Installing Users folder on a separate hard drive

I am looking to upgrade to the new iMac and want to get the SSD so that the system and apps can run off of it and the Users Folder will be on the other HD.
I haven't found another topic about this, is it possible?

Yes it has been posted, and yes with more people turning to SSD, and the fact that new iMac I think can come BTO with both SSD and a standard SATA drive.
Me, I use to use small fast boot drives, 15K SCSI and later 73GB 10K Raptors and such, and I always used a 2nd and/or 3rd drive, but was always internal or a drive that is always on and fast as internal.
Might even want to look and ask in a friendly style iMac forum and see how others are dealing with identical setups.
Leo made it easy to have your home account relocated so it is definitely supported. Just leave /Users and even a small minimal copy of your own -
~/Library
is all you need.
And moving media libraries and data (only) is another possibility, though one I don't use or subscribe to seems like works just as well.
+So of course it is possible!+

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Will my MacPro be safe if I install Windows 7 on a separate hard drive?

I have a MacPro desktop with two hard drives: the first has my programs, the second is a dedicated media drive where i store all my media for my FInal Cut Pro and Motion projects.
I bought a third hard drive that I plan to dedicate as my PC hard drive. If I install Windows 7 on this third hard drive, is there any danger that my mac computer could become infected with viruses.
I figured I could partitition my drive. But I thought it would be safer if I just bought a separate hard drive altogether and stored nothing but Windows 7 and Windows-compatible programs on the third hard drive.
But if an internet virus infects my PC hard drive, could my entire MacPro desktop be at risk?
Thanks very much in advance for any advice and help,
- Nick

No, Mac OS drives etc should be fine.
Pull your OS X drives while you install 7.
Use MS Security Essentials, excellent, but also use "common sense."
So more reading.
Virus, WORMs, trojan horses, malware, 'man in the middle,' there is more than just AV, and online banking is the most often targeted with some degree of success -- on any platform. And email scams.

Installing 10.6 on a separate hard drive.

Hello all,
I am currently running 10.7.4 on my Mac Pro. I need to stay at this OS for certain program needs.
I am having trouble running FCP7 on this OS and have been told it is because of the upgrade.
I have an empty internal hard drive and my original 10.6 instillation discs.
Is it possible to install the 10.6 on the blank hard drive? And if so, how?
(All I can find is how to do it on the same start up disk with partitioning, that is not what I intend to do because I was told it's impossible to go "backwards" that way.)
Any thought?
Thank you.

Insert the first install DVD, restart the computer with the C key held down, and install the OS.
(82684)

I want to transfer my iTunes files to a separate hard drive

I have iTunes stored on my desktop PC. It is the one that I have, so far, stored all iTunes music on. I wanted to transfer these songs to a separate hard drive to free up space on my computer's hard drive. I felt I needed to install iTunes on the separate hard drive which I did today. I then thought I could just find the same type of folder on the separate hard drive that was on the PC but that was not the case so I created a "regular" folder on the hard drive and copied all of the files over. It appears that the files successfully got copied but the screen display does not look the same as it does when I open my PC iTunes and open a music folder from there.
What is the best way for me to copy the files over so I can then delete them from my PC with the assurity that I will not have done something that I will later regret ... such as rendering these copied files as ones I cannot burn to a disc, etc.

Changing the setting as to where to store media will indeed put the media files (but not the rest of the iTunes library files) on the external drive as long as the user also selects to organize the media to the NAS. If you don't do that, iTunes will only store new media there from that time on.
I would not recommend keeping only media on the NAS. As I said, NAS can have issues with iTunes and some of the longest topics I have seen here are how to rebuild a library after for some reason the library file on the Mac computer has lost the link information to the media files stored on a NAS. Some things such as date added, play count, and ratings are only stored in the library file and may be lost if you have to rebuild your library file.
I guess for me the only iTunes reason for having a NAS would be to do direct sharing of the library rather than having to use Home Sharing. Direct sharing of the library intact requires placing all the iTunes files on the NAS. If you're going to do Home Sharing you might as well opt for a a cheaper, more stable, plain external hard drive.

How does installing programs work when user folder moved to separate drive?

