Help with the Time Machine set up

Hi all,
I am a newbie to Mac computers. I just got my very first MBP. As I am learning my way around and trying set things up with it, I came across the TIme Machine (TM). How do I set TM up? I have a 1 TB Seagate external hard drive that I've been using to back up few windows laptop at my household. When I plugged this drive in,TM prompted me to erase everything that I have in the external drive if I were to use that as my TM backup device. But I don't want to lose everything that I have in that drive. Since it contains backed up data from multiple machine. What do I do to set up TM backup using the same external drive without losing what I have in there?
In addition, I will be loading windows 7 on a virtual machine using Oracle Virtualbox on my mbp. Will I be able to backup data from the VM onto the same drive?
Thank you all in advance for your replies.
Prince

Yes, move all the data from the hard drive to another computer. Then use Disk Utility (in Utlities folder) to erase and partition the hard drive. You can use one partition for Time Machine and the other partition for all of your other stuff. Be sure and move your 'stuff' to a differnt partition than the Time Machine.
For everything you'd ever want to know about Time Machine, see http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html.
Good luck...
Clinton

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I want to set up the Time Machine and I would love to use the Time Capsule but since I already have a wireless router I need suggestions on what other external disks Apple could recommend to use with the Time Machine and how to configure that disk

I want to set up the Time Machine and I would love to use the Time
Capsule but since I already have a wireless router I need suggestions on
what other
external disks Apple could recommend to use with the Time Machine and
how to configure that disk.
A complication that I need to resolve is the fact that I am using Vmware
Fusion to be able to use Windows on my Mac. Now it seems that Time
Machine is not backing up my files
on that virtual Windows without additional configuration and my question
is whether you can advise me here or whether this is only a matter for
the Fusion virtual machine.

If you want to use Time Capsule you can.. you simply bridge it and plug it into the existing router.. wireless can be either turned off or used to reinforce the existing wireless.. eg use 5ghz in the TC which is much faster than your 2.4ghz.
You can also use a NAS.. many brands available but the top brands are synology, qnap and netgear readynas series. These will all do Time Machine backups although how well always depends on Apple sticking to a standard. There are cheaper ones.. I bought a single disk zyxel which was rebadged and sold through my local supermarket. It actually works very well for TM at least on Snow Leopard. Major changes were made in Lion and again ML so do not instantly think it will work on later versions. I haven't tried it yet with those versions.
Any external drive can be plugged into the mac. Use the one with the fastest connection or cheapest price according to your budget. USB2 drives are cheap and plentiful. But no where near as fast as USB3 or FW800. So just pick whichever suits the ports on your Mac. Interesting Apple finally moved to USB3 on their latest computers.
TM should exclude the VM partition file.. it is useless backing it up from Mac OS side.. and will slow TM as it needs to backup that partition everyday for no purpose.. TM cannot see the files inside it to backup just the changes.
You need to backup windows from windows. Use MSbackup to external drive.. if you have pro or ultimate versions you can backup to network drive. But MSbackup is a dog.. at least until the latest version it cannot restore the partition without first loading windows. There are about a zillion backup software versions for windows.. look up reviews and buy one which works for you. I use a free one Macrium Reflect which does full disk backups and is easy to restore.. to do incremental backups though you have to pay for it.

Can I restore I Cal appointments with the time machine?

I have downloaded some software to synchronise my Ical and contacts with my Nokia 6500c. All worked well until a sync failed and I was advised to delete the data from my phone and re-sync. This has deleted my appointments from my ical! Will the time machine back up restore the data and how do you do it?
Hope someone can help otherwise its a fair bit of work on the phone to reconfirm appointments.
Alan

Navigate to the library folder inside your user folder. In the library folder will be a folder called Calendar. Enter time machine. go to a backup before your calendars were deleted. restore this folder and your calendars should be back.

How to go back with the time machine..

i think there is a bug and i will like to go back one month in the time machine.. how to.. i go there but when it is time to go back, the buttom is not clear or dark to click on it..

