Macbook Pro - How do you use an external hard drive?

Zach

Hi all, I just recently purchased a Macbook Pro.

Tech Spechs: 15 Inch, 2.66GHz, and 128 GB SSD.

I upgraded the hard drive from 500GB to 128GB. I know that's less space, but it has a solid state drive which I really wanted.

However, now I'm running out of room! I was going to purchase this: http://store.apple.com/us/product/H2068/G-Technology-500GB-G-DRIVE-FireWire-USB-Portable-Hard-Drive?mco=MTYzMzA4NDE

but I'm not 100% sure of what I can do with it. Could I just upload my iTunes and everything to it? Because my library is fairly big, and I need to install other programs on here, etc.

I was wondering if I can use the hard drive for Time Machine and additionally store files on it? I know that Time Machine basically backs everything up. So I want that on there, but I also want to be able to install programs on the hard drive. Like install Microsoft Office for Mac on the external, put my iTunes library on there, etc so it would only be on the computer if the external hard drive was connected. Can it do two things like that at once? Time Machine, and store non-backup files on it?

Answer
Bassman above is correct. and you do not need a Time Capsule to use time Machine just another hard drive. I currently have my itunes library split onto TWO external harddrives because I ran out of room years ago. It does work. Good Luck!

What is the best external hard drive for Macbook Pro?

aidan

I want one that can act as an external hard drive and at the same time be used for Time Machine. (if it's possible) I would also like it to be aesthetically pleasing and be fast with a good amount of storage. About one TB. I don't want it to be too expensive. I know I am asking for a lot, but if someone could make a list of ones that fit various parts of my requirements that would be great!
I Just didn't want someone showing me one for like $300 dollars @ 3TB and require a seperate $600 housing unit. I'm just looking for something for extra storage and a backup copy for my Mac for use with TM.

Answer
The best is SSD and aluminum enclosure with Firewire 800 and USB 3.0 connectors. That's the last two links at "Sources". OK, I lied. An aluminum case for Thunderbolt goes for 300 bucks, add your own drives: http://www.amazon.com/Akitio-Neutrino-Thunder-Duo-Enclosure/dp/B00D4EBIV4/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1382911631&sr=8-13&keywords=thunderbolt+enclosure

If you want a high-quality drive and case, buy these two items (hard drive and enclosure), and with a small screwdriver you put them together....
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Travelstar-2-5-Inch-Internal-0J22423/dp/B00B4QESVQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370072848&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+HTS721010A9E630 (2.5â HDD, 7200rpm, 1TB)
http://tinyurl.com/3okh75r (enclosure with Firewire 800 and USB 2.0 connection)
It does not include A.C. power adapter, but you can buy an adapter at Radio Shack or Wal-Mart, if it ever fails to have enough power from the USB connection.

Another option is to buy this case-HDD combo that does include power adapter...
http://www.amazon.com/MiniPro-External-FireWire-Portable-Silver/dp/B0067N0DME/ref=pd_sim_pc_2 (1TB, 7200RPM HDD in aluminum enclosure that has both Firewire 800 and USB 3.0 connections.

The reason for aluminum case is to dissipate heat. Less heat held in means longer life for the drive inside.

For the possibility of future needs, get a 3.5" drive and case. You can step up later to a larger capacity drive and keep using the same case. Again, aluminum for heat dissipation, Firewire 800 for fastest use with a MacBook Pro, and USB, just in case you want to connect it to a PC or a Mac that has no Firewire port...
http://www.amazon.com/3-5-Inch-Aluminum-SuperSpeed-Enclosure-G-S350SU3B2/dp/B00B7MWQE8/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1377045151&sr=8-15&keywords=drive+case+3.0+USB+firewire+800 (top quality enclosure)
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Desktop-Drive/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_46?ie=UTF8&qid=1346127194&sr=8-46&keywords=3.5%22+1tb+hard+drive (1TB, 7200RPM drive)

or... http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST2000DM001/dp/B005T3GRN2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1363446712&sr=8-6&keywords=3.5%22+2tb+drive (2TB, 7200RPM drive)

TM doesn't care what brand of drive or what size, but larger is better.

<0-0>

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Macbook Pro - How do you use an external hard drive?

Zach

Hi all, I just recently purchased a Macbook Pro.

Tech Spechs: 15 Inch, 2.66GHz, and 128 GB SSD.

