How to properly backup all my data (incl. external HD) with a TC and TM?

Hi all,
My data is on my MBP and on 2 external HD, one for my music and one for my photo. When I was using TM to backup everything on a third external HD everything was running smoothly, and I could see on the external hard drive, 3 folders with of data on each of my 3 drives: MacintoshHD for my MBP, Disk1 for the music and Disk2 for the photo. I was simply hooking my external HDs to my MBP before doing a TM backup. As a result, I could easily restore one or the other.
I recently installed a TC on my network and it has been running well since then. I am now doing my backup through TM on the TC, and similarly to before, I am doing the backup of my external HD by hooking them on my MBP before doing the backup. I know the TC has been doing the backup of the external HD, has the volume it was backing up was the sum of the used capacity of my MBP and the two external HD.
However, now I have on the TC only one file, a sparsebundle file, which, I guess, contains the backup data for the 3 drives (the MBP and the 2 externals). How does it work if I want to restore my MBP after a big crash. Can I chose to only restore the MBP HD without the two external?
Is this the good way of backing up external HD with a TC? Why is TM using sparsebundle on a TC and not on a HD directly plug on the MBP, because if a network backup, correct? Is it not possible then to have 3 sparsebundle files, one for my MBP, and one for each of the external HD?
Thanks a lot

Sometimes posts slip through. Apple themselves are supposed to pick up posts not answered after one day.
Anyway everyone is busy with Yosemite bugs now.. !!
However, now I have on the TC only one file, a sparsebundle file, which, I guess, contains the backup data for the 3 drives (the MBP and the 2 externals). How does it work if I want to restore my MBP after a big crash. Can I chose to only restore the MBP HD without the two external?
This is correct.. your Mac is storing all its backups in the one file.
Read our expert Pondini about how this works.
http://pondini.org/TM/32.html
He shows how to recover multiple volumes..
My advice is not to do it.. Buy a better standard backup .. eg Carbon Copy Cloner.. and use that. It is far superior to TM and makes a direct clone or a sparsebundle on a network drive of just the one disk.. much easier to restore.. much more reliable.. much easier.. much better. It does cost $40 but that covers all the computers in your home.
I do both TM and CCC backups and am happy to have both.. TM works very well when it is behaving.. but is dreadful when it fails.. CCC can produce bootable clones.. so you can have a computer that fails running in 3 min.. it is super easy and super safe.. you can immediately see the backup is good.

Similar Messages

  • I have an iPhone 4 now and I just got the iPhone 4s so how do I backup all my data from old phone to new?

    I have  the iPhone 4 and just upgraded to iPhone 4s how do I backup my data before I activate my iphone 4s? Please help!!

    iOS devices are designed to be sync'd with a single computer, so thinking of future updates, backups and so forth, yes, it would be best to do it on your computer - the one you normally use for iTunes.
    Note that backing up also does not backup everything in iTunes.  Contacts, for example, will be backed up into whatever contact management program you normally use on your computer (eg. outlook on a Windows PC, contacts on a Mac).
    If you have never backed up your iPhone, now is the opportune time to do so and learn how.  Not having a backup means if anything goes wrong with your phone (or you loose it or it is stolen), you risk losing everything on it.

  • How can I transfer all my data including SMS to my mac/windows computer?

    My friend has asked me to help her transfer all the data from her iPhone 3GS to a computer then to a hard drive. She has several folders with pictures in but image capture on mac is only picking up the one. I have an iPhone 4S and iPad 3 installed already on iTunes so don't want to accidentally erase her phone.
    She also needs some of the SMS messages taking off of her phone and saving either as they are or in some form of text file so they are readable in the future.
    How can I retrieve all this data including the messages without losing anything and can it be done for free?
    If you need anymore info please just ask and I'll try and pass it on to the best of my (limited) knowledge.
    Thanks in advance!

    http://www.iphonebackupextractor.com/
    SHe can also do a backup of her phone and it will save the text message, but she won't be able to view the text unless she restores to the backup.

  • TS1474 I have a new PC - great.  But the old PC has now gone and taken the backup of my iPhone 4S with it.  How do I get all my data from my iPhone to a new copy of iTunes on the new PC?

    I have a new PC - great.  But my iTunes library has now gone with the old PC.  With a new iTunes library how do I get all my data from my iPhone to a new copy of iTunes on the new PC?

    It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer.
    Have you failed to do this?

