Deleting time machine backup files from old time machine disk

I have an external USB HD that USED to be my Time Machine backup disk. I have replaced it with a newer FW HD and use the old one for archiving files, disk images, etc. The old disk still had 100gigs of backup files on it from time machine. To free up space, I thought I'd drag a few months of backups off the old dick into the trash. This worked. But I can't empty the trash. When I go to put the backup folders BACk on the USB disk, I get an error. So they are stuck in the trash.
Any help? Thanks.

I have always understood that there is no need to delete backup files from Time Machine. Once it reaches 'full' it begins to delete them sequentially of its own accord.
Good policy to check out Pondini's comments.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.htm
Or type Pondini into Google for a broader selection of his offerings.

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How to backup files from old time machine to new time machine

I have been using an external drive as my Time Machine for about a year. I just got a Time Capsule. Can I set up Time Machine to move all the backups from my old drive to my new Time Capsule? I assume it's not as simple as dragging the files from my old drive to the Time Capsule drive.
I have clicked Change Disk... in the Time Machine preferences to change my backup drive to the Time Capsule. However, I don't think that's going to move my old backup files to the Time Capsule.

boboosta wrote:
Unfortunately, I do not have enough spare disk space on a temporary disk. I've got 600 GB on my time machine drive. I went ahead and changed my Time Machine disk to the Time Capsule. I'll keep the backup files on my old time machine disk for a few weeks--in hopes a solution is found. After that, I'll erase the old time machine files to free up the disk space.
You might have been able to transfer the old Time Capsule contents to the new one by connecting the old Time Capsule to your computer with an Ethernet cable. If this gave you visibility of the disks of both Time Capsules, then you could use your computer to transfer the "sparsebundle" file(s) from the old to the new.
Now that you've started using your new Time Capsule, if you try once again to transfer those files, you'll lose any interim Time Machine backups, although that may not be a problem.
Edit: I knew I'd seen such a discussion somewhere: http://www.tidbits.com/Talk/2791

Recovering single file from old Time Machine Backup

I see many questions/answers that almost address my issue, but not quite, so I'm starting a new post. If this has been answered somewhere and I missed it feel free to just refer me to the correct post!
I recently had to do a full System Restore from a Time Machine backup. The good news is that it worked beautifully and I'm using my iMac like nothing ever happened. When Time Machine tried to run (post restore), it said I didn't have enough space on my external drive. Okay, based on other posts here I see that it won't just continue from the old TM backups and it's starting "anew"...got it.
The old TM backups must still be on that drive because it shows 144GB USED and 100GB AVAIL of my 250GB external drive. Okay, again based on other posts I know that I could just wipe the drive clean and start fresh...BUT...
I restored to my TM backup of 8/24....now I realize that there are one or two files that I at some point stopped having TM backup and now I want to get them back (the whole point of TM, right?)...I figured since it's "holding" that space on my external drive, the old backups are intact and I just need a way to get to them to pull them back to my restored system, then start TM from scratch.
I can't get at the old TM backups. I've tried:
1) Using the "Browse other Time Machine Backups..." feature. It doesn't see the old TM backup...sees the drive, but nothing on it.
2) Browsing the drive in "Finder"...nothing shows up...just the attempted NEW backup.
3) Connecting the external drive to an entirely different Mac and trying to browse the disk in Finder OR use the Browse other Time Machine Backups...still nothing.
So I have a 250GB drive that shows 144GB used, but no way to even view what that is....am I out of luck? Or would something in DiskUtility or a 3rd party software (DiskWarrior) help in this situation?
Is there any way to go pull one or two files from my old TM backup?

Exactly Glenn....I did nothing to the hard drive after the "restore from Time Machine Backup"...
I've never used the Migration Assistant...have to look into that.
I didn't want to be argumentative since I was the relative newbie asking for help, but I HAVE to believe that if I didn't write over the files (i.e. reformat the drive), AND the Finder is recognizing that there are 144 GB USED, the files must be there, untouched....
The urgency isn't there for me anymore, I've already re-created the one doc I wanted to recover and the other file was my Windows XP virtual machine file...(I didn't want to have to re-install Windows from scratch - but I did)....so maybe this is a good time to "play" with that drive while I can afford to lose everything on it!

