Retrieve Time Machine old deleted back-ups

Hi,
My disk was running out of space as time machine was backing up but it also 'deleted old back ups' Is there any way to retrive these ?
Thanks
Ken

I've got to say figuring out what hardware to purchase for original archiving AND Time Machine backups—for that and one laptop have been a nightmare. First we went the NAS Synology route as recommended by an Apple Store employee. Then last week found out that this would corrupt our huge 150 gigs iPhoto library (if not now at some point). So, have been reading boards, calling apple and spent another two hours in the Apple store today. Two hours (with my family)! Far too many hours wasted on what should be a simple user experience to explain/help users with.
Unfortunately this is what I learned...
Every Apple employee has a different take. I've spoken in person with four Apple Store employees on two different occassions, read the board "experts" here and phoned  Apple but get different insight/answers each and every time.
We were prepared to walk out with a Time Capsule (for Time Machine) and one HD for our need—but two employees today said we didn't need a Time Capsule. Instead they both suggested two HDs (with one acting as a dedicated Time Machine) because we had an Airport Extreme. And we could do wifi backups no problem—and the HD would be accessible via wifi (when plugged into the Airport Extreme). So, we walked out with the a 2T and 3T Seagate HDs—and have spent hours on reorganizing yet again.
And now I am reading that not only does Mountain Lion not support this usage—and I must manually plug in both HDs (the Time Machine and original archive) for backups on a laptop. Or rather to ensure Time Machine backups (that contain the external HD content) are not deleted. 
THIS RATHER MANUAL SCENARIO DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF A LAPTOP (free of teathering and wires—it's stored on a coffee table not desk). I don't get it?!? So-so annoyed.
There should be a way to "lock" the external HD data so this doesn't happen. 

Similar Messages

  • Time Machine short term back  ups?

    HI
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    Rob
    iMac 24 running Lion.
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    I've got to say figuring out what hardware to purchase for original archiving AND Time Machine backups—for that and one laptop have been a nightmare. First we went the NAS Synology route as recommended by an Apple Store employee. Then last week found out that this would corrupt our huge 150 gigs iPhoto library (if not now at some point). So, have been reading boards, calling apple and spent another two hours in the Apple store today. Two hours (with my family)! Far too many hours wasted on what should be a simple user experience to explain/help users with.
    Unfortunately this is what I learned...
    Every Apple employee has a different take. I've spoken in person with four Apple Store employees on two different occassions, read the board "experts" here and phoned  Apple but get different insight/answers each and every time.
    We were prepared to walk out with a Time Capsule (for Time Machine) and one HD for our need—but two employees today said we didn't need a Time Capsule. Instead they both suggested two HDs (with one acting as a dedicated Time Machine) because we had an Airport Extreme. And we could do wifi backups no problem—and the HD would be accessible via wifi (when plugged into the Airport Extreme). So, we walked out with the a 2T and 3T Seagate HDs—and have spent hours on reorganizing yet again.
    And now I am reading that not only does Mountain Lion not support this usage—and I must manually plug in both HDs (the Time Machine and original archive) for backups on a laptop. Or rather to ensure Time Machine backups (that contain the external HD content) are not deleted. 
    THIS RATHER MANUAL SCENARIO DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF A LAPTOP (free of teathering and wires—it's stored on a coffee table not desk). I don't get it?!? So-so annoyed.
    There should be a way to "lock" the external HD data so this doesn't happen. 

  • What is in Time Machine's older back ups?

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    Clint Bradford

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    ringoiphone wrote:
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  • Time machine has deleted all old backups -  I think

