EasternOHBillsFan Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 You should always have at least 2 copies of your data, and if you do I wouldn't worry about drive failures. I've had to RMA (get a replacement from the factory) drives in the past, and Seagate and Western Digital make the process painless (no experience with Maxtor or Samsung). A week later, you're back in business. I'm speaking from the perspective of an administrator and what we've had to deal with our mini towers' hard drives going bad and the aggravation we've experienced by having to have Dell come out and replace them all. It has been a nightmare. Most people don't invest in two HDs, and I never thought about giving that advice, only addressing the potential problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyT Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 For an OS with such a supposedly "easy to understand" interface, who came up with the idea that dragging your drive to the garbage can was the best way to eject the thing?! Wouldn't you think that would delete everything (ie: throw it away)? Kind of like clicking the Start button to shut down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 That's fine, but it's still a terrible UI design. The only times I've used a Mac is during a couple of Photoshop classes -- and each time I find the interface very difficult to use and not the "you'll know how to do everything instantly" experience Mac users try to share. Then I read this post about how to eject a disk, and I'm thinking, "What the hell? If the students in the UI class I TA'd for came up with that for their interface, I would've failed them!" In the end, it's just an OS and people generally just like what they're familiar with. No OS is perfect (except OpenBSD ), and I think this thread proves it. I would completely and whole heartedly agree. Switching from Mac to Windows or Windows to Mac can be problematic, largely becacuse you just get used to certain things. For example, if you're on the Mac and get used to trashing your drives to disconnect them, it seems cumbersome to find the same function in Wondows. By the same token, you get used to right clicking stuff in Windows and then get on the Mac and wonder why they can't just just give me 2 buttons like I'm used to. So, it's all give and take. However... I've used both OS's somewhat equally since the mid 90's and the Mac operating system is by far the more stable, less buggy of the two. It's not even a comparison. It's kinda like comparing the Bills' offense to the Colts' offense. Yeah they both do the same thing and all. Yeah the Colts aren't perfect. But, one is a heck of a lot more dependable and just plain outclasses the other. I also agree. Always back up all your files - regularly! The Time Machine function on the Mac is a good free way to do that, hence my suggestion. Especially if you're visiting nefarious websites and downloading so much illegal porn that you need a terabyte hard drive to store it all on. Not that anyone that started this thread would do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Especially if you're visiting nefarious websites and downloading so much illegal porn that you need a terabyte hard drive to store it all on. Not that anyone that started this thread would do that. But isn't that what The Internet is for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EasternOHBillsFan Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I also agree. Always back up all your files - regularly! The Time Machine function on the Mac is a good free way to do that, hence my suggestion. Especially if you're visiting nefarious websites and downloading so much illegal porn that you need a terabyte hard drive to store it all on. Not that anyone that started this thread would do that. Shhhhhhh! Don't give away our trade secrets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 But isn't that what The Internet is for... Hilarious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Wheels Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Next time go to the Support Forums at Apple.com. You'll get an answer rather than some snide remarks from Windows users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC-Bills Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I bought a Seagate external hard drive for an intel based IMac. How do I set this up? How is is partitioned? Thanks so much! My startup disc is full and I need more storage quickly. Cheers! Edit: When I try and set it up, it says there is no application to open it. What application should I use? Do I need to download one? Plug the drive in to the machine. If no window pops up asking to format, go to Applications|Utilities and run Disk Utility. From there, you should see the drive and then initialize it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC-Bills Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Yes, the Mac 'just works' unlike some of the insecure,buggy garbage being sold out there..... Dream on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Yes, the Mac 'just works' unlike some of the insecure,buggy garbage being sold out there..... Except in the case of the original poster, it didn't "just work." Thus, he was here trying to figure out how to use his new harddrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thank you for the help. I have a couple more questions. So I am transferring my itunes library to my hard drive (31 hour process). My computer's hard drive is still full. How do I remove Itunes from the computer's hard drive? And once you click Itunes properties- what is the Itunes media folder location? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thank you for the help. I have a couple more questions. So I am transferring my itunes library to my hard drive (31 hour process). My computer's hard drive is still full. How do I remove Itunes from the computer's hard drive? And once you click Itunes properties- what is the Itunes media folder location? If you want to remove the iTunes application, itself. Go to the "Applications" folder, find the one called iTunes. And drag it to the trash. iTunes will then be uninstalled from your computer. I assume you don't want to do that, though. Correct? You just want the music file deleted. For the iTunes media files: Click on the "Finder", you'll see a folder called "Music". Open that. Inside you'll find all your iTunes stuff - "Album Artwork", "iPod Games", "iTunes Music". drag the "iTunes Music" folder to the Trash. Then just "Empty Trash" and its gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 If you want to remove the iTunes application, itself. Go to the "Applications" folder, find the one called iTunes. And drag it to the trash. iTunes will then be uninstalled from your computer. I assume you don't want to do that, though. Correct? You just want the music file deleted. For the iTunes media files: Click on the "Finder", you'll see a folder called "Music". Open that. Inside you'll find all your iTunes stuff - "Album Artwork", "iPod