[dabigkahuna]

Concerning Time Capsule, there are two issues. I can get the 500 gb version and with the $200 savings get an external drive too (1 TB) and still have money left over compared to the 1 TB time capsule, even if I pay the higher prices for ones they have in the Apple store (certainly cheaper elsewhere). On the other hand, they might announce changes in capacity it the WWDC in June. I'm hoping they will keep the same price but bump the numbers to 1 and 2 TB. As soon as I know, I'll buy one.

As for the external drive, someone who builds computers said that a lot of them tended to run hot and not last long (a year or two). So I'm looking for recommendations on those. Another person who has used a lot of drives said he had fewest problems with Western Digital, but I'm not sure if those were drives he put in external boxes or ones that came in their own boxes.

I'm still trying to figure out how I'll use these things.

My basic plan is to use Time Capsule for Time Machine and the external with SuperDuper - thus giving me two kinds of backups of everything on my internal drive in two places. I also have MobileMe synced to store all my work type files (not music or vids, etc), but spreadsheets, word processor, etc).

But there are two other things I want to do, especially since my internal drive is only 160 gb.

Since Apple normally automatically puts applications in a specific folder, can I specify that some programs be stored on Time Capsule or External drive? I'm thinking in terms of having the most important stuff on the Macbook, but stuff I may rarely use would be on the other drives - especially things I don't care about when taking the macbook on a trip. And on a related note, if this can be done, what about a program I already have on the MB - can I drag it to another drive if I decide I don't need it so much (or maybe its a game I'm tired of but may want on rare occasions)?

The other things will be things from iPhoto and iTunes (especially iTunes). I am steadily moving every CD I have to the computer, but a lot of this stuff is reference music (I'm a band director). Lots of stuff I may never actually need, but don't want to remove and lose. So I want to set up more than one library. One will be on my MB that I will want handy. The others library (or more), I would move to an external drive - available, but not eating up a smaller HD.

I guess the backup approach for that stuff, since it wouldn't be on my main drive, would be to store it for normal access on either Time Capsule or the external and then make a copy on the other. Probably SuperDuper would be the right choice for that process?

[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

Concerning Time Capsule, there are two issues. I can get the 500 gb version and with the $200 savings get an external drive too (1 TB) and still have money left over compared to the 1 TB time capsule, even if I pay the higher prices for ones they have in the Apple store (certainly cheaper elsewhere). On the other hand, they might announce changes in capacity it the WWDC in June. I'm hoping they will keep the same price but bump the numbers to 1 and 2 TB. As soon as I know, I'll buy one.

Unless you REALLY need the additional storage space, the 1 TB Time Capsule just does not make sense. When my router bit the dust a few weeks ago and I decided to get a Time Capsule, I went with the 500 GB as it did not make sense to pay $200 more for the 1 TB version. Plus, if you want to add storage capacity, you can still attach an external hard drive to the Time Capsule and that is now also accessable by Time Machine supposedly.

As to new versions, I tend to recommend get what you need when you need it. If you worry about new versions coming out, then you will always be worrying and waiting.

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As for the external drive, someone who builds computers said that a lot of them tended to run hot and not last long (a year or two). So I'm looking for recommendations on those. Another person who has used a lot of drives said he had fewest problems with Western Digital, but I'm not sure if those were drives he put in external boxes or ones that came in their own boxes.

I have a Maxtor that is about three years old and it is still going strong.

As to which brand, you will likely get a lot of different opinions on that. I tend to like LaCie and drives from OWC (www.macsales.com).

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I'm still trying to figure out how I'll use these things.

My basic plan is to use Time Capsule for Time Machine and the external with SuperDuper - thus giving me two kinds of backups of everything on my internal drive in two places. I also have MobileMe synced to store all my work type files (not music or vids, etc), but spreadsheets, word processor, etc).

But there are two other things I want to do, especially since my internal drive is only 160 gb.

Since Apple normally automatically puts applications in a specific folder, can I specify that some programs be stored on Time Capsule or External drive? I'm thinking in terms of having the most important stuff on the Macbook, but stuff I may rarely use would be on the other drives - especially things I don't care about when taking the macbook on a trip. And on a related note, if this can be done, what about a program I already have on the MB - can I drag it to another drive if I decide I don't need it so much (or maybe its a game I'm tired of but may want on rare occasions)?

