Does an external hard drive automatically put different computers data apart

just took all data off one imac onto a hard drive using time machine and now i want to put some data on from another imac using time machine
will the hard drive keep the data seperate as i need to put all data took off first imac back on it at some point but dont want my stuff going on it as well so when i open my time machine to back up will it keep the two seperate?

You can back up two computers with Time Machine onto the same external drive without any problem. Time Machine will create a different folder for each computer, so their backups won't have conflicts

Similar Messages

  • 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

  • Partition of external hard drive for backup different computers

    I have a macbook(40Gig) and an iBook(80 Gig); I want to make an external hard drive to backup.
    1. Is this possible to partition the external drive into two to make a bootable backup for both laptops?
    2.If so how big the external drive should be?
    Many thanks

    1. Is this possible to partition the external drive into two to make a bootable backup for both laptops?
    Yes. Set up a partition for each on the external and then clone a bootable copy of your current drive to the appropriate partition.
    2.If so how big the external drive should be?
    At least 40 + 80 = 100 GB. You're probably going to end up with an even bigger drive. I'd set up partitions to roughly match each of your computer drives in size (so 40 GB and 80 GB), then another for any extra. Having them match size makes it easy when cloning. Don't forget that if you store files on the extra you will also need to back those up on yet another drive.
    Cloning And Backup Tools
    A bootable clone is an exact copy of your drive which is capable of booting your computer. Making a copy of your computer which is capable of actually starting the computer requires special copying procedures. Some people just back up data files but if you have problems you have to reinstall all your operating system and all your applications. With a bootable clone you just start up from the backup drive and clone back everything.
    To copy files from one hard drive to another hard drive you can use:
    [CarbonCopy Cloner|http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html] (donationware)
    [SuperDuper|http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html] (shareware)
    [IBackup|http://www.grapefruit.ch/iBackup/index.html] (free)
    The Restore function of Disk Utility included in OS X. [Kappy's directions|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8799711#8799711]
    [Tri-Backup (commercial)|http://www.tri-edre.com/english/tribackup.html] (payware)
    [Silverkeeper|http://www.lacie.com/silverkeeper> (free) - version 2 has some issues (references: [1|http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/backup/index.html#d12jan2009],
    [2|http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/backup/index.html#d13jan2009]) and it is recommended Tiger users stick with 1.1.4.
    [Kappy's Backup Software Recommendations|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9065665#906 5665]
    [Overview of Mac OS X Backup Programs|http://8help.osu.edu/1247.html]

  • HT1751 I copied my old itunes library from my pc on to a external hard drive and put it on my laptop. How do i merge it with my current itunes account on my laptop?

    I copied my old itunes account on my pc to an external hard drive and put it on my laptop. How do i merge my old itunes with my current account on my laptop?
    Thanks

    Tunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    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.  Start iTunes with the option (shift on Windows) key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.
    Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not available in all countries; apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this). Movies currently available in the USA only. Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later.  Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid.  Apple notes it is your responsibility to back up your purchases.
    Select the store on the left side of iTunes.
    Click on Purchased on the right side under Quick Links.
    You can re-download your available previous purchases.

  • I made a bootable disc on an external hard drive, with Yosemite on it.  I am running Snow Leopard on my iMac.  How can I open the Yosemite disc from the desktop on my iMac?  Does the external hard drive need to be connected to my iMac by firewire to

    I made a bootable disc on an external hard drive, with Yosemite on it.  I am running Snow Leopard on my iMac.  How can I open the Yosemite disc from the desktop on my iMac?  Does the external hard drive need to be connected to my iMac by firewire to do that?

    kahjot wrote:
    Snow Leopard's Startup Disk pref can’t see Yosemite volumes. So the only way to switch from Snow Leopard to Yosemite is to do what Niel mentioned. Doesn't matter whether it's connected by USB or Firewire, although performance via FW would be faster.
    Are you saying that Yos/10.10, as a volume located in a mounted external drive won't appear as an option in Snow Leopard's Startup Disc, in Sys Prefs? I've never heard this one before. AFAIK any mounted volume, regardless of OS, should appear there. I would think that, if it appears in the Boot Picker/Startup Manager it would also appear and could be booted to from Snow's Startup Disk. I can't test this myself, since I don't have Yos. Is what you are saying documented somewhere?

  • Does an external hard drive ALWAYS need to be connected to my mbp with retina display for Time Machine?

    Does an external hard drive ALWAYS need to be connected to my mbp (OS 10.10.1) with retina display for Time Machine? Or can it be connected once a week or whenever I want? I used to have an external drive always connected to my previous mbp, but it made moving my mbp around a bit of a hassle with it connected...