I am unable to delete a backup file from my Time Capsule. What to do?

Separately I asked for and got help here in relation to what to do with my Time Capsule when I changed computers. I erased the contents of my Time Capsule that had been put there using my old Mac Mini and using Time Machine created a new backup of the same data that are now on my new Mac Mini.
In the process, however, I mistakenly created a backup of a large folder that I do not need. I researched how to delete it using Time Machine and following the simple steps set forth tried a number of times, all without success, to delete the folder on my Time Capsule using Time Machine. I go into Time Machine, I find the folder, I highlight it, I open the little widget and choose 'Delete all backups' of it, I choose 'OK' when asked if I am sure I want to do it . . . each time, though, nothing happens after that. The folder remains there as it was, undeleted.
Can anyone suggest what I might do?
Thank you.

Thank you for your further help, Bob.
My Mac Mini is a desktop. I am using Mountain Lion with it, updated to the latest version.
I went back into Time Machine (and now understand what you mean about 'Star Wars' screen), and found the timeline on the extreme right edge of my computer screen, as you explained.
Despite the passage of time, I have only three 'times' expressed on the scale. Two are purple, and represent the two times yesterday that I did backups, the original full backup and one subsequent one (I do not have Time Machine set up, now, to do automatic backups, only manual ones as I direct). One is white and is marked 'Now'.
When I click on the white time, 'Now', for my external HD, I get a long list of items, all but one of which I do not want and tried to delete yesterday. Interestingly, however, when I click on either of the two purple times, for yesterday, the only item that appears is the one that I want to backup. None of the other items is there.
If the purple items are the only ones that represent actual backups, then it would seem that the deletions I did yesterday in fact worked.
If that is the case, again, there remains a bit of a puzzle as to why the 'now' position shows other items too, but if in fact that is just a glitch and does not represent anything actually saved on my Time Capsule, then there is no reason for me to be fussed, only puzzled.
Your thoughts on what I have found and tentatively concluded?

How do I restore Time Machine backup files (from TC) to an external HD?

I did a full Time Machine backup of my machine to a Time Capsule. All told, around 500GB. The MBP to which I'd like to transfer the files doesn't have a big enough hard drive. However, I do have a 1TB External HD that I could use. Can I use Time Machine or Migration Assistant to move/access the files? I'm using Lion.

See: Mac 101- Time Machine, Time Machine - 101 Tutorial, Pondini's Time Machine FAQ - All You Need for Time Machine, and Pondini's Time Machine FAQ.

How to delete backup files from old backup drive?

Hi,
I recently changed the backup drive used by Time Machine, from /Volumes/vast4 to /Volumes/vast2 (for example). Time machine now happily backs up to vast2 and shows available backups going back to the date of the change from one drive to the other. I no longer need the old backups on /Volumes/vast4, and I do need the 2GB of space they occupy. These old backups are not visible in Time Machine - it sees only backups on the new backup volume. Completely manual deletion of /Volumes/vast4/Backups.backupdb, with rm -r in a terminal, gives "Permission denied" even when I have admin privleges. Is there a way to do this deletion from within Time Machine, or at the command line? Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jason

First try to use Disk Utility to repair that disk permissions. Then you can also get info on that folder and take a look at what sharing and permissions are set there. If you don't see your name there (your user name, not the admin) then add it by clicking on the plus sign. Set the permissions to Read & Write. Now try to delete the folder.

Can I rename or move backup files from my Time Capsule?

