Swappable external hard drive format pc/mac for atv2

i would like to point itunes on a mac and pc to a single swappable external hd for use with atv2. the storage will be mainly used for atv2 encoded sd home video, stored sd movies, and music. all individual files will be less than 2gb.
connection will be esata.
anyone have a drive like this? what would be best format? fat32? how is the performance?
thinking 500gb to 750gb should be sufficient. also would a 7200rpm be a benefit over 5400rpm?

magnumip wrote:
Alley_Cat wrote:
I wouldn't get hung up on eSATA, unless you want it for any particular reason, USB 2.0 will more than suffice for ATV2 streaming and may well be cheaper.
Good to know, I didn't know this. So a 5400rpm hdd would not make any performance difference either?
Should be fine - I've streamed from USB 2 and FW drives directly connected, even some small portable USB drives powered by the bus which probably have 4200 rpm drives.
iTunes store content, even HD, will not exceed 5Mbps on average because this was the max spec for AppleTV1 h264 - while AppleTV 2 is more powerful and may well support 20-30 Mbps if things were encoded as such you're still looking at only a couple of MB/sec of data transfer
Coming to think of it, a portable USB 2 drive might even be worth considering if you want to quickly swap with minimum fuss, and they come up to 1TB in size these days.
Organise your material in a hierarchical folder arrangement and alter iTunes Preferences not to copy added content to the library - keep the library on the Mac/PC then import from the external drive which will add references to the external library and not copy the files.
What is the easiest way to import batch movies.
Not sure what you mean - do you mean how to import multiple files - I generally drag and drop into iTunes - I know it works with mac, don't see why it wouldn't on PC.
Also I would like to transfer a music library on os hdd and consolidate all on external hd. Any easy ways to accomplish this or a good tutorial available.
Probably simplest just to manually copy the files from the iTunes media folders, but you should be able to do so by changing the iTunes Pref for the media folder and then choosing the Consolidate option which will move the files over. Personally I tend to manually do these things, but I would advise you to make a backup just in case, whatever you do.
AC
Thanks in advance AC

Similar Messages

  • With Time Machine I have an external hard drive formatted with Mac

    With Time Machine I have an external hard drive formatted with Mac. The record contained files windows. How to recover?
    Serious mistake: to connect a Mac to an external drive with data (important!) Windows, the warning appears: "You want to use the disk for Time Machine?" Wrong button, so in 2-3 seconds, the disk is formatted. Now Mac "sees" the disc but empty, Windows does not see it under "My Computer" but in "Disk Management" is reported as "hard core", "healthy", "GPT protective partition" Is there a way to retrieve the files? Sorry for my English Thanks

    I'm having a difficult time following, I understand English isn't your native language. You may have good luck with Google Translate.
    Also please read Pondini's Time Machine FAQs & Time Machine Troubleshooting.

  • Using IMOVIE '08 to import from DV camera to 'BUSLINK' external hard drive( formatted for MAC ) but no success and kept getting this message: The import was canceled. You may not have permission to write to /Volumes/BUSLINK/iMovie Events.localized. Thanx

    Using IMOVIE '08 to import from DV camera to 'BUSLINK' external hard drive( formatted for MAC ) but no success and kept getting this message: The import was canceled. You may not have permission to write to /Volumes/BUSLINK/iMovie Events.localized. Thanx in advance!

    I finally got a representative that was able to help me, she had me go to Get Info, by right clicking iMovie from the finder, and I had to click on Sharing & Permissions>Everyone>Read & Write

  • Is it possible to format an external hard drive on my mac?

    I purchased a portable external hard drive to back up my former pc in the hopes of using it on my mac. Obviously, I did not research this seeing now that I can integrate my files and photos from my pc to my mac. It appears possible to format the external hard drive to my mac os, which should be done prior to downloading files from my pc to the hard drive. Has anyone dealt with this or am I the only idiot that purchased the external hard drive thinking that was the thing to do before my pc dies completely?

    A HD formatted in EXFAT will transfer data between both PC and Mac.
    However dont make the titanic error most do in having merely a single external HD backup of your data, thats a tragedy waiting to happen.
    HD are cheap as dirt.
    Ideal situation is 3 HD ,   1 for Mac backups, 1 for data archives stored away safely and updated as needed / often.
    and a 3rd HD in Exfat for data transfers  (or a thumb drive for the same thing to save $$)

  • HT1452 I have a Toshiba Canvio 1TB external hard drive on my Mac. I've used it for 4-5 months with no problems, but now cannot add to it (I use it mostly for photo storage) to it. I can still access information previously added. Ideas?

    I have a Toshiba Canvio 1TB external hard drive on my Mac. I've used it for 4-5 months with no problems, but now cannot add to it (I use it mostly for photo storage) to it. I can still access information previously added. Ideas?

