How to protect data on time machine drives??

I have am MBPro and use it in my office and at home. Since I do most of my work in the office, I have an external TM drive there on my desktop that I plugin whenever I work there.
My concern ist now that anybody could come to my office, take my external drive and it would not be protected by any password stuff or anything, would it?
So is there any way to leave this data behind in my office securily or should I get a safe to store the external drive in it?

Zac. wrote:
What I have found is that the TM backup database is only accessible to the machine that created it. The individual accounts in the TM backup, assuming you have more than one account backed up, is only accessible to that individual account. While it is not Filevault level security, unless your home folder is filevault protected, you should be okay.
HTH
zac
When I disconnect the external drive with the Time Machine backup from my MacBook and connect it to my iMac at work, I can browse the TM folder and access just about any file for any user account that is backed up. Am I really the only one where the backup is not protected?

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Unable to empty trash with data from Time Machine Drive

Hi there,
Cause of the current issue:
I am hoping the experts can help me with this one. I have an external hard drive which is used for my Time Machine Backups. Recently there has been an error on the backup to this drive on occasion. This error only occurs when the system does the back up, and appears only periodically, never when I do the back up manually. One of the threads I read to solve this issue is to delete some older backup files from your time machine drive, and all is good. This worked for awhile.... but now a new problem:
New Problem:
I have been able to empty all of the trash save one particular set of folders. So the trash always appears with content.
The structure of the trash content appears as such...
Macintosh HD
+-Users
+--<username>
+---Library
+----FK6T0KGc9y4KBB <-- This changes each time I try to empty the trash.
The library folder always has the time/date of the last time I tried to empty the trash.
What I have tried:
1. I have tried to empty the trash Securely. No good.
2. I have tried the terminal command : sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash with no success
3. I have tried this terminal command : sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/* with no success
4. I have tried just plain old Empty Trash. But I get the message "This operation cannot be completed because the item 'FK6T0KGc9y4KBB' is in use.
Any thoughts, recommendations?

Hey thanks for the help anyway VK.
I tried that command and no go either.
Last login: Fri Jul 25 08:13:39 on console
iMac:~ tmlohnes$ sudo rm -rf /Volumes/Time\ Machine\ Backups/.Trashes/501/*
Password:
rm: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Trashes/501/2008-03-28-160634/Macintosh HD/Users/tmlohnes/Library/8xMlmPGUHzilET: Directory not empty
rm: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Trashes/501/2008-03-28-160634/Macintosh HD/Users/tmlohnes/Library: Directory not empty
rm: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Trashes/501/2008-03-28-160634/Macintosh HD/Users/tmlohnes: Directory not empty
rm: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Trashes/501/2008-03-28-160634/Macintosh HD/Users: Directory not empty
rm: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Trashes/501/2008-03-28-160634/Macintosh HD: Directory not empty
rm: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/.Trashes/501/2008-03-28-160634: Directory not empty
iMac:~ tmlohnes$
I am wondering, would it make sense to try this same command if I were to do a safe boot?
What about formatting the external hard drive and starting fresh?

Replacing data on Time Machine drive to a new drive- How?

The external drive I use for Time Machine (off an IMac) has to be replaced and I want to know the best way to move the "backup" to a new drive. I'm thinking of saving the file to my desktop and then to the new drive. (La Cie is mailing a replacement under warranty.)

Do you need any of the data from prior back ups on the bad drive? If not, just start fresh with a brand new back up when you get the new drive.
You could try copying the Backups.backupdb folder from your bad drive to another external drive or your Desktop (if you have the space).

HT201250 How to encrypt data on time machine?

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Zac. wrote:
What I have found is that the TM backup database is only accessible to the machine that created it. The individual accounts in the TM backup, assuming you have more than one account backed up, is only accessible to that individual account. While it is not Filevault level security, unless your home folder is filevault protected, you should be okay.
HTH
zac
When I disconnect the external drive with the Time Machine backup from my MacBook and connect it to my iMac at work, I can browse the TM folder and access just about any file for any user account that is backed up. Am I really the only one where the backup is not protected?

Flashing folder icon -- how to retrieve data with time machine?

