First Imac in the post. What size hard disk for Time Machine
I have a 500GB hard disk in my new imac (Which I dont have yet)
What size drive should I get to backup my system.
Peggy's answer is essentially correct. OTOH, if after moving into your new computer you are using only 40GB of that huge drive, it would silly to get a 1GB drive, at least until you've found a way to fill up more of the drive....and you will eventually. So to amend Peggy's answer, look at how much drive space you are currently using. If you own a digital camera figure you could easily fill 1GB a year per child. Music and/or Video? Estimate how much you've added in the last year and use that as a rough bench mark. Add another 5GB and add all that together to see how much of your drive you'll have filled by this time next year. Use that to gauge how big your external TM drive should be, based on the 2 to 3 times bigger figure.
Similar Messages
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External hard disk for Time Machine
I'm considering baking up my iMac. I have a Lacie external hard disk with a Master Boot Record partition type. On it, there are already some data files from both Windows and Mac machines.
I understand that, for Time Machine to work, the partition type needs to be changed to GUID (for Intel based Mac). Obviously, I will need to copy these data files to somewhere, then use Disk Utility to change the partition type, partition the hard disk (one partition to be used for Time Machine back-up).
My question is, will it be safe to copy the data files (previously from Windows and Mac machines) back to another partition of the hard disk which will then has a GUID partition type? Will the files (including those from Windows machines) be usable?KenWong wrote:
I'm considering baking up my iMac. I have a Lacie external hard disk with a Master Boot Record partition type. On it, there are already some data files from both Windows and Mac machines.
I understand that, for Time Machine to work, the partition type needs to be changed to GUID (for Intel based Mac). Obviously, I will need to copy these data files to somewhere, then use Disk Utility to change the partition type, partition the hard disk (one partition to be used for Time Machine back-up).
My question is, will it be safe to copy the data files (previously from Windows and Mac machines) back to another partition of the hard disk which will then has a GUID partition type? Will the files (including those from Windows machines) be usable?
You're slightly mixing terminology.
The *+Partition Map Scheme+* applies to the whole disk, whether it has one or multiple partitions. That's what needs to be GUID or +Apple Partition Map+.
The Format applies to each partition, and may be different for each one. Your TM partition needs to be +Mac OS Extended (Journaled),+ the other one can be +MS-DOS (FAT)+ for use with Windoze.
You can copy those files anywhere temporarily, while re-formattng the disk. It doesn't have to be a separate partition. It could even be CDs/DVDs. As long as you can copy and read back, it doesn't matter. If you put them on your boot drive, Windoze won't be able to read them while they're there, but once you get them back on a +MS-DOS (FAT)+ partition, it will.
See the instructions in item #5 of the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
We usually recommend putting the Time Machine partition first (at the top of the diagram that Disk Utility will show you), so you can more easily expand or contract it later on, if you need to. -
Changed Hard Disk for Time Machine
I have a question, I've searched and can't find the answer (maybe I'm just not good at searching).
I ran out of room on my external HD for time machine backups, so I added another external HD and changed the time machine location to the new HD. I did not copy any backup files to the new HD, I figured that I'd just keep the old ones on the old HD and start from scratch.
I am using an old iMac G5 that has one (yes, one) USB2.0 port, the other USB ports are the old, slow ones. I have the new HD plugged into the USB2.0 port and the old HD plugged into one of the other ones.
Then I selected "back up now," and it's been backing up for more than 12 hours and it's only about 1/3 of the way done according to the progress report (37.4 GB of 96.9 GB).
Question -- does time machine automatically copy my old back up from the old HD to the new HD? That's the only thing that I can think of that would make this back up so slow. It shouldn't take 12 hours to back up 37 GB, right?Thanks. I think I need to just wait until it's done and then check things out. I let it run all day while I was at work, and it's another 1/3 of the way to the end. I don't want to stop it and then find out that I just need to let it run its course.
Here is the backup log from the time machine widget:
Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup/Backups.backupdb
2010-06-22 18:33:57.446 FindSystemFiles[1245:713] Querying receipt database for system packages
2010-06-22 18:34:02.962 FindSystemFiles[1245:713] Using system path cache.
