External Hard Drives as backup

I have recently purchased a mac and setup a wireless network using airport extreme. I have an external hard drive connected to the airport extreme (USB) that is used as a backup through time machine. I have also connected an imac notebook to the network and want to use the same external hard drive to back it up also using time machine. I cannot find anything that tells me how the two macs share the same external hard drive for backups. When I go into time machine on the imac notebook it doesn't seem to be able to locate the hard drive even though my mac does it wirelessly. Can anyone help?
<Post Relocated by Moderator>

TimeMachine backups on an air drive (a drive connected to the airport extreme base station) are stored in disk images with each computer that backs up to the air drive getting its own disk image. In short, TM was designed with the idea of shared wireless backups.
In order to back up using TimeMachine the hard drive has to be mounted on the computer. Obviously you are able to connect to the air drive, log on, and mount it on the desktop Mac. If not you wouldn't be able to back up. So my question is this: when you open a Finder window on the notebook and look at the sidebar under Shared do you see your air drive? Assuming you can, can you logon to it and does it mount?

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I bought a new external hard drive for backups, but time machine won't do a full back up. I think it is remembering backing up onto previous external hard drives, which I don't own anymore. How do I do a new full backup?

I bought a new external hard drive for backups, but time machine won't do a full back up.
I think it is remembering backing up onto previous external hard drives, which I don't own anymore. How do I do a new full backup?
When I bought the new (used) iMac, I also bought an external hard drive for backups. It worked fine, but my husband stole it.
Then I bought a new external hard drive (Seagate) and it worked fine for three weeks, then died.
So I just got a new external hard drive, which was put together from an internal hard drive and a hard drive enclosure.
Time machine did the first backup today, and it should have taken 9 hours like it did on the previous first time full back up. Instead, it took 30 minutes. That can't be right. I want to start over and do a full backup to make sure everything gets onto my new external hard drive, but I can't figure out how to do that. Please help.

Triple-click anywhere in the line below to select it:
tmutil compare -E
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C).
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V).
The command will take at least a few minutes to run. Eventually some lines of output will appear below what you entered.
Each line that begins with a plus sign (“+”) represents a file that has been added to the source volume since the last snapshot was taken. These files have not been backed up yet.
Each line that begins with an exclamation point (“!”) represents a file that has changed on the source volume. These files have been backed up, but not in their present state.
Each line that begins with a minus sign (“-“) represents a file that has been removed from the source volume.
At the end of the output, you’ll get some lines like the following:
Added:
Removed:
Changed:
These lines show the total amount of data added, removed, or changed on the source(s) since the last snapshot.

Got a new Macbook Pro today and I plugged in my WD external hard drive to backup with but it didn't allow me to backup.

Got a new Macbook Pro today and I plugged in my WD external hard drive to backup with but it didn't allow me to backup. The problem is that now my computer won't show the drive in finder. I can see it in Disk Utility and cannot access it. Help?

First
Finder>Preferences>Sidebar>Devices>External disk
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did you get an error code or error dialog box?

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That code is
-36
ioErr
I/O error (bummers)
Make sure the EHD is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) and run Disk Utilty on the EHD and repair the disk. If that fails to help I'd try the following:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button,
navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
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Click on the Create button.
Note 1: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost.
Note 2: Your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

I bought an external hard drive for backups to use with Time Machine, but however when I try to connect it with the other windows laptop it doesn't work ? intact it doesn't work on any other device except my MAC ?

I bought an external hard drive for backups to use with Time Machine, but however when I try to connect it with the other windows laptop it doesn't work ? intact it doesn't work on any other device except my MAC ?

Do not worry about it.
Time Machine needs that your external drive is formatted in HFS+, or better known as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". This filesystem is used by Apple on Macs and Windows cannot read or write drives formatted with this filesystem, being this the reason why all your devices do not read the external drive except your Mac.
You can only use your external drive to make Time Machine drives. If you store anything different, you may damage the Time Machine structure, so it is better not to use it as a drive to store other data. Instead, get another external drive to do it or create a second partition on the external drive formatted in FAT32 by using Disk Utility > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU3.html FAT32 can be read by Windows PCs

How do I reformat my External Hard Drive (Seagate Backup Plus).

