About:
This guide will explain how to move system folders from the main system drive to another drive or partition. This will allow you to have your Applications and User folders onto another drive. Many of you have asked for this and feel free to ask any questions.
Preface:
Before we begin I must recommend that this should not be done on existing installation due to the risk of loss of data. If you do choose to proceed with the following steps on a existing installation back up your Data before beginning. If the proper steps are taken by the end user and takes the time to read the guide carefully there is no risk.
Guide:
Part 1: Gathering information
1. Open Terminal:
2. Type in the following:
sudo su
3. Enter your password
4. You will now see the following:
Last login: Fri Nov 23 16:13:27 on console
Andrews-Mac-Pro:~ Andrew$ sudo su
Password:
sh-3.2#
5. Type in the following:
ls /volumes
6. Record what drive you wish to move the files to
7. Go to System Preferences:
8. Then go to Users and Groups:
9. Click on unlock:
10. Enter your password:
11. Right click on your current User Account:
12. Click on Advance Options:
13. The following screen will appear:
14. Locate the following:
15. Click on Choose:
16. Select the Drive or Partition you will be moving your files to then click Open.
17. Record the Drive or Partition name given and verify the name to the name you had recoded previously. The System name may be different then the name of the Drive or Partition name that you had named it. The System name is what we need. For example my Drive name is Applications however the System name is Applications 1.
18. Click Cancel
Part 2: Moving The Folders
1. Open Terminal:
2. Type in the following:
sudo su
3. Enter your password
4. You will now see the following:
Last login: Fri Nov 23 16:13:27 on console
Andrews-Mac-Pro:~ Andrew$ sudo su
Password:
sh-3.2#
5. In terminal type in the following:
ditto -v /Test/ /Volumes/Applications\ 1/Test
Note
Test = The folder you are moving
Applications\ 1 = the Drive or Partition the folder is moving to
Test = The Destination of the original Test folder
6. In terminal type in the following:
sudo mv /Test /Old
7. In terminal type in the following:
sudo rm -R /Old
8. In terminal type in the following:
ln -s /Volumes/Applications\ 1/Test /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/
Note
Macintosh\ HD = System Drive
9. On your System Drive you should see a link that takes you to the other Drive or Partition that you moved the other files to
Part 3: Finalizing User Folder
1. Go to System Preferences:
2. Then go to Users and Groups:
3. Click on unlock:
4. Enter your password:
5. Right click on your current User Account:
6. Click on Advance Options:
7. The following screen will appear:
8. Locate the following:
9. Click on Choose:
10. Select the Drive or Partition that you have moved your User folder to and open your user folder then click open. My final address looked like the following:
11. Click on OK
Part 4: Finalizing Applications Folder (Alpha)
1. Launchpad will now no longer show any of your Apps. You must drag the apps back into launch pad if you still wish to use it.
If anyone knows how to fix this let me know.
Part 5: 10.9 And Newer
This only works with new accounts.
Create new account (admin) “UserName”
sudo sh
volumes ls
(check name of volume you are moving the User folder to)
Create folder Users on drive 2
Create “UserName” folder on drive 2 in Users folder
ditto -v /Users/”UserName”/ /Volumes/drive 2/Users/”UserName”
Change folder under Users and Accounts in advanced options for “UserName”
Log Out
Log in under “UserName”
Let it do its thing (Setting up your Mac)
rampagedev 