Yes and no. Most applications can run from anywhere. Some need to be on the boot drive. But, even if an application can run from an external drive, it is likely that it will have a crap load of support files that DO have to be on the boot drive and will be mixed in with the system files, etc. Thus, you might not save much. Unless you are installing a TON of applicaitons, you will not likely take up that much room with apps. Usually it is data files, especially video files and picture files these days, that take up the most room.

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The other things will be things from iPhoto and iTunes (especially iTunes). I am steadily moving every CD I have to the computer, but a lot of this stuff is reference music (I'm a band director). Lots of stuff I may never actually need, but don't want to remove and lose. So I want to set up more than one library. One will be on my MB that I will want handy. The others library (or more), I would move to an external drive - available, but not eating up a smaller HD.

There are a variety of ways to do this. You can create different libraries and have one stored on the external drive. You can have just one library, but have a primary storage location on the internal drive, but then store other files elsewhere (you do NOT need to have iTunes store everything in one place).

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I guess the backup approach for that stuff, since it wouldn't be on my main drive, would be to store it for normal access on either Time Capsule or the external and then make a copy on the other. Probably SuperDuper would be the right choice for that process?

SuperDuper or maybe something else.

[dabigkahuna]

Yeah, I figure the 500 gb is fine - but if they do increase capacity for the same price, might as well go with it.

I know about the never-ending waiting for the next update business, but this is a little different. First, I can live without it so waiting isn't really hurting me that much. Having it will give me that additional lever of hardware security with the router part and will let other people who visit with a computer more easily access my web connection.

But the reason for waiting is simple - we are just about at the start of the WWDC and a number of people think they may bump the capacity from 1 to 2 TB. Might not happen, but it also fits the recent sale they had on the 500 gb version, so I figure there is a reasonable chance they will both be bumped up. With such a short time, might as well wait. If they don't do it, I'll buy anyway. I'm certainly not going to wait months to see if something happens!

This is the first month (June) I could seriously consider this. The computer took a lot of money to begin with, then the 24" monitor last month. But this month I can do it.

I guess you're right about the usage of HD space. I'm so used to trying to survive on a 30 GB hard drive with windows XP - not saving lots of music, photos, or videos - that it was apps that took up most of what the OS didn't.

I'm confused about the iTunes library comments you made - the part about having one library but have "a primary storage location on the internal drive but store the other files elsewhere".

I knew you could put other libraries elsewhere, but I have no knowledge about what you are describing - but it sure sounds interesting! Especially if it seems better than mulitple libraries.

On the other hand, multiple libraries may be better just so I don't see everything at once.

[smax013]

Any music you rip from a CD in iTunes or purchase from the iTunes Store (as well as videos, etc) will by default stored in the default storage location that you have iTunes set to use.

Anything you add by way of the "Add to Library..." command can either be stored in that default location OR stored where ever you want, however. Depending on how you want the preferences set, when you use the Add to Library command, iTunes will either copy (might be move) the added content to the default location OR leave it where it is. Thus, you could have a bunch of music stored on the external drive or Time Capsule, then use the "Add to Library" command to add it to iTunes, but have the setting set to leave it where it is.

The end result is that by messing with the preferences, you can have content stored in multiple locations and still one use one library.

[dabigkahuna]

Oh, cool. I can see some possibilities for this, but also for separate libraries.

Music I want no matter where I am would go onto the computer.

Music I want handy but not taking up the internal drive space would be done the way you describe.

Music I don't want to lose, but may never actually play would go in a different library on an external drive (thus not having to wade through all their labels in my main library.

Thanks.

[smax013]

When you are ready to deal with all that stuff (i.e. have the Time Capsule and/or external drive), then post back and we (I) can help you set it up however you want.

[dabigkahuna]

Okay, WWDC is in about 8 hours and, unless something comes up, there is a good chance I'll get Time Capsule tomorrow. If they announce an bump in HD sizes for the smaller one, but it isn't available for a short time, I'll wait for it, but if no announcement or one that has the new ones available, I'll be buying.

