I've used an external drive for time machine which has important files on it. After trying to back up my computer, it suddenly needed to be "repaired" by utilities. Now it's not being "seen" at all! How do I recover my important files off the drive?

If the external drive can be seen at all in Disk Utility, follow the instructions for repair here.

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I have just upgraded from a Macbook to a Macbook Air. I have been using a iomega external hard drive for Time Machine, which use a Firewire. However, Macbook Air's do not have a Firewire port and i cannot find an adaptor anywhere. Can anyone help?? Thanks

I have just upgraded from a Macbook to a Macbook Air. I have been using a iomega external hard drive for Time Machine, which use a Firewire. However, Macbook Air's do not have a Firewire port and i cannot find an adaptor anywhere. Can anyone help?? Thanks

There has never been a reliable firewire ---> USB adapter suitable for external high speed storage. This was a major issue when the MacBooks lost the firewire port a number of years ago (Apple subsequently brought it back).
The only high speed port on the Air is the ThunderBolt port. There are external ThunderBolt drive options out there, but they're somewhat more expensive than traditional USB/FireWire options.

After using an external HD for time machine back up, MacBook Pro unable to restart

I just bought a new MacBook Pro, before starting to transfer anything from my old MacBook Pro, I did a Time Machine backup on the new external HD (did not use the original ext. HD that I usually used to do my back ups). The back up was successful, I ejected the ext. HD, my old Mac went to sleep and I was not able to wake it up. I restarted it but each time I get a message in several languages that I must turn off and restart again. Done it but doesn't work. I tried to restart it by plugging the ext. HD but didn't work either. Tried to restart it by pressing on "shift", did see the bar trying to restore, but eventually the bar disappears and the grey spin starts then freeze, then computer goes into coma. What to do?

Richard Anderson1 wrote:
I am a little confused. I have an internal drive that I want to back-up to an external drive. BUT also, more importantly actually, I have an external that has total different contents than the internal and I also want to back that up. Will time machine do that?
Yes, as long as the drive is formatted properly.
In other words I want to back internal to "drive B"and I want to back up "drive A" (that has totally different contents than internal) to B drive as well. Can that be done in time machine?
While drive "A" is connected and mounted, go to +System Preferences > Time Machine > Options.+ If it's listed in the exclusion list in black, just select it, click the minus sign, then Done. It will be backed-up on the next backup, along with your internal HD.
But if it's listed in gray, you can't remove it. That means it's not formatted properly. You'll have to copy the data elsewhere temporarily, reformat, then copy it back. See #1 in [Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks|http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/DU.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Using Snow Leopard+ forum).

Limiting Space used on external HDD for Time Machine

I'm really clueless on how this works and I would appreciate your thoughts on this. I recently bought an external HDD and I want to limit the allocated space for TM to only half of the capacity. I recently formatted the external HDD to FAT32 in order for me to use it with my other systems.
Is it possible to make this work? I saw an article wherein you can create a disk image in the external HDD, will that work?
Below are some specs of my external HDD:
Objective: Use Time Machine on my 1TB External HDD while limiting the space to only 400MB for back-up.
External HDD Settings: Iomega External HDD formatted as FAT32 and Master Boot Record

Hello,
Here is the best solution I can think of without using any extra software to alter your Time Machine settings.
You could use Disk Utility to divide the 1 TB external HDD into two partitions (400 GB + 600 GB).
(/Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app)
Warning: Using Disk Utility to divide the drive into two partitions will erase everything on them.
Once that's done, when you reconnect your hard drive to your computer, and open Time Machine in System Settings, you could assign Time Machine to the 400 GB partition.
Here is the catch though, Time Machine cannot backup to FAT32, so you would have to format at least the 400 GB partition as "Mac OS Extended Journaled" with Disk Utility. If you want to use that drive with other non-Mac systems, best solution would be to share it over the network.
That is the best I can think of for your problem. Hope that helps.

Can I use my external HD for Time Machine and still use it for storage?

I have a 1TB external HD and my computer has yet to arrive. I was planning on backing it up via Time Machine and I'm wondering if my external HD will still be useable as a storage device once I pair it with Time Machine.
There's no way the backup will take up the full 1TB of space, so I'm hoping it doesn't just go to waste >.<

If you really only want backups of the current contents, don't use Time Machine.
It's designed to keep copies of things you've changed or deleted for as long as possible. This allows you an excellent chance to recover a previous version of something you changed or deleted in error.
It also allows you to revert your entire system to the exact state it was in at the time of any previous backup, even if that's a different version of OSX. It's rare, but if an OSX update, or installation of a kernel extension or 3rd-party app makes a huge mess, it's much easier and more reliable than rebuilding everything.
You might want to review the [Time Machine Tutorial|http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#timemachinebasics] and perhaps browse [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). See #1 there for size considerations.
For alternatives, see Kappy's post on [Basic Backup|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12366915#12366915].

