Can Airport Extreme be used to back up my computer without an external hard drive?

I was recently told that I could back up my computer on an Airport Extreme with out an external hard drive. Is this true? My iMac is currently connected to an Airport Extreme that is also connected to an external hard drive. It has been my understanding that an Airport Extreme is used to connect to WI-FI and to periferals such as a printer etc. Am I confusing Airport Extreme, Airport Time Capsule and Time Machine? Need help!

Am I confusing Airport Extreme, Airport Time Capsule and Time Machine? Need help!
Just a bit. Both the AirPort Extreme and the Time Capsule are wireless routers provided by Apple. The main difference between them is that the Time Capsule has a built-in hard drive. Both routers also support attached USB hard drives.
Time Machine, on the other hand, is a software product that provides for a means to back up Mac computers. It can back up to hard drives attached to the Mac or located on the network. Time Machine can also back up to USB hard drives attached to the 6th generation AirPort Extreme and any generation of the Time Capsule. Finally, Time Machine can back up to the internal hard drive in a Time Capsule. Actually that is the primary reason for the Time Capsule ... although it can also use its internal drive for general storage as well.
Hopefully that help demystify things a bit.

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I am backing up my computer to an external hard drive using Time Machine. It has been at 288.91 "used" for a while... should I just let it ride? It's been going for about 7 hours now.

I am backing up my computer to an external hard drive using Time Machine. It has been at 288.91 "used" for a while... should I just let it ride? It's been going for about 7 hours now

It does not immediately delete the files that are missing.. it merely tries to backup the new files it has discovered on the external drive. Since you moved the files there, the backup at least for a while will contain both copies.. and that is why it doesn't have enough space to backup.
Fixing the problem.. hmm pondini is the expert.. you should be able to delete the backup of the photos in existing backup.. there are instructions to do it.. but it is a very poor way to do things.
Much better. .archive off the existing backup.. this is long and slow but worth it. you need a usb drive of the same size as the TC drive. Then erase the TC and start a fresh set of backups.
The alternative is to use the USB drive as a new target.. but it is much slower than the TC internal drive.
http://pondini.org/TM/12.html

Hi, ive been backing up my computer to an external hard drive (with time machine). When i buy a new macbook will that hard drive put all my info on to the new computer?

hi, ive been backing up my computer to an external hard drive (with time machine). When i buy a new macbook will that hard drive put all my info on to the new computer?

When you boot the new machine for the first time, you'll be prompted to import your data from a Time Machine backup.

How do i back up my computer to an external hard drive?

how do i back up my computer to an external hard drive?

Apples Time Machine for backups.
For a bootable clone of your OSX either SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner.
http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Clones.html
Stefan

HT1751 Hello, can you help? I have backed up iTune library to an external hard drive, but want to set up periodic back ups every month. Do I have to follow the "Consolidate file" procedure every time I back up, and does my original back become over writte

Hello can anyone help? I have sucessfully backed up my iTuines library to an external hard drive, but when backing up in the furture (Monthly) do I have to follow the same procedure again, and will this place an additonal copy of my iTunes library on my hard drive, so duplicating the back up and so rapidly fill my hard drive.
Ideally what I would like, is for the lateset back up to over write the original so saving space on my external hard drive. Many thanks ......Steve

The "consolidate" command has nothing to do with making backups. You use that command when you have had content in multiple places and you wish to have it now all in a single iTunes folder. If all of your content is already in the iTunes folder, then the "consolidate" command will be of no use to you. You will make further backups using whatever method you normally would use to make backups of your data in Windows.
Regards.

How to use carbon copy cloner to back up two computer in one external hard drive

Hello,
I have only one external hard drive which is already used for backing up my old macbook. Recently, i bought a macbook air. Is it possible to use carbon copy cloner to backup my data from macbook air to same external hard drive? If yes, is there anything I should be caucious? If not, could you suggest any other software of other method to backup my macbook air? Thanks!!

