Will a Mac automatically delete files/videos/pictures from an external hard drive?

I plugged in one of my external hard drives that contained documents, photos, and videos formatted from Windows.  When I plugged it into my MacBook none of my files were on the external hard drive and I didn't see any prompts asking if I wanted to reformat my hard drive so I'm not sure if it was automatically deleted.  Will a MacBook automatically delete files, pictures, videos from an external hard drive?

No.
What format is the external drive?

Similar Messages

  • How can I delete items in trash from an external hard drive?

    I have a Macbook Pro and have installed Paragon so that I can use an external hard drive on both my Mac and my PC.  But some files I deleted from my external hard drive (Seagate 3TB) while on my Mac can't be deleted from the recycle bin.
    When I try to delete, the files just stay there.  When I do a secure empty, a message comes up saying the files are in use.  This has persisted for two days.  I have restarted the Mac, reconnected the drive, and also cheked the drive on my PC for errors and found none.  Of course, the files only appear in the trash when the drive is connected.  I ejected the drive properly each time, and didn't just unplug it from the Mac.
    I have tried to do a secure empty with option and/or shift keys down, but I still get a message that the files are in use.  I tried a fix involving writing a command including the term "trash" (I don't have the full command at my fingertips) in Terminal in the Utilities application, and this did not work.  There appears to be a program called "Trashit" which might help, but my computer says it will not open under my security settings because the author of the program is not listed.
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    I'm wondering what is happening, and how I could fix it.  Many thanks for any advice, in advance.

    I actually fixed this by plugging the drive into my PC, changing the settings to "show hidden files and folders," then finding the folder ".trashes" on the drive and deleting everything in there.  When the drive was plugged back into the Mac, the trash was empty as it should be.  (It was a very large folder I deleted, and a very small portion of the files were apparently corrupted.)  In case anyone else ever needs this fix, it works.  Good luck.

  • Need to move (consolidate) my iTunes files (media/library) from my external hard drive (i use time capsule as an ext hd)  back to my main iMac where my iTunes is located.

    I used my time capsule (1st gen) as an external hard drive to store my iTunes files and my iTunes app is on my main iMac.  Now, I've decided to move those iTunes files from my external hard drive (TC) back to my iMac where my iTunes app is located.  What is the best way to do this?

    Is the Time Capsule the right piece of kit for the job?
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    TC is designed to spin up slow and spin down quickly at the end of backup. You will have issues when you stream media from it.
    ATV needs to connect to itunes server.. not the library. You will still need a computer running. Same for lots of things.. since apple designed their system to be dependent on itunes.
    The best idea is a media computer.. a mac mini is ideal. Don't need the latest greatest.. but an actual mac running itunes. Unfortunately it doesn't have large internal drives.. so it is still a bit kludgy in needing a fast external drive.. but at least you have automatic backups.

  • Duplicated photos when importing pictures from an external hard drive

    I've just bought a Macbook Air and am trying to import all of my photos from an external hard drive (I was previously using Windows 7).
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    Anyone have any idea why it's created these folders and how I stop it happening?
    Thank you!

    Thomas
    Drag them to the iPhoto Window or use the File -> Import command.
    Regards
    TD

  • How do I retrieve pictures from my external hard drive?

    Took my mac in for repair and it was scrubbed clean, fortunatly everything was backed up to an external hard drive (GDrive mobile) how do I retrieve all my photos and put them back into iPhoto?

    If your hard drive can be detected and shows up as a drive letter in my computer but you can't access your files,then you can recover your data off it with data recovery software easily.This way is the easiest and the most inexpensive way to recover your data.If you bring it to a computer repair shop that is available for data recovery servise,they will cost you $500-1000 or more.Hmm, a lot of money.
    I managed to recover data from crashed hard drive with Tenorshare Data Recovery.If needed,you can download it and scan your hard drive for free to preview whether your data can be recovered.It will show you thumbnails for recoverable pictures.

  • Transfering files and folders from an external hard drive to my new iMac Lion

    I recently bought an iMac Lion and today attempted to transfer applications folders and files from my old computer( tiger) using migration assistant.I was though only partially succesful in as much as my applications and office files were copied, but not so iTunes, iPhoto and iMovies content .I then decided to attempt transfering the files and folders using my external hard disc(La Cie).I have activated Time machine and can certainly see the two partitions i had originally set up in my old computer but cannot figure out how I can the User Files which contain the media i want.? I originally used Super Duper to do my backups but its not recognised on this new computer so i am inclined to think I need to re buy it
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    I have found the files and made the transference succesfully except iMovie as i except they are not compatible with Lion

  • I bucked up my files with Time Machine, but I am not able to see my pictures from the external hard drive

    Hi all,
    When I open the iphoto library in my hard drive, its says that I have to open iphotos with the "control" option. So I did it and opened a "different library" and try again to do it from the extrenal drive, but again, its says the same thing. Please help! I would like to be sure all my back ups pictures are there and be able to watch them
    Thanks in advance!

    A Time Machine backup of the iPhoto Library is not useabel by iPhoto until you Restore it with Time Machine.  To restore the library go into Time Machine, go to the date you want, located your Pictures folder, select the library and use the Restore button. 
    Be warned that this will overwrite your current library so if it's just a test select Save Both in the window that comes up.
    OT

  • Transfer pictures from PC - External Hard Drive - MacBook = Duplicates?

    Hello.
    I recently bought a MacBook Pro.
    So I am NEW to the whole Apple World.
    I was trying to transfer pictures from a Windows PC to the MacBook via external harddrive.
    I opened iPhoto, File, Import to Library. Once there I went to Devices, picked the Device which has the Photo Album, picked the Album and clicked Import.
    After the Import was done, I have one Album in iPhoto, plus each picture has a File folder in which it is to more times, one small and one regular size.
    Wy did that happen?
    What can I do to have just the Album with the lets say 25 picture instead of 75 in iPhoto.
    Like I said, I am NEW to the Mac world.
    Thank you.

