Can I use iPod as a backup device for Time Machine?

I have tried to set up Time Machine using my iPod as the storage device without success. When I tried to set up Time Machine it would not recognize the iPod as a valid storage device. Can anyone tell we why this is not allowed or am I doing something wrong.
Thanks. All answers welcomed.

I don't know if it is allowed or what you are doing wrong but I can tell you why it would be a bad idea. The iPod hard disk only runs briefly to load data off into flash ram and then stops. The music you hear is being played from flash ram. Time Machine use would be a lot more intensive than this. This causes two problems:
(1) I have read that iPod drives are rated for a life of 20,000 hours versus 750,000 for a desktop drive but worse is
(2) The iPod is only designed to dissipate the heat created by these short bursts of use. If you run it more than this you risk doing some damage due to overheating.
I installed Mac OS X on my iPod once to see if I could. It worked but it also got very hot.
I thought there was a technote on this but I can't find it.
Michael

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Can you use the same external hard drive for Time Machine backups and as an additional storage drive?

I have an external HD that I've been using exclusively for Time Machine backups. I need to clear space on my hard drive, so I was thinking to move music & photos to an external drive. Wondering if I can use the same one I have (which I'll aslo keep using for Time Machine) or if I need to get another drive.

Hi Jossydtaylor,
Time Machine can use either an entire external disk or a partition of that disk:
OS X Mountain Lion: Disks you can use with Time Machine
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11171
You can use Time Machine with a Time Capsule, and with USB, FireWire, and Thunderbolt disks. The backup disk can be directly connected to your computer or be on a network. If the backup disk has been divided into partitions, you can use one of the partitions.
If the disk is partitioned using the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition type, some partitions may not be available for use with Time Machine. The GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition type is recommended.
For more info on partitioning, see this article:
Disk Utility 12.x: Partition a disk
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5845
Cheers!
- Ari

Can I use the same external hard drive for time machine and storing other files

I have a 640GB external hard drive that I have been using for over a year for time machine backups. My mac hard drive is now starting to fill up and I am looking to move audio, video and picture files to my external hard drive. How do I do this without messing up my time machine backups? Can I do both on the same external hard drive? Do I just make new folders on the external hard drive to move the files I want? Thanks for the help.

If you move the files you will need to get another disk to back the files up to. You don't want to have only one copy of certain files (personal, professional etc.).

Can we connect a Mac and PC to Time Capsule and use it as common backup device for both machines ?

.

Yes, but you use Time Machine on the Mac although there are alternatives, TM is great tool.
On the PC you need to use a suitable backup software. Many many available.. choose one.. anything but Microsoft's own backup which is a total pain.

Can I use more than 1 backup drive with Time machine?

I wanted to run this proposed setup by this board, before I ordered HDs:
For my Mac which is located at the office:
I want to use 2 internal 500GB HDs.
Drive 1: System Disk & main File storage
Drive 2: Primary Time Machine Backup Volume. Backing up Daily.
I would also like to have an external HD, that I can keep at home, but bring into the office, say once a month to have an additional backup that I can take home with me in case of a catastrophic event such as if the office would burn down. Sort of a backup of the backup, just in case.
Can Time machine switch back and forth between 2 backup drives, or will I have to do manual backup to the external drive. It would be nice to have Time machine do it, since it will only be copying modified files.

I believe TM can do it. you'll have to go to system preferences and click on "change TM drive" every time you switch. However, I would recommend a different type of backup for your less frequent backups. use CCCloner or Superduper! to make a bootable clone of your system once a month. I'm not sure about CCCloner but superduper can do it by updating only the files that have been changed so it shouldn't take too long.

Can I use a "Click Free" backup drive with Time Machine

Can I connect my Click Free portable hard drive backup to my Intel IMac running Lion, and use time machine and not the Click Free backup software? I'm guessing I might have to erase the software from the ClickFree drive. This ClickFree hard drive is for Mac as well as Windows.

telwell wrote:
Can I connect my Click Free portable hard drive backup to my Intel IMac running Lion, and use time machine and not the Click Free backup software? I'm guessing I might have to erase the software from the ClickFree drive. This ClickFree hard drive is for Mac as well as Windows.
Then it is likely formatted as FAT32 and can not be used with TM until reformatted to HFS+.
It should work after reformatting, use disk utility to erase the drive and set the format as MAC OSX Extended (journaled)

Can I use a PC's hard drive for Time Machine?