    Dear All,
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    hi
    thank you for help. really appreciated.
    here is the text from the log. Should I just give up, reformat the tm drive and start again?
    volume Video.
    Dec 25 20:22:50 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[470]: Copied 497 files (1.8 MB) from volume Macintosh HD 2.
    Dec 25 20:23:41 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[470]: Starting post-backup thinning
    Dec 25 20:23:41 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[470]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
    Dec 25 20:23:41 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[470]: Backup completed successfully.
    Dec 25 21:07:13 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 25 21:07:13 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 25 21:07:15 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 329.8 MB requested (including padding), 155.78 GB available
    Dec 25 21:07:34 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Copied 648 files (4.9 MB) from volume Macintosh HD 1.
    Dec 25 21:07:36 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Copied 654 files (4.9 MB) from volume Video.
    Dec 25 21:07:38 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Copied 660 files (4.9 MB) from volume Macintosh HD 2.
    Dec 25 21:07:39 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Starting post-backup thinning
    Dec 25 21:07:45 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-24-203749: 155.78 GB now available
    Dec 25 21:07:45 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Post-back up thinning complete: 1 expired backups removed
    Dec 25 21:07:46 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[583]: Backup completed successfully.
    Dec 26 09:48:06 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 26 09:48:06 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 26 09:48:07 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Node requires deep traversal:/Volumes/Untitled 1 reason:must scan subdirs|
    Dec 26 09:48:07 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 322.5 MB requested (including padding), 155.78 GB available
    Dec 26 09:48:07 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Copied 1 files (0 bytes) from volume Untitled 1.
    Dec 26 09:48:07 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Indexer unavailable (200)
    Dec 26 09:48:09 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Copied 7 files (93 bytes) from volume Macintosh HD 1.
    Dec 26 09:48:09 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Waiting for index to be ready (101)
    Dec 26 09:48:24 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Copied 13 files (93 bytes) from volume Macintosh HD 2.
    Dec 26 09:48:34 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Copied 19 files (93 bytes) from volume Video.
    Dec 26 09:48:40 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Starting post-backup thinning
    Dec 26 09:49:02 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Stopping backupd to allow ejection of backup source disk!
    Dec 26 09:49:03 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Backup deletion was canceled by user
    Dec 26 09:49:03 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[216]: Backup completed successfully.
    Dec 26 10:19:49 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 26 10:19:49 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 26 10:20:13 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 329.7 MB requested (including padding), 155.78 GB available
    Dec 26 10:21:23 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 947 files (5.8 MB) from volume Macintosh HD 1.
    Dec 26 10:21:25 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 953 files (5.8 MB) from volume Macintosh HD 2.
    Dec 26 10:21:28 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 959 files (5.8 MB) from volume Video S3.
    Dec 26 11:19:51 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 4.4 GB of 4.4 GB, 3373 of 3373 items
    Dec 26 12:19:52 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 8.2 GB of 8.2 GB, 3384 of 3384 items
    Dec 26 13:19:52 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 20.5 GB of 20.5 GB, 3409 of 3409 items
    Dec 26 14:19:54 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 34.7 GB of 34.7 GB, 3442 of 3442 items
    Dec 26 15:19:55 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 54.8 GB of 54.8 GB, 3478 of 3478 items
    Dec 26 15:51:26 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Copied 3496 files (67.5 GB) from volume Macintosh HD 4.
    Dec 26 15:54:17 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Starting pre-backup thinning: 718.12 GB requested (including padding), 88.27 GB available
    Dec 26 15:54:17 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Found partially deleted backup - trying again to delete: 2009-11-26-214614
    Dec 26 15:54:39 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-26-214614: 88.36 GB now available
    Dec 26 15:54:39 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Removed all 1 expired backups, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    Dec 26 16:08:32 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-08-31-214215: 102.34 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:09:50 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-09-12-204919: 104.33 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:11:08 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-09-20-200117: 105.00 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:11:57 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-10-04-162511: 105.11 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:13:53 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-10-11-095448: 111.18 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:15:17 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-10-18-194956: 112.30 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:16:36 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-10-25-143128: 112.59 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:18:54 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-01-150819: 113.80 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:19:42 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-08-210648: 114.44 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:25:48 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-15-084242: 125.84 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:28:19 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-23-124658: 125.93 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:29:20 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-27-075219: 125.94 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:31:08 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-28-000354: 125.97 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:32:41 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-29-101726: 126.17 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:33:13 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-11-30-212802: 126.17 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:34:12 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-02-205548: 126.18 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:36:42 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-04-180748: 126.69 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:37:58 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-06-164628: 126.70 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:40:57 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-07-203807: 126.95 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:42:15 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-12-103818: 127.03 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:43:08 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-14-194223: 127.05 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:43:36 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-15-213301: 127.05 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:46:56 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-17-203032: 128.20 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:48:15 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-18-203635: 128.21 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:49:06 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-21-173338: 128.22 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:49:57 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-24-194134: 128.23 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:50:17 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-25-150955: 128.23 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:50:58 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-25-164942: 129.26 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:51:18 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-25-173957: 129.26 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:51:45 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-25-183843: 129.26 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:52:23 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-25-202250: 129.27 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:52:25 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Simon Jordan’s Mac Pro/2009-12-25-210738: 129.27 GB now available
    Dec 26 16:52:25 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Error: backup disk is full - all 33 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed.
    Dec 26 16:52:25 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Backup Failed: unable to free 718.12 GB needed space
    Dec 26 16:52:31 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
    Dec 26 17:18:45 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 26 17:18:46 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 26 17:19:33 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Starting pre-backup thinning: 878.33 GB requested (including padding), 129.27 GB available
    Dec 26 17:19:33 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: No expired backups exist - deleting oldest backups to make room
    Dec 26 17:19:33 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Error: backup disk is full - all 0 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed.
    Dec 26 17:19:33 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Backup Failed: unable to free 878.33 GB needed space
    Dec 26 17:19:38 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[233]: Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
    Dec 26 18:04:50 simon-jordans-mac-pro [0x0-0x45045].backupd-helper[853]: Not starting Time Machine backup after wake - failed to resolve alias to backup volume
    Dec 26 18:07:02 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 26 18:07:03 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 26 18:07:24 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Node requires deep traversal:/Volumes/Q reason:must scan subdirs|
    Dec 26 18:10:05 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Node requires deep traversal:/Volumes/N2 reason:must scan subdirs|
    Dec 26 18:10:08 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Starting pre-backup thinning: 1.48 TB requested (including padding), 129.27 GB available
    Dec 26 18:10:08 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: No expired backups exist - deleting oldest backups to make room
    Dec 26 18:10:08 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Error: backup disk is full - all 0 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed.
    Dec 26 18:10:08 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Backup Failed: unable to free 1.48 TB needed space
    Dec 26 18:10:14 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
    Dec 26 18:13:18 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 26 18:13:19 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 26 18:13:38 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Node requires deep traversal:/Volumes/Q reason:must scan subdirs|
    Dec 26 18:15:52 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Node requires deep traversal:/Volumes/N2 reason:must scan subdirs|
    Dec 26 18:15:59 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Starting pre-backup thinning: 1.05 TB requested (including padding), 129.27 GB available
    Dec 26 18:15:59 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: No expired backups exist - deleting oldest backups to make room
    Dec 26 18:15:59 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Error: backup disk is full - all 0 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed.
    Dec 26 18:15:59 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Backup Failed: unable to free 1.05 TB needed space
    Dec 26 18:16:05 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[893]: Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
    Dec 26 18:51:41 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 26 18:51:41 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 26 18:52:10 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Starting pre-backup thinning: 877.95 GB requested (including padding), 129.27 GB available
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    Dec 26 18:52:10 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Error: backup disk is full - all 0 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed.
    Dec 26 18:52:10 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Backup Failed: unable to free 877.95 GB needed space
    Dec 26 18:52:15 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
    Dec 26 18:53:22 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Starting standard backup
    Dec 26 18:53:22 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Dec 26 18:53:36 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Starting pre-backup thinning: 877.95 GB requested (including padding), 129.27 GB available
    Dec 26 18:53:36 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: No expired backups exist - deleting oldest backups to make room
    Dec 26 18:53:36 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Error: backup disk is full - all 0 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed.
    Dec 26 18:53:36 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Backup Failed: unable to free 877.95 GB needed space
    Dec 26 18:53:41 simon-jordans-mac-pro com.apple.backupd[274]: Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.

