How do I use a My Book external hard drive with my iMac OSX 10.6.8?

I just installed a My Book external hard drive, installed the software and have an image on my desktop that shows the My Book and an Odometer of some sort.  How do I store data on this drive?  I have about 3000 photos and movies I need to get off of my computer's hard drive so I can upgrade to Mavericks.
Thanks
Al

From what it seems like, You may want to try and do a Time Machine backup. Time machine is meant for backing up data like photos and movies automatically. You can set up Time Machine by going to the apple in the top left, system prefrences, and Time Machine. On the right click select disk, select your external drive, and turn Time Machine on. Now your computer will back up every hour while that is connected

Similar Messages

  • How do i reformat a 'my book' external hard drive for time machine???

    i have a 'my book' external hard drive that i would like to reformat to use for time machine -what are the steps to do this? thank you!

    Hi alba,
    Make sure you don't have anything on the drive you need to keep.
    *Open Disk Utility (in Applications > Utilities)
    *Select the drive from the list on the left (the line you select should say something like "250 GB WD" followed by some letters and numbers)
    *Click on the "Erase" tab
    *For the volume format, choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"
    *Name it whatever you want
    *Click "erase"
    That's it! Hope that helps.
    —Hazy

  • Using external hard drive with both iMac and PC

    I own an old Dell PC and an iBook, and will soon replace the Dell with an iMac.
    I recently bought a 250GB Western Digital external hard drive to back up my data. I would like to use this hard drive to back up all of the files that are on the PC (which I will soon be getting rid of) and also use it for backing up the files on the iBook and, when it arrives, the iMac. In other words, neatly back up all my info onto the back-up drive.
    My question is this: can I do this? If not, what is the best way to consolidate all of the data from all of these computers into one place? Will the fact that some data comes from a PC and some from a Mac be a problem? Can you move back-up drives fromone computer to another? The photos on my PC are saved in Picasa, whereas the photos on the iBook are in iTunes. My iPod music files are all on the PC in iTunes.
    Any advice about backing all this stuff up in a user friendly way would be greatly appreciated.
    By the way, I have heard that there are ways to reformat external drives, to partition them, and to "raid" them. Can someone explain what this all means?
    Thanks.
    iBook G4    

    Hello,
    Your best option would be to store the files from your PC on the drive with the drive in the FAT32 format. Then, copy the files to your Mac's Internal hard drive.
    Now, once the files are stored safely on your Mac's internal hard drive, you can safely reformat the external drive as a Mac OS X Extended (Journaled) drive. That will be the best format to use for long-term purposes with your Mac.
    Many OS X file types (such as many PKG files) cannot be stored / written to a FAT32 volume. So, a FAT32 drive would not be suitable for backing-up an entire OS X hard drive (or even many of the system updates that you might download).
    So, that's how I'd do it. Use the drive as a FAT32 just long enough to get the files moved to your Mac.
    Once the drive is re-formatted in the Native Mac format, then you could copy the files back to it, and any other Mac files that you wanted to back-up to it for safe-keeping.
    Personally, I would re-partition it in at least two pieces on the Mac. One to hold data / personal files for safe-keeping, and a second bootable partition for a full system / OS X backup.
    You can read a bit more about this in some of my previous discussions here:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2536703&#2536703
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2597825&#2597825
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2632566&#2632566
    Read through each of those three discussions and you'll see how they all come together and provide you with a good solution for backing-up your hard drive.
    I hope you don't mind my linking you to those other discussions, but it just seemed more practical than re-typing what I had already said all over again
    Also, if you are getting one of the new Intel iMac systems, and you want to be able to create a bootable backup as described in those posts, be sure to format your external hard drive using the new GUID format. That will provide you with the best solution.
    I hope this helps.
    Let us know if you have other questions.
    P.S., if you'd like, go ahead and click the "Helpful" or "Solved" buttons on any of the posts / replies above if you feel they were helpful or adequately answered your question.