I have upgraded my Apple iBook G4 to Mac OS X Leopard and want to take full advantage of all the applications on the OS. I am wondering if it is possible to use a Microsoft Windows PC's hard drive as the medium upon which Time Machine can use to back up my data. I know that external hard drives will work with Time Machine and so will wireless hard drives, such as Time Capsule.
So, would it work if I was to:
1 - Partition the existing C drive in my PC
2 - Share this partitioned C drive on the Network (my PC has wireless card in-built)
3 - Set up Time Machine to recognise this hard disk as a medium which it can use to back up my data
Sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but if there is a chance I can use a PC's hard drive, especially when the existing PC is hardly ever used, as something which Time Machine can use, then it would make sense to use that then spend money on an external or wireless hard drive.

No. This is not possible on the PC drive without wiping the drive.
Requirements to use Time Machine
Time Machine is only available with Leopard (10.5.x)
1. External FireWire or USB 2.0 drive
2. Time Capsule
3. Drive shared by a Mac running 10.5 or later using File Sharing
4. Drive shared by a Mac running 10.5 Server
5. SAN volume managed by Apple's Xsan file system
A TM drive must be partitioned with either APM (PPC) or GUID (Intel) and formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)

Can i use my ipad2 as inertnet device for connect my desktop

Can i use my ipad2 as inertnet device for connect my desktop

No, the iPad doesn't have the personal hotspot function and can't share its connection with other devices - that is currently only found on the iPhone

I have just upgraded from a Macbook to a Macbook Air. I have been using a iomega external hard drive for Time Machine, which use a Firewire. However, Macbook Air's do not have a Firewire port and i cannot find an adaptor anywhere. Can anyone help?? Thanks

I have just upgraded from a Macbook to a Macbook Air. I have been using a iomega external hard drive for Time Machine, which use a Firewire. However, Macbook Air's do not have a Firewire port and i cannot find an adaptor anywhere. Can anyone help?? Thanks

There has never been a reliable firewire ---> USB adapter suitable for external high speed storage. This was a major issue when the MacBooks lost the firewire port a number of years ago (Apple subsequently brought it back).
The only high speed port on the Air is the ThunderBolt port. There are external ThunderBolt drive options out there, but they're somewhat more expensive than traditional USB/FireWire options.

HT201250 Is it possible to use Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive as the backup disk for time machine?

I have a MacBook Pro for which I have not set up Time Machine. I have a Dropbox account and a Microsoft OneDrive account, each with plenty of space to serve as backups. Is it possible to use either of these as THE backup disk for Time Machine? It doesn't appear intuitive from Time Machine on my MBP.
Thank you.

No. Time Machine does not work with "cloud" drives.

Backup Drive for Time Machine FILLS UP FAST!

*Be forewarned!*
I have a new iMac 2.8 GHz with an internal 750GB drive (about 500GB free). I bought a 500GB external drive (Western Digital Book My Book™), and after just 4 days of running with Time Machine turned on, I get this error message, "Time Machine backup failed. Time Machine needs 175GB to backup, and only 150GB available." Huh?
I just spoke to someone at the Apple Store's Genius bar, and they recommend a backup drive that is twice the size of your internal drive. (which means a 1.5 TB drive: not cheap...LaCie costs $539)
Also, come to find out some programs simply "don't play nice" with Time Machine. A good example is MS-Entourage, which has a single database file (in the Main Identity folder) which holds all the info for your email, address book and calendar. Mine is 350 MB in size, and it is being backed up IN FULL every hour because, well...I use my email. And every time any changes are made to that single file, it is considered modified, which means it is backed up every hour on the hour, which can quickly add up.
The same is true for the Windows XP or Vista VM files created by Parallels or VMware Fusion. Each are single, 2+ GB files, and each time any change is made to this 'huge' file, it gets backed up repeatedly by Leopard's Time Machine.
_So the larger the backup drive for Time Machine the better_! I'm considering giving up on Entourage (kiss Microsoft goodbye!) and switching to Apple's excellent mail, address book and calendar programs!
Tim Liszt
LisZt Design

Tim,
I just switched from Entourage to Mail (for many reasons). Thus far, I love Mail. You may want to get the Widescreen plugin for it if you like the three-pane configuration of Entourage.
You should also be careful with Address Book if you have syncing set up in Entourage. In other words, probably should turn it off, along with any daemons you may have running. I lost data twice (once before my very eyes!) until figuring this out. Used Time Machine to restore a previous address book with all my contacts.
Thanks for the other information on this thread. Since I should be upgrading my old external drive anyway, it will help in purchasing a new machine for use with TM.
Message was edited by: SPD

I need to configure a new hard disk as backup disk for time machine. The set up program is running and it says it will take 9 days to backup about 56 GB. Is it normal ?