Hi everyone
I have my user folder on a separate drive from my boot drive.
I have set up a new installation of OS X on a third drive and pointed the main account's user folder on that third drive to the user folder drive.
This means that the dock that shows up when I boot off that third drive contains aliases linking to programs on the ordinary boot drive.
If I install programs on the third drive and make aliases in the dock, will that cause a conflict when I boot off the ordinary boot drive?
And if I remove from the dock aliases linking to the ordinary boot drive, will they then disappear when booted off the ordinary boot drive?
Thanks for any insight.
/p

I tried that.
1) I created a standard user account called "Test."
2) While logged in as Test I edited the sidebar. Then I logged out and back in again to confirm that the settings were retained. They were.
3) While logged in as Test I copied the user folder from SystemDisk/Users/Test to DataDisk/Users/Test.
4) I logged out of Test and logged in as Admin.
5) I changed the home directory for the Test account to /Volumes/DataDisk/Users/Test.
6) I deleted the directory at SystemDisk/Users/Test.
7) I logged out of Admin and logged in as Test.
8) I edited the sidebar. Then I logged out and back in again to see if the settings were retained. They were not.
9) I repeated steps 3-7, this time moving the home directory back to its original location at SystemDisk/Users/Test.
10) Again I edited the sidebar, logged out and logged back in again. This time the settings were retained, just as they had been before I moved the directory in the first place.
Since the functionality returns when I move the home directory back to the system disk, I've concluded that it is not due to any corruption of library files or such. It seems to be a problem with the location of home directory.
V.K., in your configuration, is the account with the moved home directory an Admin account or a Standard account? I have not tested this with an admin account and I suppose that might make a difference.

Boot Camp / Windows Partion... Can it be installed on a separate hard drive

I am just beginning to explore the idea of installing Boot Camp & Windows on a new Intel Mac I will be buying. I've been reading a lot of references to the Windows partition...
Can I dedicate a separate hard drive to Windows rather than partition my primary hard drive? If so would it be best to use an internal drive rather than a Firewire or USB drive. What would a reasonable minimum drive size be?
Thanks for you feedback.
Mike

Hi Mike,
since only the Mac Pro can have more than one internal HD, I assume you are talking about getting one of them
With more than one internal HDs you can put Windows on the second, third, fourth internal HD with the BootCamp Assistant.
On a side note: Windows does not support to be booted from external HDs (neither FireWire nor USB).
Reasonable size depends on what you want to do with it.
Windows XP itself takes up to 3.5GB of HD space after installation, Vista takes up to 10GB.
Add to that the HD space you need for the programs and data you use/produce.
And when keeping in mind the hassle it takes to enlarge the Windows partition if needed, my personal suggestions are:
Windows XP at least 30GB, Vista at least 50GB.
Have you already had a look here http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/ especially at the Installation Guide ?
Regards
Stefan

Can I Install OS 9 on Separate Hard Drive?

Hello:
I've got a G4 Power PC with OS 10.4. I'd like to install OS 9 without wiping out OS 10. I've seen the discussions about installing OS 9 on the same drive as OS 10, but can I install OS 9 on my second hard drive where I can easily delete it later?
I'm trying to figure out the easiest and safest way to install OS 9.

Thank you. I'll give it a try this evening.
If I install it on a different drive than OS 10.4, can I use any OS 9 installation disk? I've got my original installation disks for OS 9, 10.0 up through 10.4.
I ask because I think I read a thread saying some install disks are not compatible with later versions of OS 10.

Moved my Pictures folder to separate hard drive

I am in the process of separating my data from my Windows Vista installation. I right clicked on my Pictures folder, which is where my Lightroom 2.3 catalog and database resided, and used Vista's ability to move the folder to a 2nd hard drive. When I opened Lightroom after the move, I had to pick the catalog from the new hard drive which worked. However all my pictures are now not linked to actual picture files. How do I relink?

HI Kent! Go to your Folders panel and right click on the topmost folder level. Choose synchronize folder. That should do it. If a few images are still left with the ? icon click the ? and a locate dialog will appear showing you the previous location. Click locate and navigate in the Explorer window to the new location of that image file. At the bottom of the window should be a checkbox to Find Nearby Images. Check that and LR will relocate the image you started with and look for any others in the vicinity that may be marked as missing in the catalog.
It's generally a better idea to let LR move folders instead of using the OS. That way LR keeps track of where the files are.
Also, take a look at http://lightroom-news.com/2009/05/31/missing-photos/ for a good overview of this process.

