Can we use Time Machine to back up data on Time Capsule from the outside of network?

I have Time Capsule at home. Can I use Time Machine to back up data of portable nootebook when I am working at office?

If you mean over the internet, you can but it will be so slow and more than likely so unreliable it is a poor method to use. Remember all internet is limited to upload speed.
Lion does a temporary backup onto local hard disk.. which is useless of course if the hard drive is damaged.. but helps if you delete an important file. Then when you go back home and it discovers the TC is available it will then backup again from where it left off.
I think it is only a major issue if you are away from home for major lengths of time, weeks or months.

Similar Messages

How can I set up an external harddrive with time machine that already has data on it without losing the data?

I have an external hard drive that I use to hold photos and other files on that no longer fit on my macbook. I also use the external hard drive for back ups set up with time machine. I don't believe I ever did anything to partition it, I've just always had separate folders (Photos, Music, etc) with one being called "Back Ups" (or Backups.backupdb) that my time machine back ups would automatically go into. Recently, I made the switch from my HDD in my macbook to a new SSD of the same size. I used the back ups on the external hard drive to restore all my content, which all worked out fine. My problem now is in using my external hard drive. When I plug it in, it no longer seems to be working with time machine. Also, I was organizing some files within the external hard drive, and when I dragged one into a folder, it took a while to load. Before, it was instantaneous moving a file already on the external hard drive to another location within it. Can anyone help me in getting the external hard drive to work with my new SSD? I don't want to delete any of the folders or back ups that are already on it, since that's the only place I have some of those files. Please let me know if you need anymore details. Thanks! (sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum)

First, she has to be logged in to the same iTunes account as she used on the old computer.
Second, when she plugs the iPhone in to iTunes, right click on the phone name and select transfer purchases.
Third, enter one contact and one calendar entry into the new computer's addressbook/calendar.
After that, she should be fine.

Use Time machine to back up data from one external drive to another

I keep my entire archive of digital photogarphy (700 gb) in a folder on an external drive. I want to duplicate that folder on another external drive and use Time Machine to automatically synch and add new photos to this back up folder on another drive.
My questions are:
Can Time Machine do this?
If not, then what could I use to do this?

If both are attached to the computer, you might be able to do that using a clone program that can regularly schedule backups. Many have free demo modes.
Clone - Carbon Copy Cloner (Often recommended as it has more features than some others)
Clone – Data Backup
Clone – Deja Vu
Clone - SuperDuper
Clone - Synk
Clone Software – 6 Applications Tested

I want Time Machine to "back up now" as it should from a menu that should appear when the icon is addressed in the dock. I cannot get this menu to appear?

I have been using an external Iomega HD for back-up. It has stopped working automaically ( I have used disc utility to verify and repair the disc). I get a message that disc was unable to back-up. Mac help describes a menu which appears when you click on the Time Machine icon that includes the option to "back up now". This menu does not appear when I click the icon. What can I try next?

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

TM backup: can I use two drives to back up data on two other drives?

Hi to all!
I have with me a 1 TB/ Thunderbolt EHD [external hard drive], a Lacie 2 TB/FW, EHD, a Seagate 2 TB/ 2 USB, EHD, a Seagate 3 TB/ 2 USB, EHD and [to be purchased] a Seagate 2 TB/ 2 USB, EHD.
I mainly use my Mac for making HD videos using FCPX.
I am planning to use these drives in the following manner as indicated by the table below:
Drive:
a
1 TB,
Thunderbolt,
Buffalo
b
2 TB/ FW
LaCie
c
2 TB/ 2 usb
Seagate
d
3 TB/ 2 usb
Seagate
e
2 TB/ 2 usb
Seagate backup
[to be purchased]
f
500 GB, internal
Macintosh HD
Partitions
1
1
1
2
1
USAGE:
editing videos, one
active project at a time
mainly for camera
archives, music files,
FCP events, projects
and exported movies
same as the LaCie,
as a backup of data
intend to have 2
partitions of 1.5 TB each;
one partition for personal
data and the other partition
to back up data on the
Thunderbolt [current project]
intend to use this for
TM back up of my
Mac's internal HD
applications, documents etc.
backed up by:
one partition of 'd'
by the 2 TB Seagate
backup 'e'
I would like to know whether I could do these things:
Can I use the TM backup feature in this manner of using 2 separate drive/partition [e/d] to back up data on 2 other drives [f and a]?
Further, I am manually copying files from 'b' drive to 'c' drive; without incurring further expense, can I ensure that whatever I write onto the LaCie [b] gets copied to the 'c' drive automatically?
Any thoughts, suggestions and instructions in these matters are welcome.

