Trying to make space on Mac, external hard drive

I just installed a Western Digital My Book Studio 1tb external hard drive to use with my Mac. I am using it with Time Machine, not the software it came with.
My question is: If I delete files from the Mac, will it delete them from the external hard drive, too? I don't want to lose the files, I just need to make space ON the Mac hard drive by moving the files elsewhere. Thank you!

First DO NOT use the WD software!!!! Also when you use an external HD for backup it should be dedicated to that use ONLY. NEVER EVER store additional data files on a backup drive. The reason being is HD's fail so if you use the same drive for backup and normal storage if/when that drive fails you will lose not only the oringinal but it's backup which makes backing up worthless!
A true backup system will have multiple backup strategies on independent media. Many folks (myself included) will use TM for backing up and then on another EHD create a bootable clone backup using either SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner (both about $30), a bootable clone is useful because in the event of internal HD failure you can boot the machine from the clone and resume work! You CANNOT do that from TM. In the case of backup redundancy is a VERY VERY good thing because backups can and do fail too!
As for your data you want to store on an external HD, get a third EHD (EHD's are cheap so don't be penny wise and pound foolish) and store large libraries such as movies, photographs & music on an EHD. Apple explains how to move those libraries to EHD's in:
iMovie: How to move the Library to an EHD
iPhoto: How to move the Library to an EHD
iTunes: How to move the library to an EHD

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I am trying to get space on an external hard drive which has some old time machine back up files that I do not need but can not eliminate, even by going into the time machine, clicking on the backup file to be eliminated and using the drop down eliminate

I am trying to get space on an external hard drive which has some old time machine back up files that I do not need but can not eliminate, even by going into the time machine, clicking on the backup file to be eliminated and using the drop down menu with the gear box symbol to eliminate

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.

Moving Garageband Music Files to MyBook for Mac External Hard Drive on OSX 10.5.8 I'm a musician and need to make space on my mac hd. Is it safe to move music files there and delete them on the mac? Thanks!

use a MyBook for Mac external hard drive.
I need space on garageband or the entire hard drive, since I am getting the "need space on the hard drive" messages.
It's scary to move my precious music files!
How should I move them to the external and feel safe about doing so?
Or are there other methods besides the obvious, clearing caches, deleting the trash and downloads, etc., that are recommended?
I am doing music now and producers are waiting for the new vocals!
Help!
Thanks!

The process is as simple as just copying your Garageband project to the external drive and deleting from the macs hard drive. But before you delete anything you really need to back them up to someplace else also. Having just one copy is not safe. Get another external drive, DVDs or even flash drives, you absolutely need anything important in more then one place.

I am trying to burn CDs to an external hard drive to conserve space on our laptop. When I change the file location it says the folder on the external drive is invalid. Am I missing a step?

I am trying to burn CDs to an external hard drive to conserve space on our laptop. When I change the file location it says the destination folder on the external drive is invalid. Am I missing a step?

It does, but that's definitely strange. Try showing all hidden files and folders on your Mac to see if that helps.
To do this, head to Applications -> Utilties -> Terminal and type:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE -> Press Enter
killall Finder -> Press Enter
Then navigate out to your iPod again via the Finder. Any luck now?
B-rock

Can some please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates? I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my Mac

Can someone please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates? I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my new Mac. I ended up getting a bunch of duplicates. My old Mac has an older version of iPhoto while the new Mac has iPhoto '11. Is that the cause of the problem? Please advise. Thanks.

Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
Regards
TD

Can I take my old mac and make it into an external hard drive

Can I take my old mac and make it into an external hard drive? It does not work anymore but I would like to make it into an external hard drive. I heard it is not to hard to do myself but I have important information I would like off of it and only really trust the apple store to do it. I know it is possible because I have had a friend that had it done after water went on her laptop. I would like to also know how much is this going to cost and if it is even worth getting done at the store or just do it myself.

Can it boot to Target Disk Mode
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode
Otherwise just take the HD out and put it in an external enclosure.

Trying to use a new, larger external hard drive for my Time Machine backup. However, every time I start the backup, it gets started then fails. And, I can't delete the few files that did save on the external. Sort of a catch 22. Any ideas?

Trying to use a new, larger external hard drive for my Time Machine backup. However, every time I start the backup, it gets started then fails. And, I can't delete the few files that did save on the external. Sort of a catch 22. Any ideas?

Is it a USB hard drive? USB hard drives have the problem of not giving full speed if they are hooked up on the same bus as keyboards and mice. Double check your profiler to make sure that is not a problem. If it is Firewire, make sure there aren't other firewire devices in use at the same time. I recommend not only keeping a Time Machine backup, but also a clone, and if you do use Time Machine, to make sure the Time Machine drive or partition is at least twice the size of the original drive.

Trying to copy iPhoto Library to external hard drive for backup. Error message: The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "iPhoto Library" can't be read or written (Error code -36).

Trying to copy iPhoto Library to external hard drive for backup. Error message: The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "iPhoto Library" can't be read or written (Error code -36).

That code is
-36
ioErr
I/O error (bummers)
Make sure the EHD is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) and run Disk Utilty on the EHD and repair the disk. If that fails to help I'd try the following:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button,
navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the external HD as the location of the newly rebild library.
Click on the Create button.
Note 1: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost.
Note 2: Your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

My Passport for Mac external Hard drive is not recognized

I recently had to purchase a new MacBook Pro, and when I tried to get files off of my Passport for Mac external hard drive. I get an error stating "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer." And when I try to initalize, and verify disk, I get this message "Partition map check failed because no slices were found.". I have already updated firmware for the external hard drive. One site I found stated that it could be that the USB port is not strong enough, and I would need a 2.0 Booster cable. Does anyone know if this would work?