  • Using time capsule as external hard drive with air

    About to go full Mac, looking for seemless integration and organization of music and photos. Can a pairing of Airbook with Time Capsule work not just as backup by as an external hard drive to acces all of my things? Adding an external HD to the Time Capsule seems excessive.  Hearing that iphoto doesn't really like to be anywhere by on local drive in OS. I'm not very Mac litereate yet so any heavfy kung-fu manipulation might be more than I can bargain for at this time.
    Thanks!
    Toshiba Satellite
    Extreme
    iphone 5
    ipad original
    ipad mini (x2)

    Well, you just hook the Time Capsule up (either wirelessly or wired via ethernet) and for the PC you will want to install AirPort Utility, run it, and then she will be able to copy files to it. Then when it gets back to you you can run AirPort Utility (it is located in Applications/Utilities) and then access the files she put on your Time Capsule.

  • How do i use itunes through an external hard drive?

    i have about 10G left on my laptop's harddrive. i've been told placing itunes on an external harddrive would free up space.
    i put everything on the harddrive, did the whole advanced stuff by changing the location, etc. etc. but ater all that there's still no difference on my hard drive....
    what the heck?

    Hi... Looks like things have got a little confused over there. Can we get a few facts straight before suggesting things that might make matters worse?
    Where exactly is your active library file? If you hold down shift as you start iTunes and click the option to Choose a library, then drop down the list box at the top of the search box it should reveal the current path. E.g. mine here is at D:\iTunes and the library file is called iTunes Library.itl so my active library is D:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
    BTW if you didn't get asked to choose or create a library you didn't do it right.
    What is the current setting under Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab for the location of the iTunes Media folder? Mine is D:\iTunes\iTunes Media.
    Where is the media that you've moved around? Are there copies on the internal drive and the external drive? Select a file in your library that currently plays, press CTRL-I to get info, and copy down the location of the file from the Summary tab. Repeat the process for a file with a broken link. Its path should begin file://localhost...
    With all these bits of information we should have a better picture of where things currently stand. I have scripts that can be used to repair broken links, and iTunes has got better at doing it by itself, but things need to be in a sensible layout before that is worth trying.
    tt2

  • How do I import photos from an external hard drive to my iMac please?

    I have hundred of photos on a hard drive and want to transfer them onto my new imac. How do I do this please? I am totally new to apple operating system, used windows for 15 years.....
    Thank you for any help received...

    Don't touch that one !
    I was hoping that in addition to that there should be another device listed, namely the USB External HD you've got plugged into the USB port. It should show up something like this:

  • How do I transfer files from my external hard drive to my iMac?

    I thought it would be as simple as plugging in to the USB port!

    There are no popups on the Mac except for the drive window in some cases, and the Migration Assistant can't transfer data to an existing user account. As previously stated, drag the files you want to transfer over manually.
    The drive should appear in the desktop or the sidebar of a Finder window. If it doesn't, check the Finder's preferences.
    (63009)

  • Retrieving data from hard-drive - using it as an external hard-drive

    Hi, first post here. Really hope you guys can help me out
    My mac died over the christmas holidays (the motherboard fried from a water accident) and consequently I cannot get access to all my music and pictures on its hard-drive. I know the hard-drive is still functionable because an employee from a mac reseller store managed to retrieve as essay I desperately needed for it.
    What I want to know is how I can remove the hard-drive from the mac and how i can use it as an external hard-drive so I can retrieve all of the information from it into my new laptop - which is a windows I'm ashamed to say (money is tight!). Also, would the fact my new laptop is windows affect whether i can move the data from the mac hard-drive to it?
    Hope you can help, I need those pictures!
    Chris

    Hey Robot and sorry for your lose -
    Here's a video to get your drive out: [Video to get Drive out|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuyi-NWLLz4]. You'll need to go through the the point of removing the EMI shield with the T8. Then put the drive in a a 2.5" SATA enclosure and hook it up to your new notebook.
    Good luck to you -GDF

  • On a Mac Pro how to move lightroom 5 photos to My Book external hard drive?

