Can someone indicate step by step how to connect my external hard drive to my Macbook Air as additional storage and memory?

I have a WD My Passport for Mac. I have it into two partitions one formatted into Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and the other one formatted into exFat. I don't really know where to go from there. I would love it if somebody could help me with a step by step process.

Have you connected the WD external HDD to your MBA with the USB cable?  It should be displayed on your desktop.  If not, check the settings in Finder Preferences.
Once it is connected, click on the icon and a window will open showing what ever data you have on it.  The same procedures apply as with the internal storage of the MBA.
Some WD HDDs come with their own software which may create unnecessary problems with your OSX.  You may have to get rid of that.
Ciao.

Similar Messages

  • How to use an external hard drive on a MacBook Air?

    Hi there.
    Recently I bought a portable USB external hard drive for my MacBook Air due to my full startup disk. I also bought multiple disks for the hard drive. I inserted the disk, hooked up the USB, and did everything properly. When I first hooked it up, I lost all internet files that I had saved. All images, videos and downloads (such as Minecraft and other gaming downloads) from the internet were gone and unable to find.
    Now, I don't want to make the wrong move and lose all of my internet files again, so I am asking how to transfer files SAFELY to the USB without any files being deleted. I tranfered files before, but they were just short cuts to the original file, so I am also asking how to fix that as well. My Dad was a computer technician, although he didn't work for Apple, so he doesn't know how to use the USB.
    I've tried everything to find my internet files, but nothing. If there is a way to get them back, I'd be glad if you shared that with me. My dock files aren't working due to this insanely full startup disk, so I'd appreciate it if you could tell me ASAP how to use the USB, how to SAFELY transfer files without them turning into shortcuts, and how to get my internet files back.
    Thank you very much.
    P.s My OS X version is 10.8.3 (Not with Mountain Lion)

    You cannot format a drive so that files will be automatically put on that drive when you run out of room on another drive. Transferring the files must be done specifically by you. You will need to learn how to manage free space on the SSD because 64 GBs is a bit small for much more than OS X.
    Drive Partition and Format
    1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
    3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
    4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
    6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

  • Advice on how to format an external hard drive for a MacBook Air

    I have an external USB hard drive plugged into a 64GB MacBook Air. How should I format the hard drive so that when I run out of room on the small 64 GB SSD drive on the MacBook Air, it will start putting some iTunes or other files onto the external hard drive? I only put iTunes and other small music files on the MacBook Air in order to save room. I do have iTunes set for iCloud.

    You cannot format a drive so that files will be automatically put on that drive when you run out of room on another drive. Transferring the files must be done specifically by you. You will need to learn how to manage free space on the SSD because 64 GBs is a bit small for much more than OS X.
    Drive Partition and Format
    1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
    3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
    4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
    6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

  • How can i save my individual playlist on itunes on my external hard drive because i want to buy a laptop and install itunes and move all my music and playlist thats on my desktop to my laptop and almost all my music is from a bunch of cd's i own

    how can i save my individual playlist on itunes on my external hard drive because i want to buy a laptop and install itunes and move all my music and playlist thats on my desktop to my laptop and almost all of my music is from a bunch of cds i own

    Hello ryane84
    The easiest and most efficient way to copy your music is to follow the steps under the External drive section. Make sure that you have organized the iTunes library first before you copy it over. Then put the copied iTunes folder in the same Music folder on your computer.
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527
    Regards,
    -Norm G.

  • How to connect an external hard drive and monitor a single port thuderbolt

    how to connect an external hard drive and monitor a single port thuderbolt

    Yu connect the HDD to your Mac and then the monitor to the HDD.
    The HDD  should have TWO T-Bird ports on the enclosure.
    Its called daisy chaining and up to five devices can be connected in this fashion.

  • Can anyone make a recommendation on the purchase of an external hard drive for my Macbook Pro? I am currently using OS 10.6.8 because I can't upgrade until I clean out my start up disc space. I have a ton of pictures to transfer. Thanks!

