Time machine and backup

I have a quick question. I'm pretty new to macbooks. I just recently bought a macbook pro 13" and hooked it up to an external harddrive. I used Time Machine to backup the entire system. I take a lot of pictures so I've used up about half my hard drive capacity. My question is....can I use the same external hard drive just to store pics and also as Time Machine? Or...do I have to buy another external hard drive to just store pics?

Time Machine works best if it has its own, exclusive space. If you want to put other things on the same drive, partition it. See #3 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.
But before you do that, how are you going to back up those pictures? If they're in the same partition as your backups, Time Machine cannot back them up. If they're in a separate partition of the same drive, when you tell Time Machine to back it up, it will send you a message reminding you that it's not a good idea to have your originals and backups on the same physical HD. When (not if) it fails, you risk losing both copies.
If your pictures are valuable, yes, get another drive for them. Format it for a Mac, per #1 in Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks. External HDs are excluded from Time Machine by default, so go to Time Machine prefs > Options, select the new drive, and click the minus sign at the bottom to remove it from the exclusions box. Then Time Machine will back it up along with your internal HD.

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Maverick and Time Machine and backup

I moved to maverick. My time machine indicator at the top right of my imac does not spin when it is backing up. It used to with Lion. Is this normal.
When adding Maverick. Is it normal my external hard drives seem to view the first back up and a new one, and is taking more than an hour to back up?
thanks,

Hi John et al,
Update: Finally...
At least for the Promise Pegasus R4... but I noticed on other threads that WD drives are also acting up too so this might work with them too.
I turned off Time Machine, and deleted that pesky .plist file, again. I unplugged the R4, power and thunderbolt, then played whack the gopher with the drives swapping them around randomly. I reintalled Mavericks from a fresh download, yet again, then set Time Machine to backup on a fast USB 3TB drive (which it did in 6 hours or so). Then I turned off Time Machine, deleleted that .plist file again, rebooted the iMac, plugged in the R4, reformatted it again with Disk Utility, then hooked it to Time Machine, said a few slightly heretic prayers to whatever demons came with Maverick, and 2 minutes later Time Machine started to backup and report 1 hour to complete... the hour isn't up yet, but I'm crossing everything I have 2 of...
I've noticed a few other 'didn't copy over or mesh well' things with Maverick, but that's a different thread and 2 updates from now once we all suffer through this extended beta-test by Apple.

Difference between Time Machine and Backup

Besides the fact that to backup more than 100MB of data using Apple's Backup software you have to have a .Mac membership, what is the difference or pros and cons of using Time Machine vs. Backup for restoring lost or damaged files to their original location? Which one is easier and better for this or are they the same? Time Machine you can go back to a previous system state in case a newly installed item has created an issue, but can't you do the same thing by just uninstalling the item?

Time Machine and Apple's "Backup" are actually quite different. "Backup" creates archives which you can't read directly, and allows you to backup to optical media and online .Mac iDisk, as well as hard disks. You create "plans" for various folders or types of data that you want to backup, such as your Personal Settings, Documents, Photos, entire iLife, whatever. "Backup" typically makes an initial full backup and then does incremental backups after that for speed.
Time Machine you would typically use to backup your entire drive, and it saves files that are directly-readable. It doesn't backup to optical media like DVDs or to the iDisk.
The two apps are actually complimentary. You should backup your iTunes, iPhotos, etc to optical media periodically and save these disks off-site, like in a safe-deposit box. If want to keep your Personal Settings, Keychains, etc handy on a USB flash drive you can do that with "Backup" too. Backup allows you to set up custom backup plans that work for you. You can choose how often you want to backup to various destinations.
It is also good to use a cloner that makes bootable clones as well, such as SuperDuper! or CCC, so that you can restart immediately from the clone if your main drive won't boot.
I use all 3 methods, and actually used all 3 methods to restore my system just yesterday (after learning that the Leopard Graphics Update causes 12" Powerbooks to crash whenever attempting to use the DVD Player.app). I recloned my internal drive from bootable SuperDuper! backup that I had made before the Leopard Graphics Update (and then reapplied the 10.5.2 Combo and iLifeSupport), used Time Machine to restore more recent files, and then "Backup" to restore recent Keychain changes.