Hello everyone. How do I reformat my External Hard Drive (Seagate Backup Plus Portable Device). I accidentally clicked to use it with Time Machine and my hard drive is of little use now. When I open my hard drive, it just shows 'backup', the same thing when I open it with Windows. Thinking of reformatting it back to be used to Mac and Windows. And not use it again with Time Machine. New to Apple, appreciate the help

Hello,
"Thinking of reformatting it back to be used to Mac and Windows. And not use it again with Time Machine"
If you want to format the External drive as universally compatible, your best bet is to format it as exFAT. Note that reformatting the drive erases all contents of the drive.
1) Open Disk Utility located in /Applications/Utilities/ (or simply type it in spotlight and the application will show up)
2) Select the external Hard drive
3) Click the 'erase' tab.
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What is the best external hard drive to backup my MacBook Pro?

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The best is a Hitachi. This is basically the ONLY thing the "HD gurus" agree on.
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best options for the price, and high quality HD:
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Perfect 1TB for $68
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim and perfect
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
2 Terabytes, 2.5" and only $129
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Basics-Portable-HDTB120XK3CA/dp/B00ARJD56K
updated "design" casing cousin $119
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
*This one is the BEST external HD available that money can buy:
$75
HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Touro-Mobile-External-HTOLMX3NA10001ABB/dp/B0062FZ2WS /ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379185002&sr=1-1&keywords=hitachi+extern a l+hard+drive
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Understood.
I don't receive any compensation for promoting any product from any computer, hard drive or computer peripheral manufacturer. I don't receive any compensation from any of those manufacturers or sellers for any reason. In fact I was not promoting any product, I was responding to the poster's query and was stating that I have observed the drives in use and working with the Mac OS.
My workplace is a consumer of these items and we buy and use thousands of PCs, Macs, WD and non-WD drives, and so forth. I was providing information about whether WD drives work with Macs running various operating systems. I don't promote any particular brand, we use many different ones here.

Partition of external hard drive for backup different computers

I have a macbook(40Gig) and an iBook(80 Gig); I want to make an external hard drive to backup.
1. Is this possible to partition the external drive into two to make a bootable backup for both laptops?
2.If so how big the external drive should be?
Many thanks

1. Is this possible to partition the external drive into two to make a bootable backup for both laptops?
Yes. Set up a partition for each on the external and then clone a bootable copy of your current drive to the appropriate partition.
2.If so how big the external drive should be?
At least 40 + 80 = 100 GB. You're probably going to end up with an even bigger drive. I'd set up partitions to roughly match each of your computer drives in size (so 40 GB and 80 GB), then another for any extra. Having them match size makes it easy when cloning. Don't forget that if you store files on the extra you will also need to back those up on yet another drive.
Cloning And Backup Tools
A bootable clone is an exact copy of your drive which is capable of booting your computer. Making a copy of your computer which is capable of actually starting the computer requires special copying procedures. Some people just back up data files but if you have problems you have to reinstall all your operating system and all your applications. With a bootable clone you just start up from the backup drive and clone back everything.
To copy files from one hard drive to another hard drive you can use:
[CarbonCopy Cloner|http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html] (donationware)
[SuperDuper|http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html] (shareware)
[IBackup|http://www.grapefruit.ch/iBackup/index.html] (free)
The Restore function of Disk Utility included in OS X. [Kappy's directions|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8799711#8799711]
[Tri-Backup (commercial)|http://www.tri-edre.com/english/tribackup.html] (payware)
[Silverkeeper|http://www.lacie.com/silverkeeper> (free) - version 2 has some issues (references: [1|http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/backup/index.html#d12jan2009],
[2|http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/backup/index.html#d13jan2009]) and it is recommended Tiger users stick with 1.1.4.
[Kappy's Backup Software Recommendations|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9065665#906 5665]
[Overview of Mac OS X Backup Programs|http://8help.osu.edu/1247.html]

First time using external hard drive for backup of computer....

