Can I just make one back-up on time machine instead of making a new one every day/week?

I am just wondering if it is possible to make just one back up early instead of it making new ones every week/month/year? Any help would be awesome! Thanks.

As Barry asks -- why? You're on a MacMini, so you don't ned to disconnect for portability.
Time Machine copies only those files that have changed since the last backup.
By decreasing the interval, you save NO space, and reduce the effectiveness of the backup. If you need to go back to a previous version of a file, you've got fewer versions.
If you backup once a week, and lose a file created yesterday, you've got NOTHING.

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HT201250 I have done my back up using time machine, now I have a new mac and I need to access the files that I had saved from my old mac. How can I do that?

I have done my back up using time machine, now I have a new mac and I need to access the files that I had saved from my old mac. How can I do that?

Use Migration Assistant on your new Mac:
Click Continue:
On the next screen, choose your Time Machine backup disk.
Don't bother to migrate Applications unless you know they will work on your new Mac. For example, PowerPC applications won't work. Just migrate your user account which will copy all your photos, music, movies, and other documents.
Note: you will not be able to migrate the information to same account in which you are already logged in. Migration Assistant will tell you that and recommend what to do. It can migrate the information to a new account, but you will have to give it a name you might want to change later. One way around this is to create a temporary account, log in to it, and run Migration Assistant which will replace your normal account. Then, log out of the temporary account, log in to your usual one, verify everyting works as you expect, and delete the temporary one.
All this can be avoided when you set up a brand new Mac by running Setup Assistant which essentially does the same thing to create your new account, but most people are too excited to do that and elect to migrate later.

Both my husband and I have our Macs backed up on Time Machine. I have a new Mac and want to download my files,etc. from Timeline to my new Mac. How do I ensure that Time Machine downloads only MY files, and not my husband's files?

Both my husband and I have our MacBook Pros backed up to Time Machine. I have a new MacBook Pro and want to download my files, etc. from Time Machine to my new Mac. I do I ensure that Time Machine downloads only MY files to my new Mac, and not my husband's files?

OS X uses a unique identifier so there will be no problems.

Can I restore a iPhone back up from time machine and if so how?

I have upgraded my iphone to IOS 7 this morning. However as I was backing up my phone, the cable I was using was removed from the macbook.
I now have a iPhone back up that is corrupted, and when i try and restore my settings to the new IOS7 upgraded phone, it will not allow my old settings to be placed on the phone.
I am therefore thinking of using an old back up from Time Machine, but do not know how to access itunes from time machine. Everytime I try and enter iTunes from my Time Machine vault it says Mac OSX requires the application and therefore cannot be restored.
Please help or tell me what I should be doing instead.
I have a feeling I will lose my app data and have to manually sort my home screens. Luckily all my contacts, emails, photos etc are synced to iCloud, but the back up of my iphone isn't as I don;t have the upgraded space on ICloud and have a iPhone thta has 16GB on it.
Cheers in anticipation of your help
Stephen

Hi Lawrence. Thanks so much for that advice - I'm really grateful. I hope you don't mind me asking a couple more questions: I have found that folder via Finder - I clicked on Library then App Support then Mobile Sync and within that, there's a folder called Backup and within that, 4 files. I also tried accessing it via the Go/go to folder method you suggested (in case that revealed more which remain hidden unless I use your route) but I couldn't make that route work.
I presume I'm looking at the correct files but please advise me if it's still possible that I'm not.
I had already tried to look at these backup files in Time Machine. They appear to be backed up, going back a year. If I can restore one from yesterday, that should solve my problem. However I've looked through them randomly going back a month or more, and they all seem to have been created in 2013, and last modified then. Only one of the files has a more recent 'last modified' date. But surely Time Machine has captured each backup of the iPhone going back over time? I'm baffled.
I hope the above makes sense. I'd be really grateful for any further advice.
steve

Can my iOS device be backed up on time machine

My wife's iPad mini needs video backed up. Apps can't update because there is no room. I don't know how to limit or exclude photos & video from the icloud backup

can my iOS device be backed up on time machine
iOS devices back up to iTunes on your computer, or to iCloud.
If you backup your iPad to iTunes on a Mac, when the Mac backs up to the Time Capsule using Time Machine, the backups in iTunes are placed on the Time Capsule.
If you are asking if an iOS device can back up directly to a Time Capsule, the answer would be no.
For more information on iOS backups, see this Apple support document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766
Your other questions are all iOS related questions, so you should post in the iPad support area for the most prompt and informed answers:
Using iPad

How can I get specific files back from my Time Machine backup?