EXT. DRIVES:
a
1 TB
Thunderbolt
b
2 TB/FW
[LaCie]
c
2 TB/ USB
[Seagate]
d
3 TB/USB
[Seagate]
e
2 TB/USB
[Seagate]
USAGE:
scratch disk
[planning to have
only one active
project at a time]
camera footage
FCPX events, projects
and completed movies
Same as the LaCie,
as it's backup
To be used as TM
backup for my Mac's
internal and also to
the scratch disk.
Planning to have it in
2 partitions: to have
a 'secondary' copy of
my Mac's IHD on one
partition and to have
personal 'net retrievable'
data on the other partition.
'MY
OBSERVATIONS'
my projects are usually
less than 10 minutes
and hence I trust that
work would be fast and in
case of drive failure, I
would be losing only
one project.
I am importing camera footage
primarily into this drive and
being FW, data transfer is
fast.
Am manually copying
files from the LaCie
onto this.
This drive is not a
brand new one, but
has been given to me
by the company's
agent as a replacement
to my earlier 2 TB drive
which had failed.Hope
this also will not fail!
Because of the 'uncertain'
performance of the
3 TB Seagate, I intend
to have a copy of my
Mac's IHD in one
partition. I intend to place only
such data upon the other
partition that I will not be
greatly affected should the
drive fail.
If you can analyse this plan and give your insight upon this matter, I will be immensely happy.
Further, if this proposed use of the 3 TB Seagate is okay with you, I need to know how to remove the Thunderbolt from doing it's temporary role of TM backup and how to coronate the 3TB Seagate as its successor.
FYI, I would be switching off TM from functioning whenever I am editing video; I would be switching it on only after a full editing session.
Another question on my mind is this: do I need to partition the drive 'e' at all?
Message was edited by: somanna

Time Machine not backing up music added to iTunes since the original backup

My girlfriend has a Macbook and I decided it was time for her to back up. I used Time Machine with my Lacie external HD. The original back up got all the music, documents, etc.
This morning was the first time I had hooked up the external HD since the original back up. I manually ran it and wanted to check if it added the new music and documents. My resume, which I updated last night, was there. But when I looked in the iTunes folder the new music I had added was missing.
Will the daily or weekly back up get the new music files? Is there something I did wrong with set up? Of course I could start over but I'd rather fix the issue and make sure everything is being backed up.
Your suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Erik Griffin wrote:
My girlfriend has a Macbook and I decided it was time for her to back up. I used Time Machine with my Lacie external HD. The original back up got all the music, documents, etc.
How long ago was this?
This morning was the first time I had hooked up the external HD since the original back up. I manually ran it and wanted to check if it added the new music and documents. My resume, which I updated last night, was there. But when I looked in the iTunes folder the new music I had added was missing.
How are you verifying whether they were backed-up? Use +Enter Time Machine,+ not the Finder.
Will the daily or weekly back up get the new music files?
The labels of hourly, daily, and weekly backups are just labels. The process is the same with each. The only thing that's different is how long TM will keep them. A TM backup is a TM Backup.
Is there something I did wrong with set up? Of course I could start over but I'd rather fix the issue and make sure everything is being backed up.
First, check TM Preferences > Options. Be sure nothing is listed there that would prevent any iTunes data from being backed-up.
If you still don't see them, download the TimeTracker app, from www.charlessoft.com.
It shows most of the files saved by TM for each backup (excluding some hidden/system files, etc.). That should show what was actually backed-up.

Can I use my MAC (G5 & OS 10.4) to send SMS from the UK?

(The third of my first set of postings!)
When I used an earlier PowerMac and OS 9, I was able to dial a Vodafone number (using the communications module of Claris Works) to send SMS messages to mobile phones.
I have recently seen Widgets advertised which seem to offer such a facility, but not, apparently, in the UK.
Is there any way of sending SMS messages from a Mac in the UK?
Many thanks for responses/comments.

I'm pretty sure this supports the UK:
http://www.smsmac.com/en/index.html

Can I use my iTunes gift card to send a gift(app) from the App Storev

The terms of use on the iTunes Gift Card page on the Apple website;
Valid only on iTunes Store for U.S. Requires iTunes account and prior acceptance of license and usage terms. To open an account you must be 13+ and in the U.S. Compatible software, hardware, and Internet access required. Not redeemable for cash, no refunds or exchanges (except as required by law). Card may not be used to purchase any other merchandise, allowances or iTunes gifting.

If I use Time Machine to back-up my files, can I delete files from my Mac Air?

