Cloned hard drive to external question.

Pardon my ignorance, but I cloned my hard drive to an external and I'm wondering if I can still get to my data if I erase all the applications and other stuff to clean it up? Thanks in advance for your help.

The very idea of cloning implies an EXACT copy of the original. Indeed, this leads to a lot of disk space occupied by data. If you want to backup you data and settings only, not all apps, which are already stored somewhere else or may be downloaded, then do not clone, use a backup utility. I am an iBackup user, but you may choose another one.
As an example, my daily backup takes around 110 GB, if I cloned the whole partition (I have 2), then it would take up around 380 GB.
Is this what you meant?

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External Hard Drive/Time Machine Questions

The hard drive on my four-year-old-plus MacBook Pro is apparently failing, and I can't afford a new MacBook Pro yet. So I bought an external hard drive, hoping to clone my hard drive and run my computer off the external hard drive if the main drive crashes.
At the moment I can't afford an Apple external hard drive, so I bought a non-Apple model. So I was surprised when it asked if I wanted to use Time Machine to back up my data while I was setting it up. I chose yes, though I'm not even sure if I've set it up correctly.
OK, let me start from square one...
My external hard drive has 1 TB of storage space, and I initially formatted it in one big block - no partitions. If I want to boot off a cloned hard drive, will I have to partition it, so I'm booting off a particular partition?
If I do have to partition it, I understand I can use Apple's Disc Utilities to do the job. Can anyone tell me if there are any special steps or conventions I need to follow? I'd probably create a partition of about 200 GB for my cloned hard drive. (I'm currently using about 120GB on my internal hard drive.)
In fact, I might make two separate 200-GB partitions, cloning my hard drive to one partition, then cloning it to the second partition a few weeks later, just for security.
My first Time Machine backup is scheduled to begin in just half an hour or so. Will it merely copy all my files to the external hard drive, or will it create an operable clone? Approximately how long do you think this initial backup will take, using firewire?
Also, once I get my hard drive cloned, I'm thinking of booting up with the clone and upgrading to Snow Leopard. If everything works fine, then I'll upgrade my main (internal) hard drive to Snow Leopard as well.
Sorry for all the questions. I think I understand the basics; there are just a surprising number of details to figure out.
When I can afford it, I hope to upgrade to a new MacBook Pro 13" or 15" and an iPad, which I'd like to take to work with me.
Thanks for any tips.

David Blomstrom wrote:
If I want to boot off a cloned hard drive, will I have to partition it, so I'm booting off a particular partition?
yes.
you would need to partition it and use one partition for cloning and the other for TM backups.
i don't recommend such a setup, however. it's like putting all eggs in one basket - if (not when) the external fails, you'd have lost both backups @ the same time !
If I do have to partition it, I understand I can use Apple's Disc Utilities to do the job. Can anyone tell me if there are any special steps or conventions I need to follow?
yes.
you can use the instructions in [this|http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/DU.html] user tip.
I'd probably create a partition of about 200 GB for my cloned hard drive. (I'm currently using about 120GB on my internal hard drive.)
the partition for the clone needs to be just a big as your startup disk (e.g. 120 GB). the partition for TM backups, otoh, would ideally be 2-3 times the size of your startup disk.
more information [here_|http://web.me.com/pondini/TimeMachine/1.html].
Will it merely copy all my files to the external hard drive
it will back up everything on your startup disk unless you specifically exclude files from backups.
or will it create an operable clone?
no.
use software such as _*Carbon Copy Cloner*_ to clone your system.
Approximately how long do you think this initial backup will take, using firewire?
the initial backup could take overnight - depending on how much data is to be backed up.
Also, once I get my hard drive cloned, I'm thinking of booting up with the clone and upgrading to Snow Leopard. If everything works fine, then I'll upgrade my main (internal) hard drive to Snow Leopard as well.
yes, that will work just fine. in fact, some users recommend this technique even if the internal drive is not about to fail - better muck up a clone than the regular startup disk.
JGG

Hard Drive and External Hard drive filled up instantly?

