HT203786: iPhoto: Issues with FAT32-formatted drives

Learn about iPhoto: Issues with FAT32-formatted drives
maryandgary

Q: Photos: external drive format for iCloud

I have a 4T G-Tech usb external hard drive for extra storage and access it through an airport time capsule .  I originally formatted the external drive as Mac Extended (journaled).  I am using the external drive for photos storage to free up space on my Mac.  Unfortunately, when using Photos iCloud won't recognize the external disk.  I get the following message:

    iCloud Photo Library is only available on Mac OS Standard and Mac OS Extended formatted volumes.

When I open Finder and view my external drive format it shows up as AppleShare which is not how I originally formatted it.

 

I'm not sure how to rectify this.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Aug 31, 2015 8:19 AM

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Q: Photos: external drive format for iCloud

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  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Aug 31, 2015 8:26 AM in response to maryandgary
    Level 10 (312,931 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2015 8:26 AM in response to maryandgary

    You need to connect it directly to your computer.

     

    (132648)

  • by maryandgary,

    maryandgary maryandgary Aug 31, 2015 8:36 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2015 8:36 AM in response to Niel

    Niel, Thanks for the response.  Why do I need to have it connected directly to my computer?  Also, why does the format show up as AppleShare instead of Mac Extended?

     

    Thanks you!

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 31, 2015 8:41 AM in response to maryandgary
    Level 10 (84,752 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 31, 2015 8:41 AM in response to maryandgary

    Because it will not work (as you have demonstrated clearly) on a network - if you want it to work it must be directly connected to your Mac with a fast wired connection like USB, FireWire or ThunderBolt.  Until you do that you can not use it. and as to the format I suspect it has to do with the network connection and again you need to connect it directly to your Mac and then check the format using the info window in the finder

     

    LN

  • by maryandgary,

    maryandgary maryandgary Aug 31, 2015 8:48 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2015 8:48 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks Larry.  I still don't understand why but I accept that I need to connect directly.  When I do this the format changes back to the original of Mac OS Extended, do you know why that happens?

  • by Niel,Solvedanswer

    Niel Niel Aug 31, 2015 8:52 AM in response to maryandgary
    Level 10 (312,931 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2015 8:52 AM in response to maryandgary

    When the drive is connected directly to your computer, it's being accessed as a regular drive.

    When it's connected to the Time Capsule's USB port, the Time Capsule is making it available through File Sharing over a network, and so its format will be listed as AppleShare.

     

    (132649)

  • by maryandgary,

    maryandgary maryandgary Aug 31, 2015 8:57 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2015 8:57 AM in response to Niel

    Thanks for explaining it to me, it makes sense now-I still don't like how it works but it does make sense.

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Aug 31, 2015 9:01 AM in response to maryandgary
    Level 10 (312,931 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2015 9:01 AM in response to maryandgary

    If you must have the drive connected to the Time Capsule, choose Utilities from the Finder's Go menu, open the Disk Utility, create a disk image formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and use that to store the library.

     

    (132650)

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 31, 2015 9:17 AM in response to Niel
    Level 10 (84,752 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 31, 2015 9:17 AM in response to Niel

    That still leaves the library on a network connection which is documented by apple as slow and unreliable for a Photos or iPhoto library and has been troublesome for people in the past

     

    LN

  • by maryandgary,

    maryandgary maryandgary Aug 31, 2015 9:20 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2015 9:20 AM in response to Niel

    I use the external drive for storage and backups for multiple macs in our house so it is much more convenient to have WiFi access. I currently access my photos using the external drive and the Photos app on my Mac so my only problem occurs with iCloud photo sharing.  Will your previous suggestion solve the iCloud problem or must the drive still be connected directly?

     

    Thanks.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 31, 2015 9:25 AM in response to maryandgary
    Level 10 (84,752 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 31, 2015 9:25 AM in response to maryandgary

    again

     

    if you want it to work it must be directly connected to your Mac with a fast wired connection like USB, FireWire or ThunderBolt.

    Any other format and connection will not work reliably - some people have used other formats and connections and had them work for a while - but in the end you will have problems - you can do what ever you want but  for safe, reliable use it must be directly connected to your Mac with a fast wired connection like USB, FireWire or ThunderBolt.

     

    Photos (and iPhoto) are not designed for network use or for multi-user use or for cross platform use - only for local use by a single user

     

    LN