Backup External HD

Hi All,
I've got a Time Capsule connected to an iMac and it backs up perfectly.
I was wondering if it is possible to also backup an external firewire drive connected to the iMac? and if so how is it done?
Thanks to all
tony

It should back up all drives (internal and external) to the iMac. You can select specific drive and even folders that you do not want to backup by looking at the options in the time machine settings.

Similar Messages

Time Capsule can't backup external hard drives connected to it. Got that.

Hello Apple Support Communities! This is my first post. Hope this finds you all well My first year as an Apple user. I bought a 2-Tb TC and am running my first backup to my MacBook as I write this.
Problem statement: TC can't backup external hard drives connected directly to it, but the ones connected to the Macs that are connected wirelessly to it. Duly noted. However, the Spotlight will reindex the hard drives connected to the Mac and that will take hours; the whole backup will take days. Thus, excluding the hard drives at "System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy tab" will probably help reduce the time of backup, or just ejecting them will do too. That itself has not proven effective coz it's still taking forever (50Gb in 2 days, still going).
Questions:
1) Do I wait until my first backup to my MacBook's internal hard drive is done before I connect my hard drives to my MacBook and attempt another backup? If yes, how do I go about the excessive time Spotlight reindexing takes if I intend to backup my hard drives connected to my MacBook?
2) Is there any other way of speeding up the first-time backup?
*Note: All versions of OS and firmwares are up-to-date. TC is connected to an external wireless router. TC is intended to be used as backup device and / or file server only.
P/S: Apologee if this has already been discussed before, thus, a link to previous discussion thread would highly be appreciated)
- Shook Hashem, Malaysia.

How do I backup the externel hard drives connected to my MB. I was under the impression that that has already been done, because I've read it somewhere in a discussion that said it's done automatically unless I exclude it from a backup, which I didn't. So it's supposed to backup the external hard drivestoo because I had them connected to my MB the entire time during the backups.
By default an external drive is excluded.. the list is odd.. if I plug a drive into the mac.. it immediately is listed as excluded.
This is not the list of included.. this is the list of excluded.. remove it from the excluded list to include it.
It is kind of reverse polish notation in backups.
If I want to enter the Time Machine, should I enter it with the TM turned on or off?
Not sure what the question means. If you use the star wars display and want to recover files then use TM off.. but read up pondini.. how to do restore etc.
http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
15A in particular on the how to use TM.
When do I uplug the ethernet and use the wireless connection instead?
Once you have finished the main backup you can go back to wireless. The incremental backups are mostly very small.

How do I access my iphoto library on time machine backup external drive using Lion, originally saved from old computer and system

how do I access my iphoto library on time machine backup external drive using Lion, originally saved off old computer and system. It's not letting me open the folder???

Once again here's how to restore an iPhoto Library from Time Machine:

HT201250 My backup external hard drive hasn't work since I insalled Snow Leopard. Bad:( I am still learning about my MAC and would just like to re-format the hard dive and set everything up again. I want to upgrade to Lion but can't untill I backup what

My backup external hard drive hasn't work since I insalled Snow Leopard. Bad:( I am still learning about my MAC and would just like to re-format the hard dive and set everything up again. I want to upgrade to Lion but can't untill I backup what I.

Read through the links here, calm down and take your time.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

Backup External Hard Drive with Time Machine

I have several external hard drives and am wondering if I can use Time Machine to backup External Hard Drive #1 on Hard Drive #2? Or is it only possible to backup your Main Machine on an External Hard Drive?
Thanks

These issues with non-apple format drives that you mention, would they concern the dedicated Time Machine external hard drive, the external hard drive one is looking to backup, or both?
What are the issues raised? My current 500GB external hard drive is FAT-32 and I want to use an additional 500GB external hard drive [fresh out the box so I can determine whatever format it is fairly easily] as the dedicated Time Machine backup. Would you suggest reformatting my 500GB FAT-32 drive before initiating the new drive as the dedicated Time Machine backup? It's possible to do so, but would take quite some time. Also, this may move into a different subject, but I enjoy being able to share files with a PC with Windows XP using my external hard drive; would any of the formats you mentioned as being Time Machine-safe allow me to continue to do so?

How to restore autofill usernames from a backup external hard drive?

Hello,
I deleted the autofill data from the clear all history window by checking off the form & search history box.
Is there away to restore or retrieve the autofill data from a backup external hard drive?
Any Ideas appreciated,

See:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
* C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
The "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K and the "AppData" folder in Windows Vista and Windows 7 and later versions are hidden folders.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders
You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:
*Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Open Directory)

My time machine backup external hard drive has failed. I have a newer external drive already connected to my MAC but can't figure out how to get Time Machine to set up on it?