Yes, provided you have the space. You will need to create another partition on the drive to use as the backup volume for the new computer.
To resize the drive do the following:
1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
After the main menu appears select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the hard drive's main entry then click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
2. You should see the graphical sizing window showing the existing partitions. A portion may appear as a blue rectangle representing the used space on a partition.
3. In the lower right corner of the sizing rectangle for each partition is a resizing gadget. Select it with the mouse and move the bottom of the rectangle upwards until you have reduced the existing partition enough to create the desired new volume's size. The space below the resized partition will appear gray. Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed. (Note: You can only make a partition smaller in order to create new free space.)
4. Click on the [+] button below the sizing window to add a new partition in the gray space you freed up. Give the new volume a name, if you wish, then click on the Apply button. Wait until the process has completed.
You should now have a new volume on the drive.
It would be wise to have a backup of your current system as resizing is not necessarily free of risk for data loss. Your drive must have sufficient contiguous free space for this process to work.

Can I install my time machine back up onto a properly formatted external hard drive?

I have a MacBook Pro with a 750GB harddrive, with 500+ Gb of data on it. Just before I traverse to Europe, I did a TimeMachine back up.
I now want to give my Mac to a friend, and buy a AirMac when I get home. Even if I get the one with the largest drive it will not hold the full 500+'back up.
I have an 8 year old Mac Book pro at home as well. It will be a few months before I can buy the new AirMac. So my question is ....
Can I install my current backup on a properly formatted external hard drive, and will it then run like a computer --until I get my new AirMac?
Thanks for your help (and please don't be too tough on me for what may see to de a dumb question)
Soper777

The Time Machine backup is not bootable
You will have to install Leopard first

When i run Time Machine to back up my computer onto an external hard drive, i have no way of knowing when the back up process has been completed. I don't know when it is safe to disconnect the external hard drive - which is store in a separate location.

When i run Time Machine to back up my computer on to an external hard drive, i have no way of knowing when the back up process has been completed. This is necessary to know because i don't leave my external hard drive connected to the computer. I routinely disconnect it after backing up the hard drive, and then i store the external hard drive in a different location from the computer. So, knowing when the back up process has been completed would be a very helpful thing to have the computer specify.

Just enable Time Machine's menu extra (System Preferences -> Time Machine -> Show Time Machine in menu bar.
This will add a little Time Machine icon to your menubar. When Time Machine is actively backing up your data, the icon will spin as a visual indicator. You can also click the menu icon to see the backup status, including how much data is left to back up.

Can airport extreme be used to back up my macbook pro files?

Am looking for a backup drive for my MacBook Pro and PC and for sharing files, particularly photos.

For PC backups there are no Windows or Apple created software that will wireless backup your computer. There are some 3rd party software that may work, you can do an internet search for "windows time machine".
Typically it would be an easy setup. The easiest setup would be with an iOS 5 device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch). If you have any troubles or if you're uncomfortable, please contact AppleCare Technical Support for free assistance. You get 90 days of complimentary phone support with new Apple hardware devices.

I just did an "erase and install" on my computer, and when i drug everything back to my computer from the external hard drive. however, now i cant open microsoft word. i have an exam on tuesday that I need it for and i dont want to pay for it, HELP!

i cant seem to get it to open. it just says "microsoft word cannot open because of a problem"
ive tried dragging it from the harddrive to my applications folder, but its not working.
any suggestions?

If you purchased your version of Office online, you can redownload it from Microsoft using your product key (I don't know why the link says "office2010"... but the link is for Office for Mac 2011):
https://www2.downloadoffice2010.microsoft.com/macdl/registerkey.aspx?ref=macdl&c ulture=en-US
They used to have a free 30 trial, but I don't seem to see that anywhere.

If i backed up my iPhotos on an external hard drive can i delete them off my mac?

I recently backed up my Macbook pro on to an external hard drive. I was wodnering if i could delete my photos from my iphoto library to save space, and if so can i then get them back on my computer from my external hard drive?