My Time Machine and backup drive are not recognized and do not work after this update...is there a way to fix this?

After I upgraded to Yosemite, my MAC Time Machine backup drive is no longer recognized and the process freezes when I try to re-install the drive from the drive's software. Is there a way to fix this?

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

Solved: Time Machine and backups to regular NAS

I recently purchased a Synology DS-107+ NAS (1TB) and have been able to get Time Machine working with it. If you are interested, follow this link: http://www.naschenweng.info/2008/07/15/os-x-time-machine-backup-to-synology-ds1
Throughput via wireless (AEX) comes in between 5-7MB/sec.

Are you aure they are not local snaphots?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4878
You can read more about that here...
http://pondini.org/TM/30.html

Time Machine AND Backup 3.1.2

Hello. I'm successfully using TM but would like to backup all my iphoto's to DVD. In the past I did this using Backup 3.1.2. If I do this and Backup is burning photo library to disk should I temporarily turn off TM? Seems like they could both be reading the same info at the same time?? Is this a problem?

Sorry, but I'm not sure I understand your question.
The best way to access your Time Machine backups is via the Time Machine application. If some backups are shown in the timeline, but can't be selected, it's because whatever's shown in the Finder window wasn't included on that backup. See the pink box in #15A of Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.
If the backups in question aren't shown in the timeline at all, try the (badly named, in this case) Browse Other Time Machine Disks option, per #17 in the above link.

Time Machine and Back-Up

Sorry for my ignorance. Do I need to use both Time Machine and Back-up? What's your best advice for using these effectively? Thanks for your PATIENCE and time.

I've never had a .Mac account so I can't comment specifically about Backup but it's always better to have two backups. Using both Time Machine and Backup would probably be useful. This article covers some of the basics about the differences between Time Machine and Backup.
Mac OS X 10.5: When to use Time Machine or .Mac Backup to back up data
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307050

I'm using Time Machine and a LaCie external drive to backup. I also have a 8 GB LaCie flash drive I want to use for small jobs. If I plug the LaCie flash drive in, is my Mac going to think it is the LaCie external drive and start trying to backup?

I'm using Time Machine and a LaCie external drive to backup. I also have a 8 GB LaCie flash drive I want to use for small jobs. If I plug the LaCie flash drive in, is my Mac going to think it is the LaCie external drive and start trying to backup?

no.

I have an older macbook pro and the hard drive is starting to go (making loud noises). i tried to back up to an external hard drive (my passport essential se) using time machine and the computer keeps shutting down. suggestions to complete backup please?

I have an older macbook pro and the hard drive is starting to go (making loud noises). i tried to back up to an external hard drive (my passport essential se) using time machine and the computer keeps shutting down. the same thing happens when just trying to save my pictures from iphoto to a flash drive. suggestions to complete backup please?

Sounds like you'll need to access that drive while it is not booted. You need to replace it anyway, so do that, then one way or another (ext enclusure, et), access it and copy files.
If you keep trying to boot it, you might kill it for good and not get your files, so just swap it out first.

Can I use Time Machine to backup to partition on external drive and a Time Capsule?

Trying to plan in advance...
I was wondering if I can (with a laptop) use Time Machine for both:
1. Creating Time Machine backups on a partiion of an external drive. My plan was going to create 2 partitions: one to be used for Time Machine backups of another external hard drive (that holds all of my media) and then the other partition was going to be a bootable clone of my internal drive (totally separate from Time Machine)
and
2. Also use Time Machine for my Time Capsule, to create Time Machine backups of my internal drive.
Is this possible? I had heard that you can't use TM to make backups to a partition on an external drive, AND use it for another drive (like Time Capsule) at the same time. But I would think that this should be possible-
Thanks everyone-

Yes you can, and if you are using Mountain Lion it's easy.
If you are using Snow Leopard (as in your profile - this is the Mountain Lion forum), you have to manually select the backup volume each time. Tedious, but possible.
Read Apple Support Communities contributor Pondini's FAQ on that subject: "Rotating" Time Machine backup disks

HT201250 I have two external hard drives. One is my Time Machine backup drive. The other I use for external storage of files (documents, photos, movies, etc). Can I set Time Machine to backup BOTH my Mac hard drive and my