HT3275 How do you Format the external hard drive been used for time machine?

Error reads "Not enough space on the external hard drive" How do i format the memory and start again?
Thanks Geremy

ON an external hard drive.. that is easy.. just open disk utility and reformat it. Make sure you use Mac Extended Journeled. (HFS+)

Similar Messages

  • My external hard drive I use for time machine failed.

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    Instead of using Terminal, try to reset Time Machine to default settings, following these steps > http://pondini.org/TM/A4.html You won't lose anything

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    Welcome to Apple Support Communities
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  • Which format for external hard drive to use with time machine backup and connect to windows laptop?

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    ok - I understand.  I have managed so far to format the drive (on windows) to exFAT file system - which apparently works with both Windows and Mac - but you're  correct - it will not be included in time machine backup as I have checked the back up files and Samsung is not showing.  Reckon I'm onto having to buy yet another portable hard drive just for windows - or of course buy myself a new mac book!!  Can I ask you please - does the drive have to be clear of everything before I change the format - or can I change it with the files still in there?  Also, got any quick ways duplicating the files onto another External Hard drive (for use on the windows laptop)  At the moment the files are taking 2/3 hours + to copy over!  Thank you! 

  • Cannot install Yosemite as hard drive is used for Time Machine Backup, How Do I Change This?

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  • Lion Installer thinks that my internal boot hard drive "is used for time machine backups"

    I recently installed a new hard drive on my MBP. It's been running fine, but now I'm running into trouble when I tried to install Lion!
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    Alexander Chan1 wrote:
    No, I do not use my internal drive as a Time Machine. But somehow, even after I've disabled Time Machine, it keeps thinking I do!
    At some point, probably accidentally, your internal HD was selected as a destination for Time Machine.   Even if that was immediately changed, it had already created a Backups.backupdb folder at the top level of the drive.
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  • External hard drive to use with Time Machine? Thoughts?  Mac newbie.

    Hello. Switched to an imac and have loved the experience. Was just about to buy an external hard drive when apple announced the time capsule. I've been holding off thinking I would purchase one but now I'm re-thinking it.
    Between music, videos and pictures, I currently have about 400gb of stuff (and it will grow). My main concern is backing up (archiving) a copy of these files. Backing up other system files is a second concern after that.
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    Will that work? Other recommendations?
    If so, any recommendations on a quiet, reasonably sized (i.e. doesn't take up the entire corner of the desk), 1tb external hard drive?
    Thanks.

    Clayton, if you're only backing up one Mac, then you can purchase any good, reputable 750 GB or 1 TB external drive.
    Considerations:
    1) Reliability is key here. You want a drive that works. Various people have complained about Western Digital (me included), so take that into consideration.
    2) Quiet is important. You have a quiet computer -- why louse up the working environment with a noisy drive?
    3) FW (Firewire) 800 is faster than FW400, which is faster than USB. But once you get the initial backup done, it really doesn't matter how fast the drive is, because it works in the background and doesn't hamper your work. And if you DO need to restore your entire computer via Time Machine (I've done it), speed is less important than reliability. Even if it takes 3 hours, you'll be grateful. So while some may counsel you to get a 'fast' drive, reliability is more important.
    4) On FW versus USB, you'll hear many claims. Again the key is reliability versus speed. A good USB drive is fine for what you are doing; FW is faster. Some folks have had problems with one or the other, so hear what they have to say.
    5) Every drive dies. That's true for any electromechanical device. Don't think you've solved your backup problems by plugging in a drive and walking away. Your most critical files need a second backup, be it to a DVD, CD, thumb drive, network drive -- something. The more critical it is, the more backups you need. If you're writing your Ph.D. thesis, by definition you can't have too many backups
    6) Convenience matters. You can 'roll your own' drive if you have experience -- buy a case, buy a drive, assemble, etc. But it's many times easier, particularly for a Time Machine backup drive, to just buy a reliable (there's that word again) external HD off the shelf.
    7) Finally, follow directions. Apple tells you how to set up a TM drive. Do it their way. That means, format the brand new drive and make it a 'GUID' partition. Use the Apple Disk Utility. Follow directions.
    Good luck,
    Steve

  • Lion installation problem- says hard drive is used for Time Machine back-ups!

    I just purchased & downloaded Lion to install on my Apple laptop, but when I went to install it, I got the message:
    "This disk is used for TimeMachine back-ups."
    What the heck? As I use an external drive for TM back-ups, I'm really confused!  How can I get Lion to install on my hard drive?  I went so far as to turn off TimeMachine (see image, below), but it's still not working.
    Any ideas?  This is really frustrating!

    Kathy,
    Intel and Universal apps should be ok.  You can check this massive list for specifics on any application incompatibilities.
    http://roaringapps.com/apps:table/tags/_a/index_tags/_a
    Just to confirm, was the problem Norton or was the backup directory present?
    Glad your up and running now.
    @Colin, Yeah it's the leftmost black and yellow.  It's an image burned in my head from the old PC days.

