Running out of space, what to do?

[c14nhl]

I've got an old MacBook Pro that is about to run out of HD space.

My internal drive is 160Gb.

At the moment I have an external 2TB drive connected to it at all times. I know that the main space hog is my iTunes folders.

Can I safely move them onto the external HD? And then on have anything added to iTunes be stored on the external drive?

I currently use the external for TimeMachine too, will this be a problem?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder

And no, it will be no problem with TM, though data on the same volume as TM uses will not get backed up, maybe invest in another HDD for data or backup purposes, maybe a mobile one.

MacBook, MacBook Pro: Replacing the Hard Disk Drive, transferring data to the new HDD

the guide includes:

• 0. Identify your MacBook or MacBook Pro
• 1. Getting a new HDD
• 2. Guides to replace the internal HDD with a newer one
• 3. Transferring data from the old HDD to the new HDD
• 4. Using the optical disk drive (ODD) slot for placing an SSD or HDD inside the MB/P (OPTIBAY)

​

 

[GGJstudios]

I know that the main space hog is my iTunes folders.

Can I safely move them onto the external HD?

One method that I've used is to split my iTunes library, so my favorite music is on my internal drive, available when I travel, with the remainder on the external drive.

How to split a single iTunes library over two or more media locations

 

[c14nhl]

Hmm I didn't think about it not being captured by Time Machine. That would be a problem. And of course anything I take off my internal drive won't be captured. I'll need to have a think.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Hmm I didn't think about it not being captured by Time Machine. That would be a problem. And of course anything I take off my internal drive won't be captured. I'll need to have a think.

Get another HDD, maybe even mobile one for your iTunes library, as that will be backed up by TM.

Time Machine FAQ