HT201250 What does time Machine back-up?

I would like to use Time Machine as a back-up on an external USB hard drive. However, I am not sure what it actually backs up. I want it to back up only the main Mac hard drive and not all the files and folders on the external drive which I will also use as the destination for the TimeMachine back-up. Is there a way to do this or does Time Machine only back-up the main MacHD and not connected "data" drives like the external one I will use for TimeMachine. Also, how do I make a bootable "rescue" drive or disk if my hard drive fails and I want to install a new one? Will a "rescue USB flash drive" -- bootable with the operating system (Mountain Lion) in it -- in conjunction with Time Machine on the external drive restore a new hard drive (MacHD) to what was on the old one? Finally, how does one make a rescue (bootable) USB flash drive with OSX 10.8.2 on it?
Mike

Try going system preferences>time machine.select disk>highlight the disk, click use for back up (make sure the padlock is unlocked. If this has already been done there might be a problem with the disk. Go to utililites>disk utilities highlight the disk click verify disk.

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HT201250 when does time machine back up?

I don't see an option to set when time machine backs up.

Time Machine makes hourly backups, and there's no way to change that without hacking. There's also no good reason to change it.
These statements are sheer nonsense. There are not only good reasons to change Time Machine's backup time frames (even if it's personal desire), but there are simple and effective means of doing it that do not adversely affect the system. Time Machine Editor is one of them, and has worked quite effectively for numerous people.
BTW, your link you use to support your argument was quite arguably not from the use of Time Machine Editor, as the user had numerous other and true "hacks" installed that were the root of numerous console errors and problems. I'm glad the developer chimed in and investigated, and pretty much invalidated your unfounded initial claim of "the mess he created" with his program. Libel is a pretty outrageous practice.

Exactly What Does Time Machine Back Up?

I have four mounted volumes on my desktop. One is the vanilla MacintoshHD system volume. Two are external hard drives with lots of photo image files. And one is my Time Machine destination volume.
Am I correct that Time Machine will back up all of the mounted volumes except the destination volume and any other specific exclusions that were specified in Time Machine setup?
Thanks.

It backs up everything on Mac-formatted local volumes except the backup volumes themselves and what ever else is excluded in the Time Machine preference pane. External drives (except Thunderbolt drives) are automatically added to the exclusion list, so you have to remove them if you want them to be backed up. Cache and log files are always excluded.

HT201250 Does Time Machine back up e-mails from Mail?

Does Time Machine back up e-mails from Mail?

Make Mail the foremost application and then enter Time Machine.

Does time machine back up my photostream?

Does Time Machine back up my Photostream - I'm referring
to my unshared stream - the last 1,000 pics.
What versions of Mac OS and iPhoto are required to effect
this if indeed possible>
Thanks,
Tom

no
If you have iPhoto set to automatically import your PhotoStream then after they are imported into an event TM will back them up - it does not backup your PhotoStream itself
LN

Does Time Machine back up my Bookmarks, Favourites, my tool bar etc and that sort of thing ?

I'm backing up my Macbook Pro on Time Machine prior to installing Snow Leopard. Does Time Machine back up things like my internet bookmarks, as well as my Toolbar ones? If not, what should I do?

It backs up everything. If you were to use it with Migration Assistant after a clean install, it should bring everything back. If you have an external drive though, a clone of the existing drive before a major upgrade is always a good idea. That way you could easily go back to exactly what you have now if you had a problem. Carbon Copy Cloner is the best solution for that.

Does Time Machine backs up also the format of the volume?

Since many softwares cannot be installed on case-sensitive volume, so I erased the whole volume and install OS X Mountain Lion with format of OS Extended(Journaled). Then I use Time Machine backing up to the new system.
But now when I'm trying to install Adobe softwares, here's what I see.
still, It hints that this is a case-senstive volume.
Then I go to check the Disk Utility:
Very weired! It shows as "Mac OS Extended(Journaled) in the Drop-down list, but "case-senstive, journaled) in the discription in bottom.
Anyone has some clues of this??
Thanks.