  • How do you format an External Hard Drive

    I'm New to Mac. I have a Mac Book Pro Intel. I need to format an old PC hard drive so it works as an external drive. I have it in a enclosure and connected by firewire. The Mac reads it but can not write to it. Plus I don't even know if you format like I did in windows PC.
    Mac Book Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

    Hey,
    Here is a great way on how to format your drive for Mac. You would need to choose the MS-DOS format.
    To do this:
    1. Go to Disk Utility
    2. Find Your External HD on the left hand side and click on it
    3. Go to the Erase panel
    4. Choose the Volume Format as MS-DOS File System
    5. Name the Drive if you wish
    6. Erase
    For a more graphical representation follow the link below:
    Formatting an External HD (Note: In this case where it says "Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or Mac OS Extended" you would pick the MS-DOS option instead.)
    This allows you to use your dirve with both OS's and having the option of writing and reading for both. If you have any important documents or things on your HD I would just copy them over into a folder on your internal HD and then when the drive is formatted, just shoot them back over.
    -Tom

  • What is a good external hard drive to use with time machine running osx lion?

    My LaCie HD quit and I need to get a new one. What is recommended to use with the Lion OS? I would like to use Time Machine and hook the HD up using Firewire.

    I've been using several Mercury drives from OWC (MacSales) for years with no problems whatsoever. They are good and not expensive. Here's where you can find them. Pick one that fits your needs.
    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/
    Rick

  • A good external hard drive to use with Time Machine?

    I am currently looking at this:
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Iomega-Prestige-320-GB-Portable-Hard-Drive-Compact-HD- /150635106484?pt=UK_Computing_HardDrives_RL&hash=item23128d50b4#ht_1674wt_1156
    But I don't really know, I want a fairly cheap one that is at least 320GB really :/

    This also looks good but would I be able to reformat it for Mac OS X?
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320GB-Seagate-External-Portable-Drive-/160623670173?pt =UK_Computing_HardDrives_RL&hash=item2565eab39d#ht_666wt_1156

  • HT3275 Verbatim drive I use for Time Machine backups got messed-up. I erased it.  It does now perform its regular back-ups.  HOWEVER, I can't "Enter TM."

    I am running OS 10.6.8.  The external Verbatim drive I use for Time Machine backups got messed-up, so I erased it & chose it as my back-up disc for TM.  It does perform its regular back-ups.  HOWEVER, when I try to "Enter TM" nothing happens?

    I read some hints about this issue from similar queries, including "Restart your computer".  That did the trick!

  • Perfect Hard Drive To Use With Time Machine?

    Hi,
    Has anyone found out what's the perfect External Hard Drive to use with Time Machine?
    I have experience with a few of WD's My Book models (Essential, Pro and Studio). The problem with all of them is that they automatically keep switching themselves off (spin down) and on (spin up) throughout the day, in an effort to save power. But it's actually quite annoying. The My Book drive will automatically turn itself off, and then turn back on again within the space of one minute. Also, going to use Spotlight (even if you've excluded Time Machine Backups from being indexed) will automatically prompt the My Book drive to turn back on, which introduces a small delay to using Spotlight.
    Does anyone make an External Hard Drive, with a Firewire 400 or 800 connection, that stays on ALL the time and doesn't automatically make decisions about when it should spin down or spin up?

    I'am using a 500Gb Freecom Pro Hard Drive connected on USB via my Cinema Display. I so forget about it that I often forget to disconnect it from my laptop before leaving the office... Never complained about it
    Btw, it does not implements the energy saver Auto turn off/on feature which I don't need cause the time it could mostly be really useful is by night. As it stops when I disconnect the USB and start again when I connect it back.. this is perfect to me.
    I must say I'm quite happy with every Freecom product I bought and this one certainly don't break the rule

  • I have iMovie 09. I just erased my external hard drive, but it is still formatted for the mac. However, iMovie will not recognize the hard drive. It shows the only hard drive available is the computers. How do I get the external hard drive to show up?

    I have iMovie 09. I just erased my external hard drive, but it is still formatted for the mac. However, iMovie will not recognize the hard drive. It shows the only hard drive available is the computers. How do I get the external hard drive to show up?

    In Finder's Menu, select Go menu>Go to Folder, and go to "/volumes". (no quotes)
    Volumes is where an alias to your hard drive ("/" at boot) is placed at startup, and where all the "mount points" for auxiliary drives are created for you to access them. This folder is normally hidden from view.
    Drives with an extra 1 on the end have a side-effect of mounting a drive with the same name as the system already think exists. Try trashing the duplicates with a 1 or 2 if there are no real files in them, and reboot.
    If it does contain data...
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2474

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