External Hardrive Issue

I just switched over to an iMac 20 from a PC desk top, and I am having an issue with an external hardrive. Before setting up my mac, I uploaded all of my mp3 files, office document files and jpegs from my PC desktop onto a maxtor external hardrive. By and large, my new Mac accessed the drive with no problems, but I am not able to do anything with the files on the drive other than view them or listen to them. I would like to reorganize the photos into different folders, but it won't let me. Secondly, some of the mp3 files have bad tags on them that I would like to fix, but again am not able to.
To fix this, do I need to download all of the files from the external drive onto the mac, reformat the external drive, and then reload all the files back on to that drive? Secondly, if I do have to do this, is there an easy way to do it?
Thanks in advance
imac 20 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Hello and Welcome back to Apple Discussions.
The drive will have arrived in FAT32 (standard for a PC) but large video files are not handled well in FAT32. Unfortunately Mac OS X can only read (not write) a NTFS drive (more modern PC standard). If you only wish to use the drive with the Mac then re-format it to use Mac HFS +. You do this in Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Plug the drive in (preferably by Firewire if it has it; it's faster than USB2.0 for large transfers).
Select the drive in the left hand pane of Disk Utility.
If you wish select the "Partition" tab and drag the partitions to your liking.
Click "Partition".Or:
Click the "Erase" tab.
On "Volume Format" choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"
Enter a name.
Click the "Erase" button.
If the drive didn't come bundled with any Mac back-up software try one of these:
Carbon Copy Cloner (link)
Super Duper (link)
Hope this helps.
mrtotes

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My Imac 3.06 gh , 4 gig ram - External Hardrive issues

Hello,
I am a happy owner of my Imac.
I also bought a free agent 1tb external hardrive for the time machine.
In the last weeks though when i restart my computer,it just doesnt see my external hardrive. I have to disconnect he fireware port 800 and reconnect and then all ok .
But this is something it shouldnt really happen is ennoying.
I would really apppreciate any help.
Many thx in advance for ur help

HI,
"In the last weeks though when i restart my computer,it just doesnt see my external hardrive. I have to disconnect he fireware port 800 and reconnect and then all ok"
Try a different USB port.
Also, go here: iMac Fast Start: The new user's guide to iMac There are links provided that can help you learn how to use your iMac.
Also, as for the Free Agent external disk, go here to their Support page and check out their Community Forums and Knowledge Base.
http://freeagent.seagate.com/en-us/hard-drive/hard-drive-support.html
This link will take you to the Apple iMac spec page that can tell you everything about the hardware on your iMac: http://www.apple.com/imac/specs/
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

External hardrive issues!

So I just ordered my MacBook and I'm nervous about my external hard drive which I'm currently using on my PC for my anime and to backup my itunes. If I want to use it with my MacBook would I have to reformat it and therefore lose all the stuff on my hard drive? I'm kinda confused because the support site says that you can use external hard drives, but if you need to reformat it how is it possible to use for exchanging data between a PC and a Mac.

Hi and welcome to Discussions,
OSX is capable of reading from 'formerly' PC-external harddisks regardless whether the HD was formated with FAT32 or NTFS file system.
However OSX is only capable of writing to FAT32 HDs and not to NTFS HDs, unless you use either MacFuse + NTFS-3G http://www.ntfs-3g.org/ or buy Paragons NTFS for OSX http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/
Check which file system (FAT32 or NTFS) your external HD is using.
Regards
Stefan

I'm having issues syncing my ipod to my external hardrive's library. How do I sync and get the music from my external hard drive?

I recently moved the music from my old computer in itunes to my external hardrive (changed the media file location and consolidated library). I connected my external hardrive to my new computer (windows 7) and changed my itunes media file to my external hardrive and consolidated my new computer's library to my external hardrive. When I connect my iPod, it is only grabbing the music from my new computer and not my external hardrive. How do I get the music from my external hardrive onto my iPod?

Did you move the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder?
File > Add folder to library and select the folder with music on the external.

