Transferring files from one external HD to another

Question

Transferring files from one external HD to another

I backed up my imac using 2TB Seagate external HD. That drive is not working properly and no longer allows me to backup my system or put any other files on it. It is not filled to capacity. The imac has difficulty recognizing it and when it does I can only retrieve files not save them.

I have a new WD My Book 3TB drive and I want to take the contents of the Seagate and put them on the WD so I can reformat the Seagate. Is the best way to do the transfer to drag and drop all the files? Or is there an automated process I should use?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 19, 2013 11:43 AM

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Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Aug 20, 2013 8:45 AM in response to Robert Rundbaken8

Unfortunately most external hard drives have asynchronous communication with the computer. This makes communicating between external hard drives very slow. You are faster to just make sufficient space on your internal drive to copy the contents, dismount the external hard drive, and attach the destination drive.

Carbon Copy Cloner is excellent software to speed up these transfers.

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Answer 2

Aug 20, 2013 10:38 AM in response to a brody

I understand speed will be an issue so I am not that concerned with it. As long as I can have both drives mounted and I can drag the files from one drive to the other that's all I need do.

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