    Can anyone make a recommendation on the purchase of an external hard drive for my Macbook Pro? I am currently using OS 10.6.8 because I can't upgrade until I clean out my start up disc space. I have a ton of pictures to transfer.Thanks!

    best options for the price, and high quality HD:
    Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or  $65 per TB on 2.5"
    Perfect 1TB for $68
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
    Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim perfect for use with a notebook
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
    2.5" USB portable High quality BEST FOR THE COST, Toshiba "tiny giant" 2TB drive (have several of them, LOT of storage in a SMALL package)    $117
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
    *This one is the BEST portable  external HD available that money can buy:
    HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $88
    http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Mobile-Portable-External-0S03559/dp/B009GE6JI8/ref=sr _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383238934&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+Touro+Mobile+Pro+1TB+USB+3.0+7 2 00+RPM
    Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"
    Hitachi is the winner in hard drive reliability survey:
    Hitachi manufacturers the safest and most reliable hard drives, according to the Storelab study. Of the hundreds of Hitachi hard drives received, not a single one had failed due to manufacturing or design errors. Adding the highest average lifespans and the best relationship between failures and market share, Hitachi can be regarded as the winner.

  • How do i transfer external hard drive content to macbook pro?

    How do i transfer external hard drive content back to my macbook pro?
    I do not see the hard drive icon or a back up icon, where should it be?

    What kind of drive is it - a large drive with a power cord, or a portable drive? Can you tell if the drive itself is actually on? (Is there a light, or a power switch, etc, can you hear it?)
    How is it attached to the Mac?
    On your Mac, click on the desktop, then go to the Finder menu (top left), click Preferences, then under the General tab, make sure that everything is ticked.
    If that works, you should then get the external HD icon appearing on your desktop.
    Hope that helps.
    Matt

  • How can i run an application from an external hard drive on my macbook air, since I've got less space on my SSD

    Ive got a 128GB SSD on my macbook Air and i know as time goes on ill eventually run out of space so i want to know if their suggestions on how to run applications like google chrome, Skype etc on an external hard drive with out installing int on my SSD.

    Double click on them.
    You could create Aliases and store them in a convenient place.
    Drag the folder with the apps to your Dock and launch them from the folder on your Dock.
    Make sure Spotlight indexes your external disk, then use Command-Space -> name of app -> return

  • How do I mount the hard drive of one Macbook Air onto another Macbook Air?

    I did something funny to my Macbook Air (late 2009). However I have a brand new Macbook Air that I just took out of the box today.
    I want to check the hard drive of the old MBA and remove some files as I filled up the hard drive by mistake while I was backing it up.
    Whenever I start the old Macbook Air, it shows a blue screen. I can see Yahoo Widgets but the dock is off the screen.
    How do I mount the HD of the old MBA? I have two USB ethernet dongles. I have an ethernet cord.
    Can I simply connect them up via the USB ports? Will that mount the old MBA onto the new MBA?
    I am in serious trouble because I don't have a backup. I wrecked the hard drive while I was doing a backup. I am trying to salvage whatever I have on the hard drive of the old MBA.
    I think I can salvage a lot. I just can't see the Desktop of the old MBA when I start that computer up.
    As my new MBA has 256GB I am going to try and mount the old MBA onto the new MBA and remove some files from there.
    Can it be done like this?

    Thanks for the reply. I was able to save the data on the Macbook Air whose HD got corrupted by using File Sharing (ethernet connecting two Macbook Airs).
    I am also going to make a disk image of the HD using Disk Utility and mount that Disk Image onto an external hard drive. That way I can save the hard drive contents.

  • Can I connect an external Hard drive to My IPAD to get additional MOvies for travel

    I would like to download additional movies through my itunes on my IPad so I can watch while traveling. Is there a hard drive that will work with my IPAD and Itunes to download additional movies?
    Thanks so much.
    Skip

    Another option, if you have the ability, time and etc to make your own video files, you can invest in some SD cards and the camera connection kit. It will read movie files you just need to follow its naming convention.
    Beyond that the Seagate GoFlex is the wifi drive that specifically streams movies via its own wifi transmitter to your iPad. there's also the iFlash I think it's called. not sure how it does on the streaming or viewing though.

