Convert AFPS Data to be read by Yosemite?

[Hrothgar]

I posted in the Yosemite forum but didn’t get a response. I’m getting a little desperate. hope to get an answer here.
I‘ve got an external drive formatted in AFPS that stores my iTunes (Music) library. I've been using it with a new mac mini running the current OS. I want to switch to an old Mini -- Late 2014, running Yosemite, for my iTunes. Yosemite, however, can't read the AFPS formatted drive. What can I do to get the drive into a format that can be read on Yosemite? Can I export or cop the data to a different hard drive, formatted in exFAT? (Or a different format?). Is it possible to convert the AFPS drive to an earlier format without losing the data?

Thanks in advance.

 

[avz]

If you don’t have any other Mac, you will have to update Yosemite to at least High Sierra.

 

[chown33]

You can't convert from APFS without losing the data. Or more accurately, without copying it to an intermediate storage and then copying it back to a reformatted drive.

HFS+ is a format that Yosemite can use, and that later macOS versions can read and write.

exFAT is sub-optimal, because some metadata that APFS and HFS+ have may not be writable to exFAT.

 

[DeltaMac]

There's not much reason to format an external drive as APFS.
There may be software that will convert the APFS over to an older Mac format, I don't know what that might be, maybe someone else will have an idea about that.
If you are not ever using that drive with Windows, then it's also not reasonable to format the drive to eXFAT.
Best method will be to copy the files on that APFS volume to another drive.
Erase the APFS drive, choosing Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
And, finally, copy the files (your iTunes library) to your newly formatted drive.

And, as has been suggested, you could also upgrade the system on your Mac mini to one that will read files from that APFS volume. That would need to be at least High Sierra. Mojave might be a good choice, as it will still be useful with a lot of older 32-bit software (if that is why you haven't updated already), and would certainly let you keep using iTunes, if you prefer that over the current Music app.

 

[Fishrrman]

Try this.

Get A SECOND DRIVE.
You didn't tell us HOW LARGE your iTunes music folder (the one on the APFS drive) is.

Connect the 2nd drive to your Mac and open disk utility.
Format the 2nd drive to "Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format".
Quit disk utility.

Now connect the APFS drive that has the iTunes library on it.

You need to locate the folder named "iTunes" (at least that's what it's named on my copy of Mojave).

Copy the entire folder to the 2nd drive.

Now take this 2nd drive to the Mac that is running Yosemite.
Connect it -- does it mount on the desktop? That's a good sign.
Now, HOLD DOWN THE OPTION KEY and launch iTunes.
iTunes will ask which library you want to use.
Can it "see" the library on the 2nd drive?

Some possible issues to consider:
Your older copy of iTunes might refuse to open the iTunes folder (from the newer version of the OS).
If that's the case, can you "manually import" from it?
(more work, but whatever works, works).

Another issue:
There might be "permissions problems".
If so, do this:
a. connect the second drive, let its icon mount on the desktop
b. click on the icon ONE TIME to select it
c. bring up the "get info" box for the drive (type command-i)
d. at the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your password
e. put a checkmark into "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing and permissions)
f. close get info.
Now try again.

Perhaps something above will be useful.

IN THE FUTURE...
I suggest that you DO NOT format any "data only drive" to APFS.
Keep them at HFS+.
Fewer problems!

 

[bernuli]

I posted in the Yosemite forum but didn’t get a response. I’m getting a little desperate. hope to get an answer here.
I‘ve got an external drive formatted in AFPS that stores my iTunes (Music) library. I've been using it with a new mac mini running the current OS. I want to switch to an old Mini -- Late 2014, running Yosemite, for my iTunes. Yosemite, however, can't read the AFPS formatted drive. What can I do to get the drive into a format that can be read on Yosemite? Can I export or cop the data to a different hard drive, formatted in exFAT? (Or a different format?). Is it possible to convert the AFPS drive to an earlier format without losing the data?

Thanks in advance.

The real problem is that Yosemite iTunes will not be able to read newer version of iTunes or Music libraries. Best bet is to copy all the songs to an external HD or SD card then bring the songs over to the old Mini.

To export the songs you have, go into Music app. Select Songs from the sidebar, then select all and drag to a HFS formatted drive.

I recommend buying one of these drives. After you move the data, makes good drive to use with time machine.

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[Hrothgar]

Thanks everyone, I thinkI can figure it out from here

 

[Hrothgar]

Still no luck. I upgraded my 2014 mini from Yosemite to Mojave, and downloaded the T7 software from Samsung. But when I plugged in the Samsung T7, it was not recognized. The light on the T7 flashed once, and then nothing. The drive works fine in my 2020 Mini.

Is there something I need to do in the 2014 Mini to get it to read an APFS drive? Does it matter that the T7 was created using a later OS version running Music (not iTunes)?

Any other suggestions?

 

[bernuli]

Still no luck. I upgraded my 2014 mini from Yosemite to Mojave, and downloaded the T7 software from Samsung. But when I plugged in the Samsung T7, it was not recognized. The light on the T7 flashed once, and then nothing. The drive works fine in my 2020 Mini.

Is there something I need to do in the 2014 Mini to get it to read an APFS drive? Does it matter that the T7 was created using a later OS version running Music (not iTunes)?

Any other suggestions?

Should not need the Samsung software. It may just take a long time to mount the drive. Does the Samsung drive show up in disk utility?

best bet get another drive, cheap HD. Format HFS and copy exported songs to the new drive

 

[Hrothgar]

Doh. I changed USB cables, and now it works.

Thanks again.