Messages

1

Tech / Re: Making space on my Hard Drive.

« on: February 15, 2025, 12:02:37 AM »

Interesting that all you list adds up to more than 1 TB.
You could certainly cull some applications that you don't really use. Since I have no idea what is in the HOME folder, I can't give you any idea what could go. Obviously that is the place to dig in.


When I'm looking to make space I open a folder that has a lot of gigabytes and click on the size column to show the largest sized items top down. That way it brings the most egregiously large and possibly not that important to the top. No sense in going through every little thing looking for what to dump, just concentrate on the bigger ones.


Good luck!

2

Tech / Re: Apple Mail is VERY Slow and gone wonky!

« on: February 12, 2025, 09:42:00 PM »

Suggest you remove as much as you can from your mail inboxes. Check the prefs for each account to see when items in the Trash are actually deleted. They may stay there for a month or forever depending on what you selected. Once you are sure you have truly deleted a bunch and you have emptied your Mac trash, then try rebuilding.


Empty as many caches as possible.
https://www.macworld.com/article/677632/how-to-delete-cache-on-a-mac.html



Also would boot to Recovery mode and run Disk First Aid. It may help with the directory that keeps track of files and folders.


https://support.apple.com/en-us/102611

3

Tech / Re: Can't open iMac cause HD full

« on: February 07, 2025, 11:19:07 PM »

Won't be able to walk you through it but here are a couple thoughts. Did you manage to make a full copy of the HD with Superduper on an external? If so, you may also be able to start up from that drive and use it to copy off new files. Hold Option key on startup with external attached to see if it gives you an icon for that external as a startup drive.


Also do the simple things like reset NVRAM:


https://www.macworld.com/article/224955/how-to-reset-a-macs-nvram-pram-and-smc.html#


Try starting up in Recovery mode:


https://support.apple.com/en-us/102518


Also try to use one iMac in target mode to transfer files to another or to an additional external).

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/transfer-files-mac-computers-target-disk-mode-mchlp1443/mac


Ultimately it sounds like you may have to wipe and reinstall OS to your original drive on the iMac.

4

Tech / Re: Can i work off my EHD instead of my iMac?

« on: January 17, 2025, 11:10:33 PM »

I was going to suggest what Jim did, putting an SSD into the iMac. Or you could find a "newer" Mac that was Intel and able to run Mohave. In any case, removing as much from the hard drive as possible will help speed things up, but a new SSD would make a major difference as well as being sure the iMac is maxed out with RAM.


Generally speaking, a Mac will not be able to run an OS that was earlier than the one it had on it when initially sold. There is a virtual machine program called UTM which is supposed to allow M1 Macs run Intel OS. But it is kinda experimental. Read about it here:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255644357?sortBy=rank



My daily use Mac is an old 2015 13" MBP which is now running Monterey but can boot off externals running as far back as Sierra. I can do pretty much anything I need to do including running the Affinity apps. I do have a newer Intel 16" MBP but this one is very handy. I put an SSD in it a couple years ago and can boot off external drives easily. Have no need to move up to a brand new Mac for now.

5

Community / Re: We need some Humor!!!

« on: January 17, 2025, 01:08:00 AM »

 


Thanks, Jon!  I needed that.   

6

Tech / Re: Not apfs..?

« on: November 29, 2024, 06:53:27 AM »

Of course, though I don't visit TS every day so be patient if you have a question.   

Looking back at your original post in April it appears you already have your drive in APFS from the image you posted. If that is so, all you need do is get an external SSD and make it APFS for backup (use Disk Utility to do that, not Superduper).

ADSR seemed to have a somewhat different situation wherein he did not want to go the APFS route if he could avoid it. Generally speaking APFS should only be used on SSD drives and not disk drives as it would be slower than HFS+.

7

Tech / Re: Not apfs..?

« on: October 18, 2024, 02:03:26 AM »

 


If he didn't replace any physical parts, he probably did one or more of the following resets:


https://www.macworld.com/article/224955/how-to-reset-a-macs-nvram-pram-and-smc.html


I recently did a SMC reset on my sister's MBP and solved a recurring flash problem. Worth trying if you encounter any future issues.

8

Community / Re: We need some Humor!!!

« on: October 17, 2024, 01:58:54 AM »

 



I'm not. 

9

Tech / Re: Not apfs..?

« on: October 17, 2024, 01:56:47 AM »

The newer OS requires an APFS file system on the main drive of the computer if SSD but does not make it mandatory for an external. What I would suggest is getting an external SSD and installing Mohave through the MBP onto the new external. You can avoid having to make the external APFS. Once installed, boot to the external and use the Mac to move info/data from the MBP to the external as if you were moving to a new computer. After that is done, test everything and if OK, erase the MBP and clone the external to the MBP.