Installing 10.4.11 on External Hard Drive Needs to be Firewire Bootable

I have a PB G4 1.67 ghz. 2 Gigs of Ram 100 Gig HD The main hard drive failed, the first hard drive to fail on me in 24 years. In the worst place at the worst time away from all my support, tools and software. It goes to Apple Care.
The Drive was partitioned into 3 sectors #1 for the system and the software that installs with 10.4. #2 for other applications and # 3 for mostly storing my work.
#1 died and I tried all the goodies Disk Warrior, which told me it was bad and did manage to save some things where to put them where I am not sure, but there in the trash, not emptied yet on my
iBook G4 1.1Ghz. I also tried Data Rescue, both seem to be good programs but need to be installed before the crash. So am pretty new software burned out. But whatever works the best.
I will run the new external Hitachai HD off a G4 iBook 1.1Ghz with
I know how to format from Disk Utility, and install a new copy of 10.4.11.
I did keep pretty good backups of the Library so all my mailboxes, emails, address book, Keychain and all the essentials are there. Oh thank you..for those who say Back Up. I am going to be the back up Guru, after I get this one up and back into the world.
Now I used a simple drag and drop system to a separate hard drive, that I use just to back up these important files. Not flashy, but oh my gosh they are there. But they are on a seperate Hard Drive. Not the new one. No operating system on the back up hard drive and is only 50 Gigs. Only geez..
My question, what is the best way to get the essential files from Library on the Back Up Hard Drive on to the new fresh install of 10.4.11. On my new external 120 Gig Hitachi which is in a small little metal Firewire 400 and 800 case with the Oxford 922 chip.
I could simply drag and drop these files, a lot of manual labor, possible massive openings, but I want the best system and it seems there is software that is made to do not want this. But I am really burned out and do not want to learn another new piece of software that works pretty good for some and others like this.
I am open to ideas and do not want to create file folders within file folders or files within files, but it seems if I just drag and copy from the working Back Up files to the same empty folders , i.e. mail of the new Hard Drive applications , things should be OK ?? Ideas, don't do this...
I do have all my mailboxes, all 135 of them, plus the 10’s of thousands of messages that go with them and the info that goes into each box. The mail would probably be the most worrisom as it is rather big. Working on storage for that.
I have A New 120 Gigs HD, I had a 50 Gig partition before, and I was pushing that limit, mainly because of iPhoto and iTunes I was thinking 90 gig 20 gig and a small 9 gig Gig just for a small second install of a clean OS 10.4.11 just in case . This will ultimately be a storage drive as I am going to get a 160 Gig for the internal disk. But that is a repair trip away and I need to get this HD up and running be bootable
Thank You for any help ideas or maps. I have been fighting this for 2 days, so hope it makes sense, along with a whole other slew of of limited tools and books serial numbers.
Geoffrey

Ok my thinking on this has changed. To much time and too much trouble. Lets Just set up a new account set up the filters and boxes and get on with life.
I have the messages I restored, I will get more when there recovered off the hard disk that crashed is restored, so a long term solution is where I should be headed now.
Although I do not know what this means for getting my address book back and Keychain which is also very important and sort of goes along the line of mail importing.
So what is the recommendation for storing and being able to access in a similar manner large volumes of mail say 60,000 among 100 folders and then will grow.
I average 300 per day, much of it I want to save. I see I can save the messages I now have to any any folder I want, and if I save it in Rich Text then even a simple program like Text edit can open the message, read it and keep the proper format.
However, I by going to folders, I lose the strong search capability, that is so wonderful and strong in Mail and the threaded capability of messages that is also so wonderful when researching these letters to get the information I keep them for. Suggestions.? I have Office 08 but only use it when I have too. I have Apple works but it's getting dated. I am open to new programs. I prefer tested ones that last. There is some good shareware and I took a look at Mail Steward and have it. But shareware can come and go and for something as important as mail. I need proven product.
This storage of mail will keep my mail box size down, some had as much a 10 thousand letters. The nice thing about mail was you could search all that information so well. I know there are a fair multitude of shareware programs, but would like to keep it simple in a very stable program with the robustness of mail or even greater, but not a huge learning curve. Yes I want everything.
This is the real answer, backup is easy, but keep those mail files to where I can do a multitude of things with them and be safe. I think I read somewhere that Mail does not like more then a 1000 messages per Mailbox. That is small for my needs.
So suggestions from here, or start a new thread. Or. Plus should we go on to the keychain which is so vital. Plus address book. ??? Hopefully that will be easier.
Thanks for the input
Geoff

How do I install Lion on a 2nd (SSD) hard drive?

I installed and formatted a 128 GB solid-state drive (SSD) on my Mac Pro. (My Mac Pro has four drives: a hard drive with Lion, a hard drive with Leopard for a legacy app, a hard drive for Time Machine, and the new SSD.) I went to the app store to download Lion to install on the SSD but I can't figure out how to download it. The download button says "Installed." Rebooting from the Leopard hard drive won't work because Lion can only be installed on a computer running Snow Leopard. (I tried to update the Leopard hard drive to Snow Leopard but for unknown reasons it won't let me.) I looked for the Lion Installer in my Downloads folder but I can't find it there. What should I do?
A good answer would be to return the SSD! I've spent hours trying to install this, to make my computer a couple seconds faster. The first 2.5" to 3.5" drive adapter didn't work because it was made for computers with cables, not for computers with sleds. Finding the right adapter was a challenge (and cost $40).

You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.

Can i use a separate hard drive for my iPhoto library?, can i use a separate hard drive for my iPhoto library?

