Apple TV / Laptop / External FW HD

[d.f]

hi. i've tried searching this one, but i can't get an answer.

If i use an Apple TV (160Gb) synced from an iBook, but the files are on a external drive, will i have a problem.....

i know that to sync i have to connect the external drive, manually select the files to transfer, etc..., but once the 160Gb are full, if i unplug my external HD from the laptop, will the ATV then delete the files..? or as it's now disconnected will the ATV just happily act as a HD based media player...?

any help..?

 

[Jasoco]

Sync'd files won't be deleted. The AppleTV doesn't know if you delete a file from your computer until you sync again. So don't worry about syncing then not having your laptop turned on.

 

[d.f]

great...??

so you're saying that i can do this right..? just don't open iTunes while not connected to the External HD, yes...??

exciting.

 

[danerh]

What then...

OK - i have the same question... but what about if you then open itunes again, after syncing that first time, and dont have the HD connected??? Will it wipe your films from the TV or will it not change them because there is still a reference of them in itunes??

 

[outlyer]

hi. i've tried searching this one, but i can't get an answer.

If i use an Apple TV (160Gb) synced from an iBook, but the files are on a external drive, will i have a problem.....

i know that to sync i have to connect the external drive, manually select the files to transfer, etc..., but once the 160Gb are full, if i unplug my external HD from the laptop, will the ATV then delete the files..? or as it's now disconnected will the ATV just happily act as a HD based media player...?

any help..?

I have a similar situation. The way I did it was to create a symbolic link (like an alias) for my "iTunes Music" folder pointing to the external drive. Then, iTunes only thinks the files are missing if you try to access them when the drive isn't attached (you get the little exclamation point)

Basically, if you go into the terminal, you can do this:

ln -sf /Volumes/External/iTunes\ Music ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes\ Music

and it should work.

 

[d.f]

I have a similar situation. The way I did it was to create a symbolic link (like an alias) for my "iTunes Music" folder pointing to the external drive. Then, iTunes only thinks the files are missing if you try to access them when the drive isn't attached (you get the little exclamation point)

Basically, if you go into the terminal, you can do this:

ln -sf /Volumes/External/iTunes\ Music ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes\ Music

and it should work.

ok

i forgot to mention. my iTunes Music folder is already an alias to my external iTunes Music Folder.

is that what you mean..?

looks like i'll have to bite the bullet and buy one. it looks like it can work.

good times.

 

[outlyer]

ok

i forgot to mention. my iTunes Music folder is already an alias to my external iTunes Music Folder.

is that what you mean..?

looks like i'll have to bite the bullet and buy one. it looks like it can work.

good times.

I'm not entirely sure how aliases are treated by Mac OS X. I think symbolic links are slightly "lower level" and so Mac OS X treats them as part of the file system. I think aliases are "followed" but they're handled differently.

The catch is that aliases update when the source changes. This is better behaviour generally, but in this situation, since symbolic links don't update, you can remove or reattach the drive without iTunes "finding out."