How to start over with Time Machine (because drive is running out of space)

I have a 500 gig drive attached to my iMac. Time Machine's been running for ages. TM has finally depleted the drive of most space. Should I throw out some of the older folders in the backup folder for TM, or chuck the entire folder and restart TM fresh. (Nothing terribly crucial to save recently.)
Thanks.

Unfotunately my time machine backup gets to near the end and says "there is not enough space to do this backup" Neither excluding files nor waiting for it to kick out old files seems to solve the problem. I am stuck it would seem unless I erase the whole backup and start over. I didn't think I would have to do this.

Similar Messages

  • Starting over with Time machine - as I have been doing it incorrectly

    Hello all,
    Got some great advice from other posts in this discussion, but I want to clarify a few things.
    I started using Time Machine without really setting anything up, and have quickly gotten to about 128 gigs of backup (in a little over a week). I want to start again, and exclude some files (libraries, caches, mailboxes, applications) to see if I can get a more manageable back-up size. I am using the same external drive for back-up that I use to store Final Cut media, so I don't want Time Machine to fill it up. Although perhaps I don't want to use the same drive for media and back-ups...
    Is there a way to limit the amount of space on a given disk that Time Machine can use? Perhaps by partitioning my external disk? (500gb WDMybook)
    And, at this point can I simply delete all of the back-up folders that Time Machine has created, and start fresh (with my new exclusionary settings)? I have 98% of the data backed up to other sources.
    Which brings me to my last question: If I regularly back up my home folder manually, and back my personal data & settings, my iLife & iTunes via Backup, do I really gain that much from using Time Machine? Don't get me wrong - it's elegant, and much easier than manually hunting down lost info, but I've lived without it for 20 odd years of computering...Opinions, anyone?
    And does the list of exclusions below look like I'm missing anything important? I've gleaned these ideas from various posts; thought we'd all benefit from a little recap. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. Please, weigh in, all of you macsperts..
    Thanks to all in advance,
    D
    List of things to exclude:
    Applications
    Movies (I back all of these up manually)
    Pictures (I back all of these up manually)
    Desktop (nothing lives on my desktop)
    Libraries:
    iPhoto Library
    Aperture Library
    I keep my entourage and Mail pretty well cleaned out. Not sure how to exclude spam folders, but I think I saw it in one of these posts.
    I'm also not clear on where exactly my safari and firefox caches are, but I'll keep looking.

    As a part reply, remember that Time Machine performs incremental backups so the only things really worth excluding are areas where large amounts of data change on a regular basis. Also, Time Machine culls its hourly backups down to, eventually, one per week and so files which were present for a short period only then deleted tend to drop out of the backup database over time. While there are some programs and activities which create large amounts of backup data, in general there is little reason to go to great lengths to exclude things, just make sure you've got a big enough backup drive to start with (at least double the amount of data you are backing up). If you have a problem with backup size it's either because Time Machine isn't working properly or, more likely, you have a particular program or activity that is creating huge backup overhead. Better to forensically track that down and exclude it.
    In response to particular questions: you can certainly partition the backup drive to reserve part of it for other things and, if you have adequate other backup, the only reasons to use Time Machine would be the ease of finding individual files for recovery and the ability to recover things you recently deleted, maybe before your other backup strategy had saved them.

  • Starting Over With Time Machine

    My old backup disk died so I replaced it with a new 2 TB disk. Changed TM preferences to use the new drive. Backup starts, takes about 2 seconds and quits. Looks like Time Machine thinks I have a full backup but I don't. I tried reformatting the new drive, changed the name of the drive. Tried deleting all backups from within Time Machine. What do I need to do to force Time Machine to take the initial full backup of my startup disk?

    How is that new external drive formatted, both regarding "partition map scheme" and format type?
    Launch the Console utility and enter "backupd" (without the quotes) in the search field to see if there are any error messages that might explain the problem.
    You might find useful advice in the Time Machine FAQ documents, particularly item 5.

