How do i limit what is backed up on time machine

I want to limit how many months the time machine backs up. Right now it is backed up clear to Jan 3, 2010. I don't need that much back up. When I ran DiskWarrior it wouldn't defrag because it said I didn't have enough memory. I have 12GB and have had no problems before. Is it because there is too much on the backup disk? I have an iMac intel Core 2 Duo running osx 10.6.8 and am using a LaCie d2 quadra 1TB as my external disk with 398.56 GB available.

In general, click the Finder icon at the far left of the dock on the bottom of the screen
Click the Time Machine "clock" icon on the dock at the bottom of the screen
Wait a few minutes for Time Machine to load. Wait a few minutes longer if you are using wireless to connect
Locate the timeline at the far right of the screen and choose a date of backups that you want to view, or use the Up / Down arrows to do the same thing
Use the Finder interface to navigate and find the files for backups that you wish to view
Click Cancel to close Time Machine and return to the present
For more info, see this Apple support document:
Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac - Apple Support

Similar Messages

HT4500 how do I transfer files I backed up with Time Machine in an external disk to a PC?

I back up using Time Machine in an external hard drive in my Mac Air. I need to open those files in a PC, but I can't open the files. How do I open them from a PC?

TimeMachine first saves a complete state of your Mac's boot drive, then it saves incremental updates consisting of changes and uses placeholders (file names with no content) for those files that didn't change between states.
Now it will do this until there isn't enough room on the drive and then it starts deleting older states.
So it does it like this so there isn't any duplicated files wasting precious drive space.
Now what does that have to do with your problem? Well there is no TimeMachine software for PC's that can decode this mess and get to the files you want.
However if you understand a bit more details about it, then you can perhaps recover your files.
TimeMachine uses the same drive formatting as on a Mac, OS X Extended Journaled otherwise known as HFS+ or JHFS, and Windows PC's can't read that format natively.
However there is third party software called MacDrive which you install into Windows that can read that drive format.
The next trick, if it works, is to look a the TimeMachine folders and find your data, but have to recall when it was created as to go back into the correct folder or else you will find the empty placeholder with the same name and no data.
Next if you can recover files, is being able to open those files in a compatible PC program, which a lot of Apple software and OS X based software might not have PC versions.
Neutral formats like Mp3, jpg, .mov, .doc, .txt and so forth can be opened on other platforms using other programs, however the more platform or proprietary the files are in, then the harder it is to find a PC version that will work.
What you can do is to use the TimeMachine drive on a temporary Mac (OSX version has to be same or later than on the TM one) and restore the users accounts/software to that Mac and then go about retrieving data or simplifying the data or transporting it into more neutral/cross platform formats.
LibreOffice is excellent for this as it's the only Office suite that's cross platform with Linux, Windows and OS X, plus works with OfficeMac/Office Win files. So pasting into that will preserve a lot of formatting etc, that will be lost if you just pasted into txt format.
I've been aiming to create a transition to Windows User Tip, perhaps one day I will.

How do I make sure files backed up by Time Machine don't get deleted?

About 2 months ago I backed up about 50GBs worth of family movie files with TM to a 1TB WD hard drive so that I could access them to watch without them clogging up my iMac hard drive. Once they were safely backed up I removed them from my computer after about 3 days. (I also backed them up to DVDs so luckily they are not gone for good). After 2 months I decided to access them to watch through TM only to find they were no longer there. I also went looking directly into the sparsebundle...no luck. I still have about 450GB left for back ups. My questions are this... is TM deleting files that have only been on my computer short term? If so, how long do I need to keep files on my computer to ensure that TM keeps them for good? I believe TM deletes a lot of weekly and monthly back ups after a month, but this seems to put a lot of 'short term stay' files in danger of being lost completely. Am I right in assuming this?

