New to Mac and Time Machine
Hi Folks:
I am one week into my first Mac. I have been a Linux user for decades and the transition to this new environment has not been difficult, in fact, it has been quite pleasant. I bought a MacBook air 13" and have set it up so I can do all my daily routines as usual. I have sucessfully transfered almost all of my data from Linux backups to this new machine. The one exception was my Gnumeric spread sheets which are gzipped and XML formated. I will have to go back to my Linux box and re-save them all in CSV format before I can import them into numbers.
Now it's time to set up a backup scheme. I bought the rugged LACIE 500GB External hard drive and reformated it for use on Mac (It came with NTFS). I indicated that I wanted to use it for Time Machine, and TM procedded to make backups of my system. After several hours, I had what appeared to be many instances of Finder on my screen, with the ability to look back in time. Pretty neat!
My problem is this, I could not figure out if Time Machine was finished. The lack of a drive light on both the Mac and on the LACIE makes it impossible to know when it's OK to Cancle TM (is that what I should do? Cancle?) and then eject/disconnect the external drive. Also, when Time Machine is running, there is no access to the machine. Time Machine's screen is the only app available. Is there a way to have TM run in the background so I can use the computer while it updates the drive?
I don't know if this is a problem or not, I named the volume "backup", I see it in finder when it is mounted, but I see no files or folders inside. Is this normal?
TIA
I could not figure out if Time Machine was finished.
System Preferences > Time Machine > Show Time Machine status in menu bar. The menu bar icon is animated when a backup session is in progress. You shouldn't need to cancel a backup, though you can do so if you wish.
Is there a way to have TM run in the background so I can use the computer while it updates the drive?
TM does run in the background. The "Star Wars" interface is used only for recovering data. Click the "Cancel" button to get out of it, or press the escape key.
I don't know if this is a problem or not, I named the volume "backup", I see it in finder when it is mounted, but I see no files or folders inside. Is this normal?
Yes. The directory containing the backup repository is hidden in the Finder, as well it should be, because you don't want to mess with anything in there.
Similar Messages
-
New hard drive and time machine recovery
I am planning to install a new ram and hard drive on my macbook in few days. I have been backing up the system through time machine for about a year.
My question is once I install the new hardware how do I install everything through the time machine??? Does time machine back up software as well? Would I need recovery DVDs? Would I need product keys and so on? or is it as easy as simply after installation of the hardware, turn on the computer with the time machine connected and it'll do everything and my computer would be back to what it was previously?level i wrote:
I am planning to install a new ram and hard drive on my macbook in few days. I have been backing up the system through time machine for about a year.
My question is once I install the new hardware how do I install everything through the time machine???
see this link for instructions
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1964018#14
Does time machine back up software as well?
it backs up the whole drive with everything on it which includes all software. -
How do i delete iPhone backups on my Mac and Time Machine?
I used to back my iPhone to a Mac which was then backed up to my time machine…..I have decided to start using iCloud to back up my iPhone 5 and have purchased a monthly data plan to compensate. I now want to delete my iPhone backups which I believe is taking space on my time machine and Mac. How do I do this?
navigate to iTunes > Preferences > Devices, and select your backup and click on the Delete Backup button. This will remove the backup files from your computer.
-
New hard drive and time machine not backing up
I recently replaced my MacBook Pro's hard drive with a larger HD. After replacing HD and making sure all my data is operating correctly, I noticed my Time Machine is not backing up. I was hoping it would continue to backup daily as soon as I was back on my home network but no such luck. Does anyone know how to re-establish my conncection and hopefully start where I left off with daily backups? Thx
Check Pondini's Time Machine Troubleshooting.
B6 seems to be the topic you are looking for. -
Whcih external hard drive works best with macs and time machine
I'm looking for an external hard drive preferably at circuit city since I have $100 in gift cards.
I'm looking at the Acomdata pure drive 500 and 750
The Western Digital Mybook essential edition 500 and 750
Simpletech 500GB
Simpletech redrive 500GB
or Maxtor 500GB
I don't which one to pick as there are negative reviews on all of them with crashing after only one year. If not any of these what other one to pick, would like it to be from circuit city, not matter what your opinion might be of them.
