External disk unusable

Question: I had an external usb drive with two partitions functioning fine in Time machine as backup, using 1 partition (the other one beeing NFTS formatted). Size partition being ca. 80 gB I tried to repartition it so my volume would be bigger.
Since then no backups possible (can' t write to the last block of device, partitioning impossible)
Formatting in FAT or whatever is not possible anymore. Everytime I start external disk " can' t read disk by computer" , " initialize disk". But initializing isn' t possible. Erasing and formatting neither.
Tried Stallar partitioning manager. No dice. Fdisk commands are to cryptic. What is possible solution?
Runs in 10.7.2 Lion

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Sizing Backup, Bootable and Storage partitions on an External Disk

I have iMac G5, 2 GB RAM, 1 TB HD with one partition currently holding about 140 GB, and a TB external disk. I want to use the external disk for three purposes: Bootable Partition, Time Machine Backup, Miscellaneous Storage.
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Q2. Should it also include 3rd party apps? (yes?)
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Mr. Cat wrote:
Mostly agreeing with Kappy here, but a few additions.
Apple advises matching the capacity of the Time Machine backup to that of the volume being backed up. My inclination is to limit the Backup volume to 500 GB, see how that works out and re-evaluate as HD use increases.
That should be plenty, depending on how the 140 GB will grow. Our "rule of thumb" is, TM needs 2-3 times the space of the data it's backing-up. See #1 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.
Q1. As I understand, the bootable partition would be, at the minimum, a duplicate of all OS X (Leopard in the case of G5s) system and application software.
That depends on what you're trying to do, and how much space you have, but usually a bootable clone contains everything. Thus it's partition should be a minimum of 120% of the data on (or anticipated to be on) your internal HD.
Think for a moment about why you want two separate, independent backups. The safest route is to have them on separate disks, so you're protected against either disk failing (and they all do, sooner or later). For that reason, consider getting another disk for the clone. If you get a portable one, you can take it to a secure off-site location, so you're also protected against fire, flood, theft, and direct lightning strike on your power lines. Some folks get a pair of them; use one for a week or so, then take it off-site and swap with the other one.
The other reason to have two backups is to protect you against a problem with one app or drive; thus if your TM backups somehow get corrupted, you still have the clone, and vice-versa.
In both cases, your best bet is to let both apps back up nearly everything. Sometimes there's a good reason to omit some things; see #11 in the FAQ Tip for more detail. Also, if you're running Windoze via virtualization software, you likely do not want to back it up with Time Machine. See #9 in the FAQ Tip.
Q5. What process should be used for updating this software? Independent, parallel updates? (yes?)
I use CarbonCopyCloner, in addition to full Time Machine backups; SuperDuper is similar. Both are reliable. CCC is donationware, SD has a free version, but you'll need the paid one (about $30) to do automatic scheduling and updates (vs. a full replacement). Both are easily found via Google.
Q7. Since the Time Machine backup resides on the same disk, it is possible to restore needed files from there. When Time Machine restores the system, does it put everything into the boot partition? (yes?)
You select the destination disk/partition.
Q8. If so, since Disk Utility allows dynamic re-partitioning, I could use a limited space for the bootable partition and then re-allocate more space to it later if I wanted to run a fully restored version of the system off the external disk? (yes?)
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Q9. Does it make sense to separate the Miscellaneous Storage into a separate partition? (yes?) Or should should I use just one partition to hold the bootable stuff and the miscellaneous stuff? (no?)
They should each be separate. See #3 in the FAQ about the TM partition; and you'll also want the clone to be on it's own partition.
Since you have a lot of room on the external, I'd recommend putting the TM partition first, and the most-easily replaced partition(s) last.
You might want to use the Restore option of Disk Utility to make a copy of your Install disc in a small partition on the external (towards the end). It's much faster and easier to boot from that instead of trying to find your Install disc, when you need to. I'd also recommend making a duplicate of that disk and keeping it in a secure off-site location.

