Best way to transfer data from SSD to HDD on mac

[Walt]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what the easiest way is to transfer data from my iMac SSD to HDD. The SSD is almost full but their is 120GB of documents on the SSD that could be better on the HDD. (250gb in total).

Is it just to copy the files from finder from SSD to HDD?

 

The other problem is that I don't understand the desktop. When you copy the files to the desktop (they go on the SSD because the OS is on the SSD) it doesn't create a shortcut but need a full copy. Can someone explain me this too? Is it possible to change how this works somehow?

Thanks!!

[Marty88]

13 minutes ago, Walt said:

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what the easiest way is to transfer data from my iMac SSD to HDD. The SSD is almost full but their is 120GB of documents on the SSD that could be better on the HDD. (250gb in total).

Is it just to copy the files from finder from SSD to HDD?

 

The other problem is that I don't understand the desktop. When you copy the files to the desktop (they go on the SSD because the OS is on the SSD) it doesn't create a shortcut but need a full copy. Can someone explain me this too? Is it possible to change how this works somehow?

Thanks!!

Yes copy and paste to the HDD. If you drag and drop from finder OS X copy's and pastes it rather than moving it if you are doing across 2 separate hard drives. If you drag and drop on the same drive typically it will move the file and not copy and paste

 

If you move a file file from a folder to your desktop it will indeed put the full file on the desktop not a shortcut. Imadgine your desktop just being a folder just like your documents folder or music or photos

[Walt]

3 minutes ago, Marty88 said:

Yes copy and paste to the HDD. If you drag and drop from finder OS X copy's and pastes it rather than moving it if you are doing across 2 separate hard drives. If you drag and drop on the same drive typically it will move the file and not copy and paste

 

If you move a file file from a folder to your desktop it will indeed put the full file on the desktop not a shortcut. Imadgine your desktop just being a folder just like your documents folder or music or photos

Thanks for your quick response! Is it possible to create shortcuts on mac so the file can still be on the HDD? Like how windows works.

[Marty88]

8 minutes ago, Walt said:

Thanks for your quick response! Is it possible to create shortcuts on mac so the file can still be on the HDD? Like how windows works.

This step by step guides shows you 

 

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/os-x-desktop-shortcuts