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computer question that might be too convoluted for google - wurm - 03-18-2025
I have a USB 3.0 SD Flash drive that I store all my specific program' working files and projects. Sometimes in the course of downloading files from the internet to work with, to save time I just download them to the Desktop, then move them over to the flash drive as needed. It seems to me that in the past, when I moved files like that, they actually moved them. Now it seems they copy them, leaving the originals all over my Desktop.
Is there a simple process I can do that would look at both my Desktop and the flash drive and delete anything from the Desktop that's already on the flash drive?
I'm probably not explaining this perfectly, but I'm hoping you know what I mean. Thanks.
Re: computer question that might be too convoluted for google - Ken Sp. - 03-18-2025
Usually when "Moving" a file to a different volume, it always copies it.
You might be able to set up a script, or use SuperDuper to set a schedule.
Re: computer question that might be too convoluted for google - wurm - 03-18-2025
Thanks for the reply, Ken. I could have sworn I had to always use Option-drag to copy, and that it moved by default. Either I'm mis-remembering or the process changed in the past couple of years.
Re: computer question that might be too convoluted for google - Tiangou - 03-18-2025
Command-drag.
Beware that it can be finicky. I’ve seen the operation get disrupted and the file just disappeared when making network-copies. Haven’t seen it mess up with local storage, but strongly suggest that you have a Time Machine backup.
Re: computer question that might be too convoluted for google - Janit - 03-18-2025
wurm wrote:
Thanks for the reply, Ken. I could have sworn I had to always use Option-drag to copy, and that it moved by default. Either I'm mis-remembering or the process changed in the past couple of years.
Maybe you are confusing moving/copying within a volume with doing so between volumes.
Re: computer question that might be too convoluted for google - wurm - 03-19-2025
Janit wrote:
[quote=wurm]
Thanks for the reply, Ken. I could have sworn I had to always use Option-drag to copy, and that it moved by default. Either I'm mis-remembering or the process changed in the past couple of years.
Maybe you are confusing moving/copying within a volume with doing so between volumes.
I believe you're right. And that was a nice way of saying it. Thanks.
Re: computer question that might be too convoluted for google - wurm - 03-19-2025
Anyway, that's good to know going forward. Is there an easy way to deal with duplicate files on separate drives now?