Hi Peter and a warm welcome to Discussions!
RedPeter505 wrote:
is TM deleting files that have only been on my computer short term?
TM is designed to delete files. Seems conterproductive for a backup application but then again TM is not designed to be an ordinary backup solution that you can rely upon it to keep your files until you as the user decides to delete backups because you find that they are unnecessary. Incidentally, note that the TM preferences tick box says "Warn when old backups are deleted" not "are about to be deleted". There may be warnings before deletion but in my experience one can't count on that.
I can't say why those files are no longer on your backup. Download the Time Machine widget and have a look if there's anything in the TM log for the relevant time the files disappeared. TM shouldn't delete when there's a lot of space left on the drive. However, unfortunately it does happen that TM loses track of what has been backed up and so begins a full backup to ensure all's backed up. In such a case and where the full backup is big, it may have deleted the oldest files to make space for the new backup. Ironic.
If so, how long do I need to keep files on my computer to ensure that TM keeps them for good? I believe TM deletes a lot of weekly and monthly back ups after a month, but this seems to put a lot of 'short term stay' files in danger of being lost completely. Am I right in assuming this?
You can't (afaik) ensure that TM will forever keep files that it has copied because of how TM is designed. If you want a proper/ordinary backup solution look elsewhere. Because of TM's design, I actually stopped using it and instead set up SuperDuper to run a daily backup of the drive where I save all my stuff. Sure, I won't have the extra security that TM offers by backing up every hour (thus minimising the amount of data that may be lost while working on a file) but I don't need that because I am very careful to save regularly.
/p

How do I get contacts list backed up in time machine?

I cant seem to get my contacts backed up into the time machine, how do i get this to happen automatically?

Hi Peter and a warm welcome to Discussions!
RedPeter505 wrote:
is TM deleting files that have only been on my computer short term?
TM is designed to delete files. Seems conterproductive for a backup application but then again TM is not designed to be an ordinary backup solution that you can rely upon it to keep your files until you as the user decides to delete backups because you find that they are unnecessary. Incidentally, note that the TM preferences tick box says "Warn when old backups are deleted" not "are about to be deleted". There may be warnings before deletion but in my experience one can't count on that.
I can't say why those files are no longer on your backup. Download the Time Machine widget and have a look if there's anything in the TM log for the relevant time the files disappeared. TM shouldn't delete when there's a lot of space left on the drive. However, unfortunately it does happen that TM loses track of what has been backed up and so begins a full backup to ensure all's backed up. In such a case and where the full backup is big, it may have deleted the oldest files to make space for the new backup. Ironic.
If so, how long do I need to keep files on my computer to ensure that TM keeps them for good? I believe TM deletes a lot of weekly and monthly back ups after a month, but this seems to put a lot of 'short term stay' files in danger of being lost completely. Am I right in assuming this?
You can't (afaik) ensure that TM will forever keep files that it has copied because of how TM is designed. If you want a proper/ordinary backup solution look elsewhere. Because of TM's design, I actually stopped using it and instead set up SuperDuper to run a daily backup of the drive where I save all my stuff. Sure, I won't have the extra security that TM offers by backing up every hour (thus minimising the amount of data that may be lost while working on a file) but I don't need that because I am very careful to save regularly.
/p

How can I see what has been copied to time machine?

I have set up the way in which I want Time Machine to back up my data but before deleting a large file of photos and music which has been copied from another machine i want to make sure that Time Machine has copied the data. How do I see that this has been done?

Launch time machine and browse the folders you wish to confirm. Anything you browse while you're in TimeMachine is part of your backup.

HT5096 How to I do a computer back up using Time Machine and the app IDriveSync?

I just started using iDrive to do a computer back up on my 13" MacBook Pro, but I don't quite understand how the two programs interact and how to use them together.

You'd have to ask the people at iDrive. It's not an Apple product.
I'm not sure how many people you'd find here using that particular product, but you should find quite a few at their website.
iDrive looks like your standard online backup service with a few more bells and whistles. I don't imagine it interacts with Time Machine at all.