While using my Mac today, I came up with a dialogue box saying my hard drive (and external hard drive) are both full. This is strange because this morning I had over 30GB on my internal hard drive, and between 100GB and 300GB on my external hard drive.
How can both of these fill up at once?
I had uploaded approximately 100 photos to my external hard drive this morning, but there was still plenty room then.
What is going on?

HI Matt,
Get Disk Inventory so you can see exact sizes of files and folders.
*"I came up with a dialogue box saying my hard drive (and external hard drive) are both full. This is strange because this morning I had over 30GB on my internal hard drive, and between 100GB and 300GB on my external hard drive."*
Not sure what's going on but it would be a good time to boot from your install disk and check the hard drive.
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger and later) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
*(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)*
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
Carolyn

"F11 System Recovery" during boot does not work after Cloning hard drive.

Problem: “F11 System Recovery” during boot does not work after Cloning hard drive.
HP Envy m6-1125dx UEFI Notebook Computer with GPT hard drive.
Original Seagate Hard Disk GPT 700GB with Window 8.0_64 upgraded to Windows 8.1_64
Startup Menu (F11 System Menu works properly) only on original hard drive.
Following obtained from Disk Management & diskpart in Command Prompt.
GPT Disk <700GB>
Partition 1 WINRE NTFS Primary 235MB/400MB [Recovery]
Partition 2 EFI System FAT32 (LBA) Primary 108MB/260MB [System]
Partition 3 (NONE) Unformatted Primary 128MB/128MB [Reserve]
Partition 4 Main NTFS Primary 90GB/195GB [Primary “C”]
Partition 5 (NONE) NTFS Primary 372MB/450MB [Recovery]
Partition 6 Data NTFS Primary 7GB/475GB [Primary “E”]
Partition 7 NTFS Primary 26MB/350MB [Recovery]
Partition 8 Recovery NTFS Primary 24GB/26GB [Recovery “D”]
I have Cloned the original hard drive to a new HGST 1TB Hard Drive using four different methods (sector by sector):
Acronis True Image 2015
Acronis Backup for PC
AOMEI Backupper Professional
Macrium Reflect
Each time the cloning process completes successfully and has the same original partition arrangement. The computer works properly except when trying to use the “F11 System Menu” key during boot. It gives the following error message:
“Recovery
Your PC needs to be repaired
A required device isn’t connected or can’t be accessed.
Error code: 0xc0000225
You need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don’t have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your system administrator or PC manufacturer. “
Any suggestions why the F11 System Recovery does not work during boot and how to fix the problem would be appreciated. I have does various disk checking and file checking on both the original and new hard drive with no errors.
Thank you in advanced.

Hi,
How did you clone the HDD ? One-for-one or different method ?
Regards.
BH
**Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

How to export photos with editing from preview mode to hard drive and external hard drive?

I have applied changes to the photos in the preview mode. Unfortunately, I can't export them from preview mode to hard drive and external drives. Whenever the external drive is plugged, the changes I made are not applied to the photos on the both hard drives.

Sorry what do you mean Preview Mode? There is no Preview mode or module in LR. There is a Library and Develop module in LR. The Library module does have the ability to do some adjustments and the Develop module has all the image adjustments.
In any event to export an image you can either right click on it and select Export or when in the Library module you click the button that says Export.

New Hard Drive still have Question Mark Folder

So I first got the 'Question Mark Folder' and had to keep running Safe Boot Mode to use computer. Finally got around to replacing the Hard Drive, but this Question Mark Folder still comes up trying to turn the computer on and now trying to setup the new hard drive. Won't let me do anything. I've tried all of the button combos/recovery mode/etc. Tried inserting both a backup disk of Mavericks and Snow Leopard, nothing. Is there any other problems that could cause this? Maybe a dead SATA cable? or something else small hopefully?

My newest Mac just did the same "folder of death" dance. It's too late for you now, but you might consider a passport backup drive.You can get 2&3 T-bytes now fairly reasonably priced. A given with computers is they will crash, just a question of how bad and when, so you can be prepared for the next time.

I can't import any photos. 'Could not copy to requested location' is the given but i have tried importing to both hard drive and external drive.

i can't import any photos. 'Could not copy to requested location' is the given but i have tried importing to both hard drive and external drive. Help please ?