Unexpected disconnection external disk and different mount points

Dear community,
I have an application that needs to read and write data from an external disk called "external"
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According to this documentation:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203258
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See DUMPFILE

WRT1200 Network error when paying music from external disk attached to the Router

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I have 2 macbooks each with an account for me and one for my wife. I use one Macbook logged in with my account and my wife uses the other Macbook only loged in on her account. We both make regular time-machine back-ups each on a separate external disk

I have 2 Macbooks each with an account for me and one for my wife. I use one Macbook logged in with my account and my wife uses the other Macbook only logged in on her account. We both make regular time-machine back-ups each on a separate external disk. Is it possible to update her account on my macbook using her external disk without overwriting my stuff on the same Macbook and vice versa?

Time Machine does not do individual accounts. It records the complete drive. So if you were to use her TM backup on your Mac it would make your Mac just like hers. Both yours and her account on your MAC.
Just copy the missing files over from her Mac to yours. If there are differennt programs on each then they would need to be installed on both.

One USB port does not work with external Disk or USB key

Hello,
Back to my iMAC there is 3 USB port. The second one - in the middle - does not work pluging an external Disk, an USB key or an iPOD nano. However it works well connecting a Wacom tablet.
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In advance thank you for your answers
Regards

Since it does not work for three different devices, I will assume it is not something simple like a faulty USB cable. Since it does work for one device, I will also assume that the port is (at least partially) working.
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At the first Installer screen (after language selection), go up the menu bar. Under Utilities, select to run Disk Utility. Now, connect the USB drive into that center port. Does it appear in the Disk Utility sidebar?
Please post back the result...

Can I back up iphone to an external disk?

can I back up iphone to an external disk?

You can move your /Home/Music/iTunes folder to the external drive. Then hold down the OPTION key while starting iTunes. In the file dialog locate the /Music/iTunes/ folder on the external drive and click on the Open button. iTunes will now use the library on the external drive. When you sync your data and backups will now be saved on the external drive.

How to connect an external disk to time capsule?

Hi,
I've just connected my new external disk 2TB to the time capsule device. However, it doesn't show in the disk tab in Airport express. Yes, of course the disk is on, it's hfs+journaled formatted and works fine when connected directly to my usb port on my MacBook Pro.
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Thanks.

Unless this is a really new feature, Airport Express doesn't support external USB disks; only USB printers.
The Wireless-N Time Capsules and Airport Extremes support external USB disks.

I want to set up the Time Machine and I would love to use the Time Capsule but since I already have a wireless router I need suggestions on what other external disks Apple could recommend to use with the Time Machine and how to configure that disk

I want to set up the Time Machine and I would love to use the Time
Capsule but since I already have a wireless router I need suggestions on
what other
external disks Apple could recommend to use with the Time Machine and
how to configure that disk.
A complication that I need to resolve is the fact that I am using Vmware
Fusion to be able to use Windows on my Mac. Now it seems that Time
Machine is not backing up my files
on that virtual Windows without additional configuration and my question
is whether you can advise me here or whether this is only a matter for
the Fusion virtual machine.

If you want to use Time Capsule you can.. you simply bridge it and plug it into the existing router.. wireless can be either turned off or used to reinforce the existing wireless.. eg use 5ghz in the TC which is much faster than your 2.4ghz.
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Any external drive can be plugged into the mac. Use the one with the fastest connection or cheapest price according to your budget. USB2 drives are cheap and plentiful. But no where near as fast as USB3 or FW800. So just pick whichever suits the ports on your Mac. Interesting Apple finally moved to USB3 on their latest computers.
TM should exclude the VM partition file.. it is useless backing it up from Mac OS side.. and will slow TM as it needs to backup that partition everyday for no purpose.. TM cannot see the files inside it to backup just the changes.
You need to backup windows from windows. Use MSbackup to external drive.. if you have pro or ultimate versions you can backup to network drive. But MSbackup is a dog.. at least until the latest version it cannot restore the partition without first loading windows. There are about a zillion backup software versions for windows.. look up reviews and buy one which works for you. I use a free one Macrium Reflect which does full disk backups and is easy to restore.. to do incremental backups though you have to pay for it.

