Backing up two other drives to another external drive

Hi,
I use Time Machine to back up my iMac. I have two other external drives that have my audio files (I'm a full time musician and use Digital Performer, etc.). I just bought a separate hard drive to back up these two drives. Can I use Time Machine to do this? If so, how? Would other third part software be better for this?
Thanks,
Paul

Can I use Time Machine to do this? If so, how?
Set up Time Machine, connect the drive, and verify those drives aren't excluded in the Time Machine pane of System Preferences. Some drive formats can't be backed up by it.
Would other third part software be better for this?
To create a one-shot backup of those files, just drag them to the new drive. This is probably best when those drives don't contain a bootable OS and the files won't change over time.
(56838)

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Backing up iTunes located on external drive to another external drive

Greetings,
I'm on iTuens 11.3 and in preferences have chosen an external drive to keep all my music. I would like to back-up the contents of my iTunes to another external drive.
I have NOT chosen: iTunes - File - Library - Organize Library
Perhaps this is my problem…?
The external hard drive that has my iTunes library does not have a single iTunes folder. Instead, each artist has a folder within which are multiple albums, single albums or songs.
It seems there should be a single file folder somewhere that I can copy to another external hard rive in order to make a back up.
Any help will be much appreciated.

There will only be a single folder if you've told iTunes to organize your library. You need to either do this, or drag all of the individual folders to the second drive, or clone the first drive to the second.
If desired, you can move the iTunes folder to the first drive, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, and choose it before organizing the library.
(123377)

Backing up iTunes from a NAS drive to another external drive (Software)?

I am currently running my iTunes Library wirelessly from a NAS drive, so that I can access my media from any of my devices. My library is now reaching a 1TB, and am worried of data loss or drive failure. Does anyone know of any software or automator scripts to automate wirelessly backing one NAS drive to another NAS drive? Or any other suggestions or solutions to this...

ChronoSync may be able to do what you want.

Copying files from one external drive to another external drive

I have a powerbook G4 (Mac OS X 10.4.11) with an external drive (WD Element 500GB) for store music and pictures. I am trying to copy the files from this drive to another (backup) drive (a LaCie 250CB). I do not use a backup software; I simply copy the folders\file onto to LeCie drive. For smaller size items I successfully copy\backup the files. However; I have a large 104GB iTunes library that I am trying to copy\backup onto the LeCie. The copying commences and 37GB into the process the copying ceases and the Powerbook freezes. The LaCie was once partitioned, but I reformatted without partitions.
Any ideas on what is wrong or what I can do to back up the 104GB iTune library.

First, I must correct the statement about maximum file size. FAT32 supports files up to 4 GB, minus 1 byte.
First, both drives do not need to be in MS DOS file format. WD Element is unintentionally in the MS DOS.
Then you can ignore any part of my post about NTFS, which is Microsoft's standard drive format for XP, Vista and the upcoming Windows 7. You want to reformat the WD Element drive for Mac OS Extended (HFS+).
Should I reformat the LaCie Drive to MS DOS from the Powerbook, then back up the WD Element?
No, format it as HFS+ so it is in Mac format (which I assume is where it is already), and can handle any size file you throw at it. Once duplicated and verified there, you can then reformat the WD Element drive as HFS+ and duplicate the information back.
In addition, why does my copy and paste work when I backup smaller folders (one is a iTune library of 17GB.
To which drive? If it's going to the LaCie drive, then it works since it's currently formatted for the Mac. It would (should) be impossible to copy a 17 GB file to any FAT32 (MS DOS) drive.
Also, would backup software help in backing up the WD Element? Someone suggested Carbon Copy Cloner.
Carbon Copy Cloner would work just fine. As would the non paid version of SuperDuper! With either, the destination drive must first be formatted as Mac OS Extended. Neither will recognize an MS DOS formatted drive.

HT1589 iMac: How do I move my iTunes folder from one external hard drive to another external drive?

Due to file size reasons, I found myself several years ago with the need to move my iTunes Library from my desktop's internal drive to an external drive [which I also used via partition for a backup of my internal drive] I now have to move to a different external hard drive -- again for more space. I've copied the iTunes Library to the new drive, but can't seem to get iTunes to recognize and run it.
What specifically do I need to do to get this done?

You could plug the WD drive straight into the TC but it will be much faster to do it with the WD drive plugged into the computer.. and just mount the TC hard disk in Finder.
To move itunes library you must follow the Apple instructions.. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
You may need to reconnect itunes to the library before you try to move it.. !!