Itunes won't copy over some of my podcasts and purchases since I have moved it to an external hardrive

So I Have moved over all my purchases and everything to an external hardrive. I did everything right and my itunes story works perfectly fine. However one of my podcasts (yugioh the abridged series) won't copy over along to the ipod saying its file type is not supported by the ipod. It only does this with the first 8 episodes (if you find it you will see them) one of which (the bbt movie) worked perfectly fine on my ipod before but now for some reason it won't. It also won't work on a few of the tv shows that are in hd and one music album that had american boy in it. I'm wondering what I can do to solve this problem. My itunes and my computer (windows vista operating system) is up to date and I have an ipod classic with plenty of room what should I do.

This doesn't work. The iOS4 upgrade has wiped out synchronization to Outlook to the phone and back. There are many threads on this here, and Apple has yet to address this issue.

Drag and Drop Files Onto Seagate External Hardrive

I can't seem to just drag and drop files I want to store on an external hardrive with Seagate. I hate that. I just want a simple drag and drop so I can free up some space on my computer. But Seagate just seems to just seems to say **** you, we're gonna do it backwards ***. Can someone please explain how to just drag and drop files? I have zero idea, and they don't make it simple to understand.
So for the love of god....please explain it to me (without use of computer terminology or telling me places I should go on my computer that I don't know what the **** they are. Renders your help useless, and it's frustrating because no matter how many times I ask this, you just give me help i can't understand anyway.)
Please....it's not hard to ask.
If possible, use step by step instructions, if you need to tell me to go somewhere on my computer, tell me where that is too so I know where to go. Don't be vague, I can't understand vague instructions when i read them.

What is the drive formatted as? this is extremely likely the issue.
FORMAT TYPES
FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
Maximum file size: 4GB.
Maximum volume size: 2TB
You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.
NTFS (Windows NT File System)
Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion)
Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability.
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
Maximum file size: 16 TB
Maximum volume size: 256TB
You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.
HFS+ ((((MAC FORMAT)))) (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)
Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac internal hard drive.
To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
Maximum file size: 8EiB
Maximum volume size: 8EiB
You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC)
EXFAT (FAT64)
Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
Not all Windows versions support exFAT.
exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
Maximum file size: 16 EiB
Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.

Itunes and external hardrives

I am working with an external hardrive (Mybook), and I tried dragging the itunes icon over, but it didn't copy it to the hardrive. Is there another process for getting these songs over to Mybook? I'm trying to free up space on my imac.
Thanks.

Welcome To  Discussions macandmax!
You have posted your inquiry, in the Discussions Forum, that is intended for discourse about the use of Apple Discussions.
You will get more focused attention to your issue, if you select a more appropriate location from this page Discussions Forum Home.
For example,
From the Forum Home Page, select the Category iTunes.
From that Category page, choose Using iTunes for Mac.
Then select an appropriate Forum, such as Using iTunes for Mac.
On Forum pages, there is an option to Post New Topic.
Good Luck!
ali b

I can't figure out how to save my events onto an external hardrive

I have been looking at the event libraries and everywhere to figure out how to save my files onto an external hardrive. I currently use FCPX to edit Call of Duty Montages for people as my job so I need this to work. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I really need storage.

In the Copy Files Into: field there is a pop up that allows you select where your media is copied to.
Looking at the above screen shot if I want files to be copied to my External LaCie drive I just tick that one.
Firstly you will have to create at least one Library on the External to send it there.
There is the CHOOSE option that allows you to navigate anywhere on the the system to manually select a destination.
Al

My Seagate external hardrive comes up with error 5016

I am not sure if my IMac OSX has a virus, but my external hardrive, which is a Seagate is not working and comes up with "error code 5016"

Hmmmm, is this a Network drive?
afpNoServer = -5016, /* Server not responding */
Not likely a virus btw.

External hardrive not workon on MacBook Pro

I own a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex that is 1TB and have had it for about 3 or 4 years. I used to be able to plug it in and with ease insert files (pictures, music, documents, etc .. basically everything in case my MacBook stops functioning.)
Back in May, I took my external hardrive to my University before I graduated and I could not insert some video files (using another computer, which was a Mac.) Our school's tech expert said it was because my external hardrive is not applicable with Macs. Long story short, I showed him I can do it on my MacBook Pro, then I had to save my video files on a flash drive instead. Anyway.
I want to back up everything incase the MacBook stops working soon (it's six years old.) However, when I put in my external hardrive, I can't change the name of files/folders in the external hardrive nor can I insert anything into the hardrive. Oddly enough, I can drag stuff into my desktop and it will copy a file into my desktop while the same file still stays on my hardrive.
My MacBook Pro is Version 10.9.5 (if it matters) and I have more than 90 GB of free space on my MacBook and have nearly 700 GB of free space on my external hardrive and obviously I'd like to use that. Also, I'd like to use my external hardrive not just on Macs, but all machines in case I need to save large files. I used to be able to do this at one point, especially with a previously owned hardrive (it was Western Digital.)
Anyway, that's all the info. All help would be greatly appreciated.

