Brian

You might really want to start saving. If you are staying with a Mac, and I'm a Mac user, then your budget should be around $3200 (US Dollars). Please give this article a read: In short, Apple wants you to "Go Big or Go Home." They have always been expensive. Actually, they are cheaper now. Way back in 1984, when the Macintosh Computer was introduced, the price was $2499.99. In today's money, that would be $6,262.73, which is the price for a fancy Mac Pro. So in reality, for what you are getting at today's price-point, a Mac is "cheaper" today than it was decades ago. It just still sucks that $3000 is still $3000.

OK, see this here: This is your main problem. 8GB is barely enough to run today's modern software. You need more RAM. Unfortunately, this is not an easy thing to upgrade since you have a 21.5" iMac. The other problem is your under-powered Graphics Card. Your computer is meant for general computing. Which means, wasting time on Facebook, watching YouTube Videos, answering e-mails, and spending way too much on Amazon. Not photo editing. It's like you bought a 2-Door Honda Civic and you really need a 4-Wheel Drive Vehicle to go off-roading in the mountains somewhere, complete with driving through rivers and mud. While an external HD will help you storage-wise, it's not going to solve your computer speed issues. In a nutshell, you will need to find either a Authorized Repair Center that's open, OR find a Apple Store that you can drop your Mac off, because you have to completely and I mean, completely, tear your entire 21.5" iMac apart since there isn't an access panel to upgrade the RAM. The current 21.5" iMacs are basically sealed units encased in glue...they are a PITA to take apart. I've been a Senior Technician for close to 28 years, and *** I **** wouldn't dare take a 21.5" iMac apart. Right now you have two choices. Fork out the money and get the RAM to the highest possible level, and that should be at least 16GB. Start Saving and buy a 27" iMac. I'm sorry you have to find this out the hard way, since I know how expensive Macs are. Here is a blurb from this article of my thoughts on a 21.5" iMac:

OK. first things first. I need a little more info about your Mac and exactly what Western Digital Hard Drive model you purchased. Please click on this link: https://www.damiensymonds.net/thread1.html and post the results here in this thread. I also have other questions, don't return anything yet.

I got the notification! Thank You Very Much!!

Honestly? No. I will say, one of the things that Macs have done REALLY WELL is when it comes to upscaling. Even though I have a 5K 27" iMac, It looks like I'm typing on a 27" standard screen, the 2560 x 1440 models. Windows still hasn't done this type of stuff really well. Things are so tiny on the screen until you dork around with settings. If you are editing photos a standard 27" or 24" Monitor is fine, especially if you get a 27" one. Don't fall for Marketing. 8K screens are already out and Manufacturers want you to buy them. Then it will be 16K, then 32K, etc. How much detail are you really going to need? Seriously. If your clients are only viewing stuff on their phones or un-calibrated monitors, and not at 300% then anything fancy is just "bragging rights." Save your money. Put it towards a new Pro-Grade Lens, or a trip somewhere. Invest in Education, not the latest 4K screen because you think it will make you a better photographer. Better Glass...Better Technique...Understanding Light...THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU BETTER.

I don't have affiliate links. Damien says I'm crazy, but what I recommend is what I would purchase with my own money. I feel awkward in getting a SPIFF for recommending X over Y due to any financial gain on my part. So when it comes to recommendations from me, you get an honest opinion.

Buy Brian a Beer!!

I like that one better. It has a anti-glare coating. Get the 27”.

The Dell Ultrasharps are what I would purchase. We have had very good results over the years and that one checks all the boxes.

Yep. Type CMD and see where it says, "Run as administrator" on the right? CLICK THAT. This opens the command box with Administrator Level Privileges, which is what you want when you need to fix stuff or do system-level things. Then all you do is type sfc /scannow. That's sfc (hit the spacebar once) then type /scannow (all one word.) Then Hit Enter. After it's done, type the word exit and hit enter. This will close the Command Box.