I have replalced my Macbook Pro with a new one with the same name. I have backup files on Time Capsule (Time Machine files) that I need to preserve for now, but I want to start backing up the new MB Pro without Time Capsule mixing the old with the new (since they have the same name). So I'd like to move the old files to a different drive or rename them so Time Machine won't use them, but don't want to corrupt them in the process. And if that works, will I still be able to open them to restore select files if needed?
Really appreciate any advice on this.
Thanks
Fred

You will corrupt your backups if you change any name in your backed up folders. What I recommend you to do is to move your backup files of the old Mac to another external drive, so you do not have them stored on the Time Capsule taking up space for the new Mac > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5096?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Also, see > http://pondini.org/TM/18.html#id21

Transferred backup file from old to new laptop but can't open backup file in new iTunes

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I've purchased the new iPhone 5, however, it won't allow me to backup from my iTunes from my old laptop (where my 4S's backup was) because iTunes 10.7 can't operate on OSX 10.5.8. So I transferred the backup file onto my new macbook air. When I plugged my new phone into the laptop and opened up iTunes, where can I find the option to set up my phone according to the backup that I transferred to the new macbook?
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The warranty entitles you to complimentary phone support for the first 90 days of ownership.

How to transfer backup file from old to new time capsule?

I'm having trouble copying the backup from my old to new time capsule. I tried using this http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5097?viewlocale=en_US

You need to point out at which point you are failing.
You do need the two TC plugged into each other by ethernet.. do not even dream of doing this over wireless. So a computer is plugged into the primary TC as well.. the secondary TC is in bridge mode.. you then simply copy and paste the sparsebundle from one TC to the next.
IMHO this is not a good idea.. you are much better starting a new set of TM backups on the new TC.. keep the old TC for a few weeks to make sure there is nothing you need to recover then wipe it.
There are also instructions in pondini if you insist on doing it.
Transfer TM backups..
Apple doco. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5097
Pondini doco http://pondini.org/TM/18.html
The apple doco you have already tried.

Copying time machine backup files from one external drive to another

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to copy the backups performed by Time Machine on one external drive to another external drive, and if so, how? I am using a company drive and will need to return it. It is a 500GB La Cie Drive. I just purchased a 1TB La Cie drive. A straight and simple drag & drop doesn't work. What should I do?
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azemel wrote:
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to copy the backups performed by Time Machine on one external drive to another external drive, and if so, how?
http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/18.html

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I've asked in the Apple shop, they said they couldn't think of a way.
My only thought was to try to get hold of an old PC with both floppy and CD drives & copy documents that way. Then I assume I'd have to install Parallels to make them readable.
Anyone have any better ideas?
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Macula

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If interested contact Sydex to see if they still supply the program:
http://www.sydex.com/

Hi, Question about secure empty trash. I moved some Time Machine backup files to the trash from an external hard drive. Now I can't secure empty trash. It starts, finds 74,003 files, and does nothing. The external hard drive shows it's empty, but it isn't

I moved some time machine backup files from an external USB hard drive to the trash. Tried secure empty trash. It counts 74,003 items, then just sits there. The external hard drive window shows it's empty, but the info pane says it only has 50G of memory left. I left the secure empty trash on over night. It did nothing. Ideas?
Thanks,
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Relaunch the Finder, then from the Finder menu bar, select
Finder ▹ Preferences ▹ Advanced
and uncheck the box marked Empty Trash securely. Try again to empty the Trash.

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Blue-
Time Machine will automatically delete back-ups as the need for space arises. If you want to delete a certain file (application, document, whatever) and have it gone for good you can do that as well.
The best place on the web for information about Time Machine is...
http://pondini.org/TM/Home.html
...it covers everything!
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Can you remove Old Backup files from Time Machine sooner?

So I'm aware that the default settings state that Time Machine will start to delete old backup files from your saved destination once that destination starts to approach full storage capacity. But what if you are not looking to fill up most of your storage capacity with Time Machine backups? Is there a way where you can cut the delete threshold in half and have Time Machine delete old backup files sooner rather than later?

See Pondini's TM FAQs, for starters.

Deleting time machine backup files from old time machine disk

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