I have used my 2TB TC for wifi and as principal backup disk for Time Machine for a few years. I would now like to begin using another external HD for Time Machine. My question is.... Can I repurpose the Time Capsule to use as storage for libraries?

For example - I plan to use 2TB TC to house my iTunes Media Library and iPhoto Libraries - permitting access from my network.

I believe based on your notes that I need to forget about moving the iPhoto library.... even though I have found in Apple support:
http://help.apple.com/iphoto/mac/9.5/#pht6d607c42
That document says.. and I quote.
You can move your entire iPhoto library to a different computer, a hard disk, or another location on your computer.
Note that none of those locations are network.
A different computer is not network.. a hard disk is a location on the same computer as is computer location.. they are saying the same thing.
Here is what apple says about networks.. which I referenced above.. and Bob referred to.
It's recommended that you store your iPhoto library on a locally mounted hard drive. Storing your iPhoto library on a network share can lead to poor performance, data corruption, or data loss.
These are not inconsistent.. you can move the library.. what you cannot do is use it from a network location.. it must be locally mounted.
And do you think the new Photos will change any of this (though presently I am still on 10.9.5)
This is what we don't know yet.. it does look like photos will be more network aware.. do you want to be on the bleeding edge and discover it fails??
You can use any drive you like locally for TM backups.. however if you plug that drive into the TC and make it a network drive then it will become super slow.. since the TC only has USB2 port. You also cannot use TM backups on a local drive and then move it to the network.. TM backs up differently in network cf local drives.
You must partition the drive. If you want to use the one and same drive for both backups and files, partition it before hand. if you mix the backups with actual data files on the same drive.. you have no backups if the drive fails.. You must have all files on at least 2 drives. For iphoto let me suggest more than 2.. since photos are irreplaceable and it is so easy for things to go wrong.. including fire, flood and theft. Make up a USB drive and park it with relatives.

My external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive. Same thing has happened with Final Cut Express.

My new LaCie external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive.
The same thing happened recently between Final Cut Express and my other LaCie external hard drive used as the Scratch disk. It fixed itself.
I've run out of ideas. Help would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

have you done some searches on FCPx and time machine? Is there a known issue with using a TM drive with FCPx? dunno but ...wait...I'll take 60 sec for you cause I'm just that kind of guy.... google...." fcpx time machine problem" Frist page link
http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/fcpx-bug-best-practices-for-using-external-hard- drives-and-final-cut-pro-x/
You cannot have time machine backups on your hard drive if you intend to use it in FCPX.
booya!

Is it not recommended to use a partitioned external hard drive for time machine?

1. i hv a 1 tb seagate back up plus hard disc ..,,i want to make partitions for using it for time machine, mac, and window repectively . is it not recommended to use a partitioned drive for time machine? some where i have red that time machine wont be able to restore data from external partioned hard drive in case internal hard drive crashes.
2. if i use the seagate back up plus 1tb for mac only and use time machine to take backup (roughly 250 GB) , then the rest space i cant use to transfer movies, pictures from a PC
3. how should i best use the seagate back up plus hard drive (not seagate back up plus for mac) in a way that i use it for back up , and to work with both mac and PC?

I use a partitioned external drive for Time Machine as well as other things.
How you partition it is a function of yoru needs.
Barry

Can not fine external hard drive for time machine sence lion was installed

I can not fine external hard drive for time machine sence lion was installed, it don't reconise it at all.

I have a Mac Mini (late 2009) and I have an iomega 1TB external hard drive connected to my mini via firewire and usb (usb allows me to use the usb ports on the external 1TB drive to daisy chain other devices). Since I installed Lion, my Time Machine and this 1TB drive (and its partitions) is finicky. Sometimes it is mounted and sometimes it is not. This issue has only surfaced post Snow Leopard and in the Lion era. I am not the first to say this but the whole reason I went Mac was b/c of Vista. I am beginning to think that Lion is the new Vista. Sorry for the latter, just venting... b/c this ain't the first issue with Lion.

HT201250 How can I revert to my internal drive for time machine backups after using an external drive?

Hi. I've been using an external drive for time machine back ups and decided to revert to my internal drive, but it isn't available in the time machine options. The only available option is to set up a time capsule, which I don't own.
Is it because not enough space is available on my internal drive (approx 50GB)?
Thanks!

50 Gb free on your internal drive is relly very low and of course not enought for a any kind of backup.
How big is your internal HD ? If you have left only 50 GB free it is probably 90% full. Let's imagine you have a 500 Gb. This means 450 Gb data and 50 Gb free. How can you backup 450 into 50 ?
Second point. The backup on your internal HD is a nonsense evenif it is big enough. If it stops working you will have no bakup.
Do you have an iMac or a portable ?
The portable automatic uses the internal HD if the external is not connected, but this is intended for a short time.
This could give you some more links to read about https://discussions.apple.com/message/20726927#20726927

Using Mac mini as External Hard Drive for time machine

I know this can be done but I am not sure how. How can I set up a mac mini as an external hard drive. Can this be used as a drive for time machine?? Any help is appreciated, Thank you.