As well as doing backups and other things, you can use Disk Utility to create RAID volume sets.
Returning to the image you posted, RAID is selected at (1) and so it thinks you are about to create a RAID volume. The format for the new volume would be as shown at (2). On the other hand, the volume at (3) is selected and it is that volume's format which is shown at (4).
I don't think you wanted to create a RAID set; maybe Disk Utility got a click you didn't intend for it. RAID is explained a bit in the Disk Utility help.
I have found a lot of good information about Time Machine at this site:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
To go back to your original question:
> Does Time Machine backs up also the format of the volume?
My guess would be "No"; but see pondini.org for a definitive answer.

How far back does Time Machine back up?

How far back does Time Machine back up? Thanks.

Thanks Kappy and Tech Guy. I'll try and digest that info--it may take awhile!
Just for info, I am using a Lacie d2 500 GB, presently it has used 263 of the 500.
It is presently backed up until January 2010 which must be the date I hooked into Time Machine. I have a 1TB iOmega which I am thinking of using for the back up drive but feel the Lacie may be the better of the two so may leave it on.
Thanks again. Cheers.

Does time machine back up second drives

I have a second drive installed in my MacBook Pro for document storage, etc. I replaced my optical drive with a second drive. Does Time Machine back up the second drive as well?

Open the Time Machine pane of System Preferences and verify that the drive isn't excluded. Drives in some formats, such as FAT32, can't be backed up by Time Machine.
(74490)

Does time machine back up purchased iTunes items?

I just started to use a Mac and time machine. Does Time Machine back up even purchased items, or do I need to burn those to disk?
Thanks,
Dan

My Time Machine backs them up, and when i bought my new iMac, I just migrated everything from the Time Machine backup and all was there.

Does Time Machine back up other users?

My wife and I share the same computer. We each have our own user accounts. Does Time Machine back up both accounts? It appears that the amount of disk space used on the computer is about equal to the amount on the external hard drive that I use for backup. So I am assuming that both users are backed up in case of a crash. I hope this is the case! Sorry that this is slightly off topic.
Lou

Yes Time Machine backs up your entire hard drive.

Does Time Machine back up iPhoto pix?

Does Time Machine back up the contents of iPhoto? If so, how do I access it?
Thanks.

1. Yes, unless it was told not to; if the library is on an external drive, that drive needs to have been removed from the exclusion list.
2. Restore the library, and then open it in iPhoto.
(120661)

Does time machine back up my applications

does time machine back up my applications and passwords?

Time Machine makes a backup of everything stored on the OS X partition, so the applications and passwords will be backed up unless you have them in another partition. If you want more information about Time Machine, see > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

HT201250 How does Time Machine allocate backup data.

I have over 150GB to back up with time machine and only 256GB HD to use, does Time Machine back up all files each time or only files updated after the last backup?

Time Machine first makes a full backup, and then, it makes incremental backups backing up only the files that have changed since the last backup. When the Time Machine drive gets full, Time Machine will start deleting old backups in order to be able to make new backups. If you want more information about Time Machine, see > http://pondini.org

I have just started using Time Machine. I was thinking about deleting old E-Mails on my Mac to clean. Does Time Machine back up the E-Mails , if so how can I find them in Time Machine ??

I have just started using Time Machine. I was thinking about deleting old E-Mails on my Mac to clean. Does Time Machine back up the E-Mails , if so how can I find them in Time Machine ??

If you back up your mac before deleting your emails, Time Machine should back up your e-mails.
I never tried this so i'm not sure to find them in Time Machine. To browse in your backups simply click the Time Machine icon in your dock. In the right bar, you can select an backup. Than you can browse in finder, in your backkup.
EDIT: Just browsed and CT above was right. This topic might help you:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/20154303#20154303

HT201250 What does time Machine back-up?

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