What did you old Macbook die from? Likely the HD in it is still ok, yes?
You can remove the HD inside your old dead Mac and put it into a $20 HD enclosure or HD dock, and remove the photos that way, very easy.........IF your old Macbook died from something other than ALSO a bad HD.
You said----my OLD Macbook pro which recently lost video
What happened with your old "dead" macbook? Still have it?

Using non-mac external hard drive with time machine

Is it possible to use a non-mac external hard drive (ie, anything other than Time Capsule) connected to Airport Extreme with Time Machine?
If so, how do I make the external hard drive visible in the back up disk list?

see this [link|http://www.macworld.com/article/132613/2008/03/airporttime.html].

Ned to back up files. Trying to reformat a WD 1TB external hard drive but my utilities keeps saying "choose scheme from volume pop up menu.." also says cannot be modified. What can I do?!

Help would be appreciated! Before I upgrade my 10.6.8 OS X I need to back up files. Trying to reformat a WD 1TB external hard drive but my utilities keeps saying "choose scheme from volume pop up menu.." also says "this partition cannot be modified." What can I do?! Take it back to Currys! Many thanks

Select the Top Most Entry for that drive, it will be the drive model # and have the size listed, then go to the Partition tab and select One Partition from the Partition Layout area drop down. Then select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format, if that is the format you want to format it AS. Then click the Options button near the bottom of that windows and select GUID as the Partition Table. Close the options screen and clcik the Apply button.

I am trying to open space in my macbook hard drive, so I deleted files and after emptying the trash bin the amount of Gigs didn't increase, why? Where can I go and delete those files?

I am trying to open space in my macbook hard drive, so I deleted files and after emptying the trash bin the amount of Gigs didn't increase, why? Where can I go and delete those files?

Did you do a secure empty trash? SHIFT COMMAND DELETE, they will be over wriiten. Are you deleting docs as they aren't much space, videos,pictures,music use much more space.
You can move those fiels to an external "archive" drive to save them then delete them from your internal drive.

I have an older macbook pro and the hard drive is starting to go (making loud noises). i tried to back up to an external hard drive (my passport essential se) using time machine and the computer keeps shutting down. suggestions to complete backup please?

I have an older macbook pro and the hard drive is starting to go (making loud noises). i tried to back up to an external hard drive (my passport essential se) using time machine and the computer keeps shutting down. the same thing happens when just trying to save my pictures from iphoto to a flash drive. suggestions to complete backup please?

Sounds like you'll need to access that drive while it is not booted. You need to replace it anyway, so do that, then one way or another (ext enclusure, et), access it and copy files.
If you keep trying to boot it, you might kill it for good and not get your files, so just swap it out first.

I'm trying to install Firefox on an external hard drive.

''Duplicate post, continue here - [/questions/768694]''
I'm trying to install Firefox on an external hard drive. Having it start on the external drive in a program files directory is very straightforward but I would also like to have the user files on that drive as well. Those files are typically in a directory similar to the following.
C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxxx\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox
I did have this set up on an older PC but now that I'm setting up a new one, I can't remember just how that was done. Could someone refresh my memory?

The process is quite straight forward, you start the profile manager, create a new profile and in the second step of the create profile wizard click on "Choose folder" to choose where you want to save the user data.
The process of creating a profile is detailed here - [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_Firefox_profile_on_Windows Creating a new Firefox profile on Windows - MozillaZine Knowledge Base]. There is a warning about using a non-standard location for the profile (copied from the mozillazine knowledge base)
'''If the folder you select for the new profile contains non-Mozilla files (such as the "My Documents" folder on Windows), your profile data will be intermingled with the non-Mozilla data. This can result in the loss of all of the data in that folder, including non-Mozilla files, if you later delete the profile.'''

Trying to back up iPad to external hard drive, "iTunes library file cannot be saved. The disk you are attempting to use is full."

This issue is somewhat complex so I will try to explain it as clearly as I can. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
It all began when I kept getting popups from my iPad saying that I had not backed up since May. I realized that was pretty dangerous so I decided to finally try syncing it to iTunes, though I had avoided doing so for so long because I knew that when I tried there was no room on the computer. I then remembered that I have an external hard drive with plenty of storage space, so I got that out and set it up with a folder to move iTunes and the backup into.
On iTunes I went to the Advanced Preferences and changed iTunes Media Folder Location to the G: folder, with the keep organized box checked. I also copied the previous backups from the original C: drive to G: so that I could delete the ones on C:.
I used Junction Link Magic to link my now empty MobileSync backup on C: to a new (JLM would not work unless it was empty) backup folder on external hard drive G:.
I plugged in my iPad to iTunes to sync it, and while it was backing up I checked the new folder on G: to make sure that the backup was being put there. It was.
However, about halfway through I got the message "iTunes library file cannot be saved. The disk you are attempting to use is full."
My question is Why? If it is being made in a 1.5 terabyte hard drive now, and not the computer, why is there no disk space? My guess is that it must still somehow be saving to the computer. But how? And how can I get it to save solely on the G: drive where there is enough room?
I am running Windows XP and the latest version of iTunes.
An additional but not as crucial issue:
Much of my music has been lost, with the being displayed next to the songs in the iTunes library, and only 50 (purchased) songs remain on my iPad. This was because those missing songs were stored on a different external hard drive ( I:). However, I copied many of the music folders on I: over to G: so that everything could be together. I am wondering if it is possible for me to get these songs back onto my iPad. But this is not my most important issue right now, because I believe that once I get the first issue solved I can simply plug in I: and G: at the same time while syncing the iPad, and get the songs back.
Note: I have come to realize the iTunes program itself is still under Program Files in the C: drive. Does this have to do with anything?

Short term, free up some disk space. Long term, move the library to a bigger drive.
tt2

Trying to make space on Mac, external hard drive

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