Can I use iPod for time machine back up?

I have several iPods that I don't use, and would like to use them as time machine back up drives, for multiple computers.
They are 30gb iPod videos. I am aware they aren't as reliable as an actual external hard drive and that this much read/write can cause the iPod to burn out, but for these purposes I don't care.
I have 300 computers that I want to restore to one master, as they are all used for the same purpose, but currently they all have OS 10.5.x of varying versions. I currently use a time machine backup on an external hard drive to restore the systems, but I have 15 iPod videos, and I would like to use 2-3 of them, to speed the process up.
I use carbon copy cloner once I get a system restored, to restore the stations around it, but time machine is about 15% faster than using CCC, so I would like to use these iPods to increase my ability to restore these systems on a regular basis without having to buy external hard drives or enclosures to make external HDs.
I have tried:
Erasing the iPod in disk utility.
-It will erase the volume as HFS+ (extended journaled) but it won't erase the main device as it shows in Disk utility, it consistently stays as Fat32.
--Same idea if I recreate the partition. I tried GUID partition scheme, Apple Partition Map and Master boot record, but all produce the same result.
I also selected the iPod and attempted a zero-out of the whole iPod using the security options in disk utility. The system still will not let me use it for time machine.
Has anyone been able to use an iPod for backup? Are there any other techniques anyone can suggest to get this iPod to work?
Thanks for your help.

And to clarify, originally I made sure disk usage was enabled on the iPod.
I have also tried dragging and dropping the contents of a time machine backup to the iPod, but it's still not seen as a backup volume. I suspect there are some hidden files that enable a volume as time machine capable. Any ideas on how to maybe copy the hidden files or any other methods that might work?

Similar Messages

Time Capsule- Can i use it for Time Machine and store media files?

Hi,
I'm very new to Time Capsule (have a 1TB TC), but have been using Time Machine to back up my MacBook Pro onto an external HD for a while now.
Here's my question. is it possible to use the Time Machine capabilities of Time Capsule while also using it to store music and picture files. Ideally I'd like to be able to have my iTunes and iPhoto library available on the Time Capsule. that way it could be centralized and readable from a few Macs in the house.
Thanks!

brianfallen wrote:
When you say the info on it won't be backed up. What do you mean "the info on it"? Do you just mean the mp3, AAC ...etc files aren't backed up because they live on the TC only?
I just want to make sure cause I did the same thing but I want to make sure I wont lose all my music and photos.
If the only place you have these music and photo files is on the TC HDD, then if the TC HDD fails, you lose all those files. Here's another option. TC has an archive feature. That means you can, via AirPort Utility -> Disks, use the Archive feature to clone the TC HDD onto a USB HDD attached to the USB port of TC. It's not like TM, making incremental backups. You have to manually archive it, but it is an alternative.
My photos remain on my iMac internal HDD. That means they are backed up by TM onto the TC HDD. If my iMac internal HDD fails, I still have the TM backups. I also backup yearly photos to DVDs. Photos are irreplaceble, you know.

My external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive. Same thing has happened with Final Cut Express.

My new LaCie external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive.
The same thing happened recently between Final Cut Express and my other LaCie external hard drive used as the Scratch disk. It fixed itself.
I've run out of ideas. Help would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

have you done some searches on FCPx and time machine? Is there a known issue with using a TM drive with FCPx? dunno but ...wait...I'll take 60 sec for you cause I'm just that kind of guy.... google...." fcpx time machine problem" Frist page link
http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/fcpx-bug-best-practices-for-using-external-hard- drives-and-final-cut-pro-x/
You cannot have time machine backups on your hard drive if you intend to use it in FCPX.
booya!

I want to know about time machine if i can use the hard drive that i use for time machine back up as a normal hard drive too or if it's only for time machine

I want to know about time machine if i can use the hard drive that i use for time machine back up as a normal hard drive too or if it's only for time machine
and if it yes i want to know if i have 1TB hard disk to use the 500gb for time machine and the other 500gb for normal use

thank you very much because i am considering to buy the porsche design hard disk 1TB and i want to have it for normal use and for time machine is a pitty to give 1TB for back up only again thanks and i know seperate the back and the working jobs are better but the i have to have 2 hardisks and i want only 1

Can not installed mountain lion msg" macintosh hd is using for time machine back up" please help

I downloaded mountain lion but can not install, msg" macintosh HD is using for time machine back up , how can I change that...thanks

Somehow, a Backups.backupdb folder got created on your startup drive.
You won't find it via a Spotlight or Finder search, so open your internal HD via the Finder.
That folder is at the top level. Just delete it.

How do I prevent my hard drive being used for time machine back ups?

I want to install Snow Leopard but it tells me that the OS cannot be installed because the disk is being used for Time Machine back ups. I don't recall setting up my hard drive to be used this way (why would I?!) but now I can't seem to

Did you have TM turned on at any time? If so, and if you had no external hard drive attached, could it be that it created its own backup on a portion of your hard drive? I don't use TM, but I believe I read that this may be possible. Take a look at Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities) and report what you see on the left - under the top heading, is there more than one partition showing, such as here:
(I have two partitions: one for Snow Leopard, the other for Lion) - what does yours show?

I have a 1TB external hard drive (NTFS) that has all my files from my old PC, how do I create a partition on it for HFS without formatting it so that I can use it for Time Machine and the like?

I have a 1TB external hard drive (NTFS) that has all my files from my old PC, how do I create a partition on it for HFS without formatting it so that I can use it for Time Machine and the like?