I need to configure a new hard disk as backup disk for time machine.
The set up program is running since two hours and it says it will take 9 days to backup about 56 GB.
Is it normal ?

Roberto 17 wrote:
I started this morning at 12 and after 5 hours now the backup is about 6 GB up on 56 GB.
The new HD is a WD My Passport Edge 500 GB capacity
5 hours to do 6 GB of transfer is NOT normal, even for USB 2.0 so there's something wrong here. I'd say cancel it, wipe the drive and then test the integrity of the drive. Do some file transfers over to and see if it's behaving normally. It could be a bad USB cable, it could be a bad drive or bad enclosure. As it's new, I suspect you haven't really put it through its paces yet and it's important to do that first before commissioning it to serve as your "reliable backup."

If I choose a hard drive ask my backup disk for time machine, will it clear out the data that was previously stored in my hard drive?

If I choose a hard drive ask my backup disk for time machine, will it clear out the data that was previously stored in my hard drive?

Hello edjhsu,
Unless the drive is in a format that isn't compatible with Time Machine, the files will not be overrwitten. However it is typically a better idea to keep your files and your backup separate, especially since files on the Time Machine drive will not be backed up by Time Machine.
Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
Cheers,
Allen

Can I use TC as a backup drive for a Windows PC

I bought a TC. We still have one desktop PC. I am hoping to use TC as a backup drive for that PC in addition to its wireless capabilities. Can I do that? Or, do I have to have an external hard drive hooked up to TC that is used to backup the PC?
Thanks!

Does TC have to be formatted in some special way in order to have the PC write to the drive?
No, the TC is a network drive.. its internal format happens to be HFS+ and cannot be changed, but it would not matter if it was formatted to some strange standard you never heard of. It presents to the network as an SMB files store.. that just means it is like a shared drive on another computer.
I prefer to simply reinstall the operating system & have the data files to restore in case something happens. At least, in my limited experience and others' stories, that seems to be a simpler route.
I disagree here. A full backup of terrible mess sure, that is worse than a bad fresh install. But a clone of the PC on the day of creation.. that is a very special backup.. and I store them for every pc I setup. Fortunately very few these days.. To install the OS, drivers, updates (these take forever plus several registrations to MS), antivirus, security software, basic software like office, register everything, ring microsoft to convince them you are reinstalling because you had to wipe the pc and are not stealing the software. Discover that the PC has no original disks because the supplier loaded it onto a partition on the hard disk which is now dead. Load emails.. those are painful..remember all your account names, account info, all the passwords all the favourites.. that takes a few days.
When you get a new pc, an unused full install.. everything registered.. everything working as it should.. take a clone snapshot.. and protect it like crazy. That snapshot will have your pc back in working condition in under 1 hour. What is more it will be small.. a few gigabyte at most.. you can probably fit the whole thing on a 8GB usb stick. Lock that away in a draw.. it is precious.. my precious.. get it with a nice ring on the end.. !!
There is a full working pc with all your software, fully registered without more effort than starting the restore. All shrunk down to an $10 storage device.
You can do the same thing after say 1 year.. the backup might no longer fit on a nice disk but you can get hard disks for very cheap. It also represents a working volume, all the current passwords, all the current favourites and setups. After that things tend to go downhill.. files and registry bloats out and viruses get in.. etc. But at least the day of creation backup is so so worth it.
So, maybe I can still use the MS Backup process I've been using and write to the TC as an "external hard drive" location for the backup file?
It will work.. much more cannot be said.
Wishing you a Happy New Year - wherever in the world you might be!
Australia.. !!
But same back to you.. with knobs on!!

Is there an alternative device for Time Machine Backup?

Hello All,
I am stretching my dollars when I am saying I am going to buy Airport Extreme or Time capsule. Do you have any recommendation if any of the wireless routers out there in the market can do this trick. I would greatly appreciate if you can give me a response.
Thanks
S

A $99 AirPort Express + an external hard disk drive will cost less than a Time Capsule.
The Express includes most of the features of the more expensive Extreme. Though the Extreme supports an external HDD you can only use a hard disk attached to your Mac for Time Machine. Either way, you will need an external backup device and an inexpensive hard disk drive offers the cheapest cost per unit storage.

Can I use iPod as a backup device for Time Machine?

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