BUY IT! Just be sure to use a HDMI Cable or better yet, a DisplayPort Cable with your new monitor. Do not use the old-style 15-pin Blue VGA Cable that's been around since 1989.

The reason that I was asking is for the type of ports that it has, specifically the Thunderbolt port. For the best transfer speeds when it comes to your Mac, it is better to use the Thunderbolt ports. Because your Mac is from 2013, and will more than likely be replaced within the next few years (start saving...trust me on this,) it doesn't make sense for you to buy a Thunderbolt 2 Hard Drive. The reason is that TB2 HDs are really hard to find, as Thunderbolt 3 has taken over and the physical port is different. For my recommendation, I actually like Western Digital's External Hard Drives, though not just any external hard drive from them. Believe it or not, a "Gaming Hard Drive" is what you will buy. Even though it will work with a Game System like a Xbox or PlayStation, the hard drive doesn't care. All we need to do is delete the current partition, create a Mac one and Format the Drive. It will then become a "Macintosh Hard Drive." Plus, since it's a gaming hard drive, that is meant for wear-and-tear, it's built better than a $79 Special from Best Buy, or whatever Box Store is close to you. This model is a bit more expensive, but it more than likely contains a WD Caviar Black HD, which run at 7200 RPM and are extremely reliable, and it's 8TB so you can use it on your new Mac when you buy it in a few years. That makes it more of an investment. As with camera sensors increasing MegaPixels, the more you have, the bigger the Raw files. My D850 creates 100MB Raw files and you'd be surprised on how quickly those files eat up space. I'd buy this one, in fact...it's on my Amazon Wish List for Christmas. WD_Black 8TB D10 Game Drive, Portable External Hard Drive Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac - WDBA3P0080HBK-NESN Since the HD is 7200 RPM, that requires it's own power source, which is provided. This makes your HD more stable in my humble opinion. Also, 7200 RPM does make a difference; there is a noticeable performance boost when using a 7200 RPM HD as compared to a 5400RPM drive. I like the fact that it also has active cooling; heat is the enemy of electronics. So if you do get that EHD, let me know and we can go over how to make it a Mac drive. It takes like 5 minutes to accomplish. BTW: They do have a 5TB model for around $126-ish if you don't want to spend close to $200 for a EHD.

The latest version of Adobe CC products, i.e. Photoshop, Bridge, seem to have all sorts of issues. When an update hits, it fixes some things but breaks others. So a format is the absolute last resort because I'd hate for you to nuke the HD, only to re-install the latest version of Photoshop CC / Bridge CC and be right back into the same spot. The only reason that you should format is if the 2019 versions do not work as well. Then I can say it might be a Windows issue. Actually, there is one test you can run. Head to the Start Menu and (just start typing) type CMD. The CMD Prompt will pop up at the top. Now hold up, the next step is important! Right-Click on the CMD at the top of the Start Menu and select "Run as Administrator." A command box will appear. Type the following command: sfc /scannow Press enter. The Windows System File Checker will do its thing. Go get coffee or watch Netflix. This will take a few minutes. Hopefully it will repair stuff or not find any other issues.

How old is your Mac? Need Model / Year. I have a couple of recommendations.

Honestly, at this point, I would try using Bridge 2019 if you could. The 2020 versions of PS and Bridge are really quirky and have all sorts of bugs. In fact, Bridge and Ps CC were just updated to completely new versions. I think these updates were pushed out a few days ago. I’d try updating and see how that goes for you. Other than that, I’m thinking of a format of the HD and reinstall of windows/everything. Something is botched up and I have no idea why.

Do you happen to have "CleanMyMac" from Macpaw.com? We could reset your preferences file by hand, but it's easier to run the "Maintenance Scripts" in CleanMyMac. Also, I use a program called Raw Right Away, which works really well and it isn't too expensive. It's about $8 and it works much better than the default Preview Program that comes with the Mac OS. Here is the link for Raw Right Away.

