this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025
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PlutoParty@programming.dev
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new mint install drive full of .ecryptfs (infosec.pub)
submitted 1 week ago by nokturne213@sopuli.xyz to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev
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I set up a laptop with linux mint cinnamon within the last two weeks, and while trying to install The Sims 4 today I got a message that the hard drive was out of space. I have installed nothing so far except for Steam, and tools to get The Sims 4 running. I see that 131gb is taken up by .ecryptfs and a web search turned up this thread however I used the utility that was suggested with the same result. Then OP says multiple reboots have cleared up the issue. I am on reboot 4 now with no such luck.

Is it safe to delete this? Is it something with timeshifted?

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[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

What's the full path to it? Is it just in /home? Or is it in /home/<your username> somewhere?

I'd say try running du -csh .ecryptfs and post the output. The thread you shared mentioned that it's a known bug with that disk usage tool. du -csh .ecryptfs shouldn't have the same issue and will at least rule out the possibility that the disk usage tool you're using is misreporting and presenting a red herring.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

What’s the full path to it? Is it just in /home? Or is it in /home/ somewhere?

/home/.ecryptfs

I’d say try running du -csh .ecryptfs and post the output.

95G /home/.ecryptfs 95G total

I did run the utility suggested in the thread I linked as well and posted a screenshot of the output in the op. It showed roughly the same thing as the disk analyzer. But after suspending the laptop to come home from work it appears the folder is shrinking.

I ran ncdu again, it looks like home/.ecryptfs and home/user are duplicated in terms of file size.

Edit: as far as the usage going down, I forgot I deleted some downloads before I left work

[–] mcmodknower@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You probably enabled home directory encryption on install. If you do that, your personal files get stored in the .ecryptfs folder, and get decrypted at runtime. So maybe doing an ncdu inside your home folder reveals some big files there.

And honestly, if you have the time for it i recommend a reinstall with no home directory encryption but full disk encryption. That way you don't have to deal with ecryptfs since you whole disk is encrypted and mounted as one single thing. PS: I had problems with ecryptfs when i wanted to install something with a very long folder name, which is the main reason i now use full disk encryption.1

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I did the reinstall. I saw the option to encrypt my home directory, but none for full disk encryption. For now I left it unencrypted. Once I figure out how to get the sims 4 to run (the entire point of the endeavor is so my wife can play the sims) I will deal with the encryption.

[–] mcmodknower@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago

Full disk encryption should be an option during setting up the partition. iirc you beed to select lvm or something similar there.