  • Two days before my iphone 5 battery was expand and display screen came out and now there has some gap between frame and display.so how it will happen and i already got before months.now i need to backup all the data to icloud before through out.

    two days before my iphone 5 battery was expand and display screen came out and now there has some gap between frame and display.so how it will happen and i already got before months.now i need to backup all the data to icloud before through out.
    https://www.dropbox.com/home/iphone
    https://www.dropbox.com/home/iphonehttps://www.dropbox.com/home/iphone

    Make an appointment at the genius bar of your local Apple Store. The phone has a 1 year warranty. If it's no longer under warranty, a replacement is $269.

  • How do I transfer all my data from my Time Capsule 2TB to my new Time Capsule 3TB?

    How do I transfer all my data from my Time Capsule 2TB to my new Time Capsule 3TB?

    Click here and follow the instructions to move a Time Machine backup, and just drag-copy everything else.
    (113074)

  • How do I transfer all my data from my original iPad 1 to my new iPad Air?

    How do I transfer all my data from my original iPad 1 to my new iPad Air?

    Do a full sync and backup of your one. I use iTunes for all my backing up. Then unplug the one and plug in the Air. Go through the setup process and when you have the choice to 'set up as new or restore from backup' chooose the the restore and your air will be a near clone of your One. You will need to reset up wifi and website passwords, but the data should be there.
    Once you are sure the Air has all you need on it, you can go into the settings and 'erase all content and settings' which puts your One back to the 'out of box' state to you can sell it if you want.

  • How do I transfer all my data from an iPad Air wifi 32 GB to a brand new iPad Air 2 64GB?

    I received right now a brand new iPad Air2 wifi 64 GB. How do I transfer ALL MY DATA from another iPad Air wifi 32 GB ?

    Back up your old one. I use and prefer iTunes, but back up all the data, etc.
    Then unplug it. Plug your new one in and go through the setup steps. When you see the option to set up as new or restore from the backup you just made, choose that and your new iPad will be a near clone of the old one.
    http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT2109
    has step to step instructions.
    If you are going to get rid of your old iPad, read this before you do so, just to make sure you're not inadvertantly selling someone a brick
    Selling an iPad
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5661

  • I have just purchased a new ipad2 to replace my old ipad. How do i sync all the data in my apps I am worried about losing my data?

    I have just purchased a new ipad2 to replace my old ipad. How do i sync all the data in my apps I am worried about losing my data?

    iPad settings and data created and stored by a 3rd party party app along with app settings are included with the iPad's backup along with other data.
    If you are syncing your iPad direct with iTunes on your computer via USB, the iPad's backup is updated as the first step during the iTunes sync process.
    The first time you connect a new iPad or iOS device to iTunes that is used to sync with another iOS device, you are prompted to transfer the backup for the other iOS device to the new device. This is followed by a sync to transfer the same content from your computer that is on the old iPad to the new iPad such as music, movies, tv shows, 3rd party apps, photos, audio and print books, etc.

  • External hd that I used for data died... it is backed up on time machine... how do I restore all my data from time machine to a new external hd?

    I installed the Lion OS this weekend. After Spotlight tried to index my external hard drive (that I use to store all my data), the external hard drive died. I expected that to happen at some point. The hard drive was an old FireWire 400 LaCie that I had working with my 2009 iMac (FireWire 800) by using an adaptor cable.
    My Time Machine backs up both my Macintosh (internal) HD and my external data HD. I know I need to buy a new external drive to use to store my data.
    But, then what? How do I get all the content from the backups of the old external (data) HD to the new one?

    Another one that Apple doesn't make obvious. 
    See #E3 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting. 

  • The logic board on my MacBook Pro has failed. How do I retrieve all my data from the hard drive?

    The logic board on my MacBook Pro has failed. How do I retrieve all my data from the hard drive?

    Remove the drive and put it in an external enclosure. Backup the drive completely. Repartition and format the drive. Replace the drive into the computer. Take the computer in for the logicboard replacement.

  • How do I transfer all my data and applications to my new iPad from my old one ?

    How do I transfer all my data and applications to my new iPad from my old one ?

