This article will show you how to copy files from your computer to your hard drive (or vice versa). Data can be transferred from / to external and internal hard drives on computers running Windows and Mac OS X.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: On Windows
Step 1. Determine the type of hard drive
There are two main types of hard drives from which and to which data can be copied:
-
external hard drive connected to the USB port of the computer. If such a disk is connected to a Windows computer, no adapters or manipulation of settings are needed; if you used the disk on a Mac OS X computer and are going to connect it to a Windows computer, you need to format the disk in the file system exFAT.
- internal hard drive connects directly to the computer motherboard. Remove the hard drive from the computer to find out its type: IDE (connects to the board with a wide and flat cable) or SATA (connects to the board with a narrow cable), and then buy an IDE-USB or SATA-USB adapter.
Step 2. Connect the hard drive to your computer
Connect the USB cable to the drive and to your computer. If you are connecting an internal hard drive, connect the adapter to your computer, and then connect the IDE or SATA cable to the corresponding connector on the adapter.
Step 3. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 4. Open an Explorer window
Click the folder-shaped icon at the bottom left of the Start menu.
Step 5. Find the files you want to copy to your hard drive
To do this, in the left part of the Explorer window, click on the folder with the necessary files.
If you want to copy files from your hard drive to your computer, go to the step "Click on 'This PC'"
Step 6. Select files
Hold down the left mouse button and drag the pointer over the required files, or hold down the Ctrl key and click on each required file.
Alternatively, you can click on any file and then press Ctrl + A to select all files in the folder
Step 7. Copy the files
Press Ctrl + C.
Step 8. Click on This PC
You will find this option on the left side of the Explorer window.
Step 9. Open the hard drive
Double click on the hard drive name under Devices and Drives.
- Typically, the hard drive icon appears on the right side of the This PC window.
- Don't click on the disk (C:)because it is the internal hard drive of the computer.
Step 10. Insert the file (s)
Click on an empty space in the hard disk window and then press Ctrl + V. The files will be copied to your hard drive.
If you are copying files from your hard drive to your computer, do the following: select the files you want, copy them (press Ctrl + C), open the corresponding folder on your computer, and then press Ctrl + V
Step 11. Safely remove the hard drive
For this:
- Click This PC on the left side of the window.
- Click on the name of the hard drive in the "Devices and Disks" section.
- Go to the "Manage" tab.
- Click Check Out at the top of the window.
- Disconnect the drive from your computer.
Method 2 of 2: On Mac OS X
Step 1. Determine the type of hard drive
There are two main types of hard drives from which and to which data can be copied:
- external hard drive connected to the USB port of the computer. If you are going to connect a new external hard drive to your Mac, format the drive using the Mac OS Extended Journaling file system used by Mac OS X. You may also need a USB-3 to USB-C adapter if your Mac only has USB-C ports.
- internal hard drive connects directly to the computer motherboard. Remove the hard drive from the computer to find out its type: IDE (connects to the board with a wide and flat cable) or SATA (connects to the board with a narrow cable), and then buy an IDE-USB or SATA-USB adapter.
Step 2. Connect the hard drive to your computer
Connect the USB cable to the drive and to your computer. If you are connecting an internal hard drive, connect the adapter to your computer, and then connect the IDE or SATA cable to the corresponding connector on the adapter.
If your Mac does not have standard USB ports, buy a USB-3 to USB-C adapter
Step 3. Open a Finder window
Click on the blue face icon found in the dock.
Step 4. Find the files you want to copy to your hard drive
To do this, on the left side of the Finder window, click on the folder with the files you want.
If you want to copy files from your hard drive to your computer, go to the step "Click on the name of the connected hard drive"
Step 5. Select files
Hold down the left mouse button and drag the pointer over the files you want, or hold down the ⌘ Command key and click on each file you want.
Alternatively, you can click on any file and then press ⌘ Command + A to select all files in the folder
Step 6. Copy the files
Press ⌘ Command + C.
Step 7. Click on the name of the connected hard drive
It's in the lower-left side of the Finder window. The hard disk window will open.
Step 8. Insert the file (s)
Click in an empty space in the hard drive window and then press ⌘ Command + V. The files will be copied to your hard drive.
If you are copying files from your hard drive to your computer, do the following: highlight the files you want, copy them (press ⌘ Command + C), open the corresponding folder on your computer, and then press ⌘ Command + V
Step 9. Remove the hard drive
To do this, in a Finder window, click the triangle icon to the right of the connected hard drive's name, and then disconnect the hard drive from your computer when prompted.
Advice
- Formatting the drive will delete all files stored on it; this is useful if you want to clean up your hard drive before using it on another computer.
- We recommend that you partition your hard drive when installing the operating system so that you have a backup of your files in case something happens to the system partition.