My Macbook Air hard drive is full, and I want to move photos to an external drive. Once Time Machine has done a back-up, can I simply delete files from the Macbook Air?

If you can attach an external drive to the MacBook Air, you could move your image library to the external drive, then configure Time Machine to back up both your MacBook Air and the external drive.
This way, you would have your "originals" 'on one drive and "backups" on another drive. That is what backups are all about. If you move your images to the Time Capsule, they will be deleted sooner or later when Time Machine is looking for more backup space. In the meantime, even if you have the images on the Time Capsule....you will have no backups in the event of a problem with the Time Capsule or drive you are using for Time Machine.

Time Machine stopped backing up to Time Capsule

Three weeks ago, my Time Machine stopped backing up to My Time Capsule. I get a Time Machine Error that says the backup disk is not available. When I go into Time Machine on my Systems Preferences and click Select Disk, I get None. If I then go to Set Up Time Capsule, Airport Utility finds my Time Capsule.
I click through where it asks whether I want to change some settings for this Time Capsule. I click all the way through, changing nothing. And of course, I haven't resolved the problem. I don't want to go back to factory settings because I have archived a lot of old home movies on the Time Capsule and am afraid I'll lose them.
The only changes I've made recently that may affect this have to do with a mobileme account. I've been using one mobileme account for work for several years. Three weeks before I started having problems with the Time Capsule, I started a MobileMe account for the family. Now, when I sync all of our machines, the system looks for a new local host, which I have created. About the time I started syncing my computers is about the time the Time Machine stopped backing up.
Can switching between the two local hosts be the source of my problem?
—

Turns out my Hard Drive went down. Not sure why.

My Time Machine keeps backing up and won't stop.

My Time Machine keeps backing up and won't stop. The problem started when it said I was out if space. It is supposed to delete the oldest backup. Now I cannot even backup at all. It just keep going and never stops, although it really does not work at all. I have used the disk utilities and iI have Zeroed out. The TC is a 1 TB and is about 13 months old. Right now it says "79.9 MB of 104.9 MB" and "backing up 961,837 items". I do not have the check mark in "Notify after old backups are deleted." It will stay stuck like this for hours and hours. The TC is plugged into a U-verse router and the 27" MAC is plugged into the TC.

So you already wiped the old backup and started again??
If that is the case it did a fresh full backup ok?
How much free space is on the TC now?
Do you happen to have multiple network links? Meaning do you have TC bridged to the U-verse router.. with both ethernet and wireless working at the same time. I discovered this one all by my loansome.. having multiple paths does not seem to worry most things on the computer.. but it totally kills TM.
I had the same sort of thing happening in testing a TC I am fixing. So I have multiple ethernet and wireless. The incremental backups became extremely slow.. by turning off wireless and one ethernet so there is only one route to the TC.. it flys again.