Hello all --
I was away from home for three months. When I returned and turned on my trusty 20" iMac running OSX 10.7.5, I got the flashing folder icon. I have tried all the recommended methods of restoring the system and nothing has worked. The processor obviously will no longer recognize the hard drive, which to me means the hard drive has either crashed or the cable connecting the two has failed. I am not as concerned with saving the unit itself, but with saving my data. I have a 128 GB flash drive configured as a Time Machine backup that the processor can "see", but I don't know how to transfer that data to another machine or an external hard drive that could be used in one of my other Macs. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Dave

You restore the TM backup to the other Mac. Connect the TM drive to the "new" Mac and open Migration Assistant (Applications - Utilities - Migration Assistant) and migrate from the TM drive. Remember this will create a new user account.

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Thanks

I would use Disk Utility to reformat the external drive.

How do i reformat a time machine drive to regular external drive

i have an external hard drive that i used for time machine. how do i reformat it so it goes back to it's original setting and i can use it for transferring and storing files?
also, is there a way i could partition an external hard drive so that maybe half is used for time machine and the other half is used for transferring files and such?

1. Format, Erase, or Reformat a drive

Not enough space on my new SSD drive to import my data from time machine backup, how can I import my latest backup minus some big files?

I just got a new 256GB SSD drive for my mac, I want to import my data from time machine backup, but its larger than 256GB since it used to be on my old optical drive. How can I import my latest backup keeping out some big files on the external drive?

Hello Salemr,
When you restore from a Time Machine back up, you can tell it to not transfer folders like Desktop, Documents. Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures and Public. Take a look at the article below for the steps to restore from your back up.
Move your data to a new Mac
http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht5872
Regards,
-Norm G.

How do I move data on time machine from one external hard drive to another

How do I move data on time machine from one external hard drive to another?

Although the documentation says you can copy Time Machine backups in the Finder, it's very slow and sometimes doesn't work at all.
Launch Disk Utility, open the built-in help, and search for the term "Duplicate." Follow the instructions. Turn Time Machine OFF in its preference pane while copying the volume.

Need to wipe hard drive to restore to previous date from time machine back up. Unclear how to do this. Please advise or provide link to this procedure on website. Thanks.

Need to wipe hard drive to restore to previous date from time machine back up. Unclear how to do this. Please advise or provide link to this procedure on website. Thanks.

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

So I have just had my potentially duff hard drive replaced and uploaded my data from time machine to discover that pages is now speaking to me in a different language. The keyboard has been selected as UK during setup. How do I get back to qwerty?

So I have just had my potentially duff 1Tb hard drive replaced by apple and uploaded my data from time machine only to discover that pages is now speaking to me in a different language. The keyboard has been selected as UK during setup. Any idea how I can get back to qwerty?

roxandiv wrote:
pages is now speaking to me in a different language.
What exactly are you referring to? Are the menus or templates for Pages in a different language? Does something strange appear on the screen when you type?
Could you perhaps use the Camera icon here to post a screenshot of what you are seeing?
To make sure you have the right keyboard, go to system preferences/language & text/input sources and make sure that only the box for US or British is checked (and that the box for French or German or anything else is not checked).

HT4527 My old mac book was backed up to a Time Machine drive. That Macbook is dead. I have a new Mac Mini. How do I get the iTunes library (not just the music files but all other data...playlists, ratings, etc) on the new Mac from my Time Machine?

My old Mac died. I had it backed up to a Time Machine external drive (fortunately). I have a new Mac. I want to get my entire iTunes library from the Time Machine drive to the new Mac. I want not only the music files but all the "library" metadata, playlists, song rankings, unique genre designations. How do I do this?

