i want to copy my pictures in iphoto to an external hard disk, how to do?

Hi Larry,

I'm interested in understanding why it is important to back up, using TM (Time Machine)

"And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive"

LN

if I'm storing my iPhoto library on my external hard drive; surely files are safer on an external? or are you saying that even if the iPhoto library looks like it's on the external, it's not-it really "lives" in the Application on the internal hard drive. I'm confused:). I'm a newbie to iPhoto so please speak slowly when explaining...thanks!

I did not say it is important to use Time Machine -- I said IF you are using TimeMachine

It s important that you have a backup since as I also said

having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup

as to

if I'm storing my iPhoto library on my external hard drive; surely files are safer on an external?

Not at all - disk drives fail - actually being on an external drive is a bit less safe since they are more likely to get dropped or to be accidentally unplugged or turned off at a bad time

as to your question about where the iPhoto library lives - it "lives" where you put it - nothing complicated - and without a backup you are 100% guaranteed to lose t sooner or later - if you use a computer you must have a good backup at all times

LN

Hi Larry-thanks for your swift response.

So, let me ask my Q another way: I do use Time Machine; so given that I do, do I *need* to back up my external drive? As far as I am aware TM is only backing up my internal hard drive.

I do get that having my iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup, but what I am failing to understand is: if my iPhoto library is on an external hard drive, in the event that my internal drive crashes or fails....I know-a rarity!....is the iPhoto library on the external safe?

Finally, if I do keep my iPhoto library on an external-is TM the best way to back up (given I use it anyways)? I also use Super Duper (are you familiar with it)?.

Thanks for clarifying!

Best wishes...

do I *need* to back up my external drive?

Only if your photos are valuable to you

As far as I am aware TM is only backing up my internal hard drive.

By default that is what TM does which is why I said

"And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive"

In the TM preferences click on options and be sure that the EHD is not excluded form backups - by default it is

I do get that having my iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup, but what I am failing to understand is: if my iPhoto library is on an external hard drive, in the event that my internal drive crashes or fails....I know-a rarity!....is the iPhoto library on the external safe?

Yes - but when the EHD crashes you will lose the iphoto library and everything on the EHD if you are not backing it up

and as I also said

disk drives fail - actually being on an external drive is a bit less safe since they are more likely to get dropped or to be accidentally unplugged or turned off at a bad time

And yes TM is a good way to backup your EHD

I use TM and CCC (pretty much the same as SuperDuper) but TM s easier to use for multiple drives in my view and a clone has the problem of only giving you one shot at recovery since todays corrupted data will overwrite the older good data new time you clone

I like having a bootable clone which I d daily but also like TM;s ability to go back in time in case an issue has been around for a while

How you backup is up to you but if you do not backup everything you will lose data sooner or later

LN

Thanks a million for clarfying Larry! I'm on my work PC at the mo, but as soon as I go home, will set my TM settings to back up my external.

Actually-I'm confused...do I need a second external drive (ED #2) to back up my iPhoto library that sits on external drive #1? I realise that may be a stupid Q!

I do have a 2T ED that I use for my TM and Super Duper backups.

Best wishes...

you need at least two EHD - one for your data (iPhoto library etc) and one for backups - and IMHO you should have three - I have one for my TM backup and a second one for my clone (again if all backups are on one drive when it failed you have no backups)

LN

Thanks Larry-gosh, you *are* prepared:). I only have 2 but will consider getting a third. In the meantime, I'll start backing up my EHD that holds my Photo library to my larger EHD.

Best wishes...

Hi Larry-OK, so I'm home now with my Mac and I can see in TM there is an Options (not Preferences) tab...I clicked on Options...and I removed my smaller (1T) external drive from the Exlusions list; am I now to assume that it will be backed up to my larger (2T) external drive, using TM, provided it's connected? (it's connected at the moment).

From what you wrote above:

"In the TM preferences click on options and be sure that the EHD is not excluded form backups - by default it is"....this suggests that TM only backs up the internal drive, unless otherwise specified?

Best wishes...

Hi Larry-OK, so I'm home now with my Mac and I can see in TM there is an Options (not Preferences) tab...I clicked on Options...and I removed my smaller (1T) external drive from the Exlusions list; am I now to assume that it will be backed up to TM provided it's connected? (it's connected at the moment).

From what you wrote above:

"In the TM preferences click on options and be sure that the EHD is not excluded form backups - by default it is"....this suggests that TM only backs up the internal drive, unless otherwise specified?

Best wishes...

Yes if the drive is not excluded it is being backed up

and the Options button you clicked is in the TimeMachine preference panel

LN

"In the TM preferences click on options and be sure that the EHD is not excluded form backups - by default it is"....this suggests that TM only backs up the internal drive, unless otherwise specified?

In the "System Preferences > Time Machine " click the "Options" button.

It will show you, which disks are not included in the backup.

Remove the disks from that list, that you want included by pressing the -" button.

Thanks Leonie! Have done that-I just wanted confirmation that it is as easy as that:).

Do you by chance know how to move the photos (or an album) that I have in iPhoto, to an external drive for a PC? I want to have a copy of one of my iPhoto albums, on both my external drive (formatted for Mac) as well as my external drive formatted for my PC.

Best wishes...

Thanks Larry!

Do you by chance know how to move the photos (or an album) that I have in iPhoto, to an external drive for a PC? I want to have a copy of one of my iPhoto albums, on both my external drive (formatted for Mac) as well as my external drive formatted for my PC.

You have to write the photos to the external drive by selecting all photos in the album and then using the command "File > Export".

Your external drive should have a file system, that both the Mac and the PC can read and write to, for example FAT32.

See Terence Devlin's User Tip: Exporting From iPhoto

Thanks Leonie! I'll look at the link you sent, but just one Q: re-my external drive having a file system that both Mac and PC can read and write to...are you saying that I should be able to connect my PC formatted external to my Mac, and export the photos to the PC formatted external?

My external HD is already formatted and I believe it's for PC's. To be clear: I have 2 external drives that have been formatted for my Mac and one that has been formatted for my PC. My iPhoto library is on my Mac formatted external and I want to copy/import them onto my PC formatted external.

You can export to a drive that is formatted for both Mac and PC - you can not have your library on a drive that both can read

LN