My time machine backup external hard drive has failed. I have a newer external drive already connected to my MAC but can't figure out how to get Time Machine to set up on it

http://pondini.org/TM/21.html

How do I export video files from iPhoto to a backup external hard drive for safekeeping?

How do I export video files from iPhoto to a backup external hard drive for safekeeping? Each time I try, the video will not play from the external hard drive.

Use the File ➙ Export ➙ File Export menu option with Kind = Original. That should get the original video file exported. Try to export one to the Desktop first and open it with Quicktime Player. If all goes well export the rest to a folder on the EHD. How is the EHD formatted? It should be OS X Extended (journaled).

How do I get photos from backup external drive on to my new hard drive?

How do I get photos from backup external drive on to my new hard drive on my MacBook

How did you use this backup drive? Was this a Time Machine backup, or just an external drive to which you copied files?
I assume your photos were in iPhoto. If you're just talking a bunch of JPEG files you can just drag them wherever you like, otherwise:
iPhoto: How to move the Library folder to a new location - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229

I have 21,000 photos stored in iphoto. I have a WD 1.5TB backup external hard drive. What is the best way to erase about half of my photos on my internal hard drive?

I have 21,000 photos stored in iphoto. I have a WD 1.5TB backup external hard drive. What is the best way to erase about half of my photos on my internal hard drive?

Here's one way to do what you want:
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
Now you have two full versions of the Library.
3. On the Internal library, trash the Events you don't want there
Now you have a full copy of the Library on the External and a smaller subset on the Internal
Some Notes:
As a general rule: when deleting photos do them in batches of about 100 at a time. iPhoto can baulk at trashing large numbers at one go.
You can choose which Library to open: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
You can keep the Library on the external updated with new imports using iPhoto Library Manager

Internal Hard Drive Backup + External Hard Drive Backup

Hi everyone and thanks for your attention.
My question is about Backup for two different hard disk.
I've got an internal 500 gb hard disk and a 4 tb external hard disk and my computer is a Macbook pro 15 Unibody 10.6.8.
I need daily (or better hourly) back up for the internal and the external. On the internal I've got system and applications, on the external my work project folders.
My solution at the moment are two other hard disk raid mounted as backup drives. They form together 5tb back up space. I'm using time machine, so it manage my internal 500 gb disk and my external 4tb disk together.
Today I had to recover my system from Time Machine. The app is recovering the documents, but I have a doubt. Before starting recovering I had to choose the hard drive where to recover the system. I had to decide between the internal and the external, and I've chosen the internal, because the OS was installed there.
Will Time Machine put the files, that were on the internal drive, in the internal drive and the ones that were on the external on the external?
My complete back up is 2.4 tb so my 500 gb won't surely be enough.
Moreover. I'm assuming that is so much better to divide the back up. One backup system for the internal and one for the external. It seems to me that my version of Time Machine (10.6.8) does not allow to assign different back up drive for different is use drive. Eg. an external drive to use for the internal drive and another external drive for the external drive in use.
What about next Time Machine versions?
Or maybe would be better to use Time Machine for the internal drive with an external drive as back up, and the use an another application such as Carbon Copy Cloner to back up the external drive to another different external drive.
To be more clear, the solution I'd like to have is:
Internal Drive (500 gb) > time machine > External Drive (1tb)
External Drive (4tb) > Carbon Copy Cloner > External Drive (5tb)
Thanks a lot!
Nicola

The best source for those questions, Nicola, is the Pondini Tips Page, and then go to the specific sections of his website which has everything there is to know about Time Machine.

Can I have two Time Machine backup external drives on one Mac?

I have been using Time Machine for over a year and like it very much. The thought occurred to me that I should buy a new external drive that I can backup to and store at a remote location. I plan on making a backup each week, then taking this new drive to my office. That way, if my house ever burns down, I have a backup at my office too that will be a fairly recent backup.
When I unplugged my older external drive and tried to launch a backup using the new one, my Mac said it couldn't find my Time Machine drive. Won't it let me backup to two different drives? Or does it always need to backup to the same one?
Thanks!

polishedstaple wrote:
Won't it let me backup to two different drives?
Yes. All you have to do is tell it you've changed destinations, via +Time Machine Preferences > Select Disk.+ (Use different names for the drives, so you know which one is which.)
Try not to go too long between "swaps," though. After several days, especially if there's been a large volume of changes, Time Machine might do a new, full backup, instead of an incremental one.
However, I've learned over the years (mostly the hard way, of course ), never to trust my backups to a single app or piece of hardware: no app is perfect, and all hardware fails, sooner or later.
Like many here, I keep both full Time Machine backups, plus a "bootable clone" on a separate external HD. I use CarbonCopyCloner, many use the similar SuperDuper. That gives me the best of both types of backups, plus of course a completely separate, independent backup.
CCC is donationware; SD has a free version, but you need the paid one (about $30) to do updates instead of full replacements, or scheduling. Either is easily found via Google.
And/or, see Kappy's post on Basic Backup, complete with links to the web sites of each product.