Most likely, the "requested location" where you are trying to copy files to does not have WRITE permission, and so you need to change the permissions.

If I move the oldest 2/3 of my iPhoto library to an external hard drive, will I still be able to access those older photos? I assume that I will be able to select the source (internal hard drive or external hard drive)?

If I move the oldest 2/3 of my iPhoto library to an external hard drive, will I still be able to access those older photos? I assume that I will be able to select the source (internal hard drive or external hard drive)?

Yes, if you have a second library.
Here's one way to do what you want:
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
Now you have two full versions of the Library.
3. On the Internal library, trash the Events you don't want there
Now you have a full copy of the Library on the External and a smaller subset on the Internal
Some Notes:
As a general rule: when deleting photos do them in batches of about 100 at a time. iPhoto can baulk at trashing large numbers at one go.
You can choose which Library to open: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
You can keep the Library on the external updated with new imports using iPhoto Library Manager

IMovie and external hard drive: follow up question

This is a follow up question from the iMovie 6 forum. Hopefully, this question will help the poster on that forum as well. I, too, am working on multiple iMovie 5.0.2 projects at the same time and am running out of hard disk space. I would like to transfer remaining miniDV tape to an external hard drive and, when finished, transfer these clips from the external hard drive to the current iMovie project in my Powerbook, one project at a time. Is this possible ? Will I transfer files from the external hard drive to the Powerbook hard drive and then to iMovie, or directly from the external hard drive to iMovie ? Do I have to format the external drive to Mac OS Extended as advised in iMovie 6 forum in order to transfer miniDV tape to the external hard drive ? When pressing the erase tab to format the external hard drive, will this erase files already on the hard drive before formatting ? Can I transfer projects I am not working on from iMovie to the external hard drive and then transfer them back to the Powerbook when it is time to work on them ? Sorry about all the questions but I need to think very simple-minded when it comes to computer related issues. Thanks for your help.

I was able to use and store iMovie in the external hard drive using my Powerbook as a monitor, so I presume it is formatted correctly
Sorry, but you cannot assume the drive is formatted correctly. iMovie doesn't tell you the drive format is incompatible with iMovie. (it should, but it doesn't.) Some iMovie project features can be saved and some cannot.
It's easy to check the disk format. In the Finder, click on the drive icon and choose File > Get Info from the Finder menubar. The window that opens shows the disk Format. You want it to say "Mac OS Extended". "(Journaled)" is optional.
With some drives, sometimes even that can be wrong. To be sure, use Disk Utility to check the format. When you click on the drive in the list along the left side of the Disk Utility window, the format is displayed at the bottom of the window.
Always, always, always check the disk format before using a drive with iMovie.
Karl

Time Capsule as an External Hard Drive + Ethernet Cable question

In reading up on the Time Capsule, it can be used as a router and for storage purposes.
Some questions:
1) can the Time Capsule be used just as an external hard drive, not for back up purposes at all? Is there a setting that needs to be checked to make sure that it doesnt back up anything at all.
2) can I move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via an ethernet cable for faster speeds? Do I need a special ethernet cable?
3) can I also move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via wifi if I want, just wondering if it is possible?

slumpey326 wrote:
1) can the Time Capsule be used just as an external hard drive, not for back up purposes at all?
yes.
however, files stored on the TC's disk cannot be backed up using time machine. also, if the drive fails, it will be very difficult to retrieve the data from it.
in other words, you need to find alternatives ways to backing up your data.
Is there a setting that needs to be checked to make sure that it doesnt back up anything at all.
turn time machine off in system preferences > time machine.
2) can I move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via an ethernet cable for faster speeds?
i'm not 100 % sure about a PC but definitely from a Mac.
Do I need a special ethernet cable?
[Cat6_|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6cable] will be fine.
3) can I also move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via wifi if I want, just wondering if it is possible?
again, not sure about the PC but yes for the Mac.
edited by the Jolly Green Giant (where Green stands for environmentally friendly)