    This may also be useful.  Although backing up and restoring via iCloud works, doing it via iTunes may be better, and here's why:
    Via iCloud your actual apps are not backed up, just a record of the fact that you legally own them.  When you restore, your new device knows it's OK to download and install them again from the App Store.  This is fine for all apps that are still available, but for those that have been removed from the App Store you're going to be without them.
    It is also a lot faster to transfer a ton of apps from iTunes via the cable than to download them all over wifi.
    Another advantage of doing it via iTunes is that all your network/wifi settings and passwords will be included in the backup/restore process.  (Make sure you have selected "encrypted backup" for this to happen.)  This way you will not need to mess around typing them all in again.
    I've tried both methods and would definitely recommend going "old school" via iTunes for these reasons.  Hope this helps.

  • How do i save all my data to my computer, how do i save all my data to my computer

    how do i save all my data to my computer

    You don't save to your computer, but you can backup all your data to iTunes http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
    YOu can also import all pics/videos to your computer http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4083

  • HT4946 How do I backup ALL of my iPad content onto a newly purchased MacBook Air? I can't backup up apps or music from CDs through the device backup function.

    How do I backup ALL of my iPad content onto a newly purchased MacBook Air? I can't backup up apps or music from CDs through the device backup function.

    First you need to authorize your MBA with your iTunes account with iTunes if you haven't already done so.
    With your iPad connected and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPad. This will transfer/copy all iTunes content on your iPad that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store only.
    Photos on your iPad that were transferred from your old computer need to be transferred from your old computer to your MBA.
    Before syncing contacts with the Address Book and calendar events with iCal if you aren't syncing this content over the air with an iCloud account, enter one contact in the Address Book and one calendar event in iCal on your MBA. Make these up if needed, which can be deleted later. This will provided a merge prompt with the first sync for this data, which you want to select.
    Photos/videos in the Camera Roll can be imported by your MBA with iPhoto or the Image Capture application.

  • How do i backup all files to disk

    How do I backup all data to disk?

    Basic Backup
    For some people Time Machine will be more than adequate. Time Machine is part of OS X. There are two components: 1. A Time Machine preferences panel as part of System Preferences; and, 2. A Time Machine application located in the Applications folder. It is used to manage backups and to restore backups. Time Machine requires a backup drive that is at least twice the capacity of the drive being backed up.
    Alternatively, get an external drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
      1. Carbon Copy Cloner
      2. Data Backup
      3. Deja Vu
      4. SuperDuper!
      5. Synk Pro
      6. Tri-Backup
    Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore.  Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
    Although you can buy a complete external drive system, you can also put one together if you are so inclined.  It's relatively easy and only requires a Phillips head screwdriver (typically.)  You can purchase hard drives separately.  This gives you an opportunity to shop for the best prices on a hard drive of your choice.  Reliable brands include Seagate, Hitachi, Western Digital, Toshiba, and Fujitsu.  You can find reviews and benchmarks on many drives at Storage Review.
    Enclosures for FireWire and USB are readily available.  You can find only FireWire enclosures, only USB enclosures, and enclosures that feature multiple ports.  I would stress getting enclosures that use the Oxford chipsets especially for Firewire drives (911, 921, 922, for example.)  You can find enclosures at places such as;
    Cool Drives
    OWC
    WiebeTech
    Firewire Direct
    California Drives
    NewEgg
    All you need do is remove a case cover, mount the hard drive in the enclosure and connect the cables, then re-attach the case cover.  Usually the only tool required is a small or medium Phillips screwdriver.

Maybe you are looking for

  • How can I add another c e All in one printeromputer with different email address to the 6830

    I purchased a new 6830 printer and attached my laptop [Toshiba] and now wish to add my wife's Macbook. She gets the nessage that it is already loaded but it will not print from the Macbook

  • The roll over feature doesn't work for customizing, is there a way I can fix this

    I always have to change my browsers theme to see what it looks like, instead of just roll over. Is there a way to fix this?

  • Apple TV to iTunes

    I used to have a few films stored on my iMac and watch them on my Apple TV fine. But recently I purchased and external hard drive and now have my whole itunes library stored on it to free up space on the Mac. But now I have added alot more films, whe

  • Package java.math does not exist!!!

    hi java experts, i really desperately need some help. ihave been trying to compile a java program i have written that imports the java.math package as i am using the BigInteger class. I am using SUN ONE STUDIO ME 4 and have j2se SDk installed. when i

  • Legacy Data Migration

    Source : SAP R/3 Target : SAP ECC Data to be moved : GL Open Items We need to migrate our Legacy data into SAP ECC. Tel me the efficient way to do data transfer. Any standard programs available for this ? Or any technique should I have to follow for