I know it sounds like a lot of work but it is a relatively "easy" way to avoid having to make your MBP have an APFS system. It's not that having APFS is bad but you could have problems with compatibility with other drives, etc. I don't know the extent of your computer hardware and what programs or files you need to access. Keeping the MBP non APFS should keep things compatible though according the some, may not be as efficient as the new file system.


In any case, I would invest in two externals and clone your present system to one before you do anything so you do have a backup should anything go wrong. If all works out, then clone the new setup to the extra drive. My advice is "you never have too many backups." 


Suggest you look up articles on APFS vs MacOS extended to get an idea of the possible problems.

10

Tech / Re: selection..??

« on: September 28, 2024, 11:42:19 PM »

Not sure, but I think his taking a screenshot won't make any difference cause if the highlighting truly isn't working, then no color will show and it will just look like the regular text. That's the reason he is so frustrated.


Unfortunately I don't have an answer to his problem other than perhaps doing a reinstall of the OS. Pretty drastic solution, but might work.

11

Tech / Re: Just tell me what to buy please!

« on: June 16, 2024, 05:15:25 AM »

Hi Sooz! Good to hear from you.


This is the same TS you know and love, no new site elsewhere. Since computers (Macs anyway) have become so easy to use there aren't a lot of people coming here anymore. Also there are many other places to find answers so we aren't as necessary as we once were. Many of the regulars have also gone on to other places "in the cloud" so to speak.


As for MS Word, I believe it is by subscription now. Don't know what version of the program you are using now. Have you tried Pages? I find it suitable for most purposes and of course comes free for Macs.


You probably just need a very basic unit since you won't be doing a lot of graphics. When you get to the point of deciding which model, I'd suggest checking out the refurbs directly from Apple if you want to save a little $. Otherwise there are several online places that sell relatively recent new iMacs at good prices. Here's a sampling of what's on offer:


https://www.macrumors.com/guide/imac-
deals/#:~:text=In%20this%20guide%2C%20you'll,is%20now%20integrated%20with%20TigerDirect).


https://www.macworld.com/article/672803/best-imac-deals.html#


https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac

12

Tech / Re: AI comes to Safari

« on: May 27, 2024, 12:45:59 AM »

Totally agree with you, Jim.  So tired of shopping at sites and finding out that once I go to check out, Safari doesn't show a "Complete purchase" button or the Paypal option doesn't work, etc. Then I have to go through the whole process all over again in Firefox. Not to mention some government sites that don't work with Safari either.
 

13

Community / Re: Earthquake

« on: April 25, 2024, 01:24:28 AM »

Hi Frances,


Not really, some people are now considering earthquake insurance but unless we get another big shake we probably will just hold our breath and muddle on. The state has supposedly checked all major bridges and declared them safe, ignoring our local loss.    Will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to repair or replace the stone bridge. One benefit, our daily walks down that road are pretty traffic free. 


As of this date, we now have over 120 aftershocks. Again, most minor and barely felt unless really close to the source. Seems as though they have now discovered a "Tewksbury fault" hitherto unknown.    Not how I hoped our town would get recognized on the map.

14

Tech / Re: revert to a previous version of Photoshop CC

« on: April 25, 2024, 01:14:59 AM »

Obviously another slip up of the Adobe Quality Control division.

 

15

Tech / Re: How to convert to APFS to be able to upgrade OS?

« on: April 25, 2024, 01:13:24 AM »

I'm not sure why SuperDuper says you have to convert the external to APFS other than this I found at the Shirt-Pocket website from Dave Nanian:


"Since the source is APFS, and there are features of APFS that cannot be replicated on HFS+, such as sparse files, it's wise to use the same format. It's not required, but, for example, a 2TB "sparse file" on the source that might only have 200K of data in it will take up 200K on the source and 2TB on the backup...and will be 2TB once restored, if you use HFS+."

That said, you may be able to keep the existing data as HFS+ and create a separate partition on the external that is APFS. This link explains with pictures how to do that (2nd choice).


https://recoverit.wondershare.com/harddrive-tips/convert-external-drive-to-apple-file-system-apfs-format.html


Some caveats: if your previous attempt to convert with SD failed, it may have corrupted the data presently on the EHD. You may have to erase the disk anyway and start from scratch. Not terrible if you only had a previous User Folder and nothing much else.
But once again, I recommend having more than one external bkup, one SSD with a complete clone, one for Time Machine or timed SD backups and one strictly for data that can be HFS+(OS extended) so it can be used with an older Mac OS if you have legacy machines.
Here is a thread at Shirt-Pocket that confirms my suggestion as well as another at Apple with similar thoughts:


https://www.shirt-pocket.com/forums/showthread.php?p=34675#post34675


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253532971?sortBy=best


Hope this helps you get to your goal.