Depends on which OS X version your iMac is running.
Go to > Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac and expand "Restoring data from Time Machine backups" then scroll down to "Restoring your entire system from a backup"

Help with iTunes Time Machine backups

I just got a MBP for Christmas to replace the 2 MacBooks I had previously (which both died within weeks of each other).
I have 2 time Machine Backups on a Time Capsule and have used one to get this MBP up and running.
I want to get the iTunes data from the other backup and add it into this one as it has stuff that this one doesnt......any idea how I go about it?

Hi Drukenhard!
I would suggest that you first make a copy of the source music files for your iTunes Library, either on an external hard drive or just in another location on your internal hard drive, by following this article:
iTunes: Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1751
You will then want to restore the information from the backup that you wish to pull the iTunes Library information from by using this article:
OS X Mavericks: Restore items backed up with Time Machine
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14111
Then you can import the iTunes Library source files that you copied earlier by using this article, effectively merging your libraries:
iTunes: About the Add to Library, Import, and Convert functions
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1347
Take care, and thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities.
-Braden

Help with some time machine doubt

Hi!
I recently backed up all the files from my aluminum macbook using Time Machine because I'm thinking re-formatting my macbooks hard drive because I have too much junk on it and it have some software issues, so heres my question..
What exactly does Time Machine backs up?..If my goal is to put my mac like brand new, do you recommend me to restore all my files using time machine? Or is better to just copy paste the files into a external hard drive?
Thanks!

jorge_1030 wrote:
Hi!
I recently backed up all the files from my aluminum macbook using Time Machine because I'm thinking re-formatting my macbooks hard drive because I have too much junk on it and it have some software issues
Unlike some other operating systems, that's rarely required on OSX, and rarely accomplishes much (well, nothing positive).
If you have stuff you no longer need, delete it.
If you have performance or application problems, address them directly.
As Kiraly, a frequent poster here says, "If your kitchen faucet drips, start by replacing the washer, not tearing out and rebuilding your entire kitchen."
What exactly does Time Machine backs up?
By default, everything on your system, except for some things that don't need to be backed-up, such as system work files, most caches and logs, and trash.
If my goal is to put my mac like brand new, do you recommend me to restore all my files using time machine?
No. If you restore everything, your system will look exactly like it does now.
If you try to restore selectively, you'll have a large mess. At a minimum, you'll have to reinstall all your 3rd-party apps from the original discs (or re-download them), and re-enter registration keys/serial numbers.
Or is better to just copy paste the files into a external hard drive?
No.
Work on the actual problems. Post the biggest one, with full details, in a new thread in the appropriate forum.

Can I use time capsule as an external HDD to free up memory on my comuter along with the time machine backups?

I currently am considering a WD My Book Live Home Network Drive for 189.00 but would consider a time capule if it will allow me to rid my iMac of all the pictures and videos to free up my memory and store it on the time capsule for easy access on my 2 mac computers and apple TV. The WD also will allow me to access my itunes library via wireless connection without going through my computer. Please help.

The Time Capsule is for your backups.
You always want to keep "original" copies of your media on one drive, and backups on another drive. In case one drive fails....or rather I should say when...not if...a drive fails.....you still have copies on the other hard drive.
While you could move your images and media files to the Time Capsule from your Mac...and then delete the files on your Mac to free up space....you may not have considered that you have no backups if you do this.
If the Time Capsule has a problem....rather I should say....when the Time Capsule has a problem.....you lose all of your images and media. The same would apply if you use the WD drive just for images and media.
Given the investment in images, time and money for your data, only the most foolhardy of users would consider something like this.
Bottom line...you need two drives...the WD drive and a Time Capsule. They you can add the WD drive directly to your Mac and move the images and media there. Then, the Time Capsule will backup the files on your both your Mac and the WD drive.
So, you have "original" files and data on one drive and backups for that data on another drive. That's a bare minimum backup plan. Many of use use a dual backup and plan and keep an extra copy of backups offsite, in case of theft, fire or flood.