No backup is a huge mistake.
You can redownload some itunes purchases in some countries:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store ... - Apple - Support

Can I use a TIme Machine drive of my Macbook to transfer data to a new IMac

Hi everyone
I currently have a 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro as my main machine, using System 10.6.4.
I'm keen add a second computer which will allow me to run both systems at the same time.
My day job is a music producer, so I have plenty of audio programmes and plug ins, that are all intel spec and up to date, so I'm aware of tranferring new password codes etc to a new hard drive however I wondered if there were any potential issues transferring the data from my Macbook Pro and or it's Time Machine Drive to a new iMac ? I'm guessing not as they are both Intel Machines and will be running the same operating system, but any guidance to re-assure me would be greatfully received.
Many thanks in advance to any replies.
Robert

I wouldn't use Migration Assistant for anything but to transfer your Home folder assuming you wanted to operate out of the same account on both machines. That's certainly the easiest approach. It's what i do between my Mac Pro and my MBP.
But Migration Assistant is not a tool for maintaining synchronization between two computers. For that you can either have the two computers on the same local network and sync them over the network with third-party software. Or you can maintain an external "common" backup that is used to keep the two computers up to date using third-party software.
My choice is the common backup on an external hard drive. I use a notebook sized drive because it's easy to take with me when I travel. I backup the most recently changed computer to the external drive. Then connect it to the other computer and do an incremental update. This keeps both computers in sync. You just need to remember which was the most recently changed computer.
If you have a local network, then when both computers are connected to the network you can enable File Sharing on one of the computers, then sync the two with third-party software.
Backup Software Recommendations
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. Carbon Copy Cloner (Donationware)
6. SuperDuper! (Commercial)
7. Intego Personal Backup (Commercial)
8. Data Backup (Commercial)
9. SilverKeeper 2.0 (Freeware)
10. MimMac (Commercial)
11. Tri-Backup (Commercial)
Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.

Want to get SOME data from Time Machine to restore to NEW Drive.

1) System: Leopard.
2) HD configuration: 1TB Time Machine drive backs up internal 500GB AND an external 500GB (called "iMac Annex").
3) The 500GB iMac Annex died.
4) How can I get the iMac Annex Data on Time Machine to restore to a NEW external 500GB drive ("iMax Annex 2").
Migration assistant only seems to ask about the "System to Transfer," and only my internal drive shows up.
Question: Can I drag and drop the folders on Time Machine (from the latest backup set) to iMac Annex 2, then reconfigure Time Machine?

hebron,
I have done this little routine in the past, and Time Machine has carried on without the "hiccup" you seem to have had. Also, I was not asked for a destination folder.
However, Time Machine may have changed a bit in this regard in one of the intervening updates, or it could be that I named my "replacement" volume during a format, and the UNIX disk name and the OS X Finder disk name were reproduced exactly as they were prior to the erasure/replacement; in other words, our mileages may have varied.
Nevertheless, I see no real problem for you either way. I suspect that Time Machine is simply performing a "deep traversal" in preparation of a normal backup of what you have, and an entirely new backup will not be created. Let it run its course, and you tell us the outcome. Even if a new backup is made (and not just a large, but normal backup), you have all of your old files, and you have a backup of same. At some point, you can delete any old backup folders, if you end up starting a new one.
Scott

How does one SUCCESSFULLY transfer Time-Machine backup to a new (larger) hard disk drive using OSX 10.5.8

I have read a number of articles about how to transfer a complete Time-Machine backup to a new (larger) hard disk-drive. Some of these articles are specifically for OSX10.6 users, which are not applicable to me since I am operating with OSX 10.5.8.
However, I have tried several times to use the Disk Utility 'Restore' function, dragging my old time-machine volume into the 'Source:' box and my new volume into the 'Destination:' box. This works, of sorts, BUT the newly created volume on the new larger hard disk-drive remains the same size as the original volume on the old Time-Machine HDD, with no apparent way of increasing the new volume's size. So I am not really any better off:
E.g. the total capacity of my new HDD is stated by 'Disk Utility' to be 465.8 GB, of which I'm told 228.2 GB is used for the Backups.backdb folder, but only 4.6 GB of free space is actually available. Yet under the 'Partition' tab of 'Disk Utility' it tells me that there is still 236.4 GB of available space.
Does anyone know how to resolve this issue without upgrading to OSX 10.6?

First, how did you prepare your new drive? See:
Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder. If you need to reformat your startup volume, then you must boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, 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. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (for Intel Macs) or APM (for PPC Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
If you plan to partition this new drive then be sure you create a larger partition for TM than your old volume.
Next, clone your old TM volume:
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4.Check the box labeled Erase destination.
5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

How to protect data on time machine drives??

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