Can time machine be used to back up one external drive to another external drive?

I use the photography program Lightroom to organize and develop digital photos. All my photos are stored on my iMac internal drive. The internal drive is almost full so I want to move my photos to a new external drive. At present, I have an external drive devoted to backing up my iMac using time machine. I have no need to change this arrangement. I would like to use a new external drive to serve as the primary location for my pictures, which I will move from the internal drive. Then I would like to backup that drive to a third external back up drive. Can time machine be used to automatically back up the second drive to the third drive as well as for continuing to provide ongoing backups to my internal drive as it is currently doing?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Jeffery t wrote:
Thanks for the links, but I don't see in the pondini links, the scenario I am asking about.
Time Machine can easily back up multiple internal and/or directly-connected external drives and partitions simultaneously (but Time Machine cannotback up data that's on a network).
From the first link.
Jeffery t wrote:
... Please note that my iMac internal drive is backing up to external drive number 1 using time machine. I want my pictures on external drive two and those backed up to external drive three. So are you saying that if I have 500 GB of pictures on drive number 2, I will need a third drive that is at least 1 TB?
the confusion starts in your above statement...
There should be Only One Time Machine Drive.

Back up external drive to ANOTHER external drive

Is there a way to back up an external drive, automatically? I'd like to keep my Aperture masters on an external (preferably NAS) drive, and then back it up to a separate external drive. Haven't found a solution for this yet!
Reason I need to do this is I have 1T of photo's and 500GB HD on my laptop!

Youre endangering your valuable data by assuming its ever safe on ANY single place, especially the internal HD.
Grab a 1TB HD for $65 and offload/copy your photos to another HD.
You dont need superduper to copy ONE external HD to another......just connect both and drag and drop what or all to the new HD.
Superduper will do the same with just 2 clicks if you want, its free.
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

How best to back up two Macs to one TM external drive

Dudes,
I have a white MacBook 1.83 running Leopard and a new Air (rev a) also running Leopard.
I have a wireless network through my Airport Express.
I currently backup the MacBook using TM via FW to an external drive.
How best to back the Air up to this drive too?
Shall I just USB it in, or........................
Can I mount the external drive on my MacBook desktop, then - via filesharing - point the Air's TM towards this? This would save another lead down the back of the desk and lots of tedious plugging in.
But can it be done?
Thanks
Johnnycakes

VA2020 wrote:
You can certainly backup your MacBook Air (MBA) to your FW HDD attached to your MacBook if it has Leopard (i.e. Time Machine). Just enable file sharing to that drive for the MBA.
Thanks very much - I'll give it a try.
Even if your external HDD has USB, if you plan on doing wireless backups, the backup format of a Time Machine backup for a locally connected drive (connect via USB) is incompatible with that of a TM backup over a network (the MBA wireless backing up to the external HDD connected to the MacBook). You cannot switch over later.
Thanks - I didn't know that! So if I start of doing wireless backups, I either have to keep going with it, or start over if I chose to switch to USB?
It's too bad you don't have the AirPort Extreme Base Station. A USB HDD could then have been connected to the Extreme and shared by all network users and also be connected via ethernet. Now, the MacBook has to be on for the MBA to backup.
Yes, am thinking that the Airport Extreme or Time Capsule might be the way forward...
One last thing - Peter Miller mentioned that backing up wirelessly, in his opinion, wasn't as stable as a wired USB backup - what's your (or other people's) opinion on this?
Thanks

If I move my itunes and photo libraries to an external drive, will they still be backed up via time machine (on another external drive)?

I have 2 external drives, one of which I would like to use to store my iphoto and itunes libraries (to create space on my laptop hard drive). Then I have a 1tb drive that I'm going to use for my time machine backup. Will I be able to back up the itunes and iphoto libraries from the external drive onto the time machine drive with the rest of the files that are on my laptop hard drive? Thanks.

Depends on the version of the OS that you are using I would post on the forum for the version of the OS that you are using.
Later version od Time machine will, definitely. If the version you have doesn't, then there are plenty of 3rd party back up utilities that wll do the job for you.
If you're moving the iPhoto Library then remember the disk needs to be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Regards
TD

Is there any way to restore data from an external drive to another external drive without using the macbook pro you backed up?