I need help with the initial dowload/set up with itunes on my PC w/Windows

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Welcome kimmyak.
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Yes, you’ll be able to do that.
(116841)

How to reinstall Mountain Lion after Mavericks OS has been installed without using the time machine?

Hi, I upgraded to Maverics a few weeks ago, and since than my computer has been very slow. It NEVER happened before. Now, I want to go back to Mountain Lion, but I didn't back up my computer with the time machine. I'd appreciate if anyone could tell me how to reinstall Mountain Lion again over Maverics? Thanks a lot for your help!

You will need either a bootable flash drive with Mountain Lion to install, if you have one, or reinstall Snow Leopard if your computer can boot Snow Leopard. Or you can use Internet Recovery to reinstall the original version of OS X that came with the computer. In any event you will have to repartition and reformat the drive.
Install Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion on a New HDD/SDD
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
Boot to the Internet Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears on the screen. Wait patiently - 15-20 minutes - until the Recovery main menu appears.
Partition and Format the hard drive:
1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
2. After DU loads select your external hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion. Mavericks: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion, Mavericks and click on the Install button. Be sure to select the correct drive to use if you have more than one.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

I have reinstalled my OS without time machine (using the disc). I want to restore some pictures in the iPhotos which are already in the time machine i was using previously. How can I restore iPhoto from previous time machine?

My mac book was incredibly slow. When I went to Mac store, they asked me to reinstall the OS with CD and not with the time machine. I reinstalled the operating system. But when I opened the applications, all those started as fresh applications as usual. I have the backup of all other data in another hard disc. But unfortunately, I forgot to copy the photos before reinstallation. I have those photos in my time machine back up. But when I opened time machine, it started like a fresh (very new) time machine and it started backing up my present OS (the reinstalled one). I cannot open the previous time machine, which is in the same hard drive. I wish to open the previous time machine to get the photos which are backed up previuosly. When opened the time machine disc (manually by clicking the icon), i can see all the thigs which I had previously in my macbook. But unfortunately, i cannot access those through time machine! Can anybody help me please?

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I have 2 WD external HD for back up. One is hooked up to the Time Machine and the other is used to store all my large photo files. The time machine excludes the second one. I need to back this up as well . How do I reformat it so it will ?

I just purchased 2 WD TB external hard drives. I have one formatted to be used with the time machine and it is working well. the other that i am using to store large files is excluded from the time machine. I can't click on it and add as per instructions. It won't allow me to. I need to back t his up as well. Ive backed up this one so I am able to reformat it but it doesn't recognize the drive unless it is formatted in FAT which is what WD advices it be formatted in. It should be in Mac extended journaling but I can't get it to mount in that. Help?

In addition, TM will not backup drives partitioned in FAT as the OP stated his 2nd EHD is formatted. My recommendation to the OP is to reformat the 2nd EHD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and then include it in his TM backups. Of course in order to do this the OP must first move the data on the FAT partitioned drive to his internal HD and then once the EHD is re-partitioned correctly he can move it back.
In addition as Pondini mentioned the 2nd EHD must be directly connected to the iMac rather than be a network drive, TM is NOT, repeat NOT a network backup solution with the single caveat of using a Time Capsule backup.

Having issues with my Time Machine backups...

my mid-2009 MacBook Pro seems to be having an issue with time machine.
I have an external, 1TB western digital harddrive that I used for my backups. it's about a year old. last weekend I took the harddrive with me on a trip - I kept it inside it's own neoprene case that was in my backpack for the entire weekend. the drive functioned without issue afterwards for almost a week.
then, last Friday, it wouldn't complete a backup. I wasn't sure what the issue was so I (foolishly) erased the drive and just began again as a new TM. now it's still having issues backing up.
I've tried repairing the disk permissions of my internal drive, and that actually seemed to help the TM complete a backup.
usually it will just stop backing up, and sit there for ages without doing anything. I choose "skip this backup" in order to end it, and then try to force another backup right after. the problem, then, is that it will start but won't do much after it reaches 4kb backed up or 23kb. that's not a typo - it really says kilobytes!!
not sure what the issue is at all, or how I can fix it. I have completed a backup since I erased the drive, but it's doesn't seem to want to carry on with regularly scheduled backups.
is it an issue with the time machine harddrive, or something deeper with my computer? are the backups that I have done safe? as I said, I was able to perform an initial backup after I erased the drive... if I end up replacing this computer, will I still be able to restore from the back up?

