New Mac user needs a few tips. NEW Q added!!

ryanyboy

ryanyboy

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Ryan
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Helo all,

After battling my ageing PC for too long I decided it was time for a new machine and based on the advice of several other pros I decided my new machine would be an IMac.

Now, I'm not that great with computers so these questions may be a bit basic but here goes....

1) I have a Sandisk firewire reader that I used to transfer images from my CF cards to my PC. Now this won't fit in the firewire reader in the IMac. Did they change the fitting or something??

2) Yesterday LR3 arrived and I wanted to transfer some images from my PC onto the Mac. So I saved them all to a Sandisk flash drive and then stuck that in the MAC. I loaded up LR3 and chose import - selecting the flash drive as the source. Without thinking I left the USB flash drive in the Mac. Once I'd finished working on the images I pulled out the USB flash drive. I then noticed that LR3 was telling me all those images "could not be found". I put the USB flash drive back in and managed to some how reconnect them. But my question is - what did I do wrong??

Sorry for the long winded description of my problems - hopefully someone can give me a nice simple explanation!!

Ryan
 
Last edited:
ryanyboy said:
Helo all,

After battling my ageing PC for too long I decided it was time for a new machine and based on the advice of several other pros I decided my new machine would be an IMac.

Now, I'm not that great with computers so these questions may be a bit basic but here goes....

1) I have a Sandisk firewire reader that I used to transfer images from my CF cards to my PC. Now this won't fit in the firewire reader in the IMac. Did they change the fitting or something??

2) Yesterday LR3 arrived and I wanted to transfer some images from my PC onto the Mac. So I saved them all to a Sandisk flash drive and then stuck that in the MAC. I loaded up LR3 and chose import - selecting the flash drive as the source. Without thinking I left the USB flash drive in the Mac. Once I'd finished working on the images I pulled out the USB flash drive. I then noticed that LR3 was telling me all those images "could not be found". I put the USB flash drive back in and managed to some how reconnect them. But my question is - what did I do wrong??

Sorry for the long winded description of my problems - hopefully someone can give me a nice simple explanation!!

Ryan
Click to expand...

Cant comment on the firewire Ryan, I never use it, but the LR issue is easily solved...when you choose import, near the top of the import window is a drop down menu that offers several options - one of them is copy to new location in catalogue [or words to that effect]. Choose this, and a new text appears underneath that allows you choose a folder on your imac where you can import them to. Hope that helps clear it up. It sounds like they are simply catalogued from the USB stick atm.
 
Thanks Yvonne - I think I've got it sorted. I've got more probs though so I've texted you :D

MArc - that makes sense. Think I'll check out Amazon. Ta mate :)
 
Ryan
never, ever pull out removable media from your iMac. You should eject it first, either right mouse click and eject or drag it onto the trash icon in the dock.

As for the Firewire, I would just get a new cable, Applestore lads will sell you the correct on, just take your cardreader in. I have the Lexar FW Card reader and it has a detachable cable so I would assume the Sandisk Reader is similar.
 
Chances are your FW on the iMac is the Fw800 variety, your card reader is probably the FW400 variety. The number indicates speed and the two while compatible use different connector. Annoying I know. I had a FW400 external hard drive which I needed a whole ne - fairly expensive might I add - caddy for as my MBP has the FW800 port.
 
Firewire 400 and 800 use the same connectors, Apple changed the connector on the new iMacs for reasons only known to them. The new type of cable will do the job from the Applestore or from an online store.
 
Scotty Pro said:
Firewire 400 and 800 use the same connectors, Apple changed the connector on the new iMacs for reasons only known to them. The new type of cable will do the job from the Applestore or from an online store.
Click to expand...

Ok didn't know that though my MBP FW800 port looks very different to my Powerbook FW400. Guess it is an apple thing then.
 
fw800 and 400 are different.

I use sandisk firewire card reader. It is a 400 reader and i have a macbook pro with 800 port.

You can get fw800 cable to 400 end. I use the one from my wd studio mirror firewire external.

You can also get a adaptor around £8 but so much better off with a cable.

Another example of conversion.
fw800 port dv camcorder dv is 400 i use same 800 to 400 cable and a old ipod firewire to micro (small type) firewire adaptor.

Still lots you can do with firewire
 
Thanks guys. I found an adapter on Amazon for my firewire 400 lead so that it can connect to a 800 connection in the Imac (see I did do some research). The new lead will arrive Wednesday :)

Is it really that bad to pull out a bit of removable media Paul?? What can happen?? I won't do it again :$
 
Corrupt your data while on transfer. I have heard people scaremongering and saying you can destroy your storage device but I don't really I have ever seen it happen.
 
If you pull out media without ejecting then you'll get a similar sort of pop-up warning from both Windows and OSX.

Another way to unmount drives is to click on the eject button next to each drive in a Finder window.
 
DigitalRelish said:
If you pull out media without ejecting then you'll get a similar sort of pop-up warning from both Windows and OSX.

Another way to unmount drives is to click on the eject button next to each drive in a Finder window.
Click to expand...

Strangely enough, I never get that warning in Windows. And yes, if I'm using a memory stick/flash drive, I click the eject button in Finder.
 
Ryan

Easiest way to move images from one Lightroom to another is to simply export as a catalogue and include the digital negatives ( Adobe 's wording) Then in the destination Lightroom select Import from catalogue. The images plus all the edits are added to the new catalogue. There is also an option to choose where the images go. Simple quick and easy.
 
Chappers said:
Ryan

Easiest way to move images from one Lightroom to another is to simply export as a catalogue and include the digital negatives ( Adobe 's wording) Then in the destination Lightroom select Import from catalogue. The images plus all the edits are added to the new catalogue. There is also an option to choose where the images go. Simple quick and easy.
Click to expand...

So do you have to connect the two computers together??

Either way this was my (probably rubbish) next move.....

All my current work in progress is currently on a external hard drive connected to the PC. My plan is to simply unplug it from the PC and stick it in the Mac. I assume I can then transfer everything across. Before I do this (ideally this evening) is there anything that I can do wrong (knowing me, yes).

Oh and where's the "hash" key??

Ryan
 
#= alt+3. There is no # on the mac keyboard. Only annoying thing about it.

As far as transferring files is concerned it doesn't really matter how you do it. By exporting as a catalogue you take everything you need. Database entry's, thumbnails and importantly the images ( copies really, the originals stay where they are on the source computer.

As to the best way well that's up to you. Personally I use a crossover network patch cable and transfer that way. You could use a wireless network, ( could be slow) a USB stick ( if you have one big enough) or simply copy to the hard drive.

You shouldn't have a problem. The good news is that in the unlikly event it does go wrong, all the data and images are still on the PC so you havn't lost anything
 
You computer geeks (;)) use such jargon.

# to you :D

So transferring everything via "just connecting the external hard drive to the Mac" will work then.....?
 
Should do. Even if the external drive is formatted NTFS the Mac will read it ( can't write to it though without additional software.) FAT 32 no trouble.
 
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