Can't open iPhoto after copying to external disk

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Rather than copy and paste drag it over
and very important
what format is the EHD?
The best way to move the library to a properly formatted EHX is
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LN

Can i put my itunes library on an external disk?

hi,
i want to store my itunes library on and external disk but want it to work just like it does on the internal hdd. is that possible?
i tried to store it on a home server. and while i could play the contents of the library. the art-work and so-forth did not appear in the itune client.
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Yes, it's most certainly possible. The easiest way is to just drag the entire iTunes folder (the entire folder, not just the iTunes Music folder) to your desired location. Then hold down the Shift key while launching iTunes. You'll be given a dialog box where you can select the iTunes library you want to use. Navigate to and select the iTunes folder in it's new location. Note that this procedure assumes that all of your content is contained in the iTunes Media/Music folder. If things are scattered around your drive, moving them becomes much more complex.
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Regards.

How do I link an iTunes Library (on an external disk) ?

Hi all,
I'd like to keep my huge collection on external drives.
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If you have the whole iTunes library (media files, library files, genius, artwork, etc.) on an external drive hold down the option key while starting iTunes, navigate to the external, and it will use the iTunes folder on the external. This is all too often confused with just keeping media (but not the library files or artwork) on an external which is the setting you see in Preferences.

Just installed 10.6.3 on MacBook Pro and external disks cannot be seen by OS. Help

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You mean USB HUBs, correct? Not routers.
Yes remove the HUBs and try the drives connected directly to the computer.

"Volume not found" I have 3 iphoto_libraries stored in a external disk, while the actual files are in other external disk. Ive moved together iphotolibraries and files but: HOW CAN I TELL THE LIBRARIES WHERE TO FIND THEM NOW?

I have three iphoto_libraries stored in a external disk PASSPORT (one for each trip imovie Im making -Ive managed this way the libraries so to not confuse the trips) while the actual files are in OTHER external disk LACIE. And everything was fine: imovie find each library, could work with it, or iphoto could edit the files.
But one day everything crashed at the same time: i opened iphoto to find 3 different scenarios:
1) iphoto_library GREECE was there, but not the albums i prepared. no events. when double click in any of them: "Volume not found"
2) iphoto_library ITALY was there, and the albums i prepared too, but empty.
in both cases I can only see the photos in 'photos' because 'events' shows some events with photo preview and some with no preview, just some kind of preset clipart palm tree, but if i enter the event, photos are there but again: when double click in any item: "Volume not found"
3) iphoto_library ISRAEL was there, the albums too, when double click in any of them: all OK
The 3 libraries was managed the same way. Meaning: Ive imported photos to iphoto from external disk LACIE in a iphotolibrary stored in another external disk PASSPORT. Also: I don't have unchecked the option "copy to file" or something like that. photos where moved, not copied. Also i have all the movie_libraries in the PASSPORT as well. What happened??
Solution? Nothing yet. Ive moved now all the photo folders from LACIE together in PASSPORT with the iphotolibraries but problem persist:
HOW CAN I TELL THE LIBRARIES WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE VOLUMES NOW?
"Volumes" are the original files aren't them?
Please help. this is so annoying to try and find in the forum, to tricky to explain
I have a Macbook pro retina Yosemite 10.10.1 / iphoto 9.6 (910-29)/ iMovie 10.0.6
THANK YOU
Vicky

The 3 libraries was managed the same way. Meaning: Ive imported photos to iphoto from external disk LACIE in a iphotolibrary stored in another external disk PASSPORT.
This is not clear, especially when you say
I don't have unchecked the option "copy to file" or something like that. photos where moved, not copied.
Especially as the message you're getting is typical of a library where the ' option "copy to file" or something like that' is unchecked.
So it's a simple question:
Are you these Managed or Referenced Libraries?
A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.

How can I use two different PC's with Lr5.5 to manage and process my photos stored on external disk, and exchange the analysis between these two computers?

I operate on two computers and would like to be able download Lr jobs done on my laptop, to my stationary PC, also used to process other images, all stored on the same external disk.
In other words I want to process may photos on two PCs and to to have access to all analyses from one or even better from both computers independently.
Samek.

You need to put your photos AND LR catalog file (.lrcat) on the external drive, and make sure the external drive has the same device name or drive letter on both computers.
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External disk unusable

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