I plan to disconnect my external drive - at least temporarily (because I'll use Time Capsule for Time Machine) - and then hook up Time Capsule.

So, since I've never done anything with wireless, and warning about what to do or not do?

I know I'll attach the computer with an ethernet cable, at least to start because of backup time the first time.

But are all settings and protection stuff handled automatically or with clear on-screen steps or are there things I should do which are less obvious?

The only things I have that I'll be looking to hook up are:

Macbook with 24" Apple Monitor.

Laser printer and inkjet printer (usb connections - presently hooked to a hub which is plugged into the monitor).

Cable internet modem.

Later expect to add an external hard drive - probably use my old one for awhile again, once everything else is working, and learn about Superduper by using it. Get a new drive later.

I MIGHT look to connect my old PC in the future. To do wireless, I'd have to get a card, but it does have an ethernet port if necessary.

Long term, if I get another Apple computer, it would be an iMac (based on current products). I mostly use the MB as a desktop system so only need it occasionally as a portable option - thus an iMac makes more sense later while still having a MB for those special occasions.

So, worse case scenario, someday I could have three computers counting the old PC, but probably just two (I haven't used the PC since getting the MB other than to get XP and Linux on it). If I do make serious use of it, it would probably just be to run Office 2000 and maybe a couple games.

[dabigkahuna]

Okay, I got the Time Capsule and I do have a printer problem.

The docs say you can plug in a hard drive, a printer, or a usb hub to the Time Capsule usb port. So I plugged in my hub (powered), and plugged in both my Laser printer (Brother HL-1440) and the inkjet I got as part of the package when I bought the macbook (HP Photosmart C4480). The docs said to plug everything in before plugging in Time Capsule.

To get to the point, when I tried to print, I kept getting messages, no matter which printer I tried to print to, that it was offline. Both do show up in the Airport Utility though.

I tried rebooting without any change. Then I tried unplugging the hub and plugging each printer directly into Time Capsule. Still got the same result (I did not try rebooting as part of this process though.

I did get my first backup, but I'm a little confused.

First, it said it had to back up a bit under 49 gb. I seemed to be on track to take about 4 hours every time I looked at how much it had done, though it also seemed to gain a LITTLE speed and it got over 30 gb done. But all of a sudden, when I looked at the progress, it was done. Took about 2 hours 50 minutes. That means the last 10-15 gb must have gone really fast - or something screwed up!

I'm also a little confused about what shows on my desktop. I first noticed a new disk icon on my desktop right after I started the first backup. Don't know if it was there before, but it was labeled: "Backup of [my name]'s MacBook". When I had the external drive attached for time machine, it showed up with the hard drive brand: "Maxtor".

Then, sometime after I rebooted for the printer test, I noticed the icon was gone! I got it back entering time machine from the icon in the bar at the top of the screen.

So, what's the deal? My external drive icon was always there as long as it was attached and had a more logical name (well, to me). Since I'll also be using the Time Capsule for storing stuff outside of time machine backups - like extra iTunes libraries - I'm not sure how this should be handled, especially if the icon is not always there.

Any ideas about this or the printer situation?

[dabigkahuna]

Okay, I've been experimenting some more. I went to the Printer/Fax preference and deleted the two printers (I had disconnected both as well).

Turned off the computer.

Plugged the laser printer right into Time Capsule and rebooted.

Went to the preferences again and clicked the "+" to add the printer and it automatically did something - ended up with the printer name plus "CUPS" - whatever that means - and then something about Bonjour.

Then it was listed in the other pane with a box to mark for sharing (without the "CUPS" and Bonjour parts). I did that.

The printer worked. Then unplugged it, plugged the hub in and the printer to the hub. Still worked.

Then plugged in the inkjet, added it in preferences - got a similar result with the bonjour item. Marked to share the printer. Both work.

Maybe all I had to do was go into this to begin with and mark printer sharing. I don't know.