2010-06-22 18:34:03.335 FindSystemFiles[1250:713] Querying receipt database for system packages
2010-06-22 18:34:04.293 FindSystemFiles[1250:713] Using system path cache.
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Storage Central
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Alternate Storage
No pre-backup thinning needed: 116.45 GB requested (including padding), 376.49 GB available
Copied 11 files (0 bytes) from volume Storage Central.
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Storage Central -
What size ext. hd for time machine
I'll be upgrading to Leopard in the next two weeks, and I was wondering what size external hd i should be looking at. I'm looking at the Western Digital My Book Premium Edition, which I found the 500gb version for $150 and the 750Gb version for $230. Is it worth the extra $80 for 250GB more hd space? How much space do I need to back up my 250GB drive (with 140GB used)??? Does Time Machine compress files at all??? Thanks for your response.
I have a similar situation. I have a 500gb iMac with 350gb used. I have a 500gb ext. hd with 465gb available. Time Machine (horrible so far in my opinion) claims I don't have enough room to run it. The math I learned still proves that 465 is greater than 350.
Not only that but installing Leopard was excruciating. If you have yet to install it, make sure you run the installer as archive then install and not upgrade. Upgrade will give you blue screen of death. Why did Apple, my favorite computer company, release an os with features that create so many windows like issues. So far I am nothing even close to excited, nor even satisfied with this $140 upgrade. -
What size backup drive for time machine on 500gb MBP?
I'm sure this is a really novice question, but I couldn't find the answer on the forum.
I've just got a MBP with a 500gb HDD. I won't be buying a Time Capsule, but I'd like to set up Time Machine to backup to an external USB HDD. What is the optimum size for this?
I see that time machine keeps deleted files, I'm not sure if it uses compression, and I'm not sure what happens when I run out of space... does it reduce the number of duplicates that it keeps, or will I run into a problem?
Really, what I'm trying to find out is: I have an old 500gb HDD that isn't being used for much. Is this sufficient to back up a 500gb HDD (assuming that, at some point, I'm going to be hovering around maximum capacity on the MBP)?
Thankyou!Hi and welcome to Discussions,
our local Time Machine 'Guru' Pondini has made a very thorough FAQ on it to be found here http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1964018
Quoted from it (section 1):
"A general "rule of thumb" is, TM needs 2 to 3 times as much space as the data it's backing-up (not necessarily the entire size of your internal HD).
But this varies greatly, depending on how you use your Mac. If you frequently add/update lots of large files, then even 3 times may not be enough. If you're a light user, 1.5 times might do. Unfortunately, it's rather hard to predict, so if in doubt, get a bigger one!
Also, there are some OSX features and 3rd-party applications that take up large amounts of backup space, for various reasons. See question #9 for details.
This is a trade-off between space and how long TM can keep its backups, since TM will, by design, eventually use all the space available. But it won't just quit backing-up when it runs out: it starts deleting the oldest backups so it can keep making new ones. Thus, the more space it has, the longer it can keep your backups."
Regards
Stefan -
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! -
What size hard disk can i fit in a hp Pavilion ze4410ea laptop?
What size hard disk can be fitted in a HP Pavilion ze4410ea?
This question was solved.
View Solution.Hi:
You would be safe with an 80 GB 5,400 RPM IDE hard drive.
Definitely, don't go more than 120 GB.
Paul -
Hard Drive for Time Machine for iMac with AirPort Extreme??
I just switched back to Mac after too many years with a PC. I bought an iMac 24" 2.8GHz with 4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM and 750GB Serial ATA Drive.
I'm planning on adding an external hard drive for Time Machine to attach to my AirPort Extreme. From reading information posted on the Apple site and my AEBS I understand that it needs to be connected to the USB port on the AirPort Extreme.
While I may be opening up a technological "can of worms," I'd like to know what will be the most dependable drive 1TB, USB 2.0 that I can buy. Noise and bright lights are not a consideration here. I just want a drive that I can depend on to work with Time Machine. The "original" data will be stored elsewhere. I've heard of, read about and experienced so many hard drive failures that I'm getting "gun shy" about this subject. Please feel free to let me know what's good and bad. Thanks.Here is a quote right from Apple's site today:
Quote:
AirPort Extreme lets you turn your external USB hard drive into a drive you can share with all the >users on your network. It’s called AirPort Disk, and it’s a simple and convenient way to share files >among everyone in your family, office, or class.
