Change from case-sensitive disk format to the normal Mac OS Extended.

Although you could probably save to optical media, you're best bet is to get an external, bootable, FireWire HD. They're relatively inexpensive.

Hi,

if you use a large enough external disk, I would recommend to clone your hard drive, since then you have the possibility to even boot of the external disk in case reformatting and such goes awefully wrong. You also won't forget to backup all those files you didn't save in your user accounts folders but anywhere else.

My 2cents
Volker

Volker Runkel wrote:
Hi,

if you use a large enough external disk, I would recommend to clone your hard drive, since then you have the possibility to even boot of the external disk in case reformatting and such goes awefully wrong. You also won't forget to backup all those files you didn't save in your user accounts folders but anywhere else.

My 2cents
Volker

If the external drive is larger than the internal drive (not just larger than the total file size) then you can use CCC to do a block level clone which will perfectly duplicate your internal drive. Always test out a clone by booting it so there are no surprises.
You can get CCC here:
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

See my other post about cloning.
One thing to be concerned with is if you really have any files that take advantage of case and are otherwise dupes. I don't know what will happen to them.
I would rename any so that in a case-insensitive world there are no dupes before copying them back.

Triskaideka wrote:

But what is the actual process? If I buy an external HD, can I use Time Machine (or another app) to take a copy and then restore to the non-case sensitive volume? Or should I be thinking of backing-up key files as well as the documents?

I'd partition the ext HD into at least two partitions. As others have noted, one to contain a bootable clone and the other for TM. Then, you can use either to restore. However, unless you have another bootable volume, if the main one goes south, then restoring from TM is problematic; whereas, with a bootable backup/clone, restoring either the clone or the TM volume should be a simple process.

Does anybody have a good answer for changing disk formats? I just got a new mac pro and made the mistake of formating all the new drives with case-sensitive files systems - @#%@#%@!!! Anyway Adobe CS3 will NOT install on a case-sensitive file system, so I have to switch back. In addition iTunes is very weird - songs keep dropping out of my library - even though they are on the disk and in the right spot etc. etc. I have two 1TB drives I'll get another to do the migration but looking for FAST easy way to convert these file systems so they are NOT case-sensitive.

I just got off of the phone with Adobe support. They told me they knew the solution, but that they would not tell me tonight. I had to call back between 6:00 am and 5:00 PM tomorrow. That does not work with my schedule. So I googled some stuff and found that Adobe CS 3 is not supported with Case-Sensitive file systems. So OK, let me install this to my other MAC that has a non case sensitive drive. Same error. Even though I have a non case-sensitive drive, the OS is on a Case-Sensitive Drive and I am never prompted where to install like most all other Mac Software.

I have always formatted case-sensitive. So I am thinking to myself why not start using a non case-sensitive drive. Well, to start off I want it case sensitive. I enjoy web programming and like this feature. Sure it is not needed, but I am glad Apple offered me a choice. And I am sure there are many other reasons why to use it. Also I would be interested in knowing why non case-sensitive drives are supperior.

Why is this a requirement now? I have used Adobe software in the past without this specific issue. I also have Large TB drives and do not know how to 'safely' do this. You will not catch me jumping through this hoop. I will not risk the change to the file system. And I can not be expected to format my drive. I just wonder what Adobe would say tomorrow if I called.

The Direct line I was given by adobe is 800-642-3623 for support on this issue. You don't need anything else but to call this number and ask. You can not get through after hours though.

Wow, I just can't believe this and the lack of interest Adobe had with me.

I hope I can get a refund on the software. Until I am able to downgrade my file system format, I do not want to sit on Adobe's bill. I will buy it again assuming I learn I can't do without PS CS3.

Steve that was some good info and feed back. Here is where I sit now. I just bought another TB drive from frys (234.00) so now I have three - two are case sensitive. I need CS3 so I think I am stuck, but I will be calling Adobe on Tue just to hear what they have to say. Like yourself I could use the volume in case sensitive mode under Leopard. So I have started to explore cloning drives etc. I just finished the first try with CCC (carbon copy cloner). I init'd the drive so it was NOT case sensitive and proceeded to clone one of my drives onto the new drive - same size, etc. It was a block level copy so the copy I ended up with was just like the one I copied INCLUDING case the sensitive volume - this won't work for me since I ended up with a bit/block level copy (CCC did a GREAT job btw). I am now doing a file level clone to the new drive to see if that will work and keep my data. I am worried about the boot disk - I can't clone that and boot from it at the same time - I'll have to boot from another disk or off the install disk and do another import. (heavy sigh and worried frown here) ugh.
Why Adobe can't get with the program is the real question. None of their "docs" said anything about volume formats. More details to follow.

Yes, I read there support Doc for Leopard and they said on the phone it was supported. This is why I was so surprised it was not. I initially misread the error message do to the way it was formatted. With the line break, it read. "OS System not supported", but on the previous line all of the way to the right is said 'file' so it read something like "Case-Sensitive file...... OS System not supported".

About CCC, I am so glad to hear it worked well with Leopard. I have not used it since 10.3.X because I did not find it to be supported with 10.4.x. Good news if that changed. But yes, I would expect the case-sensitive to follow.

Just a few days ago I had a iMac mini in a constant reboot at the Assistant wizard due to a faulty update from Apple. Their suggestion was to do a Archive and Re-install from the Leopard DVD. I hated to do it, but It worked like a charm. Quick and the computer was 'FULLY' functional after reboot. I wish I could do this because it worked so well, but I would not think we would be given the option to change the File System. Because a format would erase any data on the disk.

Does anybody know if an 'Archive and Re-install' would be a solution to changing the File system to a non-Case-Sensitive volume?

update: I re-installed Leopard from my new mac-pro install DVDs onto a new 1TB drive - then I did an import from "volume on local machine" after the install finished - there was my account and programs and files from the volume with a case sensitive file system onto the new volume that was NOT case sensitive (but still journaled ) - best of all Photoshop CS3 works just fine - I had to re-activate it but it know my serial number and everything Adobe works great! I did lose aperture2 in that last process but I quick install and that was fixed. Now the only left over ugly deal is that some of my iTunes songs are "missing" - even though they are on the disk in the lib and in the correct folder etc. iTunes just says should I try to locate them - very strange - not will ALL my songs just some of them.
What a fun ride - bottom line - don't use a case sensitive volume for your main mac boot volume just yet as there are some applications (CS3) that still Don't work!

A simple method - which I just used - was to boot from DVD, then use DiskUtility to create an image of the root file system on a secondary disk (a large iPod in my case). Next erase the root partition and select a non-case-sensitive file system. Then restore the image back to the root partition. Finally, use Terminal to "bless" the folder /System/Library/CoreServices; this makes the partition bootable again. Voila!

This method has the advantage that you don't need third-party tools like CCC - it's pure Mac OS X - and only enough free space on another partition - not necessarily a separate disk - to hold a compressed image of the root partition.

Simple? You lost me at disk image. Can you go step by step. I don't understand- you must be a programmer; from disk image of root to terminal. Might be easier watching a video. Anyway, can you explain this further. Thanks. Jon