Perhaps I misunderstood something that was said before, about how you could share a printer by simply plugging it into the computer directly and marked printer sharing. From that, I assumed one connected to Time Capsule didn't require that step. So I could use some clarification on this.

Haven't tested the printing using wireless - computer is still connected with the ethernet cable. I'll test that tomorrow. My iPhone did connect to it for internet access though.

Still can't figure out the desktop display of drives. Any restart loses the "Backup of....MacBook" disk icon. Going into time machine always brings it back. I also found, going into Finder, that the Time Capsule drive is listed under "Shared". If I click on it, and then on the icon in the next pane that shows up, I get ANOTHER drive icon on the screen. This one is more colorful (the other is just plain white). But, again, restarting causes it to go away until I repeat the process.

I MAY have an explanation for why the original backup suddenly went so fast at the end (can't be sure because I don't know exactly when it happened). The backed up files were listed as about 49 gb. But the Time Capsule shows only 43+ gb used. So, either something didn't get backup up - and I need to find out what went wrong! - or the files were compacted as they were saved. If the readout of gb backup up is based on size AFTER compacting, that might explain it. But I just don't know.

[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

Okay, I've been experimenting some more. I went to the Printer/Fax preference and deleted the two printers (I had disconnected both as well).

Turned off the computer.

Plugged the laser printer right into Time Capsule and rebooted.

Went to the preferences again and clicked the "+" to add the printer and it automatically did something - ended up with the printer name plus "CUPS" - whatever that means - and then something about Bonjour.

Then it was listed in the other pane with a box to mark for sharing (without the "CUPS" and Bonjour parts). I did that.

The printer worked. Then unplugged it, plugged the hub in and the printer to the hub. Still worked.

Then plugged in the inkjet, added it in preferences - got a similar result with the bonjour item. Marked to share the printer. Both work.

Maybe all I had to do was go into this to begin with and mark printer sharing. I don't know.

Nope...you needed to "tell" the OS where you moved the printers to. When you originally setup the printers with your computer, they were connected as a local printer through the USB port. You just moved them to being a network printer. So, when you tried to print with the "old" printer configurations/setups, it was trying to find the printer on your computer's USB port. You then deleted that old printer setup and created a new one that pointed to the network locaiton of the print.

Think of it like a friend just moved out of town. If you call them at their old phone number, you won't connect with them. They have to give you a new phone number to use. Once you use that new number, you get them.

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Perhaps I misunderstood something that was said before, about how you could share a printer by simply plugging it into the computer directly and marked printer sharing. From that, I assumed one connected to Time Capsule didn't require that step. So I could use some clarification on this.

Haven't tested the printing using wireless - computer is still connected with the ethernet cable. I'll test that tomorrow. My iPhone did connect to it for internet access though.

Still can't figure out the desktop display of drives. Any restart loses the "Backup of....MacBook" disk icon. Going into time machine always brings it back. I also found, going into Finder, that the Time Capsule drive is listed under "Shared". If I click on it, and then on the icon in the next pane that shows up, I get ANOTHER drive icon on the screen. This one is more colorful (the other is just plain white). But, again, restarting causes it to go away until I repeat the process.

From what I understand, Time Machine creates a "disk image" type of thing that it uses for backup purposes. When it is ready to do a backup (or restore from the backup), it will mount that "image". That "image" will stay mounted until you either manually unmount it or you reboot/shutdown. And then to get it to mount again, you have to do something with Time Machine to get it to mount again (i.e. go into Time Machine as if you are going to restore something or wait for Time Machine to backup again. Thus, there is nothing you should need to do with this as Time Machine will mount it when it needs it.

What you found under the Finder in the Shared area is the actual Time Capsule drive. If you open it up, you will find the Time Machine backup "image"/folder. Now, for this, I do not know if there is a way to have it mount automatically when you boot or even if you need to. I have not bothered yet trying to deal with on my Time Capsule.

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I MAY have an explanation for why the original backup suddenly went so fast at the end (can't be sure because I don't know exactly when it happened). The backed up files were listed as about 49 gb. But the Time Capsule shows only 43+ gb used. So, either something didn't get backup up - and I need to find out what went wrong! - or the files were compacted as they were saved. If the readout of gb backup up is based on size AFTER compacting, that might explain it. But I just don't know.