I wanted to make a fresh install on my MacBook Pro, in order to only have Java 8 instead of any older Java versions. So far so good. But now I want to get specific files/libraries from my external backup (USB):
One Parallels Virtual Machine
My old mail
My iPhoto Library
I don't need any settings for these, since I can easily configure them again.
I already used the Migration Assistent to restore all apps.
How can I get specific data back from the backup without restoring all stuff that I don't want anymore?
I'm now working on a new account on the fresh system, called 'Admin'. My old account was called 'Hans' (or 'hans') and I'd like to create such an account again for all my tasks.
Hans

How can I get specific data back from the backup without restoring all stuff that I don't want anymore?
I'm now working on a new account on the fresh system, called 'Admin'. My old account was called 'Hans' (or 'hans') and I'd like to create such an account again for all my tasks.
You will want to add the same User account(s) which hold the data you want to restore. So you will want to add a User account of 'Hans or hans'. Check your Time Machine back up drive to see how the User account is labeled (Hans or hans). Navigate to the Users folder and see how it's labeled.
You can then use your Time Machine back up drive and navigate to the User Home folder to copy its data over (e.g. contents from Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, etc.). Repeat for other Users.

How do I make a back up on Time Machine before upgrading to Mountain Lion?

A detailed process would be greatly appreciated. I've heard I should use time machine before upgrading to Mountain Lion for reasons I cannot remember.
Thanks!

Connect an external drive to your Mac. Open Disk Utility, it is in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder, and see if the external is formated Mac Extended (Journaled) and if it is not you can either use the Partition tab to Re-partition it as one partition and format it Mac Extended (Journaled) or you can use the Erase tab to Erase the drive and format it the Mac format. Name it anything you like.
Once that is done close Disk Utility and open System Preferences and go to the Time Machine Applet. Once that is open, If OS X doesn't ask you if you want to use that external as a TM backup disk, select "SelectBackup Disk" and select that external as a place to store backups. Then move the slider from Off to On and then TM will start the process of making a backup of your system. Once it is finished I suggest you turn it back off.

Can I retrieve Mac files backed-up with Time Machine to a PC?

Hello,
I have been using Time Machine to back up my MacBook Pro to an external hard disc. Now my MacBook has broken and I'm in Ghana with no access to repairs in the foreseeable future. Can I retrieve the backed-up files from my Mac to a PC? If so, do I have to upload everyting on the external hard disc to the PC or is there a way to select inidividual files for retrieval? My fear is that everything will be erased once I connect the external disc to a computer it has not 'seen' before. Would be grateful for answers and advice. - Fiafromgullspång

There is no way to restore your TM backup to a PC.
You need to be able to run Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant to restore your TM Backup.
Back-in-Time or Backuploupe will give you access to your TM Backups but still require a Mac to run.

HT201250 Can I just restore my address book with Time Machine...

or do I have to reload the entire back up? I recently wiped my drive and started from scratch and forgot to back up my address book in the process. I do not want to start over with the entire process if at all possible.

You can use only one drive at a time as a TM backup destination, though you can switch among as many drives as you like. They'll all back up the same set of files, unless you keep changing your exclusion list (which I wouldn't recommend.)

I have my Macbook Air 11" backed up in Time Machine. If I change to a 13" model, can I load this from the Time Machine?

Currently I have a 11" Macbook Air, which I plan to replace with a 13" model. My current machine is backed up in Time machine, when I get the new 13" model can I load my backup into the new machine ?