How can I get specific files back from my Time Machine backup?

I wanted to make a fresh install on my MacBook Pro, in order to only have Java 8 instead of any older Java versions. So far so good. But now I want to get specific files/libraries from my external backup (USB):
One Parallels Virtual Machine
My old mail
My iPhoto Library
I don't need any settings for these, since I can easily configure them again.
I already used the Migration Assistent to restore all apps.
How can I get specific data back from the backup without restoring all stuff that I don't want anymore?
I'm now working on a new account on the fresh system, called 'Admin'. My old account was called 'Hans' (or 'hans') and I'd like to create such an account again for all my tasks.
Hans

How can I get specific data back from the backup without restoring all stuff that I don't want anymore?
I'm now working on a new account on the fresh system, called 'Admin'. My old account was called 'Hans' (or 'hans') and I'd like to create such an account again for all my tasks.
You will want to add the same User account(s) which hold the data you want to restore. So you will want to add a User account of 'Hans or hans'. Check your Time Machine back up drive to see how the User account is labeled (Hans or hans). Navigate to the Users folder and see how it's labeled.
You can then use your Time Machine back up drive and navigate to the User Home folder to copy its data over (e.g. contents from Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, etc.). Repeat for other Users.

How to limit the amount of disk space Time Machine will use?

On Yosemite, how do you limit the amount of disk space Time Machine will use?
I'm using a Seagate Goflex Home 2tb drive connected to my router as a Time Machine backup drive. I use this for three things 1)Time Machine 2) an occasional backup of windows document subdirectory 3) backup of music and photos for long term storage. Doing something like re-partioning the drive is not an option. I'll just go buy another drive for time machine's sole use. In addition, using software from Seagate is not an option. I don't want to use their software for different reasons (mainly the GoFlex home is really designed as a "media server" which I don't use. I, of course, use iTunes. ) On the Mac, I'm only using about 250GB total but time machine is rapidly using up space.
Apparently using a terminal command like below, used to work, but no longer works under Yosemite.
For a limit of 100gb the number below would be 100 x 1024
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine MaxSize 102400
To remove the limit, use the following command:
sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine MaxSize
Now, I'm not too familiar with terminal and I'm not about ready to issue a command without knowing exactly what it is going to do.
Is there an easier "switch" someplace or an app that does this?
If I don't limit the size, at some point there will not be any space left for windows backups and additional photo and music files.

Hmm- added "sudo" and there was no error reported:
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine MaxSize xxxxxx
I guess we'll see.

My phone is lost. How can I see what is backed up to it?

My phone is lost. How can I see what is backed up to it?

iOS backups are not viewable, by design. If you backup using iTunes, to view the contents of your backup requires third-party software. iCloud backups are not viewable at all. This is what gets backed up:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946

HT4859 How can I see what I backed to iCloud or iTunes?

How can I see what is backed up to my iCloud? Pictures are what I am trying ti find.

Your photo stream photos will appear on your iPad in the my photo stream album; photos from the last 30 days will still be in iCloud but cannot be seen on icloud.com.
Camera roll photos are only in iCloud as part of your iCloud backup. However, you can't see them unless you restore the entire backup to your device.

How do i see whats been backed up to icloud

how do i see whats been backed up to icloud

Go to Settings - iCloud - Storage and Backup - Manage Storage - Select your device, the apps will be listed.

TS1550 Do external hard drives mounted on my Mac get backed up by time machine on a time capsule wireless Apple external back up disk? How can I see what folders have been actually stored in the wireless back up disk?

Do external hard drives mounted on my Mac get backed up by time machine on a time capsule wireless apple external hard disk? How can I see what folders have been actually backed up in the external wireless disk? any help would be appreciated

They can provided you remove them from the Exclude list. Normally, Time Machine does not automatically backup external drives.

HT1338 Purchased a used macbook pro with Mountain Lion. My old Mac runs Snow Leopard is backed up to Time machine. How do I register the operating system to me and how do I use Time Machine to move my files to the new used computer?