Games", "iTunes Music". drag the "iTunes Music" folder to the Trash. Then just "Empty Trash" and its gone. I would like to transfer my library and Itunes to my external hard drive and free up memory on the Apple hard drive. There probably is a simple way. I am copying the itunes library to the external- and my computers hard drive is completely full. Thanks again Dan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I would like to transfer my library to my external hard drive and free up memory on the Apple hard drive. There probably is a simple way. I am copying the itunes library to the external- and my computers hard drive is completely full. Thanks again Dan! No problem. Glad to help. In that case, DO NOT delete the application inside your applcations menu. My suggestion would be to copy your entire "Music" directory to the external drive. Then you should be able to go into iTunes and under the iTunes Menu, select "Preferences". The last tab is "Advanced". Select that and you can Change your iTunes Media location. Change it to the Hard Drive and you should be able to use iTunes like always but it'll just save to and access the music on your external drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 No problem. Glad to help. In that case, DO NOT delete the application inside your applcations menu. My suggestion would be to copy your entire "Music" directory to the external drive. Then you should be able to go into iTunes and under the iTunes Menu, select "Preferences". The last tab is "Advanced". Select that and you can Change your iTunes Media location. Change it to the Hard Drive and you should be able to use iTunes like always but it'll just save to and access the music on your external drive. cool. I am in the process of doing that. But my computers hard drive is still full. I mean 100% full. I have tried to download mac janitor and a few other programs- and there is not enough space on the hard drive for them. I am copying the library to the external- but will it still be on my computer hard drive? How do you recommend I free up space on my computers hard drive? Is there a way to make Itunes is exclusive on my external? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 cool. I am in the process of doing that. But my computers hard drive is still full. I mean 100% full. I have tried to download mac janitor and a few other programs- and there is not enough space on the hard drive for them. I am copying the library to the external- but will it still be on my computer hard drive? How do you recommend I free up space on my computers hard drive? Is there a way to make Itunes is exclusive on my external? Yeah, if you just dragged the iTunes Media folder to the external drive, then you'll still have all the files on your hard drive on the computer. Once the copy has completed. Double check the external drive to make sure all your files copied over properly. Then select the Media folder on your computer and drag it to the Trash. You'll then have to go to the Finder Menu and select "Empty Trash" for them to be completely deleted from your computer. My guess is that will give you plenty of free space at that point. So you won't need to delete much of anything else. If you do, the first thing I'd do is check your "Applications" Folder and delete any un-needed applications that you may have downloaded but don't use. Just don't delete the iTunes application from your computer. The easiest way to use it will be from you computer (just don't forget to go to the preferences and tell it to store/access all your files on the external drive). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 What he said. Peter, once you're sure your files are successfully backed up and the applications you use to access them (iTunes, iPhoto, etc.) can see them and you've verified they're not corrupt - then you can delete your old music and photo files on your original hard drive to free up disk space on your original hard drive. Here's the Apple instructions on doing this - taken from the Help menu within the iPhoto application, (a similar Help function can be found within the iTunes application: Moving your iPhoto Library folder to a new location Your iPhoto library is located in your Pictures folder. The library contains photos you have imported into your photo library and any albums, slideshows, books, calendars, or cards you’ve created using iPhoto. WARNING: To avoid permanently deleting or corrupting your iPhoto library, do not attempt to alter the contents of this file. It is a good idea, however, to routinely back up your iPhoto library to a DVD or external hard disk so you have a copy in case your photos become lost or corrupted for any reason. To move your iPhoto Library: 1. Quit iPhoto. 2. Move your iPhoto Library to a new location on your computer. IMPORTANT: If you’ve created multiple photo libraries, be sure to move only the library currently displayed when iPhoto is open. If you want to move a photo library other than the one you’re currently working on, you first need to switch to it. 3. Open iPhoto. 4. Click Choose Library in the dialog that appears. 5. Navigate to where you moved the library and select it. 6. Click Open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thank you Dan and Nanker! One last question for you please. So I transferred all the files to the external, and deleted my media file, and that all worked. I freed up space on my hard drive and moved all my music files. My question is what is the location for itunes now? When I click Itunes and try and play a file, I get a message that says the file cannot be found. I click on the external hard drive and locate the file. And I uploaded a cd- and think it might of gone to my computers hard drive- not the external. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thank you Dan and Nanker! One last question for you please. So I transferred all the files to the external, and deleted my media file, and that all worked. I freed up space on my hard drive and moved all my music files. My question is what is the location for itunes now? When I click Itunes and try and play a file, I get a message that says the file cannot be found. I click on the external hard drive and locate the file. And I uploaded a cd- and think it might of gone to my computers hard drive- not the external. Cheers! Did you go to the iTunes Preferences and change the location of your iTunes Media folder? Sounds like iTunes is still looking for files on your computer's hard drive and not the external hard drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Did you go to the iTunes Preferences and change the location of your iTunes Media folder? Sounds like iTunes is still looking for files on your computer's hard drive and not the external hard drive. I did. I switched the preferences to the new hard drive. One problem was that I forgot to title the hard drive. Is there a way to change the name of the external? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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