Upgrading Itunes with an external hard drive and another question

Okay so about a month ago I transferred my itunes library to my external hard drive. I have since purchased and downloaded new music/video to my Ipod. Here are my questions if anyone can help me please.
1) Because I moved the library to the external, does that mean I also moved the Itunes program OR just the place where new music is downloaded/purchased and save to?
2) Upgrading to new Itunes on this computer, will that ruin what I have in my library or just upgrade and keep everything the same like it is now?
3) Horror story I heard is that when I upgrade, I may have to re-purchase music from Itunes in order for it to play on new Itunes. If that's true then I am paying like $400+.
I'm not a dummy, but this Ipod and music are very, very important to me. Any help would be very appreciated.
Sincerely,
Gusaphit

gusaphit wrote:
so because you have kept your itunes folder and library on an EHD, I take it you have also deleted the actual Itunes program folder from your computer's C drive?
Not the program folder, iTunes folder where your music library and ancillary files are kept. I haven't had my iTunes music on any internal hard drive on any computer for years.
I am trying to delete the music/movies off of this PC as it is my work station as well.
What steps do I need to take in order to successfully ensure that my Itunes will be secured on my EHD and fully operable should I want to add more music, purchase more music, or delete/re-arrange music as I am doing now.
Check in Preferences>Advanced to make sure that iTunes is pointed to your EHD. If it is, you should be fine. Then, just to make sure that everything is where it should be consolidate your library: File>Library>Organize Library.
Follow-up: If I move the program over to my EHD does that mean I can use any PC to download music into the Itunes library from my EHD?
I don't think you want to move the iTunes.exe file to your EHD. As I understand it, iTunes isn't really happy there and it takes some work to get it there. Just move the library.
I'm asking because you responded and you're cute.
Very happy to help but really, I'm not that cute.

Cloning os hard drive to external drive

Would like to create a carbon copy of my os hard drive to an newly purchased hd for "safe keeping" in the event the os drive is corrupted or fails.
Existing os hard drive is a 200gb hard drive and is functioning as i would like it to at this point. New drive is a 320gb unformated that i intend to copy to externally. I have carbon copy cloner and have used it.
First of all what is recommended way to do this? Use disk utility or ccc? Anything considerations in regards to the larger drive size? Will I have permission issues when booting the 320gb drive once it is cloned?
What is the procedure to boot the external drive to check the clone?

Prep your new drive:
Drive Preparation
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. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. 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 Options 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.
To clone:
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
2. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
3.Check the box labeled Erase destination.
4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive.
Source means the internal startup drive.
Upon completion quit DU. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager appears. Select the icon of the external drive and click on the downward pointing arrow button. If all is well the computer should startup from the external drive. To return to your internal drive just restart the computer.
If you plan to use the external drive for more than just the clone then you should partition it during the preparation phase into two volumes. The first volume should be the same size as your internal drive - 200 GBs. The remainder will make up the second volume.

Backing-up: External Hard Drive to External Hard Drive with LR5

I use LR5 on a Mac laptop. My catalog, backups, original images, presets…EVERYTHING is on the (main) external hard drive. No problems there. I backup my catalog regularly.
I was told to use Carbon Copy Cloner to periodically clone the main external hard drive to generate my backup external hard drive, so the entire main hard drive would be backed up, should disaster occur. I have done that…wherein lies my problem(s).
I’m hoping someone can help me with/educate me on, so I can better understand and fix the issues.
When only the backup external hard drive is connected, a pop-up window reads “Lightroom Catalog was not found.” I open the backup external drive catalog. When the backup catalog opens, the folder that I put my original images in (called “Original Images”), does not appear.
I have opened Finder and compared the main & backup hard drives. They are identical. I can see everything, including the “Original Images” folder. I have opened the images in Finder and the images are there, on both external hard drives.
Questions: Why can’t I see the cloned “Original Images” folder on the cloned, backup external hard drive?
                   How do I ‘find’ the Original Images folder?
2. Even though I don’t see the “Original Images” under Folder, if I go to Catalogs>All Photographs, all the images are there…but none of them are linked.                Correct me if I’m wrong here: The backup external hard drive is looking for the link to/in the main external hard drive because the backup external hard        drive was cloned from it.
I have thought about going through and re-linking the images in Catalog>All Photographs, but I believe they will be 'un-linked' every time I re-clone the main external hard drive to the backup external hard drive.
Questions: Is that last statement correct?
                  If that statement was correct and the main external hard drive dies or becomes corrupted, what is the purpose of having cloned the main                          external hard drive?
                  Wouldn’t the backup external hard drive NEED the main external hard drive to re-link images, retrieve metadata, etc.
   3. I want all of LR5 on a main external hard drive. And, I want to have a completely useable, glitch-free (backup) external hard drive, that I can open and see         all my files.
             Questions: If this (cloning) is not the way to achieve that, what method of backing up is the correct way to back-up?
                                I realize that in the Import Screen, a duplicate copy can be made and saved to another location, does this play a part?
I’ve read LR5 books, and searched the web, and I haven’t found anything that addresses how an existing catalog that is on an external hard drive should/can be backed up to another external hard drive.
Please help if you can. Answers to questions and/or step by step external to external backup instructions will be greatly appreciated!