I know about the Lacie drives and the G-drive but those seems expensive and only from apple store. I have airport extreme so only need usb connection so i don't care what other ports it has.
It seems like a really tough decision and looking for some help.
Let me knowHi,\ not sure how this translates to the USA market (brand names) Im UK;
But I've been using a Lacie external hard drive for ages without problems.
Not so sure about Western Digital, - I've heard some bad reports.
I posted a request myself, and Lacie came back highly reccomended, so thats why I chose them. -
I use both MyBook for Mac and Time Machine to backup my computer.
I do backups once a week with MyBook. When I do a new backup are files/folders from previous backups (which are now deleted from my computer) kept in MyBook and Time Machine.The WD SmartWare software keeps a predefined number of backups, this is a setting within the software. You'd want to check under settings to see how far back it will keep things.
Time Machine thins backups periodically according to some preset logic and the amount of space left on the storage destination. It keeps one backup per hour for the past 24 hours, one per day for the past week, one per week for the past month, and so on until the drive is full. -
SimpleTech drive and Time Machine
I am a new Mac and Time Machine user. I have an external hard drive (a SimpleTech drive) that I am using for my Time Machine backups. When the external HD is plugged in, it is spinning, even when backups are not happening. Is this normal? I have also noticed that the drive continues to spin even when I shut the lid of my MBP and the computer goes to sleep. Shouldn't the drive go to sleep as well? Or is it supposed to continue to spin? Thank you!
Just a personal preference. I don't use TM, so the only timeMy ext HDs are up and running, I'm using them and don't want them to spin down/spin up while I'm doing stuff. Stopping and starting electronic things is what kills them—ever notice that light bulbs only go when turned on? The only thing I sleep are displays. As for laptops, I don't use them.
-
I just got a new MacBook Pro, and I tried to bring across my files from my last mac using time machine. After it was done copying I can't find my files anywhere but the space (about 130gb) has been used on my hard drive. Does anyone know how I can get to them? I did change my user name from 'user' while it was copying, could this have something to do with it?
You don't want to do that by copying.
Your best bet, by far, is to use Setup Assistant. If your Mac is running Snow Leopard, see Using Setup Assistant on Snow Leopard or Leopard.
If it came with Lion, it's a bit different: Using Setup Assistant on Lion -
Just got brand new macbook pro (13inch) and restored all data from old mac via time machine. Now when I p/back a track in logic I get audio drop out for 3-4 secs every 10 - 15 secs!! What is going on and what can I do? Its the same version of logic and all other functions seem fine!
First of all, why did you say yes to Nero Back up before researching what it does with files already on the HDD? When I install Nero, the Back Up is the first thing I disable, it is a nagging pain, there are much better backup programs available. There are several file recovery programs out there to recover deleted files, that is, if that is what happened. Also, if you haven't overwritten the files, so you should be able to find them.
-
I have had my mac stolen, I have an external HD I connect via USB for these time machine backups, I now have a new replacement mac and wish to restore from my external HD, migration assistant doesn't seem to recognise or see my drive ? please help
See Pondini's Excellent information here...
Setting-up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC
See the Second Chance to Use Setup Assistant here...
http://Pondini.org/OSX/SetupLion.html -
I have chosen to fil migrate from old ibook to new MacBook Pro using Time Machine after establishing admin account. I now have two admin. accounts and wish to delete the later one and transfer files manually. I am worried I will loose both accounts. ??
Use the Office for Mac and ignore using Parallels for that. If you have PC only apps you have to run that are MS Windows only then consider Parallels. Just transfer your main PC, using Migration Assistant. If you don't know how then simply read over Pondini's article called Lion or Mountain Lion Setup Assistant tips and look for the section on migrating from a PC. Millions have done what you are about to, it's far from leading edge these days, if you go to an Apple Store to purchase they will offer this as a service, something you might be interested in.
-
well as the title says i have a 500gb hard drive with 2 partitions one with time machine and one for files it worked perefectly until yesterday only the time machine partition appeared in finder, i checked disk utility and both partitions appeared but the one for files appeared in grey and when i press mount an error comes up.
