Arrange An Entire External HDD

Is there anyway to set Finder to arrange and sort all folders the same way on an entire external drive? I have many different archive files on an external drive that I would like to arrange by type and sort by name. The only problem is, the only way I can see to do this is to go to every individual folder on the drive, there's a lot of them since this is ten years worth of archive data, and do it all manually. Is there any easier way to do this? Thanks!

See this topic by Pondini...
http://pondini.org/TM/6.html

Similar Messages

How to avoid TM to back up entire external HDD to TC again after eject/reconnect to MacBook Air?

I back up my MacBook Air internal HDD and an additional external HDD plugged into the USB port of the MacBook Air to my Time Capsule using Time Machine. However, if I remove/eject the external HDD and then reconnect it TM tries to backup the entire contents of the external HDD again.
Is this known/expected behaviour, or is there some config trick to avoid this?

Pondini wrote:
kanitzky wrote:
TM will back up entire external HDD if it was connected to a different system between ejecting and reconnecting to the MacBook Air.
It shouldn't, unless that system does something really bizarre, like assigning a new UUID to the drive.
That was my thought as well. When an external drive has not been connected during recent backups (potentially 25 or more if a whole day went by), TM may not have as much cached data about changed files, so while it may appear that TM is backing up the entire drive anew, when all data is updated only new data is retained.
Kanitsky, what messages or status are you seeing that sugges the entire external HD is being backed up when reconnected?

Backing up entire itunes to external HDD

how do i "export" & "backup" my entire itunes library (music/vids/pics etc) to an external HDD?
after reformatting my PC, can I import again without problems, even songs purchased from itunes store?

Here is how to move it to an exHD:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
Before you reformat your PC, deauthorize it
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420
Yes, you can get your library back intact - if you save the ITL file and have the same user name on your fresh system:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732

Cannot access my external HDD

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the forum, but if someone could help me with this I would be so grateful. A couple of days ago, I was working with my external HDD (Western Digital, 250GB, USB 2.0), when my Macbook (running OS 10.5.6) froze and restarted. Normally I can access the HDD through the orange icon that appears on my Desktop and in Finder, but it is no longer there.
I checked Disk Utility, System Profiler, and USB Prober - and they all appear to recognize a Mass Storage Device. In Disk Utility, I am not able to "mount" but when I click "eject" I get the following message: "Eject Failed. The disk “WDC WD25 00JB-00GVA0 Media” could not be unmounted. Make sure that all applications and files are closed on this disk." As far as I know, I'm not using anything from this drive.
I have checked the /Volumes/ folder, and there is nothing but the main HDD of my Macbook.
I have a lot of data on this drive that I really need, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Other things that I have tried:
[1] lsof +D /Volumes/ExternalHD could not find my HDD
[2] Tried a new enclosure to rule out faulty wiring, but I get the same results
[3] Also of note, I cannot click "repair disk" in Disk Utility, because it is greyed-out
[4] I have tried using Disk Warrior and Data Rescue II, but they both freeze when my external HDD is running
Message was edited by: beaudeal

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

How can i Move pic from internal hdd to an external hdd

hi everyone, i had a new Mac Book Air for a couple months ago, notice my internal hdd is getting full of pic, i would like to move them to an external HDD, how can i do that, i looked at the Iphoto library folder, nothing there, or i can not see them, any help will be appreciate it, and thank you in advance for your help...

If you have a large iPhoto library, you can save space by moving it to an external drive, yes. You will not be able to see the individual pictures in the library file - just move the entire IPhoto Library file to the other drive, then double-click it to open iPhoto and tell the application where your new library is.
If your image collection is not in iPhoto, where is it?
Matt

How do I use itunes from an external HDD on a new laptop?