Using Time Capsule to backup external hard drives

Has anyone tried backing up external hard drive to TC? I've only been able to tell TC to NOT backup my drives, not TO back them up. Any help? Thanks

I have the same question - can you get the TC to backup any external drives mounted from the USB port? I've just installed the TC in my network with a USB hub connecting a printer and a WD external drive. All my MAC's and a windows PC can see them. I just haven't seen a way to get the TC to backup the WD drive.
Thanks,
Chick

Time Machine Backups external drive developed problem which the disk repair utility cannot fix, so suggested reformat. I can't reformat because the "Resource Busy". How can I reformat this drive?

My Western Digital external hard drive which I use as a Time Machine Backup stopped working. I tried repairing the disk using the Disk Utility program,but got the message that the utility can't repair the disk and to erase and reformat the disk. When I try that, I get the message the operation can't be completed because "Resource Busy", even though Time Machine is turned off. Any suggestions for repairing the drive/disk?
Thank you.

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

Time Machine: Cannot find backup (external hard drive)

Hello and thank you in advance for your help.
I have a MacBook Pro and am running OS 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard). I use TM to back up to a 500 GB LaCIe external hard drive, which has worked fine for over a year of ~monthly back-ups. The back-up porcess typically takes some time, but less than an hour or so. While backing up this week, it just halted....and was still backing up 24 hours later. I quit the back-up, dismounted and remounted the LaCie, tried again, but it still got stuck in the backup process overnight. After searching the forums, I used the disk utility to re-partition the LaCie to ensure it had only one partition. When I re-started TIme Machine, I got the message "Your Time Machine backup disk can't be found." It shows up in finder, but when I tried to find it in the TM Preferences, it's not there, so I cannot select it. I dismounted the LaCie, rebooted, and remounted the LaCie, but that didn't fix anything. Help, please?

Part 1 of my problem is fixed. I decided to run the disk repair and then re-do the partiton process, but this time, I kept the default name assigned to the partition by disk utility ("Untilted-1"). Now TM sees it, and is backing up. Part 2 remains to be seen. I expect it will take 24+ hours anyway, BC I reformatted the LaCie, and this is essentailly the first backup on a re-formatted hard drive.

How to backup external hard drive to another external hard drive using time machine ?

Hello,
i have an external hard drive which i store all my drum samples and sound library on and files are contantly changing, adding new sounds, deleting old ones etc ..
So my method of back up as of now is to just copy all the edited files and click and drag to the back up disk.
Now, my question is, how do i back up my external hard drive to another external hard drive using time machine ? I read somewhere that you can do this, i cant find the post however. It would be nice to automate the back up process rather than manually finding the files to copy over.
Thanks in advance !

The question you pose is conditional, in that you should have more than an exact
capacity replacement for a clone, if the drive you are going from (or one going to)
has insufficient free space and that has a bootable clone on the drive; any space
tied up in a partition for Time Machine backup, takes away from the running space
if you should need to run the computer from a clone on the external HDD's other
partition.... Better to have a good capacity of additional reserve unused free space.
Be sure any clone copy that you hope to use as a re-close, that each in turn is tested
after a clone operation. Also consider using each running system's Disk utility and
have First Aid 'repair disk permissions'. Preparation of a new drive or even an old
drive that may have questionable artifacts or errors on it, should be reformatted. To
even go as far as Secure Erase (overwrite) at least one-pass before reformatting it
again, could help.
However, I'm not sure if the drives and situation you are looking at would necessarily
be a good match. It could work, but you'd need a reasonable size partition or hard
disk drive for a system. Snow Leopard and all its associated applications, can do
OK in a 100GB HDD. (My computers have more storage capacity than is used; so
for mine to have 60% free space, is good.) Virtual Memory is drive space used by
OS X, that can be a substantial amount for swap and temp files. Some applications
make duplicates of works-in-progress, for each change in an open file; that adds up.
{This question (& my reply) should've been in their own thread & not at the end
of one that is nearly three months old, + marked 'solved' by the original poster.}
So I guess I don't have a direct answer to your question; having just returned from
a few hundred miles and automobile issues, too. I'm not really thinking on-topic...
The clone should be on its own separate drive, and up to 3TB drive dedicated to
Time Machine may be overkill, however that software will consume old backups first
when it uses up all the space. Or usually that is what happens in TM backups. If
that isn't happening, there may an issue in how Time Machine is set up.
Good luck & happy computing!

Backup External HD

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