    When the backup drive is not connected, some of the free space on the internal drive will be used to make local snapshots, which are backup copies of recently deleted files. Local snapshots will protect you from unintended file deletions, but not from a drive failure. You should only go as long between backups as you're willing to lose data. If losing a week's worth of work is acceptable to you, then that backup frequency is OK. Otherwise, it isn't.

  • Can I open an imovie project from an external hard drive on a different computer than my own? If so how?

    Can I open an imovie project from an external hard drive on a different computer other than my own? If so how?

    If you used the Finder to move the files, iMovie will have lost track of them. iMovie holds the locations of the Event files, and Project files contain references to those locations. If you move the files, iMovie has no way of knowing where they are.
    If you can, first move all the files back to their original locations. Plug in the external drive. Open iMovie and move the files in iMovie's interface (help explains how, but basically, just drag and drop in the event pane).
    Then you can connect the drive to the new computer, and iMovie will see them.

  • How to convert NTFS external hard drive to FAT32 without loosing data?

    New mac user. How to convert NTFS external hard drive to FAT32 without loosing data?

    You have to off load and backup then.
    don't have backup drive ?
    Get one.
    Want another option? Paragon NTFS for OS X will provide write function to your drive, works with the most PC cases and drives (not all NTFS drivers for OS X do) and does so with fast I/O and low overhead.
    Not sure about using Seagate GoFlex as I seem to recall a number of threads reporting problems.
    Windows can do a convert -fs to NTFS just never tried the reverse from NTFS to FAT32 but I would not use FAT. I'd either erase and reload and use as Mac HFS Extended; or if you actually do need to use it with a PC user running Windows, the driver would be handy and better.
    Or your PC w/ Windows there are HFS drivers for Windows to mount and WRITE to a Mac formatted drive under Windows. There MacDrive has more and better support feature set.

  • I have an external hard drive set up as a Time Machine backup on my IMac. I want to add a second external hard drive and put my Aperture Photo Library on it. Is there a way to have the photos on this second hard drive automatically back up to the Time Mac

    I have an IMac with an external hard drive set up as  a Time Machine for automatic backups. I want to add a second external hard drive and load my Aperture Photo Library on to it so that the library can be shared by both me and my wife. Is there a way to automatically backup the photo library that will be on the second hard drive to the Time Machine hard drive?

    Open System Preference > Time Machine
    Click Options....
    Ckick on external disk in list and hit the - button below the list to remove from the Exclusion list
    Allan

  • How does an external hard drive compliment Time Capsule?

    Hi, I am relatively new to iMac and time capsule. I am a novice computer and Mac user so things have to be simple. I have been reading a number of threads in the forums gleaning as much information as I can. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
    My iMac is running OS 10.6.4 with a 313 GB HD and my time capsule is 500 GB. I purchased my first iMac 2 years ago. Shortly thereafter I decided that I needed to be backing up files that I have been creating and building especially my photos and music files so I purchased a time capsule which I have been using as an external hard drive not as a wireless router. It is hard wired to my Mac. I use another wireless network. I have used Time Machine a few times and it has worked well for me. So far this simple set up has met my needs.
    Just recently I got two error messages, one that "Your startup disk is full." and "The disk containing your iPhoto library is running low on space.
    While I was exploring my memory capacities and possible ways of freeing up space on my computer my Time Capsule croaked. Apparently all hardware has an expiry date. It has since been replaced under an extended warranty and the new one reinstalled. I have done a complete back of my hard drive and deleted some useless stuff on my computer's hard drive to create 17 free GB. I am pondering what further steps I should take to safeguard my data. I hopefully will be building a much more extensive photo library both in iPhoto and Aperture. I wonder whether I should be looking at an additional external hard drive which seems to be the easiest thing to do. My Time Capsule (500 GB) is not quite twice the size of my computer's hard drive. Maybe it is too soon to invest in an external hard drive seeing that it may have a shot life span such as my first Time Capsule did.
    Does Time Machine only work with Time Capsule or will it work with other external hard drives? The folks at my Apple store tell me that Time Capsule can be used just to store data but I have heard otherwise in the forums. How would an additional external hard drive will work with Time Capsule? What is the difference is between USB and firewire? Is it possible to open files stored on the Time Capsule to see exactly what they are?
    I do realize that Time Capsule only backs up new files and any changes so I wonder how long I can continue with this arrangement.