This really does seem to be an unanswerable question but you guys have helped so many times in the past without me ever having to post.
Here is my set up when I first got iTunes way back I had it on my first laptop, we'll call this PC A, but the Hard Drive was so small I moved the library to my external HDD. I say I moved it, a friend did it for me.
For years this set up worked fine, iTunes was on the HDD and I would access it via PC A as long as the two were connected. If the HDD wasnt connected then I couldnt access iTunes, of course, as all of the library was stored on the HDD.
I dont want to sound like I am talking to you all like idiots but Ive explained this so many times and people never know what I mean.
So now I get another laptop. (PC B) but obviously I cant get to iTunes from it even when the HDD is attached.
For years I used to crank up old PC A and get to iTunes that way but now the old girl is on her last legs so I need to be able to access iTunes from PC B (this has been going on so long Im now looking for PC C).
I do have iTunes on PC B that my iPhone is synced to and they seem to understand that each other exists but if I plug my iPod that is synced with iTunes from PC A with PC B it wipes it
Please. Please. I just need to know what to do

Make a split library portable
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
In the layout above, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library is considered to be portable. A portable library can be moved from one path to another without breaking the links between the library and the media and being self-contained is much easier to backup.
You can rearrange things to make a split library portable by taking a number of small steps which don't break the library.
Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated. If the library is in the old style layout then it should ideally be be upgraded to iTunes Media Organisation (Library > Organise Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder>) to ensure that iPod Games, Mobile Applications etc. are brought inside the media folder.
The basic non-fatal manipulations are:
You can connect to an alternate set of library files by holding down Shift (Win) or Option (Mac) when starting iTunes.
You can move the library files to a new location as long as the media stays put.
You can move the library files and the media together if the media folder is a direct subfolder of the library folder. (I.e. in this form the libary is portable).
If you have already moved/copied the media content from a subfolder of the library folder to a different location then you only need to copy the library files for it to appear as if you have moved the entire library in the way allowed above. I.e. just copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder.
You can rename the media folder to iTunes Media (if it isn't already) if the media folder is inside the library folder.
iTunes uses the name of the folder holding the library files as the window title. Having made a library "portable" you may need to take a final step of renaming the library folder to iTunes or, if the library files have ended up at the root of a drive, moving all of the library files and content folders into a new folder called iTunes.
After each change you need to open, test and close the relevant library before attempting another change. If a change broke the library, undo it or revert to using the previous set of library files.
In essence all you need to do to make your library portable is copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder on the external/secondary drive and use the hold-down-shift/option-when-starting-iTunes method to connect to it. Other manipulations may be required to normalize the library so that the library and media folders have standard names.
If you are making the library portable in advance of migrating it from one system to another, don't forget to deauthorise the old computer if you're not planning to use iTunes on it again.

ITunes Library: Keep 2 external HDDs in sync with same music files

I am trying to run iTunes with 2 external HDDs, keeping in sync with each other. One large one for my desktop and a second portable one to take away from home when I need to travel. What is the best way to do this?
What I have done so far is changing the location of my media library via iTunes advanced preferences to the other ext HDD and then consolidating my library, but I noticed that it tries to re-copy the entire library or at least part of it so I end up with music files like:
Back in Black.mp3
Back in Black 1.mp3
I'm sure this has been thought of before and an obvious solution should be available, but I've never been able to find one, so I'd be really glad if someone could tell me how to do this!

Jef Van der Voort wrote:
There are lots of sync and backup solutions but they always require the 2 hard drives being connected at the same time.
did you have a look @ ChronoSync ?
JGG

Itunes library on external hdd for mac and pc

I want to store my my iTunes library on an external hdd and use it with a Mac and a PC. All changes made on the Mac should be recognised on the PC and all changes made on the PC should although be recognised on the Mac - one library for both.
I already tried to store my library from my PC on an external HDD and then started iTunes on the Mac, pressing "alt". But I wasn't able to open the library. When I choose library.itl, the Mac just opens iTunes without opening my iTunes library.
Any ideas, how I can put all my music, videos and podcasts on the external and then use it on Mac and PC?
Kind regards,
Matthias

