Mac Pro - Make Second Internal Drive Default Storage Drive

Pandybelly · Pandybelly #1 (**permalink**)

06-16-2009, 09:04 AM

Hi,
Just got a MacPro yesterday and have received 2 WD 1TB internal drives today. I want to make one of the drives my default storage drive and the other drive will be for backup.
As I have just moved from PC, I am unsure how to configure the new WD drive as the default storage location. I want to keep the 640GB standard drive for OS and applications etc. and store all files on the WD 1TB.

What do I do with regard to formatting and making it the default storage location?

Thanks,

Anthony.....

lifeisabeach · lifeisabeach #2 (**permalink**)

06-16-2009, 11:15 AM

Ah.... well just format them with Disk Utility... use Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Give each a name that seems suitable to its intended usage. Then use away. There's no such thing as a default storage location, besides any settings you might make in various apps' preferences.. Just store your stuff there.

Nethfel · Nethfel #3 (**permalink**)

06-16-2009, 11:23 AM

You can move your home folder, which would basically shift where your default location was for downloads, documents, photos, videos, etc. to a different location.

Take a look here:

MacZealots > Articles > Moving Your Home Directory

Note: I have not done this myself, so I don't know how good or bad this procedure is. I don't see a reason why it wouldn't work tho.

Pandybelly · Pandybelly #4 (**permalink**)

06-17-2009, 04:22 AM

Hi,
Thanks for the tips. I formatted the drive last night and started copying data from my external PC backup drive to the new WD drive. All transferred this morning. Now need to file it correctly and I should be laughing. I did not try the move suggested by Nethfel as I am a Mac virgin and was afraid of screwing it up.

Again, thanks for the help.

Regards,

Anthony.....

Nethfel · Nethfel #5 (**permalink**)

06-17-2009, 10:32 AM

One thing you can do if you want - create another account on your Mac, and attempt to move it before moving your main account.

lifeisabeach #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 30, 2007 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 5,801 Mac Specs: iMac i3 (mid-2010) + OS 10.8; TV 2; iPhone 4S; iPad 1	06-16-2009, 11:15 AM Ah.... well just format them with Disk Utility... use Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Give each a name that seems suitable to its intended usage. Then use away. There's no such thing as a default storage location, besides any settings you might make in various apps' preferences.. Just store your stuff there. Standing request for all troubleshooting: Please provide your Mac model/year and OS version. Also advise us if you have used or installed any antivirus, security, or "cleaning" software on your Mac. If you have installed MacKeeper in particular, you are hereby advised to uninstall it. --------- If all else fails to fix your problem, read this tip.
	QUOTE Thanks

Nethfel #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 25, 2009 Posts: 2,084 Mac Specs: 2012 Non-retina MBP, 2.6GHz i7, 8GB RAM, Antiglare Screen	06-17-2009, 10:32 AM One thing you can do if you want - create another account on your Mac, and attempt to move it before moving your main account. My Macs: 2012 Non-Retina 15" MBP; Mac mini G4, 1.25 GHz, 512m ram (server); Late 2011 11" MBA, 1.8GHz i7, 4Gig Ram, 256Gig SSD, HD3000; Powerbook 12" G4 1.33GHz running Debian as a server; Apple TV (1080p version)
	QUOTE Thanks

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Mac Pro - Make Second Internal Drive Default Storage Drive

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Pandybelly #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 14, 2008 Posts: 9	06-16-2009, 09:04 AM Hi, Just got a MacPro yesterday and have received 2 WD 1TB internal drives today. I want to make one of the drives my default storage drive and the other drive will be for backup. As I have just moved from PC, I am unsure how to configure the new WD drive as the default storage location. I want to keep the 640GB standard drive for OS and applications etc. and store all files on the WD 1TB. What do I do with regard to formatting and making it the default storage location? Thanks, Anthony.....
	QUOTE Thanks

Pandybelly #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 14, 2008 Posts: 9	06-17-2009, 04:22 AM Hi, Thanks for the tips. I formatted the drive last night and started copying data from my external PC backup drive to the new WD drive. All transferred this morning. Now need to file it correctly and I should be laughing. I did not try the move suggested by Nethfel as I am a Mac virgin and was afraid of screwing it up. Again, thanks for the help. Regards, Anthony.....
	QUOTE Thanks

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