Moving files to second internal harddrive, not copy

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Level 1

11 points

Moving files to second internal harddrive, not copy

I have 2 harddrives in my 2010 MacBook Pro, running MacOS. One drive is an SSD and is my startup disk with minimal data and of course the OS on it. The 2nd drive (installed where the superdrive used to be) is a 1tb HDD I use only for data storage. If i want to move a file from my ssd to my hdd, it always wants to copy, instead of move (exactly like the behavior of putting files on an external harddrive). Is there a way to change this behavior for this hdd so that it moves the files by default instead of just copying them? My user has read&write permissions on the HDD and ive already done the "apple to enclosed items" AND checked the box for "ignore ownership on this volume" but don't havent help.

Any help here is appreciated.

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.1)

Posted on Dec 13, 2016 11:58 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 13, 2016 12:04 PM in response to corydchurch

Command key while dragging

Move the dragged item to another volume or location. The pointer changes while you drag the item.

You can also select files and then press COMMAND-C to copy them. Move to the other folder and use COMMAND-OPTION-V to move the selection rather than copy it.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 13, 2016 12:28 PM in response to corydchurch

Afraid not. Merely dragging a file to another location on the same volume will result in a "move" but not so dragging a file to another volume.

If you drag a file from your Desktop to the Applications folder, then the file is "moved." But if you drag that same file to another disk/volume, then the file is copied. This is a protective measure to save the user from him- or herself losing a file. In other words, you cannot move a file to another volume "by mistake."

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Answer 3

corydchurch Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 13, 2016 12:10 PM in response to Kappy

thanks. this is how i currently move files to the HDD from the SSD. but if i were a lazy person, how would i tell the mac to move a file to the other disk when only doing a simple drag and drop?

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

136,127 points

Dec 13, 2016 12:17 PM in response to corydchurch

Kappy explained that with the first method. Hold the command key while dragging to an external drive.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 13, 2016 12:19 PM in response to corydchurch

See the first suggestion I provided.

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Answer 6

corydchurch Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 13, 2016 12:19 PM in response to dialabrain

Right. I'm wondering if its possible to not have to hold down any modifier keys when dragging and dropping. If it's not possible, thats fine but thats what I'm searching to achieve.

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Answer 7

corydchurch Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 13, 2016 12:31 PM in response to Kappy

gotcha. thats how i understood it also but was curious if there was a way around it. thanks

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