You might want to check your Time Machine setting to see if you have anything set to be "excluded" from the backup. That could explain the difference.

[dabigkahuna]

Big question: when I made those printer changes, did I need to specify that a printer could be shared or, being connected to Time Capsule, would that work anyway?

Yeah, the backup icon did look like a disk image, now that you mention it. I don't know if, when doing a backup, it puts the disk image on the desktop - other than the first time, any backups will be very short - but I can say that if it does do that, it takes it right back off again because since my last restart, I've had several backups, but the icon isn't there unless I go into Time Machine.

I thought about putting a shortcut/alias on the desktop, but it doesn't seem to let you make one. Might not be necessary, but seemed kinda natural to do. After all, the MacIntosh HD icon is there. And I also put my idisk icon there (I have things set up so my iDisk via mobileMe is also saved on the hard drive so I can access in no matter what and have it automatically sync to the cloud. Putting my normal docs in there rather than in the standard documents folder simplifies things.

When I have an external drive, that icon is on the desktop as well. So having this seemed to make sense. Except I can't do it. Probably doesn't matter, but it just seems odd.

I don't have Time Machine set to not copy something - it should get it all. I saw in the preferences that it did show the correct size based on what it said as it was backing up. It is when I check the backup file size that it shows a lower number.

Does your Time Capsule get pretty warm? I first checked it after the big backup and it was hot to me. I could keep my hand on it so it wasn't like it would burn me, but it was certainly hotter than I ever expected - and didn't seem to dissipate. This morning it was much cooler, but the computer had been asleep all night. Right now it fairly hot again, but I don't think as bad - also it seems to be more towards the half closest to the ports. Yesterday it seemed more evenly spread out as I recall.

Oh, disconnect the ethernet from the computer and I'm working fine wirelessly.

[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

Big question: when I made those printer changes, did I need to specify that a printer could be shared or, being connected to Time Capsule, would that work anyway?

No...you do not need to set them as shared printers...you can, but you do not need to do. Basically, the printers are "on the network" now and any computer (both Windows and Mac...do not know about Linux...never tried that) that connects to your network can add those printers and print to them. Setting them to be "shared" from your computer is redundant.

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Yeah, the backup icon did look like a disk image, now that you mention it. I don't know if, when doing a backup, it puts the disk image on the desktop - other than the first time, any backups will be very short - but I can say that if it does do that, it takes it right back off again because since my last restart, I've had several backups, but the icon isn't there unless I go into Time Machine.

Yeah...keep in mind that Time Machine is like set to backup every hour. There is no built in way to change that, but you can use TimeMachineEditor (http://timesoftware.free.fr/timemachineeditor/) to change the interval or put it on a schedule if you want.

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I thought about putting a shortcut/alias on the desktop, but it doesn't seem to let you make one. Might not be necessary, but seemed kinda natural to do. After all, the MacIntosh HD icon is there. And I also put my idisk icon there (I have things set up so my iDisk via mobileMe is also saved on the hard drive so I can access in no matter what and have it automatically sync to the cloud. Putting my normal docs in there rather than in the standard documents folder simplifies things.

When I have an external drive, that icon is on the desktop as well. So having this seemed to make sense. Except I can't do it. Probably doesn't matter, but it just seems odd.

I will have to "play" with it some when I get a chance before I can "help" in this area.

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I don't have Time Machine set to not copy something - it should get it all. I saw in the preferences that it did show the correct size based on what it said as it was backing up. It is when I check the backup file size that it shows a lower number.

It could still be that Time Machine is set to NOT backup some stuff by default (i.e. temporary Internet files for example). Or something else.

You can open up Time Machine and "go back in time" and see if all your key stuff is there.

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Does your Time Capsule get pretty warm? I first checked it after the big backup and it was hot to me. I could keep my hand on it so it wasn't like it would burn me, but it was certainly hotter than I ever expected - and didn't seem to dissipate. This morning it was much cooler, but the computer had been asleep all night. Right now it fairly hot again, but I don't think as bad - also it seems to be more towards the half closest to the ports. Yesterday it seemed more evenly spread out as I recall.

