Brian

After the Icons for the Hard Drives appear, I want you to click the new EHD once, then right-click and select "Get Info." From there, I want you to post a screen shot of what comes up. This should tell us how the drive is configured and what's wrong. As an example, here is my 12TB: Make sure you include the Privileges at the bottom. I have a feeling I know what's wrong, just need to confirm things.

First things first. We need to have HD Icons on your Mac Desktop, it makes things MUCH easier to configure. Now the instructions were written on a older macOS, but the steps should be similar, though the screens might look a little different: Open the Finder. The easiest way is to click the Smiley Face on your DockBar: Then head to the Finder Menu at the top (next to the Apple Menu) and select Preferences: Once there put check-marks next to these items and change the bottom to "Macintosh HD" if you want: Finally, Click the Red Circle in the Upper Left Corner to save the new changes and close the Preferences box. Now when you insert an External HD or Camera Memory Card into a Card Reader, they will appear on the Mac Desktop. For example:

You have to remember, when it comes to Windows Laptops, they are usually "En Vogue" for about 90-120 Days. That's it. Sometimes they hang around a little longer, which is fine. Others, notsomuch. The problem is with folks that want to edit photos and have portability; this is where they become Desktop Replacements. The truth is, I don't recommend laptops for photo editing. But people keep asking and I'm tired of fighting. It used to be that Manufacturer's had a "Spring Line" and a "Fall Line." (In the Northern Hemisphere.) The Spring Models would be released, and then go on sale in August for the College Student who were returning to School. Then the Fall Models would hit the shelves and they were meant for the Holiday Season. Rinse and repeat year after year. Unfortunately, it's not that way any more; well, Apple still does this to a degree, where they have a "Early 2025" and "Late 2025," (or whatever year,) and will release laptop updates usually in the Fall. Desktops are mostly a Spring (Early) release. As I've mentioned above, Laptops usually last for 90-120 days, then they are replaced with another model. Which is neither good nor bad, since most new models are just reconfigured options that usually aren't any better than the previous version. The problem is, that blasted IPS Based Display...and you need one if you are going to edit photos. Those screens have a wider Viewing Angle, have better Color, Contrast, Sharpness, and are way more consistent with Brightness along with everything else, from corner to corner. Which if you think about it, is kinda important if you are editing photos / video. Anyway, back to your question. Personally, if it were me and my money, I'd get the Black Lenovo for $1999.99. (Middle one.) Don't worry about it being discontinued. Worry about being able to buy one that has a IPS Screen. The first thing people need to have is the money sitting your Bank Account giving you the ability to click "BUY," at a moment's notice. Gone are the days of researching and researching, reading reviews, watching YouTube Videos, looking at a Consumer Reports Magazine, etc. You see it, you like it, it meets my criteria for Photo Editing...you buy it. Why? Because it will be discontinued and you will have to start the hunt all over again. Mac Laptops tend to be expensive, and if you want the most years out of one, you are spending more than $4000. That 14 inch MacBook Pro, will work for "now," but in 24-36 months? You are buying another Mac Laptop. Plus, editing photos on a 14" screen is a PITA. Don't forget, you will need to add a calibrator as ALL screens that are used to edit photos must be calibrated and verified against a physical set of prints. What I like about the Lenovo, is not only does it have things such as a NVIDIA RTX 4080 with dedicated Video Memory, THE DISPLAY PANEL IS IPS!!! WHICH IS DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ON WINDOWS LAPTOPS. So my answer is, buy the Lenovo and be happy. Just make sure all the Lenovo Drivers are up-to-date before installing Photoshop or else it will complain abou things.

You out there @rivka?

You have a "Modern Mac" and should be fine. It's the folks that have the Intel Based iMacs from 2020 and earlier who will have the majority of problems. Upgrade the MacOS, then upgrade the Photoshop 25.12. Then run things for awhile and see how it goes. One thing you do not want to do is upgrade everything when you have sessions to edit and products to deliver to clients. Upgrade in January when things are dead and you can afford to have your computer crash...not during busy-time!!