The only format drive that will work with both a Mac and a PC without you using additional drivers is an older format called FAT. Disk Utility can create this. Otherwise if you use Windows' NTFS you need something like NTFS3G or MacFuse, and if you use OSX's HFS format you will need MacDrive on Windows (others may also work for both PC and Mac -- those are just the ones I could remember).
Theoretically the Mac should have been able to read the .itl on the Windows NTFS drive but maybe since it found it could not write to it, it reverted to default.
Note, if anything happens to the FAT32 drive you will need to repair it using Windows. I also assume you aren't usign this drive for huge files because FAT32 has a 4GB filesize limit.
You will have to completely erase the drive to partition and re-format it.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with moving just media files as in
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
Quick answer if you let iTunes manage your music: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.
Macworld - How to transfer iTunes libraries between PC and Mac - http://www.macworld.com/article/46248/2005/08/shiftitunes.html

Can no longer find External HDD

Ok so, last night I had a rough time with my MacBook Pro (startup wasn't working correctly) so I took it down to my local Apple Store today, where they formatted the entire hard drive. Luckily, I've been using my 500gb WD external hard drive to back up everything! So now I'm home, and I plug in my external HDD, and it doesn't come up on my desktop nor in finder. I tried to use Migration Assistant, but it can't find it, and Disk Utility doesn't see it either.
I know the USB ports still work, because I can plug in my mouse just fine. So what happened? Why doesn't my MacBook Pro recognize it anymore?
p.s. The HDD lights up and you can hear it spinning just fine, just like before. This problem has never happened to me before.

Sorry I wasn't clear, but when I pull up Disk Utility, my portable HDD does not appear.
I tested it by plugging it into my family's desktop (a Windows machine) and it pulled it up just fine. This means there's something wrong with my Mac...what can it be?

Is it possible for me to sync to multiple computers using an external HDD?

I just bought a 1TB external HDD and have all my music on it, as well as the installed and latest version of iTunes, as well I think I have the iTunes media file on there as well.
So using all of those things is it possible to sync my iPhone 5 to multiple computers? Like can I start syncing on my Laptop and unplug and cancel the sync and continue it on my Desktop
If there is I would imagine that it has to be either really easy or really complex. Either or I would like to know if it is possible!
If you need any more info just ask and I could provide anything that isn't personal.

Yes, if you have the entire library organized properly on the external drive then you can connect it to any computer running the same build of iTunes. See make a split library portable for details. You should also keep a backup on another drive.
See also this post.
tt2

Problems transfering iTunes Media folder from one external HDD to another.

Hey Yinz.
I'm running a MBP 13" 2.7Ghz Intel Core i7...OS X 10.6.8. Recently the NAS that hosted my iTunes Media folder and library failed. I recovered the drive from the NAS...a WD Caviar (WD2500JS), which was originally written in XFS. After substantial effort, I found a process that would enable me to access this drive, and have my Mac read it. This involved a Newer Technologies Voyager Q, coupled with a recent version of (whatever they're calling) MacFuse. It did so sucessfully. Now what i want is to take my iTunes Media folder and library off of the WD, ex-NAS HDD (its original location), and transfer it to a new HDD.
I bought a Toshiba Canvio basics usb 3.0/2.0.
Most online tutorials describe dragging and dropping the folder in the new location. I can connect both HDDs to my MBP, and the transfer will begin...
But.
After the first few minutes...The Finder will not allow me to complete the transfer. I keep getting an error code -8084.
I'm almost certain that the new HDD (which i formatted as Mac OS X Journaled in Disk Utility) is not recognizing special characters in certain file names in my iTunes Library. I have some artists in my folder that require special characters to display their names properly. I realize these were originally written in a Linux format.
So, is there a way around this...other than changing the filenames? I really don't want to destroy the integrity of my library by changing a bunch of characters that accurately identify artists. I guess if all i had was Billy Joel and the Beatles in my library, i'd be Okay...but i don't.
I also read a thread somewhere that suggested that error code -8084 relates to inadequate power distribution of an attached HDD. This also complicates my problem...as the new external HDD (Toshiba) is bus powered, and lacks an option for a dedicated AC power supply.
While i am able to access and use my iTunes as normal...i'm tied to that WD HDD, which is like, over 5yrs old, and i'm really hoping to get my media off that old HDD, and onto a new HDD with the files intact and accurate.
Any help would be much appreciated and welcome.
--j.m.
P.S. I'm running iTunes 10.7

