Using external storage hard drives with 2017 iMac, procedures

[Bluesage]

Hi, I'm not sure of the correct terminology, I use an 1T external HD for image, movie and books file storage for my 2017 iMac and it is full. After I format the new10T external HD, can I use Carbon Copy Cloner to Block?? clone the 1T of files onto the 10T HD? I also know nothing about this method or how to make sure I have prepared my hard drives properly, as I'm not great at understanding the jargon used in a lot of the instructions. Both external hard drives are made by the same company and are the same model, 1 is just larger size.
I did not petition the 1 T HD; Should I petition the new HD first?
I would be grateful for any advice in this matter.

 

[picpicmac]

Should I petition the new HD first?

Whatever tool you use to copy files, the first thing to do is partition a drive, if you want more than one volume on it. Partitioning will erase what already exists on the drive.

When you plug in (USB?) your new HD, Disk Utility will recognize it (if you plugged it in properly.) Disk Utility can then be used to partition your new drive.

For copying anything other than the operating system: I always just used the drag and drop capability of the Finder, to copy entire directories or disks. Third party utilities might be faster.

If you want to move the operating system or make a bootable volume, the procedure is different. Search this forums on how to make a bootable volume.

 

[Fishrrman]

There's nothing complicated about this.
One just does it.

Get a larger drive. I'd recommend a USB3.1 gen2 SSD.

Connect it to your Mac.
Format/erase it to the file system you're going to use.
Either HFS+ (Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format)
or
APFS with GUID partition format.

You don't need to partition it unless you want to. Otherwise, NOT needed.

If you don't already have CCC, I'd recommend SuperDuper for this job instead, because it's so easy to use.
Download it by clicking this link --> download

Just "click along" after you launch it.
Again, NO PARTITIONING is required.

SuperDuper will "clone over" all the files from your overloaded old external drive.
They'll be on the new one, with additional space available automatically (if it's 2tb, etc.).

Again, do not "over-think" this.
Just... do it.

Note: CCC will do the job just as well, but I suggested SD because it's easier (if someone has never used either app before)