Where to save files

[hammerzzz]

If you are supposed to save user files to the Macintosh HD Data location why is there a User folder with documents/downloads/pictures etc?

And will time machine backup both data and macintosh HD?

 

[Mike Boreham]

If you are supposed to save user files to the Macintosh HD Data location why is there a User folder with documents/downloads/pictures etc?

And will time machine backup both data and macintosh HD?

"Macintosh HD" is the signed sealed unwritable locked System Volume, which is verified every boot up. If it fails verification as an unmodified System Volume a bootable snapshot will not be made and the machine will not boot.

The -Data Volume is absolutely everything else on your computer.... apps you install, all settings (including System settings), and also your User directory, which is where you should save all your data.

Finder does clever merging so that what is on the System Volume and what is on the -Data volume looks like it is all one volume, like in the old days before the split. Third party apps appear in the same "Applications" folder as Apple apps even though third party ones are on the -Data volume.

Time Machine does not backup the System Volume. it backs up the -Data volume only and a Time Machine restore adds a -Data Volume back up to the System Volume. The concept of a clean install of a new System Volume doesn't have any purpose because the System Volume is unalterable. If it has been altered (corrupted) it won't boot and you can will be instructed to download a fresh one. If it boots it is OK.

 

[Madhatter32]

If you are supposed to save user files to the Macintosh HD Data location why is there a User folder with documents/downloads/pictures etc?

And will time machine backup both data and macintosh HD?

The stuff in the User folders are all your stuff -- your documents, pictures, etc. The system top level data is for people who allow multiple users on their device -- so it's shared stuff that can run no matter who is the user -- like applications, etc. -- that can only be altered by a system administrator (not a just user). This includes some sytem level data. So, for example, you can have a document only accessible to a particular user or you have it accessible to any users of the device. TM backs it all up.

 

[hammerzzz]

Thanks. Pain in the backside. Im the only user and there is nothing in data. All apps and files are in hd drive.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Thanks. Pain in the backside. Im the only user and there is nothing in data. All apps and files are in hd drive.

What/why is it a pain? What do you mean "there is nothing in data"

 

[Nermal]

"Macintosh HD - Data" is normally invisible apart from when you're using tools like Disk Utility. For the most part, you can completely ignore it.

 

[hammerzzz]

I see both. Data has nothing in it. All of my data including applications photos etc are under my user dir

 

[Mike Boreham]

I see both. Data has nothing in it. All of my data including applications photos etc are under my user dir

Where are seeing -Data Volume with nothing in it?

Applications should be in your /Applications folder unless you have a specific reason to put them in ~/Applications.

Does the root directory of your Macintosh HD look like this ?