You are fine. You have a fairly new computer, and the M2 Pro is more than enough for the current version of Photoshop. If it were me, I'd upgrade to Photoshop 25.12 vs going to version 26.xx. Adobe always seems to have major issues these days with Version Upgrades, and I'd hold off until bugs have been worked out.

NOPE!!! Save your money. Believe it or not, my son's friends (who are serious gamers) only state that a 4090 is about 10%-12% faster over a 4080 and isn't worth the extra $$. As for Photoshop, a 4090 is a complete waste as it's not programmed to take advantage of what makes a 4090 a 4090. KWIM? Now, don't get me wrong...if a Laptop in question only has a 4090 version, it's "fine," but if you have a choice between a 4080 vs a 4090, I'd rather you get a 4080 and save some cash.

Sometimes weird things happen and your Motherboard goes wonky. With computers today, they are "always on," for lack of a better term. When you hit the power button, it's not a physical power button like it was 30+ years ago, it's a "Request for Power" Button. Meaning the Motherboard is in a semi-sleep state and then gets woken up, which then kicks on the power supply. This is how you get computers to boot up in 15 seconds or less. Anyway... Sometimes the Motherboard gets stuck. So what you can do is when it's "Off," is to pull the AC Power Plug out of the Power Supply and wait a few minutes (2-3 should be enough) for things to completely power down and reset when you plug the AC cord back in. This should do a "Hard Reset" and sometimes get things working again. The second thing you can do, is purchase a CHEAP USB Keyboard, such as this one to use if your wireless keyboard acts up again. Sometimes, you don't even need to buy a USB Keyboard, it is quite possible to have one lying around in a closet somewhere.

Lenovo has a built-in Utility Software in Windows that will go out and scans for any Hardware Driver Updates. I usually search "Lenovo" in the start menu and you should see some sort of program. I believe it is called "Lenovo System Update." After that, you run Windows Update.

How was this 8TB Drive Partitioned and Formatted? How full is it? Is there any data on it or is it clean? What Make / Model was the HD and what version of the macOS are you running?

That display should work.

DisplayPort has a higher bandwidth and refresh rates, so you can have multiple displays with a high resolution on one single port. HDMI is basically one Monitor per port. DisplayPort is also Royalty Free, so manufactures don't have to pay a licensing fee for each device. HDMI had ARC / eRC Tech, which is why you see them on TVs and they can not only transmit video, but also audio. Display Port has a more robust connector, usually with a release latch. HDMI is more universal because it's been around a lot longer. Basically, it's two technologies that are similar but have their own strengths. For me, I'd use a DisplayPort over a HDMI with a computer. 4K Resolution and DisplayPort just seems to "work" better, but this is due to the higher bandwidth with that technology type. For my Home Theater Setup, it's HDMI all the way. The choice for @KimMoore is based on WHAT she is using. If her Computer Monitor(s) are hooked up with a HDMI cable, then select HDMI. Likewise, if she is using a DisplayPort...then it's DisplayPort for the selection. Many higher end cards, like the NVIDIA RTX 4070 or RTX 4080 have both ports on them and it really depends on what you are using with your monitor.

You can get one of each. I'd recommend finding a Thunderbolt 3/4 or even Thunderbolt 5 if they exist, and I'd start off with one that will live on your Desk. Keep in mind, that not all Thunderbolt Ports on your MacBooks are the same, it's usually the ones on the left side tend to be the fastest. You want to use a 40Mbps or better Thunderbolt Port on your laptop.

You should get 4-5 years out of it. It all depends on how much Bloatware and AI Crap Adobe adds to Photoshop. As for a Dock, I like and purchase Anker's Stuff. How portable to you want this Dock to be? The type that acts as some sort of "Station / Hub" or one you can throw in your bag and take with you? Since you are getting a new Mac with Thunderbolt 5 Ports, you will want a Thunderbolt Port that is TB3/TB4...in which you want one that does at least 40Mbps. Here are some: Docking Stations for Mac

If you are using external IPS monitors for editing in both locations, then get whatever. That Dell Alienware is fine. I thought you were editing solely on the Laptop's Display. The only thing you will need to worry about is calibrating both Displays and then making sure the correct profile is loaded for the particular Monitor.