  • I just fix my macbook air because it was kernel panic. They changed the hard drive. I could not back up with Time Machine, because it did not work and I had over Adobe creative suite 5 design premium student. But I finished my studies last year and I'd li

    I just fix my macbook air because it was kernel panic. They changed the hard drive. I could not back up with Time Machine, because it did not work and I had over Adobe creative suite 5 design premium student. But I finished my studies last year and I'd like to know how to get the serial number for me to reinstall Adobe creative suite 5 design premium when I am no longer study because I would still like the used? It is not fair if I do anymore because I really need.

    You can download Creative Suite 5 here:
    Other downloads
    To deal with the issue of the serial number and using it again, you'll have to use Web Chat. Here's a link:
    Adobe ID, sign in, and account help
    See the bottom of the page for a link

  • Steps to start over with time capsule?

    i need to start over with time capsule, completely.  what are the steps necessary to do this?
    erase the TC (I can see how to do that)
    remove from Time Machine list (i can see how to do that, too).
    reset to factory defaults?  would that clear name and password.  do they get reset to something?
    is this step necessary.
    what else is needed?

    On an iPad or iPhone.....
    Tap Settings on the home screen
    Tap WiFi
    Under the heading of Setup a new AirPort Base Station, Tap Time Capsule
    The setup wizard will guide you through
    On a Mac running Lion, Mountain Lion or Mavericks
    Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
    Click Other WiFi Devices
    Click Time Caspule
    The setup wizard will guide you through

  • TS3423 Mac book pro stops responding after Maverick OS restart. Currently have a circle with a line through it after 20+ hours. Tried to shut it down and use the Time Machine to restore but no response. How can I restore with Time Machine if it will not s

    Mac book pro stops responding after Maverick OS restart. Currently have a circle with a line through it after 20+ hours. Tried to shut it down and use the Time Machine to restore but no response. How can I restore with Time Machine if it will not start?

    sonjadg,
    you can purchase a replacement pair of grey installation DVDs for your MacBook Pro from either Apple or iFixit. If Startup Manager is only showing an OS X Installer volume, then it sounds like the Mavericks installer had a problem midway through its installation process. To fix this, you’re going to need to erase your internal disk and reïnstall your original version of OS X from the grey Mac OS X Install DVD, use Software Update  to get it back to 10.6.8 (presuming that your MacBook Pro originally came with Snow Leopard), and then restore from Time Machine.

  • I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things

    I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things.  And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad.  Here's the info on my IMac:
    Model Name:          iMac
      Model Identifier:          iMac6,1
      Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
      Processor Speed:          2.16 GHz
      Number Of Processors:          1
      Total Number Of Cores:          2
      L2 Cache:          4 MB
      Memory:          3 GB
      Bus Speed:          667 MHz
      Boot ROM Version:          IM61.0093.B07
      SMC Version (system):          1.10f2

    I need to erase my hard drive and start anew
    Why do you feel you need to do this? That is such a 'Windows thing' to do!
    And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad
    Very rarely, but nothing in life is guaranteed (except death and taxes)! If you purchased RAM from a reputable source like Crucial or OWC it will carry a lifetime warranty.

  • Time Machine:The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly. .....

    Hi,
    I upgraded to Mountain Lion when it was released and yesterday I began getting this notice from Time Machine:
    "The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly. Time Machine will try to make more space available by removing expired backups during the next scheduled backup."
    I have a one terra external hard drive with exclusively Time Machine.  It says it has 3.4 gigabytes available, but isn't deleting old backups and making room for new, like before.  I tried the "encrypting" solution, but it still keeps on giving me this message.  Should I erase and format?  If so, what option should I chose to format?
    My Hard Drive has 240 gigabytes, so 1Tb should be more than enough.
    Thank you!
    Gloria

    SuperDuper and Time Machine are two completely different backup utilities. If you want something like what SuperDuper does then don't use Time Machine. You have many other options that won't use up all the space on your backup drive:
    Backup Software Recommendations
    Carbon Copy Cloner
    Data Backup
    Deja Vu
    SuperDuper!
    Synk Pro
    Tri-Backup
    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.
    Do the following to erase your drive:
    Erase a Drive
    1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. After DU loads select your 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.