First time using external hard drive for backup of computer....it asks "Do do you want to erase disk?" In order to proceed, I have to say "yes" ... is that what I want to do? ...Seems like I'm skipping a step...

To use Disk Utilities, attach the drive, open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utilities and then highlight the LaCie drive in the left panel of the DU window. In the right panel, choose the Partition button top center of the pane. Then decide how many partitions you want on the drive, one is just fine.
Then choose the format, the default is Mac OS Extended (Journaled) which is prefered.
Then name the partition or drive.
Then choose the partition table, the default is GUID which is prefered.
Then Apply and you will get to confirm that you want to erase and format the drive.
Quit DU and you are ready to go.

Transferring hard drive files to external hard drive for backup have old tiger osx 10.4

how do I copy and transfer hard drive to external hard drive for backup of everything?

You can clone the entire drive to the external, provided you have more space available on the external drive than the total of your used filespace on the main drive.
Carbon Copy Cloner will perform the clone for you.
Matt

Is it possible to use backup files previously copied to an external hard drive to backup an iPhone?

My sister froze her iPhone by trying to turn it off during a software update (not sure why) and restored it because she thought it would fix it. Unfortunately she unintentionally deleted all of her data and settings. She doesn't use iCloud, so I'm assuming all her files are backed up to her computer when she syncs her iPhone, but using iTunes I can only find two backup points using Edit>Preferences>Devices, both in the past few minutes. I know that each sync overrides the last backup files instead of creating newer ones, so apparently older backup files from her computer can't be used to recover her data. However, we both periodically use an external hard drive to back up our computers by basically dragging and dropping our files onto it, so there is an earlier version of her User folder on the external hard drive. It would definitely be preferable to use the backup files from a few months ago that are on the external hard drive and lose a few photos than to lose years of data, so would it be possible to direct iTunes to those backup files (AppData etc) instead of the ones saved on her computer hard drive? There's not any kind of browse option I can see that could allow me to get iTunes to search for backup files on the external hard drive and I'm not computer savvy enough to manually find the files and connect them to iTunes. Is it even possible to use backup files from an external hard drive? Do I have to replace the ones that exist on her computer now?

Garageband can't use VST plugins.
If you're talking about AUs: you could try to put an alias into the HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components folder instead of the actual files, and see if GB loads them.

Using an external hard drive for backup

I admit to knowing nothing about this so I need someone's advice. The wiring for the backlight in my iBook fried 2 nights ago and I have to send it back to Apple..very expensive problem add to the fact that I did not extend my apple care OUCH!! Anyway I had to buy an external hard drive to back it up in case they have to reinstall software..well that was a precautionary they suggested. Can I use my new 300 gig HD to back up both my laptop, desk top and iBook on the same drive or do I need to partition the hard drive to do this. I have close to 2500 photo's in iPhoto and about the same in iTunes. So I could use some expert opinions. I do have most already on CD's but I am hoping to solve back ups for all 3 computers on this.
Thanks.
Wendy

Hello again Wendy.
For your 'for now issue' I would go down the route of starting your iBook in target mode, as described above, plug both it and your external drive (you will need to format this first - go for zero all data as this maps out any bad sectors) into your other Mac. The iBook and the hard drive should mount on the desktop. All you have to do is open a finder window and drag you files from the iBook to the external. If your files are all organised in you home folder you can just move that over and all the contents will be backed up.
In terms of using the drive to backup everything I would post a more complete question in the relevant part of the forum when you have worked out what you want to do (Dr Smokes book holds very good advice on thourough approaches). A word of caution though, most people who bother to backup never rely on just one location/medium. For instance, in the cast of the photo's of my son/family (which are once-only memories) I have them on a seprate drive on my G4, backed up to an external drive every time I add more photos and every few months (depending on how snap happy I've been) I back up the whole lot to a DVD. Some I know go a stage further and store a copy of the DVD/CD with relatives or freinds just in case. It all come down to your level of paranoia or how much you will miss your data (do you really want to have to re-write all those power point/worksheets etc.) if your house burns down or, more likely, if the external drive and your computers are fried at the same time!
Hope this helps (even if it is a bit of a essay).
S.
G4 Dual 1.25, iMac G3, iBook G4 1.33, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Time machine won't let me include external hard drive in backup