The repair shop likely replaced a major circuit board on your MacBook Pro, so Time Machine thinks that you have a "new" computer and it wants to make a new complete backup of your Mac.
You are going to have to make a decision to either add another new Time Capsule....or USB drive to your existing Time Capsule....and in effect start over with a new backup of your Mac and then move forward again.
For "most" users, I think this is probably the best plan because you preserve all your old backups in case you need them at some point, and you start over again with a new Time Capsule so you have plenty of room for years of new backups.
Or, as you have mentioned, you have the option of erasing the Time Capsule drive and starting all over again. The upside is that you start over and have plenty of room for new backups. The downside is that you lose years of backups.
Another option....trying to manually delete old backups individually....is tricky business....and very time consuming. To get an idea of what is involved here, study this FAQ by Pondini, our resident Time Capsule and Time Machine expert on the Community Support area. In particular, study the pink box.
http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/12.html
Once you look through this, I think you may agree that this type of surgery is not for the faint of heart. I would suggest that you consider this only if one of the other options just cannot work for you. -
I migrated info from a hard drive to a new mac under time machine. It says I have shared files, but I don't see the old info on the new machine. Where do I look for it ? How do I make the old backup the basis for my new macbook ?
The old OS was Mac X 10.5.8. I think the new one is 10.7.2 Lion.Have a read here How do I set up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC?
Stefan -
My external hard drive for Back Up and Time Machine is full. I bought a new HD. Can I just begin using it and rely on the old HD for past Time Machine versions, or must I transfer the old Back Up and Time Machine files to the new HD?
It is your choice.
If you don't want to be able to far back into the time slots covered by the old disk then just start using the new disk.
If you want to retain the ability to go back into those time slots then copy it.
Allan -
I've just used an external drive to back up my Mac with Time Machine. I have Lion, but didn't click and check the "Encrypt Backup Disc". What should I do? Can I delete the external drive and start again, or can I encrypt later?
I guess if stolen or lost it would protect my "stuff", and if I'm travelling would protect my privacy.
You must understand the purpose and implications of encryption before deciding whether to use it.
Encryption locks your data with a password. If you forget that password, the data is lost beyond any chance of recovery. Neither Apple nor anyone else will be able to help you recover that data if you don't know the password.
By the same token, the password must be strong enough to provide the security you want. For example, if you're the potential target of industrial espionage by a government or large corporation, you need the strongest possible password. To create and manage such a password safely is a task in itself, not to be undertaken lightly.
If you're only concerned about casual snooping by someone with no special skill, a weak, easily-remembered password is appropriate.
But regardless of the strength of the password, if you lose it, the data is gone forever.
Another point to remember is that if you encrypt your data on one storage device, you must also encrypt it on all other storage devices that would be accessible to the same attacker. Otherwise the data isn't protected. For example, if you keep your computer and your backup drive in the same room, and the internal drive of the computer is not encrypted, then there's no point in encrypting the backup drive.
Maybe you are looking for
-
How to I center a dialog box in the screen?
Simple question, and I hope a simple answer. I need to center various sized dialog boxes in the screen. I've tried getcenterpoint(), but I don't know EXACTLY how to use it.
-
Nosquint's Global zoom level setting can not be saved
I change the Global zoom level setting 140 from 150, and it works a 140. after I quit FF and back again, the Global zoom level is changed back to 150 again, it seems that can not be saved. it is working under V21 I am using ff 24.0 now any solution?
-
Rented two movies last nite from Apple Store - the movies downloaded to 'Video' - tapped the movie I wanted to watch and the screen went not blank but black (like the iPAD was turned off but it wasn't!). I gave up and went to bed. Tried it again thi
-
Process Composer Mapping Problem
Hi, BPM experts. I'm trying to make Process of Purchase Order, but, Error occurs at Input Mapping. i suppose cause is xsd type. target item is "timeZoneCode". xsd type is token. please tell me how to set value to timeZoneCode ? or,please tell me how
-
Compile error on .class for an array.
How do I write the code below correctly? final ArgumentCaptor<MessageToken[]> tokenArg = ArgumentCaptor.forClass(MessageToken[].class);