Yes, it gets toasty. Keep in mind that there is a hard drive in there and hard drives get warm as they are used. Plus, all the other electronics.

Oh, disconnect the ethernet from the computer and I'm working fine wirelessly.

Did you setup encryption (i.e. WPA)?

[dabigkahuna]

Okay, I turned off the printer sharing and it still works.

Encryption? I do find a setting in the Airport utility that says:

Wireless security: WPA/WPA2 Personal.

Is that all I need? It seems to give two choices, that and just WPA2 Personal.

As for what is in the backup, it seems to have everything, but it's just about impossible to go through and be sure nothing was missed. My document on my idisk seem to be there and my itunes music and applications both seem to be accounted for.

Good to know the heat thing is normal.

I'm dreading my next project - going through all my music and separating out what I don't expect to normally want - both entire albums but also individual tracks within albums.

The safest way I can think of for this is to first copy each item I don't want to a folder on the desktop. Then delete the item completely from the library. When done, I'll move them all to the Time Capsule and create a new library just for them in case I need quick access.

I'm not sure how this affects the backup. I'm guessing that those files will remain in the original backup so I'll have wasted some space in Time Capsule, but probably not a big deal. And I could always erase the backup, I guess, and start over, especially once I have a superduper backup on an external drive eventually.

[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

Okay, I turned off the printer sharing and it still works.

Encryption? I do find a setting in the Airport utility that says:

Wireless security: WPA/WPA2 Personal.

Is that all I need? It seems to give two choices, that and just WPA2 Personal.

Either one should work fine. Did you establish a password? If you select "Manual Setup" when you enter the AirPort Utility and then click on the Wireless tab, there should be a password field filled in. If so, then you are good to go.

There are other things you can do such as MAC filtering and turning off the SSID broadcasting, but you are likely fine without them. I tend to use them because I am paranoid...but they both can rather easily be beaten if someone REALLY wants to. The MAC filtering does make it tougher to allow guests to use your network, but that might be "alleveated" by the Guest Network feature of the Apple Airport Extreme and Time Capsule...haven't played with them completely enough to know for sure.

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As for what is in the backup, it seems to have everything, but it's just about impossible to go through and be sure nothing was missed. My document on my idisk seem to be there and my itunes music and applications both seem to be accounted for.

Good to know the heat thing is normal.

I'm dreading my next project - going through all my music and separating out what I don't expect to normally want - both entire albums but also individual tracks within albums.

The safest way I can think of for this is to first copy each item I don't want to a folder on the desktop. Then delete the item completely from the library. When done, I'll move them all to the Time Capsule and create a new library just for them in case I need quick access.

My suggestion would be to copy ALL the music files from your computer to the Time Capsule, then create the second library (if you do not know how, hold down the Option key when you click on the iTunes icon in the Dock...it will then ask if you want to switch to another library or create another library...you will want to create a new library...but this is also how you switch once you create it). Once the library is created, go to the File menu and select Add to Library and add EVERYTHING from the Time Capsule. Then, par down what you want in iTunes, which will also give you ability to delete it from the Time Capsule drive when you delete it from iTunes. Once you have that library set, then you can go back to the original library and par it down to what you want.

That is likely how I would do it. Of course, I would also backup the ENTIRE thing to another drive just to be on the safe side.

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I'm not sure how this affects the backup. I'm guessing that those files will remain in the original backup so I'll have wasted some space in Time Capsule, but probably not a big deal. And I could always erase the backup, I guess, and start over, especially once I have a superduper backup on an external drive eventually.

Time Machine will "knock" old stuff off the "back end" once you run out of room. Thus, as you get more and more "current" backup versions, the old backup versions will be deleted from the backup. Now, you can "artificially" control this if you use an external USB (or Firewire) hard drive...you just partition the drive into two partitions...one for Time Machine...and one for additional storage...and you can control the size of your Time Machine partition. I do not know of a way to do that with a Time Capsule drive (you might be able to do it with an external drive attached to the USB port of the Time Capsule...never tried that...and not completely sure if you can use such a shared drive with Time Machine or not...I believe you can).