  • Time Machine will not back up to My Passport Edge for Mac. How do I delete the aliases to make room?

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    You do not ever delete anything on the Time Machine drive using the Finder.
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    To learn about Time machine, start on this page and keep clicking on the ( next page ) links for additional pages in the linked articles:
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    Your best short term solution may be to start a new backup, which will be smaller that the multiple backups on your existing drive. In the long run a Drive 2.5 to 3 times the size of what you want to backup is recommended.

  • Time MAchine won't back up due to not enough space, but there is

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    Carbon Copy Cloner
    Data Backup
    Deja Vu
    SuperDuper!
    Synk Pro
    Tri-Backup
    Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
    Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore.  Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
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  • How to stop Time Machine from deleting historical backups

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    Landon White wrote:
    So for the first time I encountered what happens when Time Machine runs out of room - IT DELETES THE OLDEST BACKUPS UNTIL IT HAS ENOUGH ROOM!!!
    That's terrible if you rely on those backups. We've been using it like an archive and it's been spectacular. Work on a project and delete it when I'm done because I know Time Machine has a copy.
    Well, I no longer have copies of my work from Arpil until July because Time Machine deleted those AUTOMATICALLY to make room. I had always thought that it would warn me it was going to delete older backups and I could just decline.
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    Message was edited by: V.K.

  • Time machine won't back up anymore after it failed? HELP!!

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