My iMac restarts everytime time machine is backing getting this error

my iMac restarts everytime time machine is backing up i had time capsule so   i changed back up disk to seagate and still does it.
getting this error any help would be great and im not real computer smart
Interval Since Last Panic Report: 415540 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          5
Anonymous UUID:                    50E71E33-0C3E-B6B0-1F87-93F5501AF275
Fri Apr 12 18:09:41 2013
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff8000e43d5b): "a freed zone element has been modified in zone: cluster_write"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2050.18.24/osfmk/kern/zalloc.c:214
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff80f1b23680 : 0xffffff8000e1d626
0xffffff80f1b236f0 : 0xffffff8000e43d5b
0xffffff80f1b23730 : 0xffffff8000e435d2
0xffffff80f1b23810 : 0xffffff8000ee80cf
0xffffff80f1b23840 : 0xffffff8000ee4cd7
0xffffff80f1b239d0 : 0xffffff8000ee337e
0xffffff80f1b23c30 : 0xffffff8000ee2ff5
0xffffff80f1b23c60 : 0xffffff80010fb26d
0xffffff80f1b23d70 : 0xffffff8000f11da2
0xffffff80f1b23dd0 : 0xffffff8000f08179
0xffffff80f1b23e40 : 0xffffff80011770e9
0xffffff80f1b23ef0 : 0xffffff80011772e4
0xffffff80f1b23f50 : 0xffffff80011e182a
0xffffff80f1b23fb0 : 0xffffff8000eced33
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: backupd
Mac OS version:
12C60
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 12.2.0: Sat Aug 25 00:48:52 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2050.18.24~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 69A5853F-375A-3EF4-9247-478FD0247333
Kernel slide:     0x0000000000c00000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8000e00000
System model name: iMac11,1 (Mac-F2268DAE)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 4702215649822
last loaded kext at 237598977526: com.apple.filesystems.smbfs          1.8 (addr 0xffffff7f82f02000, size 229376)
last unloaded kext at 161063000383: com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI          5.2.5 (addr 0xffffff7f81825000, size 65536)
loaded kexts:
com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5          5.2.4
com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore          5.2.4
com.apple.filesystems.smbfs          1.8
com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs          1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch          75.15
com.apple.filesystems.ntfs          3.10
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC          1.60
com.apple.driver.AGPM          100.12.69
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor          1.9.5d0
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver          122
com.apple.filesystems.autofs          3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA          2.3.1f2
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient          3.5.10
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet          1.0.0d1
com.apple.kext.AMDFramebuffer          8.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager          4.0.9f33
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver          2.3.1f2
com.apple.ATIRadeonX2000          8.0.0
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport          4.0.9f33
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X          7.0.0
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC          1.6.0
com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl          3.2.11
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight          170.2.3
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl          1.0.33
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController          320.15
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader          3.1.0
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless          1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib          1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache          34
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient          3.5.1
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter          404
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage          2.2.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub          5.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI          4.9.6
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet          3.2.5b3
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Atheros40          600.70.23
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort          2.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI          5.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM          1.6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons          1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC          1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET          1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS          1.9
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC          1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC          1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient          196.0.0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall          4.0.39
com.apple.security.quarantine          2
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement          196.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDKeyboard          165.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard          165.5
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver          4.0.9f33
com.apple.driver.AppleMultitouchDriver          235.28
com.apple.kext.triggers          1.0
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib          2.3.1f2
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily          1.8.9fc10
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib          1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface          86.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily          10.0.6
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily          4.0.9f33
com.apple.iokit.AppleBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport          4.0.9f33
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP          2.2.5
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy          1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController          2.3.1f2
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily          2.3.1f2
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI          1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily          5.2.0d16
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC          3.1.4d2
com.apple.kext.AMD4800Controller          8.0.0
com.apple.kext.AMDSupport          8.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl          3.2.11
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert          1.0.4
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport          2.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController          1.0.10d0
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily          2.3.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver          5.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass          3.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub          5.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite          5.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice          3.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily          1.7
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily          1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily          1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSBP2          4.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice          3.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI          2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily          3.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily          4.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient          5.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController          1.0.2b1
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family          500.15
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily          3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily          2.2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily          5.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily          1.8.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily          1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox          220
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch          1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet          7
com.apple.driver.DiskImages          344
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily          1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore          28.21
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform          1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily          2.7.2
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily          1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto          1.0
Model: iMac11,1, BootROM IM111.0034.B02, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.8 GHz, 8 GB, SMC 1.54f36
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4850, ATI Radeon HD 4850, PCIe, 512 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54313235533642465238432D47372020
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54313235533642465238432D47372020
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM1, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54313235533642465238432D47372020
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54313235533642465238432D47372020
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x168C, 0x8F), Atheros 9280: 4.0.70.23-P2P
Bluetooth: Version 4.0.9f33 10885, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1
Network Service: Leapfrog Device (en5), Ethernet, en5
Serial ATA Device: ST31000528AS, 1 TB
Serial ATA Device: HL-DT-ST DVDRW GA11N, 9.2 MB
USB Device: hub_device, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfa100000 / 2
USB Device: Backup+ Desk Mac, 0x0bc2 (Seagate LLC), 0xa0a5, 0xfa130000 / 6
USB Device: USB-SATA Bridge, 0x067b (Prolific Technology, Inc.), 0x2571, 0xfa140000 / 5
USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader, apple_vendor_id, 0x8403, 0xfa120000 / 4
USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0xfa110000 / 3
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8215, 0xfa111000 / 7
USB Device: hub_device, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfd100000 / 2
USB Device: hub_device, 0x0409 (NEC Corporation), 0x005a, 0xfd130000 / 5
USB Device: Built-in iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8502, 0xfd110000 / 4
USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0xfd120000 / 3

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, or by a peripheral device.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode* and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Shut down your computer, wait 30 seconds, and then hold down the shift key while pressing the power button.
When you see the gray Apple logo, release the shift key.
If you are prompted to log in, type your password, and then hold down the shift key again as you click Log in.
*Note: If FileVault is enabled under OS X 10.7 or later, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t boot in safe mode. Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin. Test while in safe mode. Same problem? After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