[dabigkahuna]

I have a password for both the main wi-fi and the "guest". I only have the "guest" one because on VERY rare occasions I've had someone bring their laptop over, but I didn't want to just leave it open to anyone.

I have no idea what MAC filtering and turning off the SSID broadcasting refers to. I'll add it to the list of things to figure out.

I'm thinking it might be best to put the second itunes library on an external drive so that Time Machine can automatically back up both my internal drive and that one. Not sure about your idea of copying the whole file to Time Machine (or external drive) and then deleting what I don't want in each. Seems it would be a little hard to keep track of whether I had left some music in both places. If I gradually go through the music, just copying the ones I'm going to delete from my present file and putting them in a folder on the desktop, then I can just move that folder to the other drive and set up the new library and know nothing is in two places (other than the backup). At least that seems to make sense to me, though it might be a bit slower.

At the store today, I asked a few questions - one of which had to do with partitioning Time Capsule. The person had to go ask a genius, but he said you could - but not recommended. He didn't say why.

So, at least we know just as we now know you can use a hub on the TC usb port (I haven't tried adding a hard drive to the two printers I have plugged into it yet).

[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

I have a password for both the main wi-fi and the "guest". I only have the "guest" one because on VERY rare occasions I've had someone bring their laptop over, but I didn't want to just leave it open to anyone.

I have no idea what MAC filtering and turning off the SSID broadcasting refers to. I'll add it to the list of things to figure out.

MAC refers to Media Access Control address. It is a unique identifier that is assigned to your network adapter (i.e. your wireless card in your MacBook). If you setup and turn on MAC filtering, then you can restrict only use of your network to MAC addresses that you enter in. Thus, if someone uses a computer with a network adapter whose MAC address is not entered into your router, then it will not allow it to connect.

SSID is basically the "name" of your network. When you broadcast your SSID, your network will show up in people's lists of available networks to connect to...obviously in your case, they must enter in the password, but they will "see" your network. If you disable SSID broadcasting, then your network will not show up and people can only connect to it if they know it is there and know the SSID so that they can type it in themselves.

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I'm thinking it might be best to put the second itunes library on an external drive so that Time Machine can automatically back up both my internal drive and that one. Not sure about your idea of copying the whole file to Time Machine (or external drive) and then deleting what I don't want in each. Seems it would be a little hard to keep track of whether I had left some music in both places. If I gradually go through the music, just copying the ones I'm going to delete from my present file and putting them in a folder on the desktop, then I can just move that folder to the other drive and set up the new library and know nothing is in two places (other than the backup). At least that seems to make sense to me, though it might be a bit slower.

The problem is that you then have to find the file on the drive using the Finder. While it is generally not that hard, it is a bit more time consuming. If you create the second library with EVERYTHING from the start, you can then use iTunes to delete it from the library AND the hard drive. It means less mucking around in the Finder.

You might also look at this site to see if you can find some scripts that might help: http://dougscripts.com/itunes/

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At the store today, I asked a few questions - one of which had to do with partitioning Time Capsule. The person had to go ask a genius, but he said you could - but not recommended. He didn't say why.

So, at least we know just as we now know you can use a hub on the TC usb port (I haven't tried adding a hard drive to the two printers I have plugged into it yet).

When I get a chance, I will likely play with this stuff some.

[dabigkahuna]

Well, crap. Looks like I'll probably do it your way, though it will be a pain too.

My idea was to select a music selection(s) and use "copy" - then past them into a folder on the desktop which I'd eventually move to another drive. I made sure all the individual songs in a folder had the correct artwork, etc, so I figured the new library would carry on that info to when I added this folder stuff to the new library.

But after a bit of experimenting, I see that won't work because this is one of those cases where you mark something - in this case in iTunes - "copy" it, but then you can't paste it anyplace.

I ran into this with other things with Mac OS that bugs the heck out of me. For example, before I figured out an alternative approach, when I had to go online to search for artwork and paste it into iTunes, it wouldn't work right. But if I put the artwork on the desktop and dragged it to the right iTunes window, it would.

