Is there a simple way to transfer photos to an external hard drive?

Question

Is there a simple way to transfer photos to an external hard drive?

Hello.

I've got a Macbook Air - with only one USB-port. I've got an external hard drive and I've got a Nicon (d90) camera with my photos on it.

I love iPhoto and the simple way to manage my photos, but I've got a problem.

Because of the only one USB-port I'm not able to transfer the photos directly to the external hard drive. I've tried buying an USB-hub, but the hard drive is only making a beep beep-sound and wont connect.

After transferring my photos (with iPhoto) from the camera to the iPhoto library on my local hard drive, I'm stuck. How do I transfer those picutres to the library on my external hard drive - in a simple way?

Thanks.

-Sigurd

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Jun 26, 2011 3:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Jun 26, 2011 7:10 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

I've tried buying an USB-hub, but the hard drive is only making a beep beep-sound and wont connect.

Is the external drive powered by the USB or do you plug-in the external drive to a power outlet? Is sounds like the external drive is not getting enough power.

Reply

Answer 2

Jun 26, 2011 7:41 AM in response to Tony T1

The external hard drive (from iomega - Select Portable Hard Drive - I do not recomend it btw.!) has two USB-plugs - one for transferring and one for more power. Normally it's enough to use only the one for transferring, but through the hub it does not work. (Smaller devices, like a memory stick works.)

Also the hub has two plugs, but I only have one port, so I can't use it on my mac.

I've also tried to connect the power-plug into another computer without luck.

Reply

Answer 3

JE13

Level 4

3,938 points

Jun 26, 2011 8:21 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

Maybe I'm misunderstanding here, but can you connect the external hard drive to another computer without issue? And can you connect to that computer from your Air via wi-fi? If so, why not transfer the photos wirelessly?

Reply

Answer 4

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Jun 26, 2011 8:33 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

SigurdFromNorway wrote:

... two USB-plugs - one for transferring and one for more power.

I've also tried to connect the power-plug into another computer without luck.

I've had issues with a USB not supplying enough power to an USB powered external drive, however, I was able to use a dc power adaptor, and this solved my problem.

I'm not recommending these, just sharing my experience:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MOTGPWR/

Reply

Answer 5

Jun 26, 2011 8:36 AM in response to JE13

The externalt hard drive works (with one usb-plugg), but not through the usb-hub.

It's not wi-fi, I think.

I've tried on another computer - with multiple usb-ports, and connected the hub to one port and then the hard drive to the hub (with both one and two pluggs) and it does not work - beep beep is the result.

So I tried to use two pluggs from the hub into the computer, and then I still got the beep from the hard drive.

So I tried to put the hub (with one or two plugs) into the computer, and the hard drive's transfer-plugg into the hub (the beep started). Then I put the hard drive's power-plugg into it's a usb-port (directly into the computer) and then it works fine.

So here is my problem again; on my MBA I do not have two ports - so then I do not get enough power. And I would not prefer to have to put the hard drive's power-plugg into another computer every time I'm going to transfer my photos.

Hope you understood.

Reply

Answer 6

Jun 26, 2011 8:40 AM in response to Tony T1

Yeah - unfortunately there is no DC solution for this hard drive.

It seems like it perhaps is to the hub, but it was at least not included...

Reply

Answer 7

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Jun 26, 2011 8:46 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

deleted

Reply

Answer 8

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Jun 26, 2011 8:45 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

SigurdFromNorway wrote:

Yeah - unfortunately there is no DC solution for this hard drive.

It seems like it perhaps is to the hub, but it was at least not included...

Then that's probably the best solution, try to buy the dc adaptor for the HUB.

Tony

Reply

Answer 9

JE13

Level 4

3,938 points

Jun 26, 2011 8:51 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

Ya know...I think you should save yourself the headache and get a new external harddrive, one that doesn't give you this crazy conundrum. Maybe you can sell the one you've got to someone else? 😕

Reply

Answer 10

Jun 26, 2011 8:55 AM in response to JE13

Yeah. Stupid man selling me MBA - and Hub and Hard drive with Y-cables -.-

The best would of course be a wi-fi-solution as you mentioned.

Reply

Answer 11

Jun 26, 2011 8:58 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

But there is no simple way to drag photos from one iPhoto library to another - so I can transfer the photos to the local hard drive and then drag it over to the external hard drive when I've changed the usb-pluggs?

Reply

Answer 12

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Jun 26, 2011 9:51 AM in response to SigurdFromNorway

Create a directory on your desktop, drag the pictures from iPhoto there, connect the USB Drive, open iPhoto, then drag the Directory with the pictures to iPhoto.

But, no need to have two iPhoto Libraries.

Use Image Capture to transfer the photos from your camera to your Desktop, then connect the drive and drag the photos to iPhoto on your external drive.

See: http://www.macworld.com/article/143001/2009/09/imagecapture_tricks.html

Digital Photo

Eight amazing Image Capture trick

1. Keep iPhoto in its place

If you’ve been terrorized by iPhoto launching every time you plug in your digital camera or iPhone, you can fix the problem with a few clicks in Image Capture. Launch Image Capture, connect your device, and make sure it is highlighted in the left column. Now choose what you want to have happen from the popup menu at the bottom of the column. Image capture will list all of the available photo programs; selecting one will set it as the default application for the camera. This means the program will launch when you plug in the device. You can also choose to have nothing happen when the camera is plugged in. What’s even cooler is that you can set different actions for different devices. If you want iPhoto to launch when you connect your compact camera, for example, but don’t want anything to pop up when you plug in your iPhone, Image Capture will take care of it.

Tony

Reply