I upgraded the hard drive from 500GB to 128GB. I know that's less space, but it has a solid state drive which I really wanted.

However, now I'm running out of room! I was going to purchase this: http://store.apple.com/us/product/H2068/G-Technology-500GB-G-DRIVE-FireWire-USB-Portable-Hard-Drive?mco=MTYzMzA4NDE

but I'm not 100% sure of what I can do with it. Could I just upload my iTunes and everything to it? Because my library is fairly big, and I need to install other programs on here, etc.

I was wondering if I can use the hard drive for Time Machine and additionally store files on it? I know that Time Machine basically backs everything up. So I want that on there, but I also want to be able to install programs on the hard drive. Like install Microsoft Office for Mac on the external, put my iTunes library on there, etc so it would only be on the computer if the external hard drive was connected. Can it do two things like that at once? Time Machine, and store non-backup files on it?

Answer
Bassman above is correct. and you do not need a Time Capsule to use time Machine just another hard drive. I currently have my itunes library split onto TWO external harddrives because I ran out of room years ago. It does work. Good Luck!

What is the best external hard drive for Macbook Pro?

aidan

I want one that can act as an external hard drive and at the same time be used for Time Machine. (if it's possible) I would also like it to be aesthetically pleasing and be fast with a good amount of storage. About one TB. I don't want it to be too expensive. I know I am asking for a lot, but if someone could make a list of ones that fit various parts of my requirements that would be great!
I Just didn't want someone showing me one for like $300 dollars @ 3TB and require a seperate $600 housing unit. I'm just looking for something for extra storage and a backup copy for my Mac for use with TM.

Answer
The best is SSD and aluminum enclosure with Firewire 800 and USB 3.0 connectors. That's the last two links at "Sources". OK, I lied. An aluminum case for Thunderbolt goes for 300 bucks, add your own drives: http://www.amazon.com/Akitio-Neutrino-Thunder-Duo-Enclosure/dp/B00D4EBIV4/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1382911631&sr=8-13&keywords=thunderbolt+enclosure

If you want a high-quality drive and case, buy these two items (hard drive and enclosure), and with a small screwdriver you put them together....
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Travelstar-2-5-Inch-Internal-0J22423/dp/B00B4QESVQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370072848&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+HTS721010A9E630 (2.5â HDD, 7200rpm, 1TB)
http://tinyurl.com/3okh75r (enclosure with Firewire 800 and USB 2.0 connection)
It does not include A.C. power adapter, but you can buy an adapter at Radio Shack or Wal-Mart, if it ever fails to have enough power from the USB connection.

Another option is to buy this case-HDD combo that does include power adapter...
http://www.amazon.com/MiniPro-External-FireWire-Portable-Silver/dp/B0067N0DME/ref=pd_sim_pc_2 (1TB, 7200RPM HDD in aluminum enclosure that has both Firewire 800 and USB 3.0 connections.

The reason for aluminum case is to dissipate heat. Less heat held in means longer life for the drive inside.

For the possibility of future needs, get a 3.5" drive and case. You can step up later to a larger capacity drive and keep using the same case. Again, aluminum for heat dissipation, Firewire 800 for fastest use with a MacBook Pro, and USB, just in case you want to connect it to a PC or a Mac that has no Firewire port...
http://www.amazon.com/3-5-Inch-Aluminum-SuperSpeed-Enclosure-G-S350SU3B2/dp/B00B7MWQE8/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1377045151&sr=8-15&keywords=drive+case+3.0+USB+firewire+800 (top quality enclosure)
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Desktop-Drive/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_46?ie=UTF8&qid=1346127194&sr=8-46&keywords=3.5%22+1tb+hard+drive (1TB, 7200RPM drive)

or... http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST2000DM001/dp/B005T3GRN2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1363446712&sr=8-6&keywords=3.5%22+2tb+drive (2TB, 7200RPM drive)

TM doesn't care what brand of drive or what size, but larger is better.

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Why does my macbook open my portable hard drive as READ ONLY?

best portable hard drive macbook pro image

Loola

i have a "Western Digital my passport" portable hard drive...when i connect it to a PC i can read the documents on it AND i can add files to it, but on my macbook pro it wont let me do that! i can only copy files from the disk but not put any others on it! is there some setting i can change so i could do both..read and write?

Answer
In your Applications > Utilities folder is a program called Disk Utility

Select your external drive and click Repair Disk (note any errors) and then Repair Permissions.

