I want to use a fantom diamond as an external hard drive for my mac, is this a good idea?

Using a Macbook pro, with Snow Leopard (I think), and my memory is full so I want to store my stuff on an external hard drive. I found a 2T Fantom Diamond EHD, but I'm now learning that I have to convert to NTFS-3g. I'm not computer savy so I want to know if this is a good idea, or should I look for something different. Also, can I set up the EHD as the default path for itunes?

This is not the forum for MacBook Pro owners.
You just need to reformat the drive in Disk Utility and erase the drive and have Mac HFS.
If you did need to use NTFS then you would not want -3G but Paragon NTFS for OS X x. 10.0
Or buy something that isn't pre-formatted to Windows NT file system.
First though make sure you have backups of your system. TimeMachine being used now?
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-TimeMachine-drive.html
http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine/
Maybe cleanout some files you don't need.
Install a larger notebook hard drive even.
http://www.macsales.com/firewire has a lot of choice in Mac compatible drives and enclosures so you don't need to worry about Fantom not working at some point.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro
https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/mac_os_x_v10.6_snow_leopard

Similar Messages

Hello, how would I go about using my time capsule as an external hard drive for my Mac book pro?

Anybody know if I can use my time capsule as an external hard drive for Mac book pro?

Just recognise the following.
Store files on the TC.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/24380694#24380694
This is asked several times a day.. obviously people are struggling with their latest SSD being too small.
The TC is not suitable for network file server.. but many people having no choice press it into service as such.
It cannot be partitioned. It was and is and ever shall be a backup device for Time Machine.
Major issues.
1. No backup.. no way Time Machine can backup a network drive. No place to backup to.. So all your files will be at risk. And you will need to buy a third party like CCC to do backup.
2. The TC cannot be partitioned and mixing TM backups and data is not great.
3. The drive is slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. there is no controls.
4. iPhoto in particular can easily corrupt its entire library with wireless networking causing a disconnection to one photo. Even if you do this;;; do not move your photo library... you have been warned!!
5. iTunes will constantly lose connection to the library. The disk is too slow to respond.. itunes on the computer will constantly spit out errors. Even in the midst of streaming the TC can spin down the disk due to caching.
6. Do not use any live files on the TC no matter what else you do.. if you edit files in whatever program the file must be on the local hard disk.
7. The only suitable location for most libraries is a computer. You can plug in an external hard disk.
Read pondini for some work arounds.
Q3 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html

I want to create a new folder on my external hard drive for photos. Even though I added the new folder button to the tool bar it is not highlighted so I cannot click on it to create a new folder on this drive.

I have an external hard drive that I would like to pre-make a new folder before I import photos into it. Even though I added the new folder app to by toolbar, it is not highlighted and I cannot use it. It will only let me create new folders if I upload to iPhoto. That is not where I want to store everything. So I need to figure out how to turn on or activate New Folder on my toolbar for all possible downloading options.

If it's a drive that you've previously used with a PC, just double-check the format - click the drive once on the desktop to highlight it, and click cmd-i (the command key and the i key together) to see the Info window. That will tell you, under Format, how it's formatted.
If it's "NTFS", that's the current Windows format. You can read but not write to it with a Mac. If you want full read/write access, you should look into Paragon NTFS, which allows you to do both. Note that some features of te Mac (Time Machine, for example) will only work with Mac-formatted drives.
Matt

I have used a Seagate external hard drive for my Mac desktop. It is malfunctioning. Can I disconnect and depend on iCloud to keep my documents, music, and photos backed up safe and secure? I use the Cloud for phone, pad and desktop.

Can I expect iCloud to safely back up and secure my documents, music and pictures? I am using Cloud on phone, pad, and desktop. Have depended on external hard drive in the past. It is malfunctioning. Will the Cloud replace it for storage and safety?

Time Machine in itself, without an external drive may well be good for instances where you accidentally delete documents that you later require. However in the event of a hard drive failure, if Time Machine backup is kept on the same drive as the original items, it will not be much use to you.
In my opinion, it is vitally important that you have an external drive for backup, whether you use Time Machine or a another backup solution is entirely up to you.
My situation is slightly unusual, I have four hard drives in my computer and multiple arrays of hard drive enclosures with multiple hard drives within them (in total I have 40 TB of storage). As a result of this I tend to employ more than one backup procedure, I use Time Machine to backup some items and a utility called tri-backup to backup other items. I also keep two backups of everything.
Time Machine is free, it's included with your operating system, I wonder if you mean time capsule.