    I cannot find this 300GB "Backup" in the Finder, only in the Storage info when I check "About This Mac".
    You are probably using Time Machine to backup your MacBook Pro, right? Then the additional 300 GB could be local Time Machine snapshots.  Time Machine will write the hourly backups to the free space on your hard disk, if the backup drive is temporarily not connected. You do not see these local backups in the Finder, and MacOS will delete them, when you make a regular backup to Time Machine, or when you need the space for other data.
    See Pondini's page for more explanation:   What are Local Snapshots?   http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    I have restarted my computer, but the information remains the same. How do I reclaim the use of the 300GB? Why is it showing up as "Backups" when it used to indicate "Photos"? Are my photos safe on the external drive?
    You have tested the library on the external drive, and so your photos are save there.  
    The local TimeMachine snapshot probably now contains a backup of the moved library.  Try, if connecting your Time Machine drive will reduce the size of your local Time Machine snapshots.

  • I can not save any data to external hard drive from my mac pro. Is there anyone can help me in this regard?( note, when i first plug my ext. drive to mac i chose option to backup later)

    I can not save any data to external hard drive from my mac pro. Is there anyone can help me in this regard?( note, when i first plug my ext. drive to mac i chose option to backup later)

    The device may be formatted for Windows, as NTFS. The format is readable, but not natively writable on a Mac. To write to the device, you must either reformat it (erasing all the contents) or install third-party software to enable write access to NTFS.

  • Can't connect my external hard drive to my Mac Book Pro. Any thoughts?

    I have a 2.0 TB WD Mybookessential as an external hard drive to my Mac Book Pro and I'm getting a "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer" message every time I try to remount it. Any thoughts?

    Thanks for the suggestion, Cattus, it is in fact a formatted disk with a lot of valuable data, so I do not want to reformat the disk.
    I followed your advice, however the repair failed because of an "invalid B-tree node size".
    This is the log:
    2011-12-27 17:03:33 +0000: Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.2011-12-27 17:03:33 +0000:
    2011-12-27 17:03:33 +0000: Disk Utility stopped repairing “disk1s2” because the following error was encountered:
    Filesystem verify or repair failed.
    2011-12-27 17:03:33 +0000:
    2011-12-27 17:06:35 +0000:           Name :           WD My Book 1110 Media
              Type :           Disk
              Partition Map Scheme :           GUID Partition Table
              Disk Identifier :           disk1
              Media Name :           WD My Book 1110 Media
              Media Type :           Generic
              Connection Bus :           USB
              USB Serial Number :           574D415A4131363338333935
              Device Tree :           /PCI0/EHC1@1D,7/@2:0
              Writable :           Yes
              Ejectable :           Yes
              Mac OS 9 Drivers Installed :           No
              Location :           External
              Total Capacity :           1.8 TB (1,999,696,297,984 Bytes)
              S.M.A.R.T. Status :           Not Supported
              Disk Number :           1
              Partition Number :           0
    2011-12-27 17:06:35 +0000:
    2011-12-27 18:22:01 +0000: Verify and Repair volume “disk1s2”
    Starting repair tool:  2011-12-27 18:22:01 +0000
    2011-12-27 18:22:01 +0000: Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
    2011-12-27 18:22:15 +0000: Invalid B-tree node size
    2011-12-27 18:22:15 +0000: Volume check failed.
    2011-12-27 18:22:15 +0000: Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.2011-12-27 18:22:15 +0000:
    2011-12-27 18:22:15 +0000: Disk Utility stopped repairing “disk1s2” because the following error was encountered:
    Filesystem verify or repair failed.
    2011-12-27 18:22:15 +0000:
    2011-12-27 18:31:57 +0000:           Name :           WD My Book 1110 Media
              Type :           Disk
              Partition Map Scheme :           GUID Partition Table
              Disk Identifier :           disk1
              Media Name :           WD My Book 1110 Media
              Media Type :           Generic
              Connection Bus :           USB
              USB Serial Number :           574D415A4131363338333935
              Device Tree :           /PCI0/EHC1@1D,7/@2:0
              Writable :           Yes
              Ejectable :           Yes
              Mac OS 9 Drivers Installed :           No
              Location :           External
              Total Capacity :           1.8 TB (1,999,696,297,984 Bytes)
              S.M.A.R.T. Status :           Not Supported
              Disk Number :           1
              Partition Number :           0
    2011-12-27 18:31:57 +0000:

  • External hard drive bootable with Mac OS x 10.9

    Hello!
    i have these: Install-OS-Mavericks DMG file.
    but i don't know how to Install the file.
    i can to install this at the external hard drive (USB).
    please help me!
    How to creat the external Hard drive bootable in the Mac Intel or Pro? please give me simple methode!
    How to install the OS with the external Hard drive? or any solution.
    Thank you very much for your help.
    Justin R.

