Reusing external hard drive on new Mac Studio for Time Machine

[Jodie99]

Good Evening Brian 

I am just wondering if it's possible to reuse my EHD that I used for Time Machine on my old Mac over to my Mac Studio? I used migration assistant to transfer all the info from old to new. 

I've read I need to reformat the EHD first. 

 

Thank-You! 

[Brian]

Yep! You just need to delete the existing partition and create a new one. Is it a traditional spinning HD or a SSD / Flash Media Kind? The reason that I ask is it determines which partition type you use. 

It's easy. Takes like 5 min. Just let me know what HD type and we can use it on your new Mac Studio.  

[Jodie99]

That's great Thanks! Its a western digital desktop HDD that I would like to use.

On the subject of hard drives I have a separate one that I use for my images that has become quite noisy I've also noticed occasionally it doesn't "stop" when I eject it from the Mac, I am assuming its maybe on its way out? 

 

Many Thanks 

Jodie 

[Brian]

5 hours ago, Jodie99 said:

I have a separate one that I use for my images that has become quite noisy I've also noticed occasionally it doesn't "stop" when I eject it from the Mac, I am assuming its maybe on its way out? 

Yeah. I'd look to replace it. It's very possible that the HD itself is fine, but the controller board that you plug your USB cable into and the HD Platters interface with is on it's way out. So put it on your list titled, "Expect to Replace these Items, Sooner rather than Later."  

Here are the instructions to delete the existing partition and create a new one. The screenshots might look different, with you being on a current macOS, but the process is the same. You just have to adapt to the new screens, but you should be able to fiddle your way through it. The process itself hasn't changed since the 1990's. LOL!! Only the various screens look different. 

• Head to Applications Folder >> Utilities >> Disk Utility:

 

• From there, select the WD Drive that you are Dorking around with. For my example, I'm going to choose my external Sandisk Drive.

• Then towards the top, you should see "Erase." Double-Triple-Check you are on the correct HD!!! If you are on the wrong HD, this is a one-way proposition!! Data Recovery on a Mac is a Pain in the Ass!! 
   
• Now that's settled, Click the Erase Button.

• A pop up box will appear, asking your what name you want to call the HD, and what Partition Type. Since your EHD is a traditional / spinning external drive, you want "macOS Extended (Journaled)" and make sure you DO NOT SELECT "ENCRYPTED" ANYTHING!  Plain macOS Extended Journaled is just fine.

• Click Erase, just to the right of the "Cancel" Button and wait a few seconds and it should clear things out. 
   
• Follow the prompts, "OK / Next-Next-Next, Etc., etc. It should take about 10-15 seconds or so. 

 

 

[Brian]

Now since you have a new Mac, this isn't turned on by default. So this is what I want you to do next: 
 

• Open the Finder. The easiest way is to click the Smiley Face on your DockBar:

 

• Then head to the Finder Menu (Next to the Apple Menu) and select Settings:

 

• 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. With this setting enabled, you should be able to access your various HDs, both Internal & External, along with any Card Readers with the DCIM Folder, making your photos much easier to get to and copy over to a HD/EHD. 
   
• For example:
   

 

[Jodie99]

That's Brilliant Thanks so much! 🙂