    I have no Idea why the screenshots came out so small but maybe you'll still see what I am talking about.
    On here you can see, the first one is the actual picture, the second file folder (highlighted) has two more pictures of the actual picture in the folder.
    So each picture has to "copies" of it.
    The first file is the actual album with I think 8 pictures in it, iPhoto shows a total of 24.

  • How do I stop iphoto from creating events automatically when I import photos from an external hard drive?

    IPhoto is creating events automatically when I import photos and when I merge events and then go to finder>all images, I see iphoto has created several copies of each picture....I try to delete the extra copies but then the albums or events also get affected, even if there is one copy of each photo left in all images...have someone had this problem?

    You don't have a problem at all.
    IPhoto is creating events automatically when I import photos
    This is how iPhoto works. Every photo is in an Event. Events are the basic organisation of the Library. Every import means at least one new Event. Yes you can merge Events after import and so on, but there is at least one Event created at each import.
    I see iphoto has created several copies of each picture....
    No it hasn't. It hs created versions of the photos, not copies. There will be a couple of thumbnails  for viewing in the iPhoto Window plus the Master and then a edited version for pics that are modified. The icons for each of these may be similar but they are not copies - for a start they are different sizes - and all are required for iPhoto to work.
    go to finder>all images
    Don't. This is simply a list of all the images on your computer. It makes no account or allowance for the purpose of these images. Really, if you're using iPhoto ignore this because if you
    I try to delete the extra copies
    Then you are trashing your Library.
    So, this is how iPhoto works, there is no problem and stay away from All Images.
    Regards
    TD

  • I recently deleted some old backups from my external hard drive and now I can't get them out of the trash can.  What can I do to remove them from the trashcan?

    How do i delete a backup file from the trashcan?

    Were these old backups part of Time Machine?
    If yes, check this FAQ,
    http://pondini.org/TM/E6.html

  • Can iphoto import pictures from an external hard drive?

    My computer is a macbook pro 10.6.8

    Yes.  Open iPhoto and drag the photos from the EHD into the open iPhoto window.  If the photos are in folders then dragging the folders into the iPhoto window will create an event with the same name as the folder.
    OT

  • HT2674 I have an iMac purchased in May 2011.  OSX Lion 10.7.3.  I deleted backup file from the external hard drive. Now, the trash can will not empty some of the files deleted.  File folder: "Core Services" contains a locked file: "boot.efi".  It will not

    I have an iMac purchased in May 2011.  OSX Lion 10.7.3.  I deleted backup file from the external hard drive which operates from Time Machine.
    Now, the trash can will not empty some of the files deleted from the backup harddrive.
    The trash contains-- File folder: "Core Services" which contains a locked file: "boot.efi". 
    It will not delete.
    How do I get the trash can empty of these files?

    Yes, the Old Master file has a folder for each year where I find all photos from that specific year. I am attaching a screen shot of the file.
    In the meantime i have managed to download all photos (it did not download any video files though in mpg, avi, 3gp, m4v,mp4 and mov format) to a new iphoto library. Unfortunately the photos are quite mixed and often doubled up. I ma considering to purchase iphoto library which checks all duplicates in iphoto. this will save me a lot of time. What do you think?

  • If I have to format an external hard drive to make it Mac compatible, will it delete all the content in the external hard drive?

    If I have to format an external hard drive to make it Mac compatible, will it delete all the content in the external hard drive?

    As others have said, the answer to your question is a big YES.  Formatting a drive will delete everything!
    To keep your data, yet reformat the drive for optimal Mac compatibility, you will need to:
    1) copy your files to a different hard drive (I would recommend two different locations if you value your data)
    2) repartition/format the external drive
    3) then copy the files back to the external.
    You haven't given details but if you need the external to ONLY be compatible with the Mac (and no longer care if if can be read by Windows), then you will want to partition the drive using the GUID partition scheme, and format as the (HFS+) "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" filesystem.  You can do so using the built-in "Disk Utility" application on your Mac (in the Applications/Utilities directory).  Here are instructions:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ph5845
    If you need the drive to be compatible with both Mac and Windows computers then please post that so someone can recommend a solution for your specific needs.

  • I have macbook pro 13" I want to know how to copy files from my mac to the external Toshiba Hard Drive. I can't even delete files from my external hard drive. please help me my macbook HD is almost full and I have to copy my images to the Toshiba HD

    I have macbook pro 13" I want to know how to copy files from my mac to the external Toshiba Hard Drive. I can't even delete files from my external hard drive. please help me my macbook HD is almost full and I have to copy my images to the Toshiba HD

    To delete files from your external HDD, attach it to your MBP and drag the unwanted files to trash and then empty trash.
    Then you select the files that you want to transfer by 'drag and drop' to the external HDD and trash the files on your MBP.
    Ciao.

  • HT201250 If time machine puts all of my photos onto my external hard drive using time machine, can I then delete the photos from my computer put view them again from the external hard drive? Basically, can I free up space on my mac but not lose years of p

    If time machine puts all of my photos onto my external hard drive using time machine, can I then delete the photos from my computer but view them again from the external hard drive? Basically, can I free up space on my mac but not lose years of photos?

    To add to Niel's comment bear in mind that if you have a backup copy on an external HD and later delete the orignals on your Mac HD you will then only have one copy - so no backup.
    If the pictures are precious you should have at least two copies, and ideally another copy kept off site,

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