No solid data here but it just seems to me that when I see issues arise about copying data and strange error messages that it has to do when people are using non Mac-formatted drives. I think they kind of work but once you put them under real pressure you just get problems. Maybe I'm just thinking of all those vague error -50 "communications difficulties" messages from people trying to copy their libraries to FAT drives. I wonder if using Terminal to do the copying would help.
Now, there is a difference between placing your media on a drive and your library on a drive. Your library is your whole iTunes folder along with files such as the critical library.itl file and artwork files, etc. Media are just what's in your media folder - music, movies, etc. If you are moving your whole library you can drag and drop copy. If you are moving your media you can drag and drop but then the new drive has to have the identical drive name as the old one (the old and new pathnames have to remain unchanged). Usually the best way to move media is to use iTunes' preferences setting to consolidate your media to the new location. iTunes very easily loses track of files unless you let it do the moving (exception: moving the whole iTunes library folder).
iTunes 10 for Mac: Consolidate your iTunes library - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH990
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
vs.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18879381

Can I cut/paste my backups to an external hdd and then back to my mac?

Ok, here's my issue and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I have an iPhone6 and my wife has one as well, and we both have iPads.
I have to backup all of these somewhere, and my current device is a Macbook Pro with 250gb SSD.
As you understand, backing up so many things in so little space it almost renders my Macbook useless.
I have read some advice about using sudo commands to make iTunes store the backups in an external hdd.
However, I am not an experienced mac user, and I do not trust myself doing something like that.
What came to my mind, and that's what I want your opinion upon, is the following.
Something that I used to do when I was using a windows pc to keep many different backups, rename them etc.
As far as I understand, when I plug in my iPhone to my Mac, iTunes recognize the device and the last backup of that device.
Then, by pressing "Backup to my pc etc" it only updates that backup and rewrites on it.
My questions:
I backup my iPhone then quit iTunes.
I remove (cut) the backup folder (the one with the huge weird name from the directory library/application support/mobile sync/backup/0604f04blabhblahblah) and paste it on an external hdd where I have tons of space.
When I want to backup my iPhone again, instead of creating a whole new backup that would take a lot of time, if I take the backup folder that I had stored to that external hdd and paste it back to its original place (the directory I mentioned above), will iTunes recognize it and update and rewrite on that backup?
And then again move it back and forth from my mac to my external hdd.
And something even more important.
In case something happens to my iPhone (it falls from the 10nth floor) and I buy a new one, will I be able to "restore from backup" using the same method I mentioned before? Will iTunes recognize the folder?
Sorry for the long text and any mistakes but english is not my mother tongue and I wanted to make sure I would be clear about my questions.
My current backups use more than half of my 250gb internal SSD and along with some apps and other stuff I cannot get rid off I am left with only 50gigs of space which is terrible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

edwardpeck wrote:
If I have iMatch can I move the music files to an external drive and then play the music off the cloud? This way freeing up space on my hard drive? If so how?
You can move the iTunes library to the external and use it there.
Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folde rto the external.
Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
iTunes will use the external for everything.You can delete /Music/iTunes/ folder.
FYI: The iTunes media folder is not the (entire) iTunes library.

Advice request - which external HDD for Adobe Lightroom?