The hard drive on my iMac is becoming full. Is it possible to move my iphoto library to a separate hard drive and access it from iphoto on my imac?

Yes it is.
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.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
Regards
TD

I have an iMac 2013 running OSX 10.9.4. I want to use Carbon Copy Cloner to backup user files to an external hard drive. Then I want to remove iPhoto libraries from iMac. What will happen to the iPhoto libraries that I back up when I run backup in a

I have an iMac 2013 running OSX 10.9.4. I want to use Carbon Copy Cloner to backup user files to an external hard drive to free up space on my iMack Hard drive.
So, say I make the backup today, delete iphoto libraries from my iMac, and then backup my iMac in a week. What happens to the iphoto libraries that are on the external backup drive now that I am backing up the iMac where they no longer exist?
I will have them backed up to a separate second external drive as well.
I'm just very cautious about removing them from the hard drive.
Thanks for helping and understanding my crazy caution!

I'd like to store my Aperture /IMovie Libraries on an external hard drive.
That is fine and recommended.. use the fastest disk you can afford.. ie Thunderbolt>USB3>FW800>USB2.
In addition, I'd like to partition the external hard drive so that Time Machine can use it to both back up my IMac and the external library drives.
Let me be clear.. you want to partition the one disk.. use it for TM and move your files to the external disk.. and then backup to the same disk.. You can do it.. but that is not a backup.. that is an experiment in how long you can get away with running files and backups on the same disk before you lose everything.. like Russian Roulette.. pull the trigger enough times and laws of probability will do you in.
You must have backups on a different disk .. otherwise it is pointless.
Can I set up a RAID 5 format for redundancy?
No.. you can buy special USB and Thunderbolt external drives that support RAID..
BUT that is still not a backup.. let me show why.. you make a silly move and corrupt your file in aperture.. it is not that rare.
Raid will corrupt all copies of the files.. it is replicated across all disks.
Delete a photo it is deleted across all disks.. you have no recovery.
Alway, always consider RAID system one disk.. backup onto another disk.. and if the photos or movies are at all important to you.. ie your family .. make another copy and store in a relatives house.. There is no such thing as too much redundancy.

I want all my emails to be saved in one folder off my regular hard drive. How do I do this?

I have several email accounts for 2 businesses. I wish to be able to back them up to one folder on an external hard drive. When I select the same folder I get the message that, the folder is in use with another email address. I don't wish to have 8 separate email folders. Is there a way around this?

You can configure each account to keep the messages in Local Folders:
Options: Account Settings: <account name>: Server Settings: Message Storage: Advanced button.
Or if you just want all the messages in the same folder for backup purposes, then "Archive" the messages in the same archive.
Options: Account Settings: <account name>: Copies & Folders: Message Archives.

How to move/copy Home Folder to a new hard drive?

Hard drive crashed in Snow Leopard, but before it did I pulled off my home folder. I am going to reinstall Snow Leopard on a new hard drive. How do I move/copy my home folder to the new hard drive? The home folder is sitting on an external hard drive that connects via firewire 400. Do I simply recreate the user account on the computer with new hard drive and copy/move the old home folder over to overwrite the new home folder? Looking forward to any suggestions.
David

Normally you can move your exiting home dir to another drive without any problems. For example, see
How to Move the Home Folder in OS X – and Why
But you appear to want to take a home dir from another system and make it the home dir on another system. That may or may not work. The operations are the same, i.e., point to the new home dir via the Accounts system prefs advanced options. But if the account id's are not the same there is going to be permissions problems.
Similarly, you can have permissions problems for the same reason just copying the stuff over the newly created home dir.
If you already know the user id's are the same then I think you may just get away with the substitution.

Help! Can't use separate hard drive to load software

I have a separate 120GB hard drive and want to store & load my Final Cut Pro software on here to lighten the load on my macbook pro. It won't let me use the separate hard drive as the start up drive to load FC pro. IS there a way I can change this? Is it something to do with partitioning it in Disk Utility?
Many thanks..

ordinaryjo wrote:
Not the OS on the external drive - it won't let me install Final Cut Pro on it saying it won't allow this external drive as the start-up disk for it. I have a feeling I can't store & load this software on it without the OS??
Ah!
You are quite right, ordinaryjo. You can only install the FCP application on a bootable drive, and only run it while booted from that drive. So yes, to run FCP from your external you will have to install OSX on it first , and boot from that drive when you wish to use it.
The way that most people avoid overloading their notebook drives when using FCP without having to do this is to install only the FCP applications on the internal drive, and to put everything else associated with the applications (templates, etc etc etc) on the external . The applications only take up about 4 GB of space, rather than the 60+ GB involved with a complete installation.
Cheers
Rod

Installing Users folder on a separate hard drive

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