HT201250 If time machine backups hourly. Why does it need to backup daily, weekly and monthly

If time machine backups hourly. Then why does it need to backup daily, seekly, and monthly?

It doesn't.
What it does is discard intermediate backups at the end of 24 hrs and keep just three spaced backups from the previous day.
At the end of the next day, that day's will be reduced to 3, and the previous 3 trimmed to one; the last backup of that day.
Daily backups are kept for a month, then trimmed to the last backup of the week.
The weekly backups are kept until the disc runs out of space and TM starts deleting the oldest ones.

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My Final Cut Projects folder were missing some files, I went to my time machine backup to restore and it said I don't have permission to access the time machine folder "Final Cut Projects". Why?

My Final Cut Projects folder were missing some files, I went to my time machine backup to restore and it said I don't have permission to access the time machine folder "Final Cut Projects". Why?

Yes, I've done all "the ususal suspects.." repaired permissions, zapped pram, "reintroduced Time Machine to the backup drive by turning it off and on... etc

I have a Seagate Freeagent 1TB external drive that ejects it's self in the middle of the time machine backup, then disappears and can't be found unless I turn it off and back on again

I have a Seagate Freeagent 1TB external drive that ejects it's self in the middle of the time machine backup, then disappears and can't be found unless I turn it off and back on again. Any ideas?

Hmmm.. sorry to jump in but...
I Wish I had seen this before I got mine.
Mine has been doing this auto eject stuff too.
I think I just plugged it in and TM let me select it but is it possible
I should have reformatted it with DU first, like with all the WD drive problems ?
Is it too late for that ?
Or just try to return it or get rid of it ?
TIA

Can't access Time Machine backups after erase and install

Had iMac checked by Apple Authorized Service Provider after experiencing multiple problems I couldn't fix. No hardware problem. He did an erase and install of 10.5.8. The machine accesses my Time Machine backup, but in Time Machine/ iMacHome/ Sharing & Permissions says, "You can only read." If I access a folder in Home, like Desktop or Documents, it says,"You have no access." Permissions are locked and grayed out.
I spent over two hours on the phone with tech support last evening, and he finally said he'd have to turn it over to Apple engineers, which would take a few days.
Migration assistant only allows "all or nothing" migration, and I need to select just certain folders; I do not want to restore anything that might be corrupted.
Is it possible I could have an undetected hardware problem? Has anyone else done an erase and install and been able to use Time Machine backups to pick and choose what they wanted to restore?

Thank you for your reply. The apple support tech should have known this, but he didn't. However, in the course of our two hour discussion he said "Maybe it's because the computer name is different." I hadn't reached the new-set-up stage where I had changed the name of the computer from Apple's default, so I did that. My short name home folder I had already named the same as before, iMacHome.
But changing the computer name didn't help. After reading your reply, I unlocked the preferences (which were locked and grayed out in TM) to my home folder in the finder and assigned read and write to all folders within for everyone. Back in TM, preferences were no longer grayed out, but changing privileges was. I added iMacHome to the names in addition to staff read & write and everyone read and write. But ImacHome(Me) allows read only, options gray, and even though everyone is read and write, it says "You can only read" and I still cannot access Desktop, Documents, etc...
Fortunately I have a SuperDuper user file backup that I am restoring from, so all is not lost. But it seems to me TM backups should be readily available, and I want to solve this problem. I may still want to go back to a previous month to recover something. But mostly I'd just like to know that TM is a functional backup. It certainly isn't in my case right now.
Don't want to migrate the entire home folder. Too risky. Risky enough to bring over Mail and selected Application Support folders and keychains.
Thanks again. I think your answer is right on, but there must still be something else. I know I have those names correct because I see the old computer name on the sparse bundle, and the old home name in the TM backups. (Haven't read the tips yet. Will do so.)

I have my Time Machine on an external drive (not connected to Airport Extreme) and I have an external HD attached to airport extreme. Is it possible to have Time Machine backUp computer HD AND external HD connected to Airport Extreme. How?

I have my Time Machine on an external drive (not connected to Airport Extreme) and I have an external HD attached to airport extreme. Is it possible to have Time Machine backUp computer HD AND external HD connected to Airport Extreme. How?

Is it possible to have Time Machine backUp computer HD AND external HD connected to Airport Extreme.
Sorry, but no.
Time Machine will backup your Mac, but not the hard drive attached to the AirPort Extreme.
Time Machine will back up a hard drive only if it is attached directly to your Mac via USB or FireWire.

HT201250 Can Time Machine backup files stored on external hard drive

Can Time Machine back up files that are stored on external hard drive and save them on a different external hard drive?
I have my pictures stored on an external hard drive connected to my iMac. I want to make an exact copy of the pictures folder on a separate external hard drive. Can Time Machine do that?
If yes, how?
If no, what's a good way to create a mirror of the folder on External Hard Drive #1 (the original) on External Hard Drive #2 (the backup)?
I am not opposed to manually copying every couple weeks or month, but (1) it's less convenient and (2) I got an error message the first time I tried this saying the files couldn't be copied because some of the files being copied had the same name as each other (not exactly that, I'm at work and don't have the message in front of me right now, but that was the gist of it).
Thanks!