How can I use my Time Capsule as an external Hard Drive for my PC? My PC can't find it.

Hi, I just bought this Time Capsule for my home. I've got the internet access for all my devices (Mac, iPad, PC, iPhone) and I've got the Mac backup working through Time Machine. I'm supposed to be able to use the Time Capsule as an external drive for my PC, but I can't figure it out. My PC doesn't recognize the Time Capsule as a Network Place. I called AppleCare, but they don't have all the answers for "PC issues." They tried to get me to Map a Network Drive, but my PC popped up a window asking for a Username and Password. It looks like something similar to when I VPN into my company network from home.
I'm using Windows XP Professional, Version 2002, Service Pack 3.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Download and install the airport utility for windows.. it isn't strictly necessary but the bonjour service makes life easier.
The request for username and password is correct. Username is whatever you like.. but windows needs it.. so admin.. being the common router one.. password by default is public unless you changed it.
Now to get the TC to work properly..
1. The names should be SMB compliant.. by default they are wrong.. use short names, no spaces no special characters.. pure alphanumeric. That is for TC name and wireless names.
2. Wireless passwords should also be same use WPA2 private.
3. In the disk sharing page.. manual setup.. put in the windows workgroup name.. ie WORKGROUP.. this helps the discovery process.
4. In the same area, turn on the guest account to read and write.. not necessary but helps with later versions of windows particularly.
5. Access the drive by using the direct IP address. ie in Windows Explorer address bar, \\10.0.1.1 (or whatever IP the TC is at).

Can i use time capsule as external hard drive for both mac and windows

I have a mac book pro, ipad and iphone and ipod and a windows pc
Can i use time capsule as a external hard disk only for all of the above ( including windows ) without the back up activity for mac ?

You cannot access the TC from iOS devices without a browser. eg filebrowser.
Can i use time capsule as a external hard disk only for all of the above ( including windows ) without the back up activity for mac ?
Yes, with the following proviso.. the TC is not able to back itself up.. so if you store files on the TC without backups one day you will discover all your files are gone because of a hard drive failure of the TC. TM also cannot backup TC.. so you will need to buy a proper backup software.
It is also much slower than a real NAS..
And windows can be a bit painful.. especially windows 8.. other versions should work if you spend the time getting everything set right.

AirPort Express vs Extreme. Is this a solution? My wife wants to be able to access files on her hard drive for our Mac by way of a laptop from anywhere in the house. For example, she would like access her $ software from any computer in house.

Will one of these work to use software from iMac on any laptop wirelessly around the house? Which would be better Express or Extreme?

I've had much better luck with Express rather than the Extreme.
She can use "Sharing"
Apple - AirPort Express - Easy Setup
Mac 101: File sharing

How do you use an external hard drive for your Mac (movies only), iTunes and Apple TV2 all together? I can't put movies on internal HD as it would use it all up.

any help is appreciated

Welcome to the Apple Community.
The following article(s) may help you.
Moving your iTunes library to an external drive (Mac)
Moving your iTunes library to an external drive (PC)

Can I use my 160GB iPod as an external hard drive for my mp3s???

Hello.
Just wondering this. I have a little over 52GB of empty space on my iPod and only 16GB left on my iMac where I store all of my mp3s on iTunes. Is there anyway I can keep my iPod the same and not be affected if I where to delete albums from my iTunes???
Any insights and opinions is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

If you *Manually Manage* your iPod (by selecting that option on the Summary screen) you can delete MP3s from you computer without removing them from your iPod.
However, this is not recommended because if you have to Restore you iPod you will have to manually re-load everything. Also, if you lose, drop or replace it, or it is stolen, then you will lose those files also.
The iPod is subjected to all sorts of abuse (listed above) so it is risky to have those music files only on your iPod.
Message was edited by: the fiend

How to use one music library from one external hard drive on two different computers

I have 57 gigs of music in my itunes library on my laptop (Windows Vista). I backed up the library onto an external hard drive. I would like to play the music on a second computer (Windows XP) without putting the music on the second computer, just keeping it on the external hard drive.
I have the latest version of iTunes and Quicktime installed. In iTunes on both computers, under Advanced Preferences I changed the iTunes media folder location to the folder on the external hard drive and checked the boxes for "Keep iTunes media folder organized" and "copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library". Also under the File tab, "Organize Library", I clicked on "Consolidate Files" and "Reorganize Files in the folder itunes music".
On the second computer I tried holding SHIFT while launching iTunes until the prompt appears asking to create a new library or point to an existing library. While attempting to point to the new location, I am only able to open the music folder, not set it as the location. In advanced preferences when I click "change" for the itunes media folder location, I can locate the folder but the only button I can click on is "open" or "cancel". "Open" will open the folder showing all my music. I tried typing in the location. It shows the correct location.
I was able to see the songs in the library in itunes on the second computer but it won't play the music. There are no exclamation points next to the songs. I am also able to see the playlists but there aren't any songs in the playlists.
There are no problems with itunes on the first computer. Everything works as it should.
Ideally I would like to use the same folder on the external hard drive for both computers if possible. But for now I want to at least get the music playing with the playlists on the second computer from the external hard drive.
Please help.

