to look, may be some extras.

ie. where I have hosting, need to check /usr/boxes/username for all e-mail sitting on the server as well.

-Greg

If you've enabled something like spam assassin or enabled e-mail on your site, check for a buildup of messages on the server.

I recently went through this same thing...and the stored messages were taking up most of my disc space...there was over 125 MB of messages stored in mail folders.

log files can build up too if not removed monthly (most hosts do this automatically).
You said disk space not bandwidth, so hotlinking is probably out of the question but check your log files for images calls as repeated calls from forums can really build up your log files

I've been making sites (mostly as a hobby) for nearly a decade and I've still never used goodies like command lines. Just something I never had to teach myself. Is that like a shell access type of thing? If so, I've already discovered that I only have shell access on my main account and not individual sites,.so I guess that won't work anyway.

So far it sounds like I need to keep manually checking files folder by folder.

Don't worry, I've never had to do that stuff either. Am genereally very about it.

same here...i do it manually too like checking folder to folder.

off topic: how would you know if someone's hacking on your computer? like im in a office and on remote connection. every 4 am, i always experience slowing down like 2 accounts are using. usualy i just use 3 firefox windows, word,gaim,yahoo and messenger. At home, i tried to test with my personal computer if it'll also be similar but i didnt get any probs.

check for backdoors...

also since it is the same time, check for scheduled taks. Maybe AV software starts a scan of the system, scan disk or some other utility could be chekcing your system, or some software doing a night check for file updates.

If it is windows, and you know it will happen each night at 4am, try doing a CTRL-ALT-DEL about 5 minutes till and then choose Task Manager. Make a list (or if you have a great memory, remember them) of all Processes running. Then right at 4am when you fel it start to bog down or the drive starts going nuts, check the processes again. Compare the differences. (note, when you do this, try to have a little open as possible to make the list smaller).

-Greg

Did you try a disk clean up