1. Yes, if both drives are formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
2. Reformat the drives if needed, open the Time Machine pane of System Preferences, and remove the drive with the pictures from the list of items set to be excluded.
(110331)

HT201250 Accessing Time Machine backups from other machines

I am using Time Machine to back up my iMac to Time capsule. The iMac will then be going to work with my husband and we would like to access the music and picture files with our two MBPs. Is this possible? I would be happy to only back up the iPhoto and iTunes libraries but that doesn't seem to work. Any advice on that?

It would be extremely inconvenient. You can Browse Other Time Machine backups, find the photos or music files on the backup, then restore them to your MBPs. Not very easy or convenient.
It would be better to transfer both Libraries to an external drive connected to the network, then set those up as your Music and Photo Libraries. Some network drives also offer iTunes and iPhoto sharing such that you can put the libraries on that network drive and access them from your MBPs. They will be shared out just like they were from the iMac.

HT201250 existing Time Machine backups to a new Mac

how do i migrate existing time machine backups to a new mac from my time capsule?

It took a little more research, but that link in the end solved my problem. After mounting the Time Capsule and the previous backup sparsebundle, I ran these commands to inherit the old backup (with <capsule> and <machine> representing the names of the Time Capsule and machine/hard drive respectively:
          sudo tmutil inheritbackup /Volumes/<capsule>/<machine>.sparsebundle
          sudo tmutil associatedisk -a / /Volumes/Time\ Machine\ Backups/Backups.backupdb/<machine>/2012-12-09-114511/<machine>
          sudo tmutil setdestination /Volumes/<capsule>/
"2012-12-09-114511" was the latest snapshot that was there. According to the documentation, you can pick any snapshot, since the "-a" in that command will update all of the associated snapshots.

HT201250 erase time machine backup and start with a new Mac from scratch

see title

Is this a case where you are getting a new Mac and will then transfer data from your old Mac's Time Machine backup with Setup Assistant (which is the ideal way)?
See here.

HT201250 Will Time Machine backup the files on my desktop?

Will Time Machine backup the files on my desktop? Backup files anywhere on my computer even if they're not neatly in the document folders?

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3107
Most commonly used backup methods explained

Time Machine backup? pictures and external hard drive

I know this question has been asked before but I just wanted to make sure of something. Does a basic Time Machine backup backup all photos? And also a real basic question-- Is a Apple Time Capsule the same as a external hard drive?

You can save the pictures in Time Machine backup.. that is not a problem and what the TC is designed for.
You cannot off load the pictures from the internal disk of the computer and use the Time Capsule as the drive for a running library.. that is when it will get corrupted.. if you need more space for a library use External drive that plugs in by USB or FW or Thunderbolt. And it must be formatted standard Mac OS extend journaled.. then Time Machine can backup the drive to the Time Capsule.
I should also use the language more carefully.. the TC is fine for files even of pictures.. but it is unsuitable for an iphoto library or aperture library. I am always assuming on a Mac when people talk about pictures then they mean a library.. but if you save raw pictures from the camera onto a TC directly that is fine. The only issue that then arises is no automated backups.. TC is not a NAS in the normal sense of the word.. Every NAS has a built automated backup.. TC does not. You also cannot backup files on the TC using TM.. it was designed as a Target for Time Machine backups Not as a source. There are other backup products that will work.. but then you will need to figure out where to back up file to.. and the worst possible place is the USB on the TC.

Time Machine - backup System Drive and External Drive to 2 partitions? Help

Hi all, I'm a bit confused with Time Machine. Here's the situation:
I have my internal system drive (500GB) and an external FW drive (500GB). I have a backup drive (1TB). I would like to partition my backup drive and have Time Machine backup my system drive to partition 1, my external drive to partition 2. The Time Machine interface does not make it obvious how to do this. Is it possible? How?
Thanks!
js