Hi,
I'm going to buy myself an external hdd this week, and I would be very grateful for your advice.
1) I'm shooting with Nikon D70, Canon A520, and my mobile(;]).
2) After over 1 year of shooting I have ~130GB of photos taken with these cameras + I have some negative from analog times, which I'm going to scan (I estimate them to be next ~20GB)
3) I would like to keep all of above photos on external hdd and import them into Abobe Lightroom (tagging + developing), and and of course apply retouching to some of them in PS CS2.
4) My computers are : old PC desktop with XP, on which I will be only viewing these pictures, and IBM T43 with Vista on which I'm going to do all the developing. [Yes, I know that Apple is better, and I love Apple, but I can'tafford one yet].
Given above assumptions, which external hdd from the ones I've preselected should I choose ? I'm on the budget here, and the ones that I can afford are :
WD My Book Pro 250GB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 16MB Cache
WD My Book Premium 320GB USB 2.0/FireWire400 8MB Cache
WD My Book Essential 500GB USB2.0 8MB Cache
LaCie Porsche 500GB USB 2.0 8MB Cache
I'm asking mainly because I don't have any idea about how fast should a drive be to work with Lightroom with decent speed.
Also : should I buy FireWire controller for my T43 laptop, or will USB 2.0 be enough for my purposes ?
Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.
Chris

>Yes, I know that Apple is better, and I love Apple, but I can't afford one yet
Either a PC or MAC is fine, but you've entered a field where affordability is proportional to the number of photos you manage, the type of processing you perform and the level of security you are comfortable with. This is entirely separate of your budget.
USB2 and/or Firewire Drives work fine. From your list, I've owned both the LaCie Porsche and a WD MyBook. They both failed for different reasons. All hard drives will eventually fail. If you can't afford to lose your photo library you need some sort of redundency. The reliability of that redundency (RAID) and or speed of retrieval determines what technology is the minimum you need to afford. Or, if you have more time than budget, you can archive on DVDs. Keep in mind that even DVD's will fail over time.
The faster the drive, the faster the backup (redundency), the faster the throughput, and the faster you have access to managing and processing your image library.
Did I answer your question: No. However, whatever you get, and assuming you value your photos, make sure you get two of them so you can build some redundency into your budget. If you're feeling lucky, get the largest drive you can afford and make sure you leave yourself a lot of time for those backups.
Welcome to "photo shoebox management" of the new millenium! It ain't cheap ... :-)

HT1449 I tried to move the itune folder to an external hdd, (precisely as written above) but after "consolidating, happens nothing

tried to move the itune folder to an external hdd, (precisely as written above) but after "consolidating, happens nothing

That's because too many people confuse moving media folder with moving the library properly.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168

Unable to access user account files in OS X when connected as external HDD

Hi experts,
I'm having a problem with my mac mini (McM). I'm using my McM as an external HDD and it has mutiple user accounts on it. While connected from another mac, I'm able to see the McM listed in the left pane as an external device. When i select the users folder, I'm able to see the lists of my user accounts in it. The real problem starts when I try to look for my files in the default folders of my account in the 'Users' folder. This would be like Users --> My account --> (Desktop/Downloads/Documents...etc). All the folders here are shown with a RED MINUS DOT on the folder icon with nothing inside it.
I have tried changing the users permissions for the folder but it doesn't allow and remains to be disabled. Tried changing the file permissions on the HDD itself, by selecting "Ignoring ownership on this volume" option but running into errors. Also tried copying the entire folder and sub-folders but the data is not available after the copy is done.
So I'm now looking for a solution as to how could I take a back up of my files from the McM HDD without having to format it. There's some really important data that I can't afford to loose. All of my data is stored in the default folders itself and I haven't created any additional/separate folders.
All help appreciated. Thanks.

Tried changing the file permissions on the HDD itself, by selecting "Ignoring ownership on this volume" option but running into errors.
What errors?

Arrange An Entire External HDD

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