There aren't any 3rd party apps or anything. I use PC's and Mac's at school and the only computer connected to a printer at my house is a PC so i need access to both

Down loaded Mavericks, will not install on my computer because it says "this hard drive is used for time machine back up".

Down loaded mavericks, it will not install on my computer because it says" this hard drive is used for time machine back up". So I used my old computer hard drive for back up and reloaded the program but it still says the first hard drive is being used.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Make sure you have selected your MacBook Pro's hard drive as the destination to install Mavericks. If so, you have the "Backups.backupdb" folder in the root level of your hard drive.
That's the folder used by Time Machine to store backups of your files, and the Mavericks installer understands that your internal hard disk is the Time Machine drive.
To fix this, open a Finder window, select the Go menu (on the menu bar) > Go to Folder, and type:
Then, delete "Backups.backupdb", empty the Trash and run the Mavericks installer. Finally, install OS X Mavericks

I cannot install ODX Yosemite over OSX Mavericks as my Mac Book Pro (early 2011) advises that the disc "Mackintosh HD" is used for Time Machine back ups. This is not the case however as I use a separate external HD for this purpose, help please ?! T

I cannot install ODX Yosemite over OSX Mavericks as my Mac Book Pro (early 2011) advises that the disc "Mackintosh HD" is used for Time Machine back ups. This is not the case however as I use a separate external HD for this purpose, help please ?!
Thanks

Check this link out...
OS X: Cannot install on a volume used by Time Machine for backups
I was apart of this thread and it helped the OP...
Re: System installer thinks my main drive is my time Machine backup and won't install.
KOT

External hard drive for time machine back-ups

Can anyone please suggest the best external hard drive to use for time machine back-ups on my iMac?
I also use a 1TB external hard drive for my iTunes library, but I've noticed that it can be slower to access the music than if I used the iMac hard drive......any suggestions? My iTunes library is currently sitting at around 200GB.
Thanks.
Brian

i'd recommend a firewire 800 drive. many folks here speak highly of drives supplied by [OWC|http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire> and [LaCie|http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=11156].
JGG

I can't migrate from a time machine Back up. I select my TC and it says "some backups can't be opened." My HD failed and I'm Trying to get everything back... Can anyone make a suggestion?

I can't migrate from a time machine Back up. I select my TC and it says "some backups can't be opened. Make sure that all of your network devices are connected and turned on. It appears that some backups are already in use. If you don't see the backup you need, make sure it is not currently mounted by another machine and try again."
My HD failed and i installed a new one... I'm Trying to get everything back... Can anyone make a suggestion?

Read the section E about restore issues.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
But you should be able to mount the sparsebundle and backup the major items if they are not damaged. You might also do a disk verify to see if the corruption can be repaired.
Have a look here also for restore of selected items.
http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

EHD recommendations for Time Machine back-up?

Hi!
I need to buy a 2 or 3 TB EHD, preferably Firewire, for Time Machine back-ups of my iMac and EHD. Can anyone tell me what's a good reliable brand at a reasonable price? I've found several Western Digitals, Seagates, Iomegas, and LaCies, but none of them get stellar reviews. Frankly, I'm afraid to trust any of them based on what I've read.
I currently have a 1 TB Seagate GoFlex Desktop that's a huge pain in the tush because it powers down regularly and then ejects from my desktop giving me an error message. I get sick of this happening all day long, so now I don't trust Seagate at all.
I've had an internal WD hard drive fail after a year and a half in my previous iMac. So, any suggestions? I want to pay $150 or less, so if I can only get a USB one for that, it's okay as long as it gets great recommendations.
I'd love to hear what others have had good luck with.
TIA!

i have actually very good experiences with LaCie drives, particularly the d2 Quadra.
however, the Mercury Elite line by OWC is also recommended often.

Disk partion format for time machine back up.

I have 2 external drives on for Mac and one for Bootcamp
I'm trying to format my drive for time machine back up. There's:
Mac Os extended (Journaled)
Mac Os extended
Mac Os extended (case sensitive Journaled)
Mac Os extended (case sensitive)
What's the difference with all those??
Also I'm trying to format my other disk to be NTFS format but all I see are:
ExFAT
Free Space.
What's the difference? I'm trying to see what would be the best option for me.
Sorry if this is a very long question.. I also didnt know where this topic would go.

Look under Options in the Partition tab in Disk Utility.
For Windows, format under Windows.
GUID for Mac
MBR for Windows

How to turn off the 'Use disk for Time Machine?' warning

I have Time Machine set to OFF.
I use cloning software instead; "SuperDuper" with a "Voyager Q" unit attached via FW 800
I rotate my external backups HDs using 2 x 3.5" HDs.
How do I get rid of the annoying message; ‘Use disk for Time Machine?’ each time I attach an external HD?
I have tried the solution at;
http://www.macworld.com/article/133175/2008/04/105notmdrive.html
but doesn't work for me.
Mind you, the article was written for 10.5 and I was hoping the same solution would apply to 10.6.
Anyone have an answer?
Many thanks in advance,
Michael.

Think I just found the answer to my own question.
External drive has to be mounted on the desktop BEFORE the following command is run.
defaults write com.apple.TimeMachine DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup -bool YES
this assumes you've setup TM
Now I don't see that annoying message.

By adding an external hd to time capsule does it increase the size of available space for time machine back-ups?

By adding an external hd to time capsule does it increase the size of available space for time machine back-ups?

No, each drive is treated separately. Sorry!!

Can I use iPod for time machine back up?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for