js,
No, Time Machine will not do this. While it can back up both volumes, it will do so by creating two folders within the "Backups.backupdb" folder, each named for one of the volumes being backed up. In other words, it backs up both volumes to the single volume.
You'll need to carefully consider whether or not it makes sense to use it with both. Obviously, the backup drive (1 TB) will need to have just one partition to contain everything. Additionally, Time Machine really needs at least twice the amount of space required for the initial backup. Closer to 3X, if it can be managed. This is to insure that it will always have enough room to "do its thing" with subsequent backups. In order to evaluate this, you'll need to add the amount of data being stored on both source volumes, then estimate how much that data might change and/or grow over time. I would recommend strongly against using Time Machine to backup both volumes if you think the total might ever exceed 500 GBs (that is, the total used on the two source volumes). Even if you think it might come close, this would tend to recommend against using Time Machine.
If you really have the kind of data that fills up 2 500 GB drives, especially if one of those is your boot drive, you should seriously consider some hefty file management. This doesn't rule out Time Machine; quite the contrary. However, you'll need to separate your data into "live" data, and that which can be "archived." Your installation of OS X, all your applications, and your day-to-day "user files" would obviously be considered "live." To this total, you would add any files on which you might be working, in various "projects."
Anything and everything else is a strong candidate for "archival." These files would be best stored separately, where their need for constantly updated redundancy is eliminated. If they can be archived to DVDs, all the better (I would want to do this in addition to storing them on a relatively static and rarely used external drive).
If you adopt such a routine, you should realistically be able to whittle down your boot volume to no more than 100 GBs. Perhaps a little more if you are using Pro apps such as the CS suite, FCP, etc., along with their attendant template libraries.
Under such a scenario, Time Machine would work very well in backing up your boot volume and any external drive you would use for additional "live" project files. Everything else could be stored on an external drive that you would use only when you need access to the old archived data, and it could be made redundant by you, manually, as and when you see fit. Since this data would be and remain "static" in nature, it would not need regular and recurrent backup.
Scott
For example,

Time machine backup files gone and can't create new backup

Last week I noticed on my Time Machine backup HD that the Backup.backupdb files were gone. Also I am unable to complete backups any longer. I get an error "The backup disk image “/Volumes/Time Machine-2/walle.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error -1)."
This Volume "Time Machine" is connected to an Airport Extreme 7.6.1. I have ejected the disk, disconnected all users, cycled the power on my computer (2.26Ghx MacBook running 10.7.5), Airport, and HD. All it does after I eject is that it give the Volume a new number...ie instead of "Time Machine" it becomes "Time Machine-1"...then "Time Machine-2" and repeates the error message with the new name. So I cannot start a new backup because of the above error on top of not being able to find my old files.
Thanks for the help

Hmmm.. sorry to jump in but...
I Wish I had seen this before I got mine.
Mine has been doing this auto eject stuff too.
I think I just plugged it in and TM let me select it but is it possible
I should have reformatted it with DU first, like with all the WD drive problems ?
Is it too late for that ?
Or just try to return it or get rid of it ?
TIA

Time Machine backup file corrupted and locked

This morning when I switch on my Mac there was a dialogue box telling me that my Time Machine backup file was corrupted and that Time Machine would have to create a new backup file.
I am backing up my Macs to a disk connected to my Airport Extreme. It's been working for months without any problems. Other than this morning. Time Machine buddy had the following message:
+Starting standard backup+
+Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
+Mounted network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
+QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM DIRTY+
+Runtime corruption detected on /Volumes/MyBookHome/iMac27.sparsebundle (fsck_hfs -q termination status: 3)+
+Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
+Mounted network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
+Backup verification failed for image /Volumes/MyBookHome-2/iMac27.sparsebundle!+
+Moved previous backup image to /Volumes/MyBookHome-2/iMac27_2010-11-01-032949.sparsebundle+
+Recovery backup declined by user.+
+Backup canceled.+
+Ejected Time Machine network volume.+
Has anybody seen something like this before?
I now have a locked and renamed sparsebundle on my disk and backups are not working anymore.

aschmid wrote:
Yes you are right, I know it isn't supported - as so many other things but they work!
This one is notorious for working for a while, then . . . not.
In addition to the problems above I got a pop-up from Time Machine saying the backup file is broken and it needs to create a new one. I told it to go ahead and what happened is that it actually proceeded to DELETE the old backup file before creating a new one - there goes my several months of backup history!
Yes, just as it says in the message. See #C13 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
All I can say do now is connect my drive directly to my iMac and figure out a way how I can backup my other iMac and the MacBook I have. On the AE this just worked remotely.
Yeah. Until it didn't.
Really not much options here to backup a home with 3 Macs!?!
Sure there is. Back the others up to the same drive, over your network, via sharing. See #22 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum), for details and setup instructions.

Where is time machine backup of applications and library?

I have had regular time machine backups of my system for the past year. I have recently wiped my system and have done a fresh reinstall of OSX 10.8.
I now need to restore some applications and application settings but the Macintosh HD/Applications and Macintosh HD/Library only appear in the very first backup from a year ago. No other backup contains anything except for the "user" and "shared" folders.
Nothing on the iMac internal disk was excluded from Time Machine. Username and password are the same in the new install.
All my hair has fallen out and I am rolling around on the floor in agony.
Any ideas?

It's possible for those folders to be excluded without anything showing in the Time Machine preference pane.
Triple-click the line below to select it:
defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine SkipSystemFiles
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C).
Launch the Terminal 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 Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste (command-V) into the Terminal window. Post the line(s) of output that appear below what you entered.

HT201250 If time machine backups hourly. Why does it need to backup daily, weekly and monthly

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