Can Time Machine back up data stored on a mounted external drive?

Can Time Machine back up the data that I have stored on an external drive? It's mounted on the desktop but I can't seem to add it to Time Machine.
Is it that Time Machine doesn't back up mounted External Hard Drives? If so, does anyone have a hack?

then the problem is not those external drives. As I said, I've never seen this particular error message.
Try using a different connection or a different port for your TM drive. If that doesn't help I'm afraid your options are very limited.
Unfortunately, TM is configured in such a way that when anything goes wrong, there is usually nothing a user can do short of reformatting the TM drive and starting backups anew. I'm very much afraid that's what you are looking at.
At least, I have no other advice to offer.

Similar Messages

  • Can time machine backups and data live on the same external drive?

    I have a 1TB drive, more than enough for my data and backups. Question is, I already have it partitioned as Mac OSX extended (Journaled), and when I plugged it in my new mac with my old data, it said, do you want to use this as a backup drive. I selected yes, not thinking anything. But then I wondered, can I continue saving new data on this drive (music, videos, photos, etc) AND use it as a time machine backup drive, or is it either or? Hope this question makes sense. Thanks!

    To expand on Lyssa's answer a bit, it really depends on what other data you want to put there.
    If it's something like "scratch" space for editing video, etc., then no problem, except perhaps some contention for the drive while TM backups are running. Be sure to exclude the partition from TM, via TM Preferences > Options.
    But if it's important data that's not backed-up elsewhere, then you can let TM back-up that other partition along with your internal HD. That's better than no backup of it at all, but not much.
    So, consider backing it up separately, either to another external HD or (especially if it's something like photos or videos that don't change a lot) to DVDs (that you can take off-site for extra security).
    But whatever you do, don't put other data in the TM partition. That will probably bite you sooner or later!

  • Can Time Machine back up data found on external USB HD?

    Can Time Machine (under SL) back up data stored on an external USB drive? And if so, how does one get along to set this up? I mean, the options (preferences) dialogues for TM are so meagre!

    hani7up wrote:
    Can Time Machine (under SL) back up data stored on an external USB drive?
    yes, it can.
    And if so, how does one get along to set this up? I mean, the options (preferences) dialogues for TM are so meagre!
    that's to make things easier. TM will back up any directly attached drive (internal or external) provided it's formatted MAC os extended. just connect the drive and remove it from TM exclusion list in TM system preferences->options.

  • Will Time Machine back up data stored on an external drive ?

    I'm planning to add an external hard drive to my iMac to hold more data. I also plan to to use a larger external drive for Time Machine. Will Time Machine back up both the internal hard drive and the external data hard drive?

    Sorry I was out for awhile, click on "Frequently Asked Questions" at the top of that page that I linked in earlier.

  • Can Time Machine be used to backup both internal and external drive?

    I have a Mac Book Pro with Lion OSX installed. I have an external fire wire hard drive connected which contains my iTunes Library. I would like to use Time Machine to backup both the internal drive and the attached external drive. Can this be done?

    Yes, make sure the drive is not excluded under the Privacy tab in Time Machine.
    System Preferences > Time Machine

  • HT201250 I had files stored on a hard drive that were not on my Mac. I used the hard drive for my first Time Machine back up, but it was not enough hard drive space to finish. Now those stored files are gone. Is there any way I can recover them?

    I had files stored on a hard drive that were not on my Mac. I used the hard drive for my first Time Machine back up, but it was not enough hard drive space to finish. Now those stored files are gone. Is there any way I can recover them?  No, they were not part of previous Time Machine backups, and I have checked both the hard drive the documents were lost on and the new one that I now use for backups. Any suggestions would be helpful, as the lost files are old pictures that are gone forever. :[ Thanks!

    1. Yes, if both drives are formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
    2. Reformat the drives if needed, open the Time Machine pane of System Preferences, and remove the drive with the pictures from the list of items set to be excluded.
    (110331)

  • How can I restore files from a time machine back-up of my iMac to an EXTERNAL hard drive connected to MacBook Pro. Using Migrat

    I would like to restore files from a time machine back-up of my iMac to an EXTERNAL hard drive connected to MacBook Pro. When I tried using Migration Assistant it only gives me my internal hard drive as an option to restore to. The internal hard drive on my macbook isnt large enough to store the files.

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities
    OS X can only restore data to the drive where Time Machine backed up files from.
    If you want to restore files from the Time Machine backup onto an external drive, your only option is to access to the Time Machine drive manually (open a Finder window and choose your Time Machine drive in the Finder sidebar), navigate through its folders and copy the files you want to the external drive

  • Can Time Machine back up a second external hard drive that is attached via usb to a Time Capsule?

    Can Time Machine back up a second external hard drive that is attached via usb to a Time Capsule?
    I have a iMac with 10.7.4

    I want to back up the data on the external Hard Drive that is attached to the Time Capsule to the Tim Capsule using Time Machine.
    Thanks for the clarification.  Unfortunately, that will not work.  You will need to connect the drive directly to your Mac if you want Time Machine to backup the drive to the Time Capsule.

  • Can Time Machine back up both an iTune and iPhoto Libraries saved on a NAS disk?

    Can Time Machine back up both an iTune and iPhoto Libraries saved on a NAS disk, as well as the host drive on a Mac Mini?
    I would like to know if Time Machine could back up these Libraries from a NAS and the host/main drive of a Mac Mini onto an 3rd external drive attached by Firewire?
    Thanks

    Archtech wrote:
    Can Time Machine back up both an iTune and iPhoto Libraries saved on a NAS disk, as well as the host drive on a Mac Mini?
    no.
    time machine cannot backup networked drives.
    however, ChronoSync may be able to do what you want.