    I have a Mac Pro with a Western Digital (My Book) external hard drive for back-up.  The external will back-up everything except what is in Lightroom 5.  Need to know how to make the transfer in order to free up space in Light room 5.  Please provide assistance.  Dave
    @ [email protected]

    Move the files to wherever you want using your operating system, then reconnect in Lightroom via: Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders

  • How to transfer my ITunes library from External Hard Drive to Mac Book Pro

    I recently had an issue with my Mac Book(OS X Yosemite)  Had to take it to the store and they fixed it (replaced graphics mother board or something like that) Before that  I backed up the whole laptop on an external hard drive. When I connect the external hard drive I can open all my files, not sure how to transfer it, I see the External hard drive and can drag it but where do i drag it because on my Mac Book I can't  find Music. Should I drag it to the desktop and then drag it to the music when I disconnect the external ? Thanks

    Choose Home from the Finder's Go menu, double-click the Music item, and drag it there.
    (123001)

  • I need to back up my imac running Tiger (no time machine) so that we can upgrade OS. It is set up for multiple accounts.  How do I capture all files in each account using newly purchased USB external hard drive?

    I need to back up my imac running Tiger (no time machine) so that we can upgrade OS. It is set up for multiple accounts.  How do I capture all files in each account using newly purchased USB external hard drive?  Thanks!

    Backup Software Recommendations
    Carbon Copy Cloner
    Data Backup
    Deja Vu
    SuperDuper!
    Synk Pro
    Tri-Backup
    Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
    Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore.  Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
    Or you can simply use the Restore option of Disk Utility to clone the drive to the backup:
    Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
    Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
    Select the destination volume from the left side list.
    Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
    Check the box labeled Erase destination.
    Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
    Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
    Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
    Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

  • Can anyone help me figure out how to use my new LaCie external hard drive to import movies from my camcorder into imovie '09? I ran into so many problems last night!! Was up way past my bedtime!

    Can anyone help me figure out how to use my new LaCie external hard drive to import movies from my camcorder into imovie '09? I ran into so many problems last night!! Was up way past my bedtime!

    I'll stay in this chat ... I answered in the other one ... I have a Sony digital Handycam ... from years ago.  I just got the LaCie and I think I formatted it for only to be used on my Mac ... how should I go about reformatting it to be HFS Extended like you said?

  • How do I transfer files from an external hard drive to my mac book pro

    How do I transfer files from an external hard drive to my mac book pro?

    What files are they? Is it a clone, a TM backup, or simply drag 'n drop?
    If it's the latter, simply drag them back. If something else, please post back with detailed info.

  • How can i use external hard drive with mac and pc!

    I've been using a Lacie external hard drive with my mac to keep the itunes library and other things since day one. Since i have a dvd with files for windows and an old pc without a dvd drive, i decided to copy and paste the content of the dvd to the external hard drive. The only problem now is that when i plug the external hard drive to pc, it won't open. I know it has to be formatted in a different way, but i need to find out the best solution!
    Any idea?

    You can format the external drive in Fat32 (which I don't recommend but is the most compatible between both platforms), or NTFS (which requires some work to get your Mac to recognize), or HFS+ (which requires special software on your PC so your PC can use it).
    If you use this drive mostly with your Mac, get MacDrive for your PC:
    http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive
    If you use this drive mostly with your PC, here's some software for you Mac. I haven't tried this myself, but the professional reviews have been good:
    http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

  • How to use mac mini as external hard drive

    trying to wipe an old mac mini and use as external hard drive for my iMac.  Help!

    Connect them with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable and start up the Mac mini with the T key held down. If desired, use the Disk Utility in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder to erase it.
    (86231)

Maybe you are looking for