Yeah, you want your pagefile.sys and PS Scratch Disk on the D Drive. Your main drive capacity is microscopic by today's standards.

What size is your C Drive? How much is free? Same thing for your D Drive. How large and how much is free? Also what version of Windows are we talking about? I'm going to assume you are on Windows 10. If you have a large D Drive, and a small C Drive, then it might be in your best interest to not only move the Photoshop Scratch Disk, but also the Windows Swap File, aka Pagefile.sys. Here is a decent web page giving your instructions on how to move the Windows Pagefile.sys to the D Drive: How to move Virtual Memory to a Different Drive on Windows 10 As for setting the Scratch Disk, it's pretty easy. You will be interested in Part 4 of this Article. Even though it's in the Macintosh Group, the steps are nearly identical. All you have to do is the following: Open Photoshop Click the Edit Menu Look for "Preferences" Head to the Scratch Disk Section Put a check mark next to the D Drive, then uncheck the C Drive Click Apply / OK Close and reopen Photoshop. Easy Peasy. But still give my article a read, there is more PS setup stuff that you need to check. As far as Bridge, I'm sure it's a similar kind of process, but you might have to ask Damien on that one.

It's possible, and I will warn you, it's a bit of a pain in the ass. Apple makes things really easy going from a Windows Computer to a Mac, but not the other way around. If you have decent internet speed, you could try some sort of cloud service, such as Dropbox, One-Drive, Google Drive, etc. That is probably the easiest way. Otherwise, you are using a blank (new) EHD, partitioned and formatted on a PC, then you would use software on your Mac to act as a translator. Unfortunately, it seems the software that I once ran doesn't seem to be around any longer, which complicates things. That said, there is one program that you will need to buy and it's been around forever. It's called Paragon HFS+ and it's $20. This software you install on your Windows Computer and then all you have to do is hook up your external Mac Formatted HD to your Windows PC and the Paragon software should be able to access it. Here is the website: HFS+ for Windows by Paragon Software. Then copy the files from the Mac Drive to a New Windows External Drive, formatted with NTFS and if it's above 4TB, it will use a GPT-based Partition. The easiest way is to obtain a 32GB USB Flash Drive, make sure you format it to a FAT32 Partition on the Windows Computer, and then copy and paste files. Why 32GB? Because FAT32 really was only meant to go up to 32GB. Why format it on a Windows Computer? For whatever reason, I have found Partitioning drives that are meant to be on a Windows Computer should be partitioned and formatted on said Windows computer. Apple's MacOS doesn't always create a FAT32 Partition correctly, and I don't know why. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. Now 32GB these days won't help you when you have multiple Terabytes of data, which leads to the next paragraph. The other way is to turn on file sharing, and this is a complicated process. For Techie-Nerds like myself, it's not too bad. For the majority of people out there, it's a "Science Project." It also really helps things if your Windows computer is the "Professional" version and not the "Home" Edition, (i.e. Windows 10 Pro.) The Pro versions make networking so much easier, it's built for this sort of thing. In any case, you will use COPY & PASTE and NOT CUT AND PASTE. You want to keep your source files intact; this way if anything were to screw up, you can do things over again. When you Cut/Move files, it deletes the source file. Anyway, it's best to make your IP addresses on all computers Static and I'd create a special login account on your Windows computer that is just meant for file transfer and establish a Workgroup. If these terms sound a bit new to you, then File-sharing might be a bit of a challenge, though doable. When it's all said and done, I'd buy a new External Drive and get the Paragon Software.