Purchased a used macbook pro with Mountain Lion. My old Mac runs Snow Leopard is backed up to Time machine. How do I register the operating system to me and how do I use Time Machine to move my files to the new used computer?

If you look at the User Tips tab, you will find a write up on just this subject:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4053
The subject of buying/selling a Mac is quite complicated. Here is a guide to the steps involved. It is from the Seller's point of view, but easily read the other way too:
SELLING A MAC A
Internet Recovery, and Transferability of OS & iLife Apps
Selling an Old Mac:
• When selling an old Mac, the only OS that is legally transferable is the one that came preinstalled when the Mac was new. Selling a Mac with an upgraded OS isn't doing the new owner any favors. Attempting to do so will only result in headaches since the upgraded OS can't be registered by the new owner. If a clean install becomes necessary, they won't be able to do so and will be forced to install the original OS via Internet Recovery. Best to simply erase the drive and revert back to the original OS prior to selling any Mac.
• Additionally, upgrading the OS on a Mac you intend to sell means that you are leaving personally identifiable information on the Mac since the only way to upgrade the OS involves using your own AppleID to download the upgrade from the App Store. So there will be traces of your info and user account left behind. Again, best to erase the drive and revert to the original OS via Internet Recovery.
Internet Recovery:
• In the event that the OS has been upgraded to a newer version (i.e. Lion to Mountain Lion), Internet Recovery will offer the version of the OS that originally came with the Mac. So while booting to the Recovery Disk will show Mountain Lion as available for reinstall since that is the current version running, Internet Recovery, on the other hand, will only show Lion available since that was the OS shipped with that particular Mac.
• Though the Mac came with a particular version of Mac OS X, it appears that, when Internet Recovery is invoked, the most recent update of that version may be applied. (i.e. if the Mac originally came with 10.7.3, Internet Recovery may install a more recent update like 10.7.5)
iLife Apps:
• When the App Store is launched for the first time it will report that the iLife apps are available for the user to Accept under the Purchases section. The user will be required to enter their AppleID during the Acceptance process. From that point on the iLife apps will be tied to the AppleID used to Accept them. The user will be allowed to download the apps to other Macs they own if they wish using the same AppleID used to Accept them.
• Once Accepted on the new Mac, the iLife apps can not be transferred to any future owner when the Mac is sold. Attempting to use an AppleID after the apps have already been accepted using a different AppleID will result in the App Store reporting "These apps were already assigned to another Apple ID".
• It appears, however, that the iLife Apps do not automatically go to the first owner of the Mac. It's quite possible that the original owner, either by choice or neglect, never Accepted the iLife apps in the App Store. As a result, a future owner of the Mac may be able to successfully Accept the apps and retain them for themselves using their own AppleID. Bottom Line: Whoever Accepts the iLife apps first gets to keep them.
SELLING A MAC B
Follow these instructions step by step to prepare a Mac for sale:
Step One - Back up your data:
A. If you have any Virtual PCs shut them down. They cannot be in their "fast saved" state. They must be shut down from inside Windows.
B. Clone to an external drive using using Carbon Copy Cloner.
1. Open Carbon Copy Cloner.
2. Select the Source volume from the Select a source drop down menu on the left side.
3. Select the Destination volume from the Select a destination drop down menu on the right
side.
4. Click on the Clone button. If you are prompted about creating a clone of the Recovery HD be
sure to opt for that.
Destination means a freshly erased external backup drive. Source means the internal
startup drive.
Step Two - Prepare the machine for the new buyer:
1. De-authorize the computer in iTunes! De-authorize both iTunes and Audible accounts.
2, Remove any Open Firmware passwords or Firmware passwords.
3. Turn the brightness full up and volume nearly so.
4. Turn off File Vault, if enabled.
5. Disable iCloud, if enabled: See.What to do with iCloud before selling your computer
Step Three - Install a fresh OS:
A. Snow Leopard and earlier versions of OS X
1. Insert the original OS X install CD/DVD that came with your computer.
2. Restart the computer while holding down the C key to boot from the CD/DVD.
3. Select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu; repartition and reformat the internal hard drive.
Optionally, click on the Security button and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
4. Install OS X.
5. Upon completion DO NOT restart the computer.
6. Shutdown the computer.
B. Lion and Mountain Lion (if pre-installed on the computer at purchase*)
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because
it is three times faster than wireless.
1. Restart the computer while holding down the COMMAND and R keys until the Mac OS X
Utilities window appears.
2. Select Disk Utility from the Mac OS X Utilities window and click on the Continue button.
3. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the left side list. Click
on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
4. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Optionally, click on the Security button
and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
5. Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
6. Quit DU and return to the Mac OS X Utilities window.
7. Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.
8. Upon completion shutdown the computer.
*If your computer came with Lion or Mountain Lion pre-installed then you are entitled to transfer your license once. If you purchased Lion or Mountain Lion from the App Store then you cannot transfer your license to another party. In the case of the latter you should install the original version of OS X that came with your computer. You need to repartition the hard drive as well as reformat it; this will assure that the Recovery HD partition is removed. See Step Three above. You may verify these requirements by reviewing your OS X Software License.