  • I can't manually drag files to/from my external hard drive to my macbook air!

    My laptop is running on 10.9.4 (freshly installed, quite literally two days ago).
    I have all permissions to read and write on my hard drive, and it is formatted in MS-DOS (FAT32). It worked yesterday when I moved music on the laptop but now when I try to move other files (even within the hard drive itself) I can't. Help please! The only way I can move anything to and from the hard drive is to copy-paste is but I cannot manually drag anything.

    Can you drag files to or from any folder?

  • How do I acces the hard drive on my Macbook air as a target with out firewire

    My Macbook air boots to a blue screen. Can I connect to another Mac via USB or etherent to access the hard drive? I did a disk repair through the disk utility but that did not solve the start up issue.

    Clone it using Carbon Copy Cloner.  Here's the link:
    http://www.bombich.com/
    Then to move it to the MBair and boot the Air holding down the Option key between the startup tone and the Logo / pinwheel.
    The boot manager will start and then select the external drive as the boot device.
    First some qualifying questions:
    1. What OSx release is on your other Mac.
    2. What MBair do you have. 
    I want to make sure the OS you're going to clone is more recent then the OSx that your MBair originally shipped with.

  • Can i connect an external hard drive to my ipad?

    I am getting an Ipad Air soon, and will be getting a Macbook next year, not decided which one yet but is their any chance i can connect an external hard drive to my Ipad? Im getting the less memory one because i cant afford the higher one yet my parents have offered to get me an external hard drive... With me going to uni next year and having to use my ipad in lectures this could really help :/

    There are WiFi Hard Drives that you can use within iPad, but by the time that you factor in the price for that you might be better off just asking mom and dad to help pay for the larger capacity iPad and use iTunes and your Mac for the "external storage" that you might need.
    Really - if you are going to purchase a MacBook and an iPad, I don't see any need at all for an external drive. But take a look here.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=WiFi%20Hard%20Drives%20for%20iPd

  • How can I move my project from external hard drive to my macbook pro?

    How can I move my project from external hard drive to my macbook pro? every time I try to do some editing, the sequence is very slow, thanks in advance

    Try here...
    Setting-up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC

  • I have just started using WD external hard drives, I use it to save my movies and music on. On more than one occasion, when I connect to my MacBook it erases everything on had on there. Can someone please help with this problem?

    I have just started using WD external hard drives, I use it to save my movies and music on. On more than one occasion, when I connect it to my MacBook it erases everything I had save on the hard drive. Can someone please help me with this problem? I am super tired of having to put all of my movies and music on the hard drive just to have it erased again. The products I am using are WD 4TB My Book and 2 TB My Passport external hard drives. When it happens, there is always an icon that reads, EFI, along with the My Book icon. Thank you for your assisstance.

    dwgar1322 wrote:
    I have just started using WD external hard drives, I use it to save my movies and music on. On more than one occasion, when I connect it to my MacBook it erases everything I had save on the hard drive. Can someone please help me with this problem? I am super tired of having to put all of my movies and music on the hard drive just to have it erased again. The products I am using are WD 4TB My Book and 2 TB My Passport external hard drives. When it happens, there is always an icon that reads, EFI, along with the My Book icon. Thank you for your assisstance.
    Yes, you have WD software installed  REMOVE IT !! 
    WD has warned its customers about their huge mistake that their software doesnt work on Mavericks and causes data loss.
    (also dont use WD drives anymore)
    Read all about it here:
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5475136?start=255&tstart=0
    See their website on removing the destructive WD software here:
    http://community.wd.com/t5/External-Drives-for-Mac/External-Drives-for-Mac-Exper iencing-Data-Loss-with-Maverick-OS/td-p/613775
    Western Digital External Hard Drives Experiencing Data Loss On OS X Mavericks
    http://www.cultofmac.com/252826/western-digital-external-hard-drives-experiencin g-data-loss-on-os-x-mavericks/

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