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indianjoe

Q: since I downloaded new software I cannot open photos - message says I need more memory - how do I get that?

how do I get more memory? take my computer to the Apple store and have them install?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.3)

Posted on Oct 2, 2015 4:52 AM

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Q: since I downloaded new software I cannot open photos - message says I need more memory - how do I get that?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by greg sahli,

    greg sahli greg sahli Oct 2, 2015 7:05 AM in response to indianjoe
    Level 7 (25,395 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 7:05 AM in response to indianjoe

    Did it say more memory or more hard drive space?

    It would be unusual to say more memory. How much RAM and hard drive space do you have?

  • by indianjoe,

    indianjoe indianjoe Oct 2, 2015 7:21 AM in response to greg sahli
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 7:21 AM in response to greg sahli

    When I tried to open "photos" after installing Yosemite, the notice said,

    "There is not enough disk space to migrate your library.  It's estimated that you need at least 44 gb of additional free space"

  • by greg sahli,Helpful

    greg sahli greg sahli Oct 4, 2015 4:27 PM in response to indianjoe
    Level 7 (25,395 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 4:27 PM in response to indianjoe

    Thank you for answering.

    Memory isn't the same thing as disk space (storage space). Memory is RAM and yes, the Apple store could install more. But more memory isn't what you mean.

    Not enough disk space means you are filling up your drive. You could move some files to an external drive and delete them from the internal, or, you could backup your entire internal to an external drive, and then get a new larger drive installed (and copy back everything you saved).

  • by indianjoe,

    indianjoe indianjoe Oct 4, 2015 4:29 PM in response to greg sahli
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 4:29 PM in response to greg sahli

    Thanks Greg - this helps.  More questions though - What is an external drive - is it something I can purchase from Apple and is it expensive?  How do I get a larger drive and how does it get installed and is that more economical? Thanks so much for any help.

  • by greg sahli,Helpful

    greg sahli greg sahli Oct 4, 2015 6:53 PM in response to indianjoe
    Level 7 (25,395 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 6:53 PM in response to indianjoe

    Getting two external drives - or one large one like 2 TB size would be the cheapest route for you. ( I prefer two drives - one for backups and one for storage)

     

    With the external storage one (or storage partition - if you divide a single drive into two parts before using it), you start moving files (music, pictures, etc) to the external and delete from the internal drive to create more space on the internal.

     

    USB3 drives are quite cheap these days.

    You need more storage space, and you need to start backing up - having each file in a second location. Time Machine (built-in on OS X) is the easiest way to backup.

    Read more:

    Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

  • by indianjoe,

    indianjoe indianjoe Oct 4, 2015 6:54 PM in response to greg sahli
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 6:54 PM in response to greg sahli

    Thanks!  I have Time Machine so backing up should be happening, so I just go to the Apple store and buy a USB3 drive?

  • by greg sahli,

    greg sahli greg sahli Oct 5, 2015 5:58 AM in response to indianjoe
    Level 7 (25,395 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 5:58 AM in response to indianjoe

    Yes, you can get one at the Apple store. But, USB3 drives are "commodities" - that is, even the cheap ones will work fine. So, I'd buy the cheapest one I could find, make sure I formatted it for OS X, then use it.