I think I ran into a similar problem with a picture I had on my PC in a band concert program. I put it on the mac and tried the same thing I would do on a PC - select copy and then paste it where I wanted in a word processing document. But it wouldn't paste into the document on the mac (iworks, I think). Instead, I had to drag it onto a window in the document for pictures. Seems to me I should have been able to click the window and just paste instead of dragging.

These things have just seemed weird to me. Maybe there is a reason, but I just don't get it.

So, that being the case, I guess I'll just have to make a copy of the whole iTunes folder and then "add" it to the new library, then go through both libraries and delete what I don't want in each.

Bummer.

I scanned the script link. Didn't find anything I understood to be useful yet, but I have pretty much zero experience with scripts.

Okay, so I have to copy the whole library apparently. I certainly want to retain the artwork, etc which I assume would be the case just by making the copy.

But I'm not sure about details. Do I just go to the finder listing for "iTunes music" and copy that folder then paste it on the desktop? Then create a new library on the external drive and then, when having that library active, chose "add to library" and point to that desktop folder?

Or can I just create the new library and use "add to library" and point to the existing itunes library without copying it to the desktop first?

Or would the "export" option let you send to another library while leaving the original intact?

When done, whatever method is used, I want the original library exactly as it is now and I want the second library to be physically on the external drive.

On a PC, without iTunes, I'd know what to do to structure the way I want, but trying to do things the Mac way is confusing sometimes.

I just don't want to do something that screws up what I have.

[smax013]

The easiest way that I can think to do it...

1) Create the new library by holding down the Option key while starting up iTunes.
2) Once in the new library in iTunes, go to Preferences under the iTunes menu.
3) Go to the Advanced tab and use the Change... button to change the location of the library to the Time Capsule drive.
4) Then make sure the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library" option is check.
5) Hit OK to exit out of the Preferences.
6) Now, select the Add to Library... command from the File menu.
7) Using the dialog box, navigate to the iTunes Music folder on the internal hard drive on the MacBook and select it.
8) That should add everything to your new iTunes library AND copy (not move) it to the new location on the Time Capsule.

As to the Doug's Scripts, if you give me a little time, I might scan through them and see if there is one that I think might help you.

[dabigkahuna]

That seems simple enough.

I'm probably about two months from getting a new external hd so I'd like to go ahead and use that old drive of mine even though it had trouble on my PC (seemed always work on the Mac).

I figure if everything is still on my internal drive and the old external and I get the external set to backup to time machine, I ought to be well protected until I get a new one (actually, to be extra safe, I'll probably only work on the external library during this time so, if something does go wrong, I not only have the time machine back up of it, but also all the originals still on the the internal drive).

I assume when I enter Time Machine that it shows the backups for the internal and external separately?

So, when I get the new drive, I can just copy that over and it will still show up as the second library? Or is it more complicated when I replace the drive?

Wasn't sure how that was handled. My experience with time machine only was when my internal drive went bad and a new one had to be put in.

[Evildave]

I started doing a little research on this.

I'll probably be buying the 500GB Mac 'Time Capsule' when I get the iMac. It's approximately the cheapest gigabit LAN network attached storage available (even without wireless N router, not that that matters to me right now), and has the USB port for a second USB drive (or printer). And the continuous backup would be nice, as long as the drive spins down when nothing's using it.

My evil plan is to wait a year, and replace the drive with as big an SATA drive as I can find. The upgrade of this hard drive is pretty easy, but I'll leave it a 'virgin' until the warrany's out.

Then the formerly 'internal' 500GB drive will get transferred to an 'external' case, since it will still have over a hundred thousand hours of use left on it.

As for the cooling of external drives, it's not usually an issue. My 250GB USB drive is just a $10 enclosure kit around an IDE drive. It's been dropped, abused, cracked, left on for weeks, etc. It still has far fewer hours than my much newer notebook's drives. It's an offline backup. Something I HIGHLY recommend. If I'm not backing up (or occasionally restoring), it's unplugged, cords wrapped up, and put away. It is still getting old, but mainly physically old. I'll keep using it, but it's getting too old to trust as a primary form of backup.