Moving photos to an external hard drive
Feb 7, 2020 14:11:04 #
What is the best way to move photos from computer to an external hard drive? Should you copy & paste or use a different method. I have both a Mac & a Windows computers.
Feb 7, 2020 14:41:56 #
When I did it I just used "drag and drop"--I had all my photos centralized under a single high-level folder and just moved it to the external drive. (Actually, I copied it to there and verified it was intact before I deleted the folder on my internal drive.) The move took several hours, because I had a lot of photos.
Feb 7, 2020 14:47:59 #
jlb0725 wrote:
What is the best way to move photos from computer to an external hard drive? Should you copy & paste or use a different method. I have both a Mac & a Windows computers.
Working in Windows I copy files from one place to another using Windows Explorer. Highlight the files to be moved, right click and drag to the desired destination selecting "copy" rather than "move" (that helps you avoid mistakes) selecting "copy" rather than "move" and Bob's your uncle.
This article looks to be good regarding Mac file transfers:
https://www.switchingtomac.com/tutorials/osx/how-to-move-files-in-mac-os-x/
Mike
Feb 7, 2020 17:15:56 #
The prior responses are fine unless you mean move them but keep them linked to a catalog. Then it depends on the software that manages the catalog. I that’s the case back up the original catalog and copy (NOT move) the files. Then only delete the original images and catalog once you are absolutely certain that the move was successful. Be sure to read up on the procedure before attempting.
Feb 8, 2020 07:48:45 #
Copy and paste (ALWAYS) according to my computer techs. Then you can compare the images before deleting the originals.
Feb 8, 2020 07:59:36 #
whitehall
Loc: Canada
Depends whether or not you are using LR classic. If you move the images outside LR LR will not recognize them. Read Lightroom Queen, look at one if the many YouTube programmes
Feb 8, 2020 08:24:14 #
Windows 10; Windows Exployer - copy and paste as previously said.
Feb 8, 2020 10:00:47 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
jlb0725 wrote:
What is the best way to move photos from computer to an external hard drive? Should you copy & paste or use a different method. I have both a Mac & a Windows computers.
"Moving" means that you are removing photos from one location and putting them into another. "Copying" means that you’re leaving the originals where they are and making new copies in a different location. Either method works fine.
Feb 8, 2020 10:14:29 #
cactuspic
Loc: Dallas, TX
For my Mac, I used Carbon Copy Cloner with the verification option to copy my entire picture library. My top file is called images with numerous directories, subdirectories, and files emanating from it. After the transfer was complete, I erased the original files. To direct Lightroom to my photos, I clicked on the images file in the left panel (it had a question mark next to it showing that it could not find them) and then it showed me my directories for the computer. By clicking on the external drive and the clicking on the images file, Lightroom found all my images and was happy.
Feb 8, 2020 10:32:19 #
Are photo's downgrade when moving from place to place or do they keep as first posted ? I would think that changes would be made each time they are moved
Feb 8, 2020 10:40:33 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
locustthorn wrote:
Are photo's downgrade when moving from place to place or do they keep as first posted ? I would think that changes would be made each time they are moved
Neither copying nor moving a photo causes any "downgrade". There is no compression done to the file in the process.
Feb 8, 2020 10:48:01 #
df61743
Loc: Corpus Christi, TX
I believe copy and paste is the safest way to move or copy files. Sometimes drag and drop can be a little quirky resulting in files being dropped in the wrong folder. Then it can be a pain to find where they went.
Dick
Dick
Feb 8, 2020 11:02:20 #
For those using windows, I might suggest you look into robocopy which is now free in windows 10 and maybe in windows 7. It give you the ability to keep two drives / folders synced. You can create a small bat file that you just click on... Check it out lots of parms to help you do more.
Feb 8, 2020 11:17:55 #
Western Digital external hard drives are very easy to use. I use two of them. I just high light the file I want to copy and send. Over and done very quickly.
Feb 8, 2020 11:47:52 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
jhgribble wrote:
For those using windows, I might suggest you look into robocopy which is now free in windows 10 and maybe in windows 7. It give you the ability to keep two drives / folders synced. You can create a small bat file that you just click on... Check it out lots of parms to help you do more.
You just have to be sure that whatever it is that you automate with the batch file is exactly what you want.
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