    curious r wrote:
    Does Time Machine only work with Time Capsule or will it work with other external hard drives?
    Yes, Time Machine works with external HDs. That's how most folks back up. Connecting directly via USB or FireWire is much faster then Ethernet, but you're right -- all disk drives fail, sooner or later.
    The folks at my Apple store tell me that Time Capsule can be used just to store data but I have heard otherwise in the forums.
    It can be used for Time Machine backups and other things, but trying to use the same one for both presents problems, because of the way Time Machine works (filling-up all the available space before deleting the oldest backups) and the fact that you can't partition a Time Capsule's internal HD to separate your backups from the other data. Plus, you can't back up the other data.
    How would an additional external hard drive will work with Time Capsule?
    It won't extend the TC's internal HD -- backups can't "span" the two. In your setup, you'd be much better off connecting an external HD directly to your iMac. The advantage of a TC is, since it includes a wireless router, you can use it to make a wireless network and do backups wirelessly. That's what a lot of laptop owners do.
    What is the difference is between USB and firewire?
    FireWire is faster and more reliable for large amounts of data transfer. It also requires less use of your Mac's CPU, since the FireWire chipset does some of the work that your CPU has to do with USB.
    Is it possible to open files stored on the Time Capsule to see exactly what they are?
    Yes. Files you put there (other than Time Machine backups) are just like files on any other disk.
    I do realize that Time Capsule only backs up new files and any changes so I wonder how long I can continue with this arrangement.
    Yes, that's a concern. It varies greatly depending on how you use your Mac, but our general "rule of thumb" is that it needs 2-3 times the size of the data it's backing-up.
    There's another consideration: Time Machine can back up FROM your internal HD and external HDs that are directly connected via USB or FireWire (if they're formatted for a Mac), but it cannot back up from any network drive, including a TC's internal HD or a USB drive connected to it. So if you move some data from your internal HD to an external HD connected to the TC, you'll need some other way to back it up.
    Forgive me, but I'm not sure why you have a Time Capsule in your setup, if I understand it correctly. You have one iMac, no laptops or other computers, and you use a different router for your network, right?
    Your best bet may be to get one external HD for the "overflow" of things you don't have room for on your iMac's internal HD, and another, much larger one, for Time Machine backups of both.
    I'll press my luck here and also suggest yet another external HD, perhaps a portable, for "secondary" backups. With a portable, you can take it to a secure off-site location, such as your safe deposit box, workplace, relative's house, etc., and also be protected against fire, flood, theft, direct lightning strike on your power lines, etc. See #27 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] for more.

  • HT1727 how do I transfer my iTunes from an external hard drive to a different computer?

    How do I transfer my iTunes from an external hard drive to a pc?

    If you don't have all of your music files within the iTunes Music folder structure, simply moving all of your music to a new location will not result in your iTunes library automatically updating the file paths to all of your songs appropriately. If you have a few other locations in which you store your music, you can take the ExportImport script turingtest2 wrote, make the modifications below, export the results, paste them into Microsoft Word or Excel, do a Find and Replace with the correct file location, and then import the new locations. To use the script, follow turingtest2's instructions on this thread as posted on Dec 19, 2012 6:28 AM.
    Note that the modifications, while they worked for me, show my lack of experience with VB as the progress bar will no longer work. Definitely be sure to back up your iTunes library file before executing the script with the below modifications, but doing this for 3500 items didn't even take 2 minutes for the script to run.
    Line 89 was:        Prog=True
    Line 89 is now:     Prog=False
    * I had to do this because otherwise the progress bar was erroring out. So, i just turned it off.
    Lines 164-165 were:    
    'File.WriteLine "<#>" & .Location           ' Not so useful if working with missing tracks
    'File.WriteLine "<Album>" & .Album
    Lines 164-165 are now three lines (the middle one is the only uncommented line): 
    'File.WriteLine "<#>" & .Location           ' Not so useful if working with missing tracks
    File.WriteLine "<Location>" & .Location          
    'File.WriteLine "<Album>" & .Album
    Finally, insert this whole block around line 270 so that it looks similar to the others:
            Case "<location>"
              If T.Location<>Value Then                ' Don't update if value won't change
                T.Location=Value
                U=U+1
                Trace T,"Updated Location"
              Else
                V=V+1
              End If
              'If Trace Then MsgBox "Updated Location"
    Note that I had to comment the very last line as well or else the program errored out. You won't be able to trace the results either.
    Just thought I'd share this in case anyone else needed something like this.

  • Why does my external hard drive LACIE shut down on its own

    I have an LACIE 500G external hard drive connected to my iMAC via USB which has recently (a couple of weeks) started to shut down by itself. This does not happen when I use it on a PC. What's the problem and how can I solve it?

    Go to: Apple > System Preferences > Energy Saver and check to make sure that the box for "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" is unchecked.

  • HT1364 I used these instructions to move my i-tunes library to the external hard drive that two different home pc's access. My playlists do not show on both Is it possible to have one i-pod synch amid two different computers that use the same library?

    I have a sole i-pod and two pc's, used the instructions for "iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder" in the hope that I could synch my one i-pod between two different computers that are sharing the same library. Is it possible to have two seperate computers that only share an external hard drive (one wireless, one not) ? When I am looking at a shared library should it appear the same on both machines (ie: playlists/ purchased list etc)?