Is that I sold my macbook pro an the person who bought it needs it quickly so I have an external drive but it is not portable so I bought a portable external drive but it may take a while to arrive so I backed up my data with the external drive that I have in my house but I would like to know if I can restore my data to the new external drive without the macbook pro and just with the external drive of my house to the portable external drive.
Thank you

No, that's not possible. A computer is required in order to effect such a transfer. Connect both drives to your computer. You can use Disk Utility to clone one drive to the other. Be sure you first partition and format the new drive:
Drive Partition and Format
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Steps 4-6 are optional but should be used on a drive that has never been formatted before, if the format type is not Mac OS Extended, if the partition scheme has been changed, or if a different operating system (not OS X) has been installed on the drive.
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag
it to the Destination entry field.
5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
the Source entry field.
6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the new external drive. Source means the old external drive.

Backing up external drive to another external drive

Looking for best way to back up iMac internal HD and a 3 TB external drive to 2 other external drives (1.5 TB and 3 TB). Time machine doesnt seem to be able to back up the individual external drives or cant figure it out. thanks

Hi, what OS are you on?
Get carbon copy cloner to make an exact copy of your old HD to the New one...
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
Or SuperDuper...
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/
Or the most expensive one & my favorite, Tri-Backup...
http://www.tri-edre.com/english/tribackup.html

Help copying files from external drive to another external drive

I'm trying to backup the files I have on an external drive and this has turned into ****, I feel I'm a Windows user all over again.
First I tried to encrypt an external drive, just as I've encrypted several others. The solution was to pay for a new OS (10.8.2).
Now I'm trying to drag/drop the files from the old external drive to the new one (Seagate 3TB) and I get this message:
"The operation can’t be completed because the selection contains both backup items and non-backup items."
In a discussion somebody said "Use SuperDuper". I downloaded it but it's an app to make exact backups. I don't want this, I just want to copy files just as I've done in years.
If someone can help me, I'd like to know:
1. What does that message mean? The selection was the files in the old drive. Both backup items and non-backup items?????
2. How can I simply drag and drop the files as I've done all my life?
* I DON'T WANT A BACKUP APP, I DON'T WANT TO BUY APPS FOR SOMETHING SO SIMPLE AS COPYING FILES, SOMETHING THAT A MAC SHOULD DO.
Please advice.
Thank you.

Hi,
in PowerShell copy is an alias to the Cmdlet Copy-Item. A parameter "NewOrNewer" does not exit. You have to create your script that meets of your needs.
Have a look on the CmdLet Copy-Item
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh849793.aspx
I hope that helps you.

HT1751 How to transfer iTunes media files from external drive to another external drive and bring in the library from the main drive.

I have my iTunes media on an external hard drive while the library is on the main computer drive. I want to move both to a larger external drive. How do I get both together? When I consolidate, it only transfers the media files. Help.

Since I already consolidated, can I just move the library to the root level of the external drive then option click to point to that library? But using that method, all the media files are at the root level along with the iTunes folder. So nothing will be in the iTunes media folder itself. WIll that work?

HT201250 How do I use Time Machine to back up an External Drive to another External Drive?

Hello,
I have two 8TB Western Digital External Hard Drives with Thunderbolt ports. I have already set up a 500GB G-TECH Mini to use as the Time Machine backup for my MacBook Pro. Now, I would like to set up one of my 8TB drives to be the back up for my other 8TB drive, yet I seem to only be able to back up the MacBook Pro with Time Machine.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Connect both 8TB externals to the computer, then do the following:
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag
it to the Destination entry field.
5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
the Source entry field.
6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the 8TB drive to which you will copy. Source means the 8TB drive you will copy.

Copying files to other folders and to external drive takes forever

I am assuming at this point that it is a hard drive issue. Here are the details.
I am using a Macbook Pro 2.4 ghz, 4 gb RAM, 250mb HD that is 3 years old. This is a recent problem. I can move large files (1gb) from my external drives to another external drive AND from an external drive to my HD. But if I move a file from my HD to an external drive OR try to copy the file to another folder on my HD then it goes very very very slow and usually freezes up the computer.
To solve the problem I re-installed Snow Leopard from scratch and then upgraded to Mountain Lion. So clean install... Disk Utility reports no errors. No permission problems.
I was able to just backup 22gb using Time Machine to external drive.. took forever but it did work.. but then when i try to copy a 1gb file using Finder it hangs. It also seems to hang just randomly, especially when two programs try to run at the same time.. such as Time Machine and Safari. it does not like multiple things hitting the HD.
I am assuming I need to replace the HD but wanted to check here for any advice first.
Thanks,
Clint

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.
Isolating an issue by using another user account
General information.
Isolating issues in Mac OS X
Troubleshooting Permission Issues
Step by Step to Fix Your Mac

Backing up two other drives to another external drive

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