If Disk Utility reports errors it can't fix, you need to quit and grab your files off the external drive, then head back to Disk Utility and format the external FAT (for Windows and Mac) not HFS+ thats' for Mac only.

All should be well.

Is there an application to sync my hard drives?

kylemcente

I have a MacBook Pro with a portable 1TB hard drive and another 1TB external hard drive. I want everything to be the same on both drives to have for backup because I save my photos and sentimental files on them. Is there any program that will sync my hard drives together that I can get? Preferably free.

Answer
Search for "copy hdd" in google.

visti: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-to-clone-and-copy-your-hard-drive/

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Can you connect to computers together using a Firewire cable?

best portable hard drive macbook pro image

Gabriel

I am getting a macbook pro next week and I have a lot of songs and pics on my p.c. that i want to transfer over. i know you can do this with portable hard drive or disks but can you do it using a USB to firewire cable to connect the two computers?

Answer
I know that you can connect two PC's together using http://www.laplink.com/
I know that you can connect two Macs with Firewire (the ability is built in)
I am not aware of any way to connect a PC to a Mac using USB or Firewire. Your PC probably doesn't have Firewire anyway.

While the process is a bit too lengthy to describe in a Yahoo Answers post, you can transfer your information over the network using a switch. It'll take a bit of research and learning on your part.

Will my macbook pro recognize a Seagate Portable External Hard Drive?

fancypatch

I want to get a "Seagate Expansion 750 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive for my macbook. Will it be recognized by my computer?

Answer
it matters how it is formatted.

it will be recognizable if it is FAT32 format and you can write to it


if it is NTFS it can only read, not wrte

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Is there an application to sync my hard drives?

best portable hard drive macbook pro image

kylemcente

I have a MacBook Pro with a portable 1TB hard drive and another 1TB external hard drive. I want everything to be the same on both drives to have for backup because I save my photos and sentimental files on them. Is there any program that will sync my hard drives together that I can get? Preferably free.

Answer
Search for "copy hdd" in google.

visti: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-to-clone-and-copy-your-hard-drive/

do portable hard drives save everything on the mac?

Welcome.

I have a 1tb portable hard drive and i'm planning to reset my macbook pro. i know that that icloud saves some things like music and photos, but can i place all of my documents and downloads onto the portable hard drive, then transfer it back once the computer is restored?

Answer
yes this will work, I do so all of the time with my macbook air

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Will my macbook pro recognize a Seagate Portable External Hard Drive?

best portable hard drive macbook pro image

fancypatch

I want to get a "Seagate Expansion 750 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive for my macbook. Will it be recognized by my computer?

Answer
it matters how it is formatted.

it will be recognizable if it is FAT32 format and you can write to it


if it is NTFS it can only read, not wrte

How do you move your Itunes Library from one hard drive to a new external hard drive?

MrsPrice

I just bought a new external hard drive. It's a 1 TB small compact external hard drive. I have moved my Itunes off my Macbook Pro to a Mybook a few months ago to free up space. Since I have this new smaller hard drive I want to move my Itunes on to the new hard drive since its more portable. How do I do that and still keep it connected to my Itunes on my computer?

Answer
There's a great tutorial on how to do just this over on CNET. It's from a few years ago, but it still applies to these newer version of iTunes. I'll put the link in the source area below. Hope this helps.

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Can I install Windows and MS office on my external Hard Drive and use them on my Mac?

best portable hard drive macbook pro image

freeman

I have a MacBook Pro I love it. But I would also like to use MS office, I know there is MS office for Mac it is expensive and it does not have publisher.

So I was wondering if it's possible to install WIndows on my external (portable) hard drive and then install MS office and plug it to my Mac and work on windows and Office that way??

Thanks

Answer
No. Your Mac won't recognize the Windows OS on that external drive. You have to do it via Bootcamp and partition your internal hard drive, then install Windows on the partition. Once that is done, you can install the Windows version of MS Office on that partition. You will be able to boot into either the Windows OS or Mac. When you are running Windows on a partition this way, it will be just like on a PC; this of course means you better install Anti-virus and anti-spyware software just as you should on a PC.

Which external hard drive should I buy?

scott m

I have a macbook pro and I need a new external hard drive. I want a portable 1tb drive that runs off the power of my macbook, so i dont have to plug it into the wall. What are some good choices?

Answer
most will plug in wall, but some use pc power. have two maxtor drives they both work good.

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