    If it is moved correctly, playlists will display on both computers and it should be possible.
    Close iTunes.
    Hold <SHIFT> and launch iTunes.
    When prompted to create a new or open an existing iTunes library point iTunes to the iTunesLibrary.itl file on the external drive.
    The entire library should now show up with all playlists and playcounts.
    Do this on both computers.
    Keep in mind that only one computer can access iTunes at a time, otherwise errors will occur when each computer attempts to write to or update the iTunesLibrary.itl file.
    Syncing may work seemlessly with both computers, but honestly syncing is designed to work with one and only one computer.

  • Can i make (for example) 3 partitions on my external Hard Drive, and make different formatations for each, so i can share files of one of them in a pc and mac?

    Hello ...
    My name is Rui, i'm from Portugal ... (so please be patiente with my english, it can get a bit confusing)
    so... first of all ... i have to say ... i'm still a pc user ... i don't have a Mac ... yet ... they are sold out right now in the shops near me ... i am waitting for them to arrive so i can pick up mine ... (i wish in a couple of days i will be entering the Mac world ....) ... i'll be picking the "entery" iMac model, the 21,5'', i5 with 500gb hard disk ... well .. i know it's the cheapest one (i hope it is a good machine tho) ... but it's my entering Mac world too (my only apple products till know were the ipod ...) ... one of my concerns are being the 500gb hard drive ... that for my pc experience is a little bit short ... that makes me a little scared (but paying 300e for the next model to have a 1tb disk, it's not a good option for me right now) ...
    so..
    I've been reading a lot about iMac's ans OS X so i can get familiar with this all new world ...
    and i couldn't get any answer for some of my doubts... so i decided to ask you Mac Users ..
    My idea is to have an external HD to store files (and not to fill the 500gb of the iMac) ... and i am wondering if it would be possible to make this ...
    - make three partitions on the external Hard Drive and
    - the first be formatted in Mac OS extended (journaled) mode
    - the second on fat 32 - so i can store and share files with a mac or pc
    - third be reserved for  Time Machine
    i wonder would that be possible... or would make sort of incompabilities ... would it work all well ?
    hummm ...
    I hope someone can help me with this ...
    ... if it is a silly question ... sorry ... but please remember, i've never had a Mac computer (i'm waiting for my 1st iMac to be available on store) ... so a lot of things are "flying" in my head right now ...
    ... and of course .. sorry for my english ... i hope you all understood me ...
    thanks (obrigado) a lot for your patience...
    Rui from Portugal

    Hi! Dwagner, once again ...
    I've just got my Mac last friday ... i'm still getting amazed with this new world to me ... eehe .. quite different ... but
    ... "i can do it, i can do it" eheeh
    i'm in that period that a new question appears at almost every mouse click ... lol
    so ... can you help me (once again) ..
    you said you had your hard drive with this settings...
    "You can partition for OSX (extended Journal) - read/write by only OSX or read only by Windows via BootCamp
    You can partition for Windows (NTFS) - readable by only Windows
    OR - you can format with ex-FAT and this is read/write capable for both operating systems."
    how did you formated the partition in NTFS ? ... on the mac? using the "disk utility" ? or did you use another program to do so ...?
    i hope i'm not "bugging" you ... this might be a silly question for most of people ... but right now ... it's a major question for me ... ehehe
    once again Obrigado (Thank You)
    Rui from Portugal

  • My last computer died, but we've been able to transfer my files onto an external hard drive to put onto my new computer.I have now got exclamation marks next to 100 songs which I downloaded from Frostwire years ago. How can I fix this?

    After my brother transferred all my files from my old computer to an external hard drive, he then put them onto my new computer. It appears that 100 songs which I downloaded from Frostwire years ago have the exclamation mark next to them. I cannot find the files on my new computer, and cannot remember where they were saved to on my old computer as it was over 3 years ago. I have also tried to consolidate the files as I've found people suggested, but that is not working. I have also read that you should tell itunes that you are moving the music, but my old laptop cannot be read when it is on. Is there any other way tofix this issue? I don't want to have to buy over 100 songs which I already have.

    After my brother transferred all my files from my old computer to an external hard drive, he then put them onto my new computer. It appears that 100 songs which I downloaded from Frostwire years ago have the exclamation mark next to them. I cannot find the files on my new computer, and cannot remember where they were saved to on my old computer as it was over 3 years ago. I have also tried to consolidate the files as I've found people suggested, but that is not working. I have also read that you should tell itunes that you are moving the music, but my old laptop cannot be read when it is on. Is there any other way tofix this issue? I don't want to have to buy over 100 songs which I already have.

Maybe you are looking for