I want to transfer all my iPhoto, iTunes, contacts, etc. files from my MacBook, which I am selling to a MacBook Pro. What is the easiest and safest method of achieving this? Can the files backed up on Time Machine be transferred to the Pro?.

I want to transfer all my iPhoto, iTunes, contacts,documents, etc. files from my MacBook, which I am selling, to a MacBook Pro. What is the easiest and safest method of achieving this? Can the files backed up on Time Machine from the MacBook be transferred to the Pro in some way? I would like to capture the files as they appear on the MacBook, such as "Events" in iPhoto and the various song categories within iTunes without having to rename them all once saved on the Pro, which is the case with photos when I simply save them to thumb drive and import them to the Pro. Sny advice would be appreciated.
Best regards,
Rob.

Michael,
Thanks for all your assistance. There is no need for apologies, Migration Assistant did indeed create a second account for the MacBook data. It has just taken me some time to figure out how to access it. I now have all the MB data in one account and the MBP files in another, which suits me fine. In fact, it is an advantage in my case as it keeps the private and business aspects separated.
I will however try the fatcatsoftware to transfer all the iPhoto files to my iMac, where I keep my main photo library. and it will be of help to keep the events, etc in the transfer. As far as iTunes is concerned, I have HomeSharing on all my computers and this has obviated the need to worry about playlists being transferred successfully. However, HomeSharing did not appear to share the iPhone/iPod apps that were stored on the MB and although these have now come across with the new MacBook account on the MBP, I was wondering whether my iPhone and iPod will be recognised by the MBP and sync with it? Will I need to have the MB account open to achieve this or will the MBP recognise and sync with the iPhone/iPod automatically irrespective of which account is open?
Thanks for the tip on deauthorising my iTunes account from the MB before sellng. This I will do and I believe the best way to remove all of my data from the hard drive is to reinstall the MacOSX operating system software. Is this the right approach to securely delete everything?
Thanks again for sharing your expertise and your guidance through this exercise.
Best regards,
Rob.

HT201250 how do i add external hard drive to my time machine back up

how do i add external hard drive to my time machine back up so that I may view the files independently on apple tv please?

To elaborate on above. I am looking to add about 300gig of photos on an external hard drive to TC.
Once I do this I believe I can then have itunes source its photos from TC without having them stored directly on my iMac?
Then I am assuming once I keep itunes on with home sharing I can stream these photos through Apple TV?
My inital problem is getting the photos onto TC in an individual folder not just a backup folder....is that possible or what would you suggest please?

How do i limit what is backed up on time machine

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