I tried to return my AEBS to Apple but I was a few days beyond their 14 day limit on returns (limit is bases on shipping date of the item in question, not when all parts of the shipment are received). Part of my reasoning with the Apple Store CS was the posts like yours saying that this couldn't be done. The Apple Store rep. and the tech. rep. that he claims that he spoke to said it could be done. The only way I could return the AEBS, according to the Apple Store CS rep., and get a new Time Capsule would be if I bought a hard drive and discovered that my AEBS would not work with the hard drive. No, I'm not a happy new customer. So, I want to buy a good, reliable hard drive and want to know which one to get. -
How large should a disk for time machine be vs the hard disk
Can anyone tell me how large a disk for time machine be vs the size of the hard disk?
I usually say 2x or more but your milage may vary on that based on how much your hard drive is actually used, what sort of data (how large the files are) you typically handle and how far back you want your TM backup to go.
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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." -
Do I need to use all the hard drive for time machine or can I partition it
Do I need to use all the hard drive for time machine or can I partition it
You cannot partition a TC disk.
See pondini about mixing data and backups.. but remember this.. the TC has no way to back itself up and TM cannot backup files on the TC. Anything not backed up on the TC will be lost at some future point.
http://pondini.org/TM/TCQ3.html -
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 not fine external hard drive for time machine sence lion was installed
I can not fine external hard drive for time machine sence lion was installed, it don't reconise it at all.
I have a Mac Mini (late 2009) and I have an iomega 1TB external hard drive connected to my mini via firewire and usb (usb allows me to use the usb ports on the external 1TB drive to daisy chain other devices). Since I installed Lion, my Time Machine and this 1TB drive (and its partitions) is finicky. Sometimes it is mounted and sometimes it is not. This issue has only surfaced post Snow Leopard and in the Lion era. I am not the first to say this but the whole reason I went Mac was b/c of Vista. I am beginning to think that Lion is the new Vista. Sorry for the latter, just venting... b/c this ain't the first issue with Lion.
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Is it possible to use more than one external hard drive for Time Machine backups?
I want to use two hard drives for Time Machine backups.
Bigger one keep at home and be sure it is safe.
Second one (very small pocket size) keep with me for travels.
I want to backup to both drives to be sure I can restore everywhere and to be sure if something bad happened with my small travel disk I can restore from home backup.
Is there any problem with listed schema? Is it normal for Time Machine to handle backups for different drivers and keep everything consistent and smooth?I really need some help! I have been using an Iomega NAS 1TB HD for the past year. And I received an error message. I believe I have ran out of memory on this drive.
Then recently in the last couple of months I got a ReadyNAS Duo 2TB with 2TB RAID. Should I switch my back ups to this one and delete the other back up file or keep the old back up image file on the Iomega?
Can I transfer the old image back up to this new ReadyNAS? How do I do this?
I appreciate any help. -
HT201250 new external hard drive for Time Machine backup suggestions?
Ok, I have 3 external hard drives; unfortunately I've used them on my PC and they are read only on my iMac. So, I need to buy a new external hard drive for Time Machine backup. I'm a little confused; can I buy any EHD and them format it so Mac can use it or are there special EHD's I need to purchase?
Anyone have a particular EHD that is working well for you? Thanks, BlueBluehowler wrote:
Ok, I have 3 external hard drives; unfortunately I've used them on my PC and they are read only on my iMac. So, I need to buy a new external hard drive for Time Machine backup. I'm a little confused; can I buy any EHD and them format it so Mac can use it or are there special EHD's I need to purchase?
Anyone have a particular EHD that is working well for you? Thanks, Blue
Unless you need all three external drives for your PC, you can reformat in one of them in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for use with Time Machine. However, since Time Machine backs up hourly, you'd need the external drive to be running constantly. That means ventilation of the drive becomes an issue since some, such as Seagate, can get very hot in their sealed enclosures. Some drive manufacturers try to get around this by spinning down the drive when not in use, but I've read complaints that that doesn't play well with a Mac. So whether you reuse one of your current externals or get a new one, it's a good idea to keep the drive's ventilation in mind.
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