See this post on making a split library portable.
tt2

Can I use my time capsule as a external hard drive as well

I want to use my time capsule as a external hard drive as well as a back up disk. Is that possible?

You Can!! But Should you??
Can and Should are different.
Here are the issues.
Store files on the TC.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/24380694#24380694
This is asked several times a day.. obviously people are struggling with their latest SSD being too small.
The TC is not suitable for network file server.. but many people having no choice press it into service as such.
It cannot be partitioned. It was and is and ever shall be a backup device for Time Machine.
Major issues.
1. No backup.. no way Time Machine can backup a network drive. No place to backup to.. So all your files will be at risk. And you will need to buy a third party like CCC to do backup.
2. The TC cannot be partitioned and mixing TM backups and data is not great.
3. The drive is slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. there is no controls.
4. iPhoto in particular can easily corrupt its entire library with wireless networking causing a disconnection to one photo. Even if you do this;;; do not move your photo library... you have been warned!!
5. iTunes will constantly lose connection to the library. The disk is too slow to respond.. itunes on the computer will constantly spit out errors. Even in the midst of streaming the TC can spin down the disk due to caching.
6. Do not use any live files on the TC no matter what else you do.. if you edit files in whatever program the file must be on the local hard disk.
7. The only suitable location for most libraries is a computer. You can plug in an external hard disk.
Read pondini for some work arounds.
Q3 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html

Is possible to use Time Capsule as a external hard drive for my MA ?

Hi,
I wondering to know if i can use the time capsule as a external hard drive for my MACBOOK AIR i mean i dont want a backup i just want to be connected when i'm at home and transfer the data to the time capsule or simply uses data from there.
Thanks!

Yes, you can.
(60321)

Using Macbookpro with Aperture photos on external hard drive

I have now just about filled up my macbook pro. So I am now moving my pictures folder to an external drive. I have never done this before but it looks straight forward. After the transfer I just restart aperature and help it find the library.
But here is the question. I would like to bring my laptop on trips, take pictures, manipulate them in aperture. Then when I get home I would like to put those photos into the external drive.
I am confused about how to do that?

Bob,
I am currently using MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz with 4 GB DDR2.
Since day one I have used an external portable hard drive that has all images stored on it.
No images are stored on the MacBook.
Currently I am using a portable LaCie 250 GB running with Firewire 800.
Nearly 10,000 images at the present time.
Use a USB 500 GB portable external hard drive for the Vault (backup).
Have had no problems working this way.
I am looking to purchase a larger portable LaCie (500 GB) soon.
Stu

I want to take files from my PC (using a Seagate external hard drive) then plug this Seagate External hard drive into my Mac Book Pro and move the files from the Seagate External Hard drive onto my Time Capsule. I do not want to put these files on my Mac

I want to take files from my PC (using a Seagate external hard drive) then plug this Seagate External hard drive into my Mac Book Pro and move the files from the Seagate External Hard drive onto my Time Capsule. I do not want to put these files on my Mac. How do I do this? Where do I put these files on my Time Capsule? Will it affect the functioning of my Time Capsule?

Mixing files with data is not always great idea.
See info here.
Q3 http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
Why not just connect the PC directly to the TC by ethernet and copy the files over?
It is hugely faster and much less mucking around.
In windows load the airport utility for windows.. if you have not already as this will help you access the drive.
There is more info here.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1331

I want to edit Pictures that are on my External Hard Drive Using iPhoto without having to import them every time, it was suggested to me to use Aperture. any advise is appreciated

I want to edit Pictures that are on my External Hard Drive Using iPhoto without having to import them every time, it was suggested to me to use Aperture. any advise is appreciated

Aperture is a nice program, I use it myself for it's adjustment and light editing capabiities.
You can save a vault on another drive.

I want to use a fantom diamond as an external hard drive for my mac, is this a good idea?

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