I would like to use time Machine to back up to a network SMB drive. I can see the drive on my desktop but it will not show in the time machine window to be able to select it

I currently have a mini server (OSX10.8.5, server 2.2.2) that I am using Time Machine to back up 4 external drives that are connected to the server via firewire 800. I would like to use Time Machine to back up to a windows network SMB drive. I can see the drive on my desktop but it will not show in the time machine window to be able to select it for use.
Can this be done
Thanks for any and all help

The supported targets for Time Machine backups are local (direct-connected) disks, and network targets include Time Capsule, a disk hanging off the current-generation AirPort (though not earlier AirPort devices), and OS X Server systems.
The Time Machine storage is based on the HFS+ file system, so I would not expect TM to work with SMB file services.
While there are hacks to allow Time Machine to access network drives, I would not consider those to be reliable. Skim the forum and the 'net for related details, and for previous discussions of setting this up and the related issues that can arise.
Remember to test the recovery with whatever you decide to use; whole point of backups is the ability to restore the data, after all.
If you want to learn more about Time Machine, Pondini is an excellent resource.

My Macbook won't start, and I must reinstall the disk. I haven't used time machine to back up, and I want to use an external drive to back up now. How can i do this from the utilities page?

I am currently in Zambia on missions work and my computer is constantly exposed to heat. I have just been trying to avoid using it during the hottest part of the day. Today though, I started it up and it was stuck on the grey page with the rotating circle for over an hour, then once the circle left, it remained frozen on the gray page. I used command + r at startup to go to the utilities page to analyze the disk. It found that there were problems with the disk, but then it could not fix those problems and told me to backup as much information as I could and reinstall or redo it all. I haven't ever used time machine to back up any of my information, but i have an external drive that I can use right now to backup my files. I can't get into my computer though to backup the files. How can I use this external drive to backup my files while the computer is currently messed up? Please help.

Emergency Backups (Data Recovery)
A)          Format an external disk:
          (This will erase all data on the external disk.)
          Boot in recovery mode (power then Command-R).
                    Alternative: Network recovery boot (power then Command-Option-R keys)
          To format (and erase) the destination recovery disk:
          Plug in the drive you are about to erase.
          Select the volume that is NOT your system disk.
          Click on Partition.
          Pull down under Partition Layout to 1 Partition.
          Click on Options…
          Select GUID Partition Table.
          Name: Emergency Backup (or whatever you prefer)
          Format: Select Mac OS Extended (journaled)
          Click Apply.
          Click Partition.
B)          Try to boot in Safe Mode (power then Shift key).
          (This will be a slow boot. Be patient.)
          If it won’t boot in Safe Mode, jump to C.
          If it boots in Safe Mode, try to boot in normal mode.
                    If that fixed your problem then start a Time Machine backup.
                    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
                    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4055
          If not, boot in Safe Mode again.
          Go > Computer.
          Double click on the system disk.
          Drag the Users folder to the recovery disk.
C)          To clone the disk:
          Boot in recovery mode.
          Select Disk Utility.
          Try to repair the system disk twice.
          Whether or not the repair succeeds:
          Drag and drop the system disk to Source:
          Drag an drop Emergency Backup to Destination:
          (Take care not to reverse this order.)
          Click Restore (the lower Restore button).
Once your system is healthy, maintain two reasonably current backups. (Time machine restores can fail.)
Create either two Time Machine backups (good) or one or more Time Machine backup(s) and one or more bootable-clone backup(s) (better).
          Use Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! to create bootable-clone recovery disks.
          See https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3045
          and https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6031

Can you use time machine to back up an external hard drive?

I haven't used Time Machine so far and setting it up now.
Because my retina MBP has the limited hard drive size of 500GB, I'll be using a 2TB G-Tech hard drive as external hard drive.
I'll be partitioning it, 500 GB for the MBP as a time machine back-up, the rest as a hard drive for photography RAW files.
Can I set up time machine to back up the larger partition (the one with the RAW files) to a second external hard drive? Or does Time Machine only handle back-up from the main computer hard drive?
thanks!

Try reviewing this information.
Time Machine FAQ
You will definitely need more than 500 GB to use Time Machine - see question 1.
Time Machine works with the main hard drive and any locally attached storage, but I don't know of any way to make it backup the second partition without resetting the Time Machine Preferences. You can do that with a cloning program.
Clone - Carbon Copy Cloner
Clone – Data Backup
Clone – Deja Vu
Clone - SuperDuper
Clone Software – 6 Applications Tested
Two backups are better than one. Drives do fail.

Can we use Time Machine to back up data on Time Capsule from the outside of network?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for