These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.
Launch the Console 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 Console in the icon grid.
The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select
SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages
from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
In the top right corner of the Console window, there's a search box labeled Filter. Initially the words "String Matching" are shown in that box. Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes.) You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard."
Each message in the log begins with the date and time when it was entered. Note the timestamp of the last "Starting" message that corresponds to the beginning of an an abnormal backup. Now
CLEAR THE WORD "Starting" FROM THE TEXT FIELD
so that all messages are showing, and scroll back in the log to the time you noted. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.
☞ If all you see are messages that contain the word "Starting," you didn't clear the text field.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
☞ The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of which is irrelevant to solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.
☞ Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

Restoring from the time machine

I back up regularly with the time machine. Some time back in late May or early June, I installed a program (for a USB wi-fi stick for use in China) which hi-jacked my air-port. though I trashed the program afterwards and other experts had offered advise how to restore the setting of the air-port, it didn't work, my air-port can no longer detect any network in the air. It appears that I have to reinstall my OS.
1. Can I re-sinstall just my OS and application to, let say, early May via the restore function of time machine while keeping the rest of the document data (in particular photo library) in my computer untouched and up to date. Or do I have to do a clean install with the OS DVD that comes with the computer.
2. If I reinstall the OS, will it keep the problematic internet (airport) setting or restore everything to default? that program hi-jacked my airport through assigning an IP address to my air-port such that my computer can no longer detect any existing network, (it appears that way). I hope through the restoring process, be it via the time machine or a clean install, that something (invisible program) which keeps assigning IP address to my airport is gone.
3. which is more appropriate (simple), time machine or clean install. I am not good at dealing with these sort of things, I am just another simple minded end user. Looking for precise, simple and easy to follow advise.
4. I hope that I do not have to reformat the HD and reinstall everything from scratch. That's going to kill me.
Image showing the hi-jacked air-port icon

Allen Young wrote:
1. Can I re-sinstall just my OS and application to, let say, early May via the restore function of time machine while keeping the rest of the document data
No, unfortunately. A full system restore is just that; everything.
However, what you can do is reinstall OSX and the default Apple apps from your Install disc; that won't disturb anything else. See: Installing the ''combo'' update and/or Reinstalling OSX.
Not sure you need to do either, though.
2. If I reinstall the OS, will it keep the problematic internet (airport) setting or restore everything to default? that program hi-jacked my airport through assigning an IP address to my air-port such that my computer can no longer detect any existing network, (it appears that way). I hope through the restoring process, be it via the time machine or a clean install, that something (invisible program) which keeps assigning IP address to my airport is gone.
Have you tried resetting your Airport, per http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3728? I'm far from a networking guru, but that might do it. If not, you might do better in the Airport forum, at https://discussions.apple.com/community/wireless/airport
3. which is more appropriate (simple), time machine or clean install. I am not good at dealing with these sort of things, I am just another simple minded end user.
A full restore from Time Machine is much easier, of course, but that' may not be what you want or need. See #14 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.
If you know what's been changed since the date of the backup you restore, you could restore selected items from the latest backup, per #15 there. After this long, that sounds pretty tedious, though, and may not work well on complex apps.

HT4413 What if migration assistant isn't recognizing my external hard drive with my time machine backup on it.

Tech department updated my computer to Lion and wiped it clean. I'm trying to restore my documents/photos/etc from a Snow Leopard time machine backup. When trying to use Migration Manager, when it asks for me to "Select my system," my hard drive with the time machine backup doesn't appear.

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

Help with the Time Machine set up

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