  • Can time machine back up on a wireless network

    I would like to find a way to back up my Mac other than on an external drive. Besdides Time Capsule, can Time Machine back up onto other wireless networks? Also, is there a preferred, Mac-friendly online backup available (that may or may not use Time Machine)? I was considering using Carbonite.

    Time Machine can backup to any device that has Time Machine Extensions.. eg some NAS have this.. or another Mac. Maybe some routers with USB drives.. I have heard of Netgear Mac compatible models.. but never forget.. apple change things around with every OS release and these companies will always be playing catchup.
    You may also find it not easy at all to setup Time Machine.. I use a Zyxel NAS single disk model that does support Time Machine.. it has been fine.. but the setup is far more complicated than any TC.
    Very few other devices will have TM available .. but if you use a third party software, then they will generally backup to any shared partition or drive in the network.
    Buy a second hand TC and modify the power supply.. put in a big hard disk.. you can simply plug it into the existing network.. you will find it hard to get anything cheaper that works as well.. and none that will be as easy to setup.
    Fine if you give up on TM.. then whatever external drive the software uses.. no issues.. but TM is designed to only work on HFS+ partition.

  • Can Time Machine back-up to an external ethernet Harddisk?

    Can Time Machine back-up to an external ethernet Harddisk?
    I think it is only possible when the external drive is directly attached via USB or FireWire.
    I do see the ethernet disk in Finder and have access to it via ethernet, but it does not show up in Time Machine.
    What if I connect it to an Airport Extreme ethernet port?
    Time Capsule will work, but only with the internal harddisk?
    My Ethernet disk is a LaCie Ethernet Mini Disk which supports Mac OS X.
    Thanks,
    Benny

    backups to NAS devices are not officially supported. the only exception is Time Capsule. It also works with an Airport Extreme base Station. There are hacks to enable backups to NAS but you use them at your own risk. see this link
    http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20080420211034137&query=time%2Bmach ine%2BNAS

  • Can 'Time Machine' back-up other external hard drives

    Can 'Time Machine' back-up other external hard drives connected to your mac as well as the mac memory itself?

    As Neil says, yes, it can.  But external HDs are excluded by default;  you have to tell Time Machine when you do want to back one up.
    See the exclusions box in Time Machine Prefs > Options.
    If the drive is shown in black, just select it and click the minus sign at the bottom.
    If it's shown in gray, though, it's not formatted for a Mac, and Time Machine can't back it up (and you can't remove it).

  • Can Time Machine back up to 2 different discs? - i.e., make 2 back-ups?

    Can Time Machine back up to 2 different discs? - i.e., make 2 back-ups?
    The first back-up disc is a Time Capsule circa 2008 (refurbished in late 2010), the second is an external LaCie Rikiki 1TB circa 2013.
    My Macbook Pro is an early 2008 17" (hard drive replaced in 2011).
    I travel and am often away for long periods (~10 weeks). At home, I use the Time Capsule, but away I wish to use the LaCie Rikiki.
    In the past I took chances and didn't back-up while away. I was lucky. When I returned

    Have a look here  >  http://pondini.org/TM/34.html
    From Pondini’s excellent Information Here...
    Frequently Asked Questions

  • HT201250 Can I do a backup using Time Machine on a server, or it needs an external drive only?

    Can I do a backup using Time Machine on a server, or it needs an external drive only?

    Time Machine can back up to a server. The drive or partition used still needs to be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
    (65169)

  • How do I copy old Time Machine back-up data onto my new (second) back up drive?

    I recently bought a second back-up drive for use with my MacBook Pro (running 10.9.4).
    I'm successfully backing up my computer to both drives on a regular basis using Time Machine. (a Seagate drive and a Western Digital drive respectively)
    I was wondering if there's an easy way to add the old back-up files from the old drive to the new drive as well. That is to say, I wish I had all the data that precedes my new back-up drive on BOTH drives. There's plenty of space on the new drive.
    Again, I'm already running Time Machine successfully to both drives, is it perhaps as easy as connecting both drives to my computer and copying the older dated back-up files over to the newer drive within the Backups.backupdb folder for my profile?
    Thanks for any help!

    Although the documentation says you can copy Time Machine backups in the Finder, it's very slow and sometimes doesn't work at all.
    This technique will only work if the volume you're copying to is the same size, or larger than, the one you're copying from.
    First, open the Time Machine preference pane and click the Options button. You may have to unlock the settings first by clicking the padlock icon in the lower left corner of the window. Authenticate as an administrator.
    Delete the volume you're going to copy from the list of backup destinations. Then turn Time Machine OFF.
    Launch Disk Utility, open the built-in help, and search for the term "Duplicate." Follow the instructions. All existing data on the destination volume will be erased.
    If the volume you're copying was encrypted by Time Machine, you may have to unlock it first. Click the Unlock button in the toolbar of the Disk Utility window.
    Turn Time Machine back ON and select the new volume as a backup destination. You can also continue to use the old volume, if you wish. The two will be alternated when both are available.
    CAUTION: If the volume you're copying is corrupt, as shown by Repair Disk or Verify Disk in Disk Utility, then that corruption will be copied to the new drive. Don't copy data from a corrupt volume on a malfunctioning drive. Put the drive aside and don't use it until you're sure you'll no longer need the data. Then securely erase it and take it to a recycling center. Do the same if the Restore operation fails with "disk errors."

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