    To install the file, if you did not download the Install Mac OS X from the Mac App Store, you must make sure your Mac Pro is compatible, it must be at least a Mac Pro3,1 to install Mavericks.  If you are compatible, and want to install on a USB drive, first you must open Disk Utilities (in Finder, Applications, Utitlities) and then select the exernal drive from the devices listed in the left panel of the Disk Utilities window.  Then decide if you want one or more partitions on the drive and the size of the partitions.  Select each partition one at a time and name the partition and then choose the format as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), and the Partition Table as GUID, and then Apply to format the drive.
    Once that is done you place the Mavericks Installer DMG file on the desktop, double click to open and then choose the drive for installation to be the external drive you have formatted and named.
    The installer will install and then delete itself when finished.  If you want to keep a copy, make a copy and store it in a safe place, such as your Documents folder.
    To boot to the external hard drive, restart the Mac Pro and hold the Option key.  That will result in a grey screen with images for each of the bootable drives.  Highlight the arrow under the drive you want to boot and then click that arrow again.

  • I want to take files from my PC (using a Seagate external hard drive) then plug this Seagate External hard drive into my Mac Book Pro and move the files from the Seagate External Hard drive onto my Time Capsule. I do not want to put these files on my Mac

    I want to take files from my PC (using a Seagate external hard drive) then plug this Seagate External hard drive into my Mac Book Pro and move the files from the Seagate External Hard drive onto my Time Capsule. I do not want to put these files on my Mac. How do I do this? Where do I put these files on my Time Capsule? Will it affect the functioning of my Time Capsule?

    Mixing files with data is not always great idea.
    See info here.
    Q3 http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
    Why not just connect the PC directly to the TC by ethernet and copy the files over?
    It is hugely faster and much less mucking around.
    In windows load the airport utility for windows.. if you have not already as this will help you access the drive.
    There is more info here.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1331

  • How do I get data from a pc external hard drive to my mac

    I am about to purchase an Air. I have an external hard drive I have used for years with my PC.  It has countless pictures and music.  How can I get that data from my PC external drive to my new Air and also to the Time Machine?

    Thank you for your reply.  It is a Western Digital external USB 3.0 formatted for PC.  It includes pics, videos, music, documents, power point, etc.  would it still just be a drag and drop?
    Thanks!

  • HT3500 how do you transfer data from an external hard drive to a mac time capsule

    I am trying to use my Mac Time Capsule as a wireless external hard drive for my MacBook Pro, so how do I transfer the data from a toshiba external hard drive, to my Mac Time Capsule?

    Drag and drop or copy and paste files just as you would do with any normal Finder operation.
    The Time Capsule is located under the SHARED heading in the Finder.
    Click on the Time Capsule icon and double click the folder that appears representing the drive....named Data....unless you have changed the name......to mount the drive on the desktop.
    Drag/drop or copy/paste files to the icon on the desktop or to the open window there.

  • Can you unplug the external hard drive you are using for time machine

    can you unplug the external hard drive you are using for time machine and then plug it back in and it work normals because i have a mac book and don't want to always be carrieing the external hard drive every where i go so can you ?

    Yes, that will work fine. It will back up normally once you plug it in again. I do this with my MacBook.

  • I am not able to use my external hard drive with my Mac.

    I am not able to use my external hard drive with my Mac. It was initially used with my Windows 7 laptop. Now when I insert my Hard drive in the Mac, it doesn't allow me to delete, format, make folders or copy new files on to my hard drive. I no longer have a Windows PC and am stuck. I tried going to Disc utilities,selected my HD, clicked on Erase and then changed the Format type to MS-DOS (FAT) but no luck .. Any other steps or advice?

    It was likely formatted in NTFS which is readable by the Mac, but not writeable.
    You should be able to reformat the disk in Disk Utility.
    After having copied all the data off of it, you can try re-partitioning it.
    Select the hard drive in the disk list in Disk Utility. Hard drives are the device itself, are left-aligned in the list, and are usually named with the manufacturer, size, and model number.
    Click on the Partition tab.
    Select 1-partition from the partition menu.
    Click the Options button and set to GUID
    Set the format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
    Give the Volume a name and click Apply.

  • Help! When i connect my "iomega" External hard drive to my mac it does not show in devices or on the desktop, how can i access my hard drive?

    Help! When i connect my "iomega" External hard drive to my mac it does not show in devices or on the desktop, how can i access my hard drive?

    what format your iomega HD is it NTFS , if NTFS try download   http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/ntfs3g.html

  • How can i perform a search on my external hard drive on my mac pro os x 10.9.2 ?

    how can i perform a search on my external hard drive on my mac pro os x 10.9.2 ?

    Mac OS X 10.9.2 is 12 years newer than 9.2.x.    You need to make sure that Spotlight has indexed the external hard drive by adding it and removing it from Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Spotlight -> Privacy.   Check the menu for it:
    to determine if indexing is still going on, as it will say indexing.
    Alternatively, you can use a non-Spotlight tool, such as:
    http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/
    http://www.devontechnologies.com/products/freeware/ - EasyFind
    http://www.osxbytes.com/ - iFileX (note the MacUpdate link provided on osxbytes page has a Malware advertisement for MacKeeper, do not download).
    http://www.barebones.com/ Textwrangler has a Search file for content, which works on any Text file.

Maybe you are looking for