No. It's Catalina or Bust! Apple stopped "Signing Off" (Authorizing) the older Operating Systems. So even if you found someone who has a ThumbDrive with a High Sierra or whatever, chances are it won't work. But I'm not 100% sure on this one. I do know for a fact that if you upgraded to Catalina, you can not downgrade / change your mind. Unfortunately, as time goes on, it's going to get harder and harder to avoid upgrading. You have a 2011 iMac. Honestly, it's time for a new one. Here is why and what I have found in all these 40+ years that I've been dorking around with this stuff: Year 1: Person buys a new computer. Year 2: They seem happy with their purchase, if anything were to fail with their computer, this is when it will happen. Year 3: New Technology is released, marketing buzzwords usually involve "Next Level" or "Game Changer." Year 4 : Computer starts to become a bit slow, loses it's "Newness" and "Luster." But it still works and suits the person's needs. Year 5: Software development starts to take over the computer in its initial configuration, which results in some sort of upgrades. Such as: More RAM Larger Capacity Hard Drive. Better Graphics Card, possibly upgrading power supply as well to support new video card. Year 6: Upgrades seem to do the trick; life-span of the computer meets with the demand of current software and is extended for the moment. Year 7-8: Software exceeds Hardware. New Operating Systems will no longer work well on older technology, and current software programs demand more resources than what the computer will allow. The search for a new computer begins, resulting in purchasing new equipment. The cycle then repeats. You have a 2011 iMac. It's 2020. That's 9 Years, and I'd say that has been a very good run. Start saving, Edit: I went through the same exact thing. My 2009 iMac worked well with my D700 and D4s. Then I bought a Nikon D850 and that stupid camera has costed me so much money. New Lenses, New Computer which had to be upgraded to 64GB, and new External 12TB Hard Drive. I feel your pain. I have spent thousands on this shit.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend (and own) a Thunderbolt 3 G-Drive. If you have a brand new iMac, and it sounds like you do, it is in your best interest to get a Thunderbolt 3-based EHD. The nice part with the G-Drives is they include all the necessary cables, and have high-quality hard drives contained inside. Meaning, they are NOT the $79 Special from Best Buy. Those drives I never recommend. Also, G-Drives are formatted for use with the Mac by default. Meaning all you have to do is hook it up and start working. The only downside is they are a bit pricey. But in my humble opinion, out of all the things you don't want to cheap out on, it's the hard drive that your data will reside. Here is where I bought my 12TB G-Drive, which has been replaced by the 14TB model. Personally, I'd get at least 6TB, and if you can swing it, something larger like 10TB or even 14TB. Edit: Why a TB3 EHD instead of a USB 3.0 model? In a word: Speed. TB3 is FAST. In fact, TB3 is so fast that I actually work off my External HD when editing photos rather than the main drive. A TB3 EHD is really like an extension of your computer.

Oh, BTW...I have expensive tastes. Every time I “configure” a computer build, I always end up at a $2800 price-Point. LOL!! That’s why I didn’t link to anything.

By default, the MacOS will READ and Windows Formatted HD, but NOT WRITE TO IT. You aren't doing anything "wrong," except trying to write to a Windows EHD. This way makes it easy to convert from Windows to Mac. But if you want to go back and forth between the two worlds, you will need software to act as a translator, but I will warn you, this type of software isn't 100% fool proof. In reality, Apple wants you to pick a platform (Windows or Mac) and stick with it. Honestly? What I would do is invest in a new EHD, format / partition it to use with the Mac and save your images that you edited on your Mac to the Mac EHD. Going back and forth between Windows and a Macintosh is a bit of a PITA.

16GB RAM in the Minimum I would get these days. Honestly? I'd get 32GB to start with. A Intel i9 won't be much "better," sure it's a little faster, but it isn't earth shattering as compared to a really fast and beefy Intel i7. I'd rather you get a better motherboard and a fast i7 than to blow all your cash on a i9 CPU. I like Asus, Gigabyte and MSI Motherboards. Make sure you get CPU Paste! LOL!! Samsung 1TB m.2 Drive for your main one should be fine. I'd get that over SSD with a new MLB.

Yeah...contact Canon. You have a bad sensor. That's not dust and I'm seeing some "Banding" on the left side with one of the photos. No, you can't fix or clean your way out of this one. Contact Canon and schedule a repair with them. The sooner the better. Also, a quick Google Search yielded other people with this problem.