Depends on exactly what you did
And if you delete the information from your main computer then you do not have a backup - to have a backup you need hte original on your computer and an exact copy on another disk
What format is the external drive? It must be Mac OS extended (journaled) to have your iPhoto library on ti
What did you copy to the external drive? The iPhoto library or your photos?
What you probably need to do is to run your iPhoto library on an external drive and to have a second external drive to backup to - Time Machine is a good choice
To run your iPhoto library on an external drive verify that the drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) and drag the iPHoto library to it intact as a single entity - depress the option and command keyus, launch iPhoto and select the new location - fully test the library on the external drive and after one successful backup cycle verify that the external drive is being backedup - then delete your iPhoto library on the main drive - test one more time before emptying the trash
LN

Can airport extreme connect using a mac mini. the base station is not recognized so i cannot configure it manually

can airport extreme connect using a mac mini. this airport extreme wont connect to internet via my cable modem. I cant set it to bridge mode because it doesnt appear as a base station in airport utitlity...help

First, is your AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) a 802.11n, 802.11g, or 802.11b model? Second, what is your primary goal for using this base station? Finally, is the AEBS the only router in your current network configuration?

Can AirPort Extreme be used as a signal extender?

Can AirPort Extreme be used as a wireless extender, wi fi booster?

If you are planning to "extend" wirelessly......the AirPort Extreme will "extend" the wireless signal from another Apple wireless router....but....it will not "extend" the wireless signal from a 3rd party router.

Can Airport extreme be used as a repeater from the BT home hub

can Airport extreme be used as a repeater from the BT home hub because my laptop will be very far away and i currently get a rubbish signal on my Windows pc so when i upgrade to the mac pro i am wonderimg if i could use the airport extreme as a repeater to strenthen my already rubbish signal??

You might want to check with BT to see if they have a device to do what you want.
Using wireless only, the AirPort Extreme will only "extend" or "repeat" the wireless signal if it has been produced by another Apple router. It is not compatible with routers from other suppliers for this purpose.

I just backed up my mac to an external hard drive using Time Machine. What would happen if I turn Time Machine off and then plug the external hard drive back into my computer?

I just backed up my mac to an external hard drive using Time Machine. What would happen if I turn Time Machine off and then plug the external hard drive back into my computer?
What I am ultimately wanting to do is make more room on my computer by backing up all of my files onto the external hard drive and then deleting them off of my computer. However, neededing to be able to retrieve them from the external hard drive later down the road.
From what I have read and am trying to understand, is that I probably shouldn't have used time machine. I need to use the external hard drive like a basic flash drive where I can put things on and get things off without having it automatically update through time machine everytime I connect it to my computer.
Not tech savvy at all and barely understand basics. I need very simple and easy to understand explanations.

sydababy wrote:
and then deleting them off of my computer.
BIG BIG MISTAKE ..... youre making a linchpin deathtrap for your data trying to shove everything on a single fragile HD.
Dont suffer the tragedy other people make, buy another or 2 more HD, theyre cheap as dust.
The number of people who have experienced terror by having a single external HD backup is enormous. One failure that WILL HAPPEN, and kaput,......all gone!
Dont do it, its all about redundancy, redundancy, redundancy.
follow here:
Methodology to protect your data. Backups vs. Archives. Long-term data protection
Deleting them off your computer is fine....having only ONE copy is extremely BAD.
The Tragedy that will be, the tragedy that never should be
Always presume correctly that your data is priceless and takes a very long time to create and often is irreplaceable. Always presume accurately that hard drives are extremely cheap, and you have no excuse not to have multiple redundant copies of your data copied on hard drives and squirreled away several places, lockboxes, safes, fireboxes, offsite and otherwise.
Hard drives aren't prone to failure…hard drives are guaranteed to fail (the very same is true of SSD). Hard drives dont die when aged, hard drives die at any age, and peak in death when young and slowly increase in risk as they age.
Never practice at any time for any reason the false premise and unreal sense of security in thinking your data is safe on any single external hard drive. This is never the case and has proven to be the single most common horrible tragedy of data loss that exists.
Many 100s of millions of hours of lost work and data are lost each year due to this single common false security. This is an unnatural disaster that can avoid by making all data redundant and then redundant again. If you let a $60 additional redundant hard drive and 3 hours of copying stand between you and years of work, then you've made a fundamental mistake countless 1000s of people each year have come to regret.

Can Airport Extreme be used to back up my computer without an external hard drive?

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