Personal file sharing (which may require Leopard on the Mini) or by connecting the Mini to your other Mac via Target Disk Mode. I wouldn't recommend that latter, though; too much chance of inadvertently erasing files critical to the operation of the Mini.

Is it possible to use an external hard drive for time machine backup and also as a regular hard drive?

Is it possible to use an external hard drive for time machine backup and also as a regular hard drive?

I am using an external drive in the exact way that you described. You just keep it plugged in to the computer when you want to access the movies and files. In order to put files on it, just go to finder open up the drive under devices and drag and drop files onto the drive. It is just like using a usb drive with a terabyte of space.

Is it possible to use more than one external hard drive for Time Machine backups?

I want to use two hard drives for Time Machine backups.
Bigger one keep at home and be sure it is safe.
Second one (very small pocket size) keep with me for travels.
I want to backup to both drives to be sure I can restore everywhere and to be sure if something bad happened with my small travel disk I can restore from home backup.
Is there any problem with listed schema? Is it normal for Time Machine to handle backups for different drivers and keep everything consistent and smooth?

I really need some help! I have been using an Iomega NAS 1TB HD for the past year. And I received an error message. I believe I have ran out of memory on this drive.
Then recently in the last couple of months I got a ReadyNAS Duo 2TB with 2TB RAID. Should I switch my back ups to this one and delete the other back up file or keep the old back up image file on the Iomega?
Can I transfer the old image back up to this new ReadyNAS? How do I do this?
I appreciate any help.

Can I use another computer as a external harddrive for time machine?

I have a mac mini from a few years ago and it is never used. I was wonder if it could be used as an external hard drive for time machine. If this can be done how do I go about setting it up for this type of useage?

Thanks for your reply. I looked at the Troubleshooting, but can't find my exact problem. It is as follows:
I use a new iMac running Snow Leopard with a 500 GB external WD drive.
-I looked the other day to find that time machine had failed, and when I looked at the backups, there had not been a successful backup since September 2009. I think this is when I installed Snow Leopard...
-I went to run a backup, and it failed, saying I did not have room (I have about 220 GB to backup)
-I decided to format the external hard drive and try again from scratch.
-I began getting an error 11, and specifically -8062 and -36 (as examples) which specifically list files that it could not copy.
-I reinstalled snow leopard from disk.
-I excluded time machine from spotlight as recommended in some forums
-I started ommitting some of the files that were listed as not being bale to copy, but now its into my music, and that's half the reason I back up.
I am now backing up to laptop as above post, and if that works, I will conclude that the External HD has seen its day.
If I get the same errors, I will conclude (nervously) that my computer has issues.
Here is an example of an error message:
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/Shared/Music/Compilations/(album name)/(song name).mp3 to /Volumes/Time Machine 20100504/Backups.backupdb/Riskin's Computer/2010-05-04-222232.inprogress/F9243DA..(many letters and numbers)...D19/Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/Music/Compilations/(album name)/(song name)
then below in another message says:
Copy stage failed with error: 11
Backup failed with error: 11
I get this same original error with different files, and with different error numbers.
Apple support told me that by formatting external drive, and reinstalling snow leopard, they were 99.9% sure it would be fixed, but it is not.
Frustrated,

Can I use the same external hd for time machine and storage without partitioning it?

Hello,
I have been using an external hard drive for my Time Machine that was only used for this purpose.
I downloaded some files in it that I want to use, and I haven't backed up using Time Machine since.
Can I download the files on my MacBook from the HD without running into any problems, or is there anything else I should do?
I prefer not to partition the hd, since I will be deleting these files, or transferring them to a different HD, and using this HD only for Time Machine back ups, as I did previously.
** I am not sure if this changes anything, but I just updated from Snow Leopard to Lion.
Thank you so much

carolsm wrote:
Thanks Kappy, I will do that.
I just really needed these files and had no other hard drive to store them.
Do you think that it will be okay just this one time if I download the files on my MacBook without compromising my backups?
I will transfer them to a new hard drive, and erase them from my Time Machine external hard drive.
For the time being it will be fine. There is always a chance of a disc crashing and therefore not advisable practice. Some here run seperate drives with Time Machine, Cloned backup and file backup. I have a portable drive I keep Time Machine backups and file backups on. I am running that at my own risk, but no problems over the last couple of years. Just make sure I get it to my normal TM Backup disk as soon as I get home. Backing up those other files will not compromise your Time Machine backups as you asked.
Cheers
Pete

I've used an external drive for time machine which has important files on it. After trying to back up my computer, it suddenly needed to be "repaired" by utilities. Now it's not being "seen" at all! How do I recover my important files off the drive?

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