  • I keep on getting this error when i try to copy files to my 2T Time Capsule, Please help im running out of space on my MacBook Pro.... The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50)

    I keep on getting this error when i try to copy files to my 2T Time Capsule, Please help im running out of space on my MacBook Pro....
    The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50)

    I would get an external drive today and copy all your stuff off the TC.. forget trying to load more onto it. There is a good chance after 3years (A 2TB should be only about 2years tops), the disk or the TC itself is on the way out. Do it immediately. If TM is also failing to backup you need to recognise symtoms of impending doom.
    Unfortunately the error messages are archane and it is hard to discover their meaning.
    You also cannot verify a network drive.. you can verify the TM sparsebundle though so do that.
    A5. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    Reboot the whole network from off.. certainly if you run later OS it can simply lose the drive..
    If you still fail to be able to copy to the TC.. then get that external and copy off it. Tell us if you can do that.

  • How to start over with a backup hardrive

    I have a backup hardrive that i set up with time machine. now I need to use it on another computer. How do I clear the old drive out and start over?

    Drive Preparation
    1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. After DU loads select your old Time Machine 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.

  • My Ical events disappeared how do I restore with time machine/mountain lion?

    I recently installed mountain lion.    Today my ICal events disappeared and I can't restore them with time machine.   What happened?   How do I fix it?

    Did you try rebuilding the library's database file as follows:  make a temporary, backup copy of your library if you don't already have one (Control-click on the library and select Duplicate from the contextual menu) and  apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
    Fix #1
    Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
    Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.
    Fix #2
    Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
    1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
    4 - In the next  window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
    5 - Click on the Create button.
    Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments.  However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

  • Time Machine problem: backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly

    Hi all,
    I'm having trouble with Time Machine.  Each time it tries to do a backup, it errors out.
    Here is the most recent log from TM Buddy:
    Starting manual backup
    Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb
    Using file event preflight for Macintosh HD
    Will copy (740.5 MB) from Macintosh HD
    Found 1702 files (741 MB) needing backup
    2.43 GB required (including padding), 57.43 GB available
    Stopping backup.
    Error: (-34) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/Alan/Pictures/iPhoto Library (original)/Masters/2013/02/25/20130225-174952/IMG_1601.MOV to /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb/Alan’s iMac/2013-07-27-024450.inProgress/FE0FAB85-8482-43AF-B2D2-CB4804D0B0E9/Macintos h HD/Users/Alan/Pictures/iPhoto Library (original)/Masters/2013/02/25/20130225-174952
    Copied 111323 files (57.29 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
    Copy stage failed with error:28
    Backup failed with error: 28
    It usually errors out in the middle of trying to backup the very large "iPhoto Library (original)" file, so I went digging into this file back in time.  About a month ago, I emptied the trash in iPhoto for the first time, and the size of the iPhoto Library file shrank from 87 GB down to just 1 GB.  That seems rather extreme, and according to iPhoto, I still should have approximately 62 GB of photos remaining.  The last completed backup that Time Machine was able to make had the library file at 800 MB.  Even more strange, the current iPhoto Library file on my iMac is 83 GB.  So I think this is the reason why TM is trying to make another complete backup of this file.
    I'm guessing that if TM is able to completely backup the iPhoto Library file, the errors will go away.  Does this seem like a reasonable hypothesis?
    If so, then I'll need to delete files on the TM volume to make more room.  At one point last year, I had tried splitting my monolithic iPhoto Library into 3 smaller libraries, and later merged them again under the current name "iPhoto Library (original)".  These changes/instances of the libraries were all captured on TM.  If I delete the original monolithic iPhoto Library file (named "iPhoto Library") on the TM volume, will I also lose my current iPhoto library (named "iPhoto Library (original)"?  In other words, how does TM distinguish one file from another?  By the file name?  Or some other more permanent identifier?

