Eric wrote: >Now I want to free up space on the hard drive with the system software >so that it can run better. What is the best way to transfer the files >from one HD to another. Should I just copy them over or reinstall apps >on the new HD and trash the old stuff.
You'd like it running better because the existing boot volume is fragmented and/or low on space? OK, consider partitioning either the new or even the old HD and creating a volume not too much bigger than what the OS needs. Perhaps make it 700 MB or so. That will give you plenty of room for the OS and a few apps that demand to be on the same volume as the System Folder (such as QuickTime) and room for Virtual Memory. Or you could get further geeky and carve out an additional partition of about 200MB or a little less and assign VM there (via the Memory control panel). Keeping the boot volume and/or the optional VM volume small guarantees they won't get cluttered, rebuilding the main Desktop will go quickly, running Disk First Aid after a crash will go quickly and VM should perform better, having not to jostle for space with other files (if on it's own volume). You can keep going, making a volume just for documents or projects, one for applications, one just for file sharing, etc. All such scenarios not only make it easier to keep things organized (if the Save ... or Open ... dialog boxes don't get you confused with all the new "hard disk" choices!) but make it easier and quicker to perform backups. An especially nice feature, either on a partition or better yet the other disk, is to keep a relatively clean and untouched System Folder, perhaps of an older and smaller version of the OS, for maintenance of the main System Folder. Head spinning yet? Oh, on to your question. You can drag whatever you want to the new disk. Note that often you can't successfully do this with the working System Folder without getting multiple "file in use" error messages, but of course it can be done by starting up from CD first. Keep in mind some aliases might need to be fixed too, etc. When things get fragmented again you can copy everything to another disk or volume and either erase the first volume via the Finder's Special menu, initialize the first disk via Drive Setup, or delete everything and empty the Trash and copy everything back --- the method you choose is dependent on how you have your disks and/or partitions set up. Doing so rewrites the files in contiguous space in one pass, and it's safer than using a defrag utility (cheaper too). -David -- StarMax is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... / Buy books, CDs, videos, and more from Amazon.com \ / <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/lowendmac> \ Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> StarMax list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/starmax.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/starmax%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