My memory was full on our computer so I got an external hard drive to move over our iphoto library to (I have a large iphoto library ~22,000 pictures that continues to grow). For discussion purposes I'll call this - IPhoto HD.
I also have another external hard drive that we've had for quite some time that I use as our time machine backups. (Time Machine HD).
I copied over my iphoto library to the new external HD (IPhoto HD).
I then went into my time machine under settings and wanted to make sure that the IPhoto HD was being backed up on the Time Machine HD. (after I got verification of this I was going to delete the iphoto library from our computer to free up some space).
When I go into time machine under options - the Iphoto HD is greyed out - and it won't allow me to delete it from the "do not back up" list. (however the Time Machine HD is not greyed out - I could delete it if I wanted to).
I tried searching for the answer in the forums and couldn't figure it out. I did verify that the format of the IPhoto HD is Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
I should note that both external Hard drives are WD My Book for Mac 2TB. Not sure if that makes a difference.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Sorry, but Time Machine does not back up reliably, if at all, to most network drives, except Time Capsules or a shared drive on another Mac running Leopard or Snow Leopard on the same local network.
Here's the criteria they must meet: Disks that can be used with Time Machine. And be careful here: just because some 3rd-party hardware claims to support Time Machine doesn't necessarily mean that Apple supports it, or that it will work in all circumstances.
The messages indicate that Time Machine found the volume, but couldn't write to it. That may be some sort of sharing or permissions error, or it may be that the device doesn't support all the things Time Machine requires, per the link above.
Are you sure that it's compatible with Snow Leopard? Some NAS devices that worked with Leopard didn't seem to work with Snow Leopard, at least when it first came out.
You may need to check with LaCie or the place you got it.

Setting Up New External Hard Drive to Backup Windows and OSX

I've just ordered a Western Digital My Book Home Edition 500GB external hard drive from Amazon for £79.17 (c/w 1m eSATA to eSATA cable and shipping in the UK). For the time being, I intend to use it mainly for backup. My MacBook3,1 has a 149.05GB internal drive, which is nearly full. I'd used PC's for more than twenty years before rare financial circumstances enabled me to take the plunge and migrate to the Intel-based MacBook last year. Although the migration process hasn't been without teething troubles, I'm glad I've got a Mac and pleased to say I now feel as comfortable using it as I used to feel with PC's. (But it has taken a year of concentrated effort.) The relevance of this is that I have an awful lot of work in old Windows-based programs, which I need to keep backed-up and accessible. The MacBook's internal hard drive currently has 87.88GB dedicated to the Macintosh HD and 60.86GB dedicated to Windows (Vista, Business edition).
Could you advise me, please: how should I set up the new hard drive with a view to using it to backup the Mac with Time Machine while dedicating a partition for Windows? Actually, I have another desktop with Windows XP, which I'd also like to back up. That hard drive (the XP machine's) is 80GB. Presumably, I'll need to set up partitions for: 1) Time Machine, 2) OSX.5.5 bootable, 3) Windows Vista (on the MacBook) and 4) Windows XP (on the old desktop). If I give 80GB to XP and 70GB to Vista, that leaves 350GB (probably closer to 320-or-soGB in reality) for the MacBook. I don't use virtual machines or any other software to access operating systems - just reboot through BootCamp. What's the best way to go about doing this?

Check out the following Apple Support article to see if it will help: AirPort: How to mount an AirPort Extreme USB hard disk volume in Mac OS X and Windows

External Hard Drives as backup

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