Of course, when your primary external HD is not connected, when you open Lightroom, it cannot find your primary catalog. It doesn't know the look on the other hard disk for your catalog file.
The problem is that once you open the catalog file on the backup HD, it still points to the primary HD, and so your images appear to be disconnected. There is no way to make a copy of the catalog file and have it point to a different disk; copies of your catalog file always points to the original disk. However this is easily fixed, via http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm
Maybe you want a "completely useable, glitch-free (backup) external hard drive, that I can open and see all my files", but I don't think you really want that. In my opinion, the part about "that I can open and see all my files" isn't required. The ONLY time you should be doing any work with the backup HD, is when your primary HD fails. Other than that, your backup HD should just sit there, unused, so nothing can happen to it and be available for emergencies, in which case the instructions in #2 above get you up and running in under 5 minutes. Use your primary HD at all times (except when it fails, then use the backup).
So, your backup method is fine, it is the intended use of these backups that needs re-thinking.

Legality of cloning hard drive

Hi, just a quick need to confirm that the process of cloning one's entire hard drive, incuding the OS, is entirely legal. (My apologies if this question has been answered before: a quick search around yeilded nothing clear, and I am with a friend who needs to know.)
The OS in question is Windows XP, though I'm also interested in OSX's legal stance on this.
Thanks in advance,
Rhys

Chris,
Thanks a lot for the link. The title of that page from Microsoft looked promising, but I think it addresses the deployment of Windows installations onto multiple computers. I looked around their site--maybe I'm just a bit dull, but I'm finding it hard to find a clear answer to this seemingly simple question. Is it legal to back up your data by cloning your hard drive onto an external drive (which is bootable in case the internal drive fails) which of course entails making a copy of the OS?
Don't mean to be lazy: I'll keep looking when I have time later--I thought someone here must know and could easily confirm this.
Thanks for your help, again.
Rhys

After cloning hard drive, aliased folders appear

Recently I cloned the hard drive on my PowerBook G4 (source) to a new external drive (destination) using Disk Utility. The process went well. However, on the new drive, 3 aliased folders appeared, "etc", "tmp", and "var". I believe these are hidden folders from the source drive which I can see by using OnyX on the source drive. My question is, how can I re-hide the folders? Can I delete them? The new drive is now in my PowerBook and I don't want to reverse the whole process of swapping drives. Should I startup from the external FW drive, reformat the PowerBook drive, and clone the external drive to the PowerBook drive using CarbonCopyCloner. Will this solve the problem or make it worse? Seems to me that there should be an easy way to hide the visible aliased folders. After all, the developers did. I have tried the program "Hide Folders" but permission limitations prevented the process. Will a reinstall (not clean) of OSX eliminate the aliased folders? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

how can I re-hide the folders?
Hidden files will be visible on non-Boot drives, perfectly normal.
Can I delete them?
NO, NO, just leave them, they are needed... in fact the reason they are hidden on the Boot Volume is so you don't do that & render it unbootable.

Cloned hard drive to external question.

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