    The backup volume was full. That shouldn't happen, because TM is supposed to manage disk space by deleting snapshots as needed to make room for a new one, up to the last complete snapshot, which is never removed automatically. Normally, a snapshot won't be started if there isn't enough space for it.
    First, I strongly suggest that you make a new backup (not necessarily with Time Machine) on another external drive. A single backup isn't enough to be safe.
    One possibility is that you were writing other data to the volume during the backup. Apple recommends that no other data be stored on a backup volume.
    If you've moved any files to the Trash on the backup volume, empty the Trash.
    Sometimes a reboot will clear the error.
    Otherwise, turn Time Machine OFF temporarily in its preference pane. Launch Disk Utility, select the backup volume, and run Repair Disk. That operation may take a few hours. If the volume is repaired successfully, or if no problems are found, try another backup.
    If TM still isn't working right, boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) and repair the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Reboot as usual and try TM again.
    As a last resort, put the backup drive aside and don't use it until you're sure you'll no longer need the data. Then erase it and start over. Do this only if you have at least one other backup device.

  • When you upgrade from Lion to ML, do you need to erase your external backup drive and start over in Time Machine, or does it just automatically pick up from where it stopped with Lion?

    This is a 500 GB G-Drive mobile external hard drive that I've been using since I got my MacBook Pro in '09. So I've had it from Leopard through Lion. Should I have been erasing it each time a new operating system comes out and starting over?

    No - just continue to use Time Machine as you have always been.
    Not only is erasing it unnecessary, doing that would eliminate the only practicable way of undoing an OS X upgrade.

  • How does airplay interact with Time Machine?

    I just purchased a MacBook Pro, but the 256GB of flash storage is not going to be enough for my projects and media.  My iTunes library has become pretty extensive, so I'm wondering if I'll be able to stream to my TV the content in my iTunes using Time Machine in combination with Apple TV?  Anyone have this set up?

    Time Machine is software that backs up the contents of your Mac.  You will not be able to use those backups for everyday use to stream media over your network.
    Suggest that you add another external hard drive and move your iTunes library to that drive.
    Then Time Machine will backup both your Mac and the contents of the external drive. So, you have "originals" on one drive and "backups" on another. If one drive fails, then you at least have a copy on the other drive.

  • How to restore ical with time machine

    I have (some how) lost all of my appointments in my "Work Calendar" within iCal except for one entry (which is strangs).
    I have been trying to restore from Time Machine, but, the user interface for iCal through Time Machine is "not easy" to figure out or to use.
    I am unable to open the iCal folder as I can do with other ones to restore the data.
    How can I do this - I have never been able to do this restore in iCal & Contacts.
    Please can any one help me?

    Frank Lowney1 wrote:
    Another factor that may be relevant is that I seen iCal appear and disappear from the MobileMe list of things to synch.  It's out of view 99% of the time.
    If you are talking about something you see in System Preferences>MobileMe then it's not relevant - iCal does not in fact sync, it reads the calendars directly from the server (though there is by default a cached local copy) and as I said the settings in that prefs pane are nothing to do with iCal any more.
    iCal is controlled in System Preferences>Mail, Contacts& Calendars and you should check that your MobileMe login details are correctly entered there - please see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4758
    As to the process I detailed, in the first set of numbered instructions, please make sure that when you have exported your MobileMe calendars you import them back into a calendar listed under 'On My Mac' - these cannot be deleted by MobileMe and from your description it sounds as if you may not have done this. Given your problems, I would suggest choosing new name sfor the calendars, at least temporarily.
    Then when you reconnect to the internet it should not be possible for MobileMe to delete the calendars and you can proceed with the next steps.

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