Hi richcloke,
Happy Thanksgiving! When you get your new Macbook Air, you can use Migration Assistant to transfer your user account and data from your current computer. Here's how:
OS X Yosemite: Transfer your info from a computer or storage device
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18870
OS X Yosemite: Transfer your info from a computer or storage device
Transfer info from a Time Machine backup or other storage device
Transfer information from another disk on your Mac, a disk connected to your Mac, a disk on the same network, or another Mac (with OS X v10.8 Mountain Lion or earlier) connected to your Mac using a Thunderbolt cable.
If you’re using a Thunderbolt cable, connect the cable to the computers, hold down the T key while restarting the Mac that has the info to transfer, then follow the steps below on your other Mac.
Open Migration Assistant, click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to transfer info from a Time Machine backup or other disk.
Select the disk, then select what to transfer.
Apps: Select the Applications checkbox.
Incompatible apps or apps with newer versions already installed may not be transferred or may not be usable.
Computer settings: Select the Computer & Network Settings checkbox.
Your desktop picture, network settings, and more will be transferred.
To begin the transfer, click Continue.
Enjoy your new Mac!
- Judy

Back up from time machine and first new tm machine back up on new mac

hi
i just made a back up from time machine into a new iMac...
no i need to configure again TM for the new mac but even if i use the same TM disc the first new back up doesn't write onto the old one so I need to make a new back up from scratch... can't I keep on writing over the old one?
thanks
m

Here is some of the best information you can find on Time Machine:
Pondini's Time Machine FAQ

How do I restore files backed up to time machine to a replacement storage drive? (NOT System disk)

I've seen plenty of articles about restoring the system disk (restoring the whole system) with Time Machine, but nothing about restoring a secondary disk that has crashed.
I've been doing backups of both the primary system disk and a secondary storage disk for 2 years. Yesterday, the secondary storage disk crashed. I have a replacement disk, now I need to restore the backup from Time Machine onto this new disk.
Can I just copy the files from the Time Machine disk to the new one, or do I need to do something more complicated? The instructions for restoring files from Time Machine all include selecting the drive/folder you want to restore, then entering Time Machine. But I can't do that if the original disk no longer exists.
I'm getting the replacement drive today, so I thought I would ask before I installed the drive. Any advice would be appreciated.
-ME
Mac Pro 5,1
OS X 10.6.8

If i had a direct answer, i'd posted it, but, since I don't use TM, I linked you to the TM bible. You know, the one that Apple failed to provide.
BTW, specific steps on what you did to solve the problem will help others.

When i change my os x 10.5 to snow leopard i have adobe creative suite can i just copy this back from the back up or do i have to reinstall it from its disc?

Hi all
i am finally changing my os x 10.5 to 10.6 late i know, but i was wondering i have adobe creative suite on my mac which i use for business pupouses and i wanted to know if after i change the os x system do i have to re-install these programs from their original disc or can i just copy them back onto my mac from their backup .
thank you for any help

Glad I asked...
I would Strongly suggest that you get yourself an External Hard Drive... and create a Bootable Clone Backup of your current Hard Drive...
By far the easiest way to make such a Backup, is to use something like
SuperDuper http://www.shirt-pocket.com/
or CCC http://www.bombich.com/
That way, should anything untoward happen during the Upgrade,
You will NOT LOSE ANYTHING.
(Get an EHD that is at least equal to your current Drive...)

HT201250 Can I include external drives to be backed up using Time Machine. Not only do I want to back up my IMac, but I have several extenal drives for one iPhoto, one iTunes and one for other files & documents.

Can I include external drives to be backed up using Time Machine? Not only do I want to back up my IMac, but I have several extenal drives for one iPhoto, one iTunes and one for other files & documents. How do I know if they are included in the backup process?

Yes, if they are not exclude then TM backs them up.
Allan

I have 2 i-touches can not just add one play list with out the entire icloud down loading.

I have 2 i-touches can not just add one play list with out the entire icloud down loading.
Also my daughter is getting my wifes im's and vice a versa

Place the iOS device in Recovery Mode and then connect to your computer and restore via iTunes. The iPod will be erased.
iOS: Wrong passcode results in red disabled screen
If recovery mode does not work try DFU mode.
How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings
For how to restore:
iTunes: Restoring iOS software

Can I just make one back-up on time machine instead of making a new one every day/week?

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