Chiefsfan212006 wrote:
Back in May, I took my external hardrive to my University before I graduated and I could not insert some video files (using another computer, which was a Mac.) Our school's tech expert said it was because my external hardrive is not applicable with Macs. Long story short, I showed him I can do it on my MacBook Pro, then I had to save my video files on a flash drive instead. Anyway.
I meant to also say that your school's tech expert does not appear to be much of an expert.

Hey everyone! i have a external hardrive i keep my itunes library of songs on and it wont sync with my ipod touch inless i copy and paste it into my ipod device when thats conected. i dont want all the songs on there only checked ones. help plz!!

im having trouble with syncing my ipod touch with my itunes library that i keep on a external hardrive. when i plug up my external hardrive that has all my songs on it, it doesn't sync to my ipod correctly. i have to copy and paste the songs to my ipod device when its connected. i dont want all the songs on there and i want to be able to manually control whats on my ipod. and id like to take some songs off of the ipod also but i want them still in my itunes library though. i usually check the songs i want on the ipod but it isnt working that way maybe because its a external hardrive?? i never had a problem with past ipods with my library on itunes but i ran out of space on my computer and had to transfer all of the songs to my external hardrive. please someone help me!! i thought it would be simple! but it isnt the case! i plug up my hardrive then my ipod, i press sync and nothing gets transfered unless i copy and paste them to the ipod. even though it says ipod syncing in progress! this is really confusing! please help me!! sorry if this is jumbled up and confusing..

Correct. When you update via iTunes all synced media that is not in your iTunes library will be lost.
As IO said before:
You can redownload most iTunes pruchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store
I do not think it included audio books.

Ipod not recognized when using an external hardrive, please help me!

I have a 4 gig ipod mini, I have been using it for over a year with no problems. recently, my computer will not recognize my ipod when it is plugged in with my external hardrive. I have chosen to keep all of my music on a 100 gig external hardrive, because I have a lot of it. when I plug my ipod into my computer and run Itunes my computer will recognize my ipod, open itunes and then the program will freeze. i can also plug in my external hardrive and when i do my ipod is not recognized by the computer at all. I have tried, numerous scans of both hardrives, multiple updates, new USB cords, I have the most current version of itunes and yet I come to see no results, if you know anything please help me, I don't know what else to do.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93499

Since installing lion, my mac no longer recognises my external hardrive also my ipad and iphone no longer automatically start itunes.

since installing lion, i can lo longer go to "my imac" and find external hard drives and other devices i plug into a usb hub. my ipad and iphone don't automatically open itunes only iphoto. my external hardrive used to also load automatically, now it doesn't and when i plug it in i can't find it. need some help i have some importanr things i need to transfer.

Try repairing the disk with disk utility, take a look at this link, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1782

External hardrive to use with Imac - how to format and to what?

i have my external hardrive i use with my pc
how and to what should i format it so i can use ut with leopard and timemachine, also is it possible to make 2 partiton on it so one partition
would still be windows format so i can backup windows on it too?

If you have an Intel Mac do this:
Extended Hard 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. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to two and resize as desired using the sizing gadget. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the PC volume you just created (this is a sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to MSDOS (FAT32) from the Format drop down menu. Click on the Erase button.
5. Select the OS X volume you just created (this is the other sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. 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.
You should now be able to use the drive on both platforms. One partition for OS X and the other for Windows.

How to format an external hardrive.

Hi I'm trying to back up my Playstation4 on my 1tb external hardrive but how do I format it to ( EXFat or FAT32 ) for it to work. Do i have to format it or should i just leave it and continue trying to save my game data.

Just Google FAT32 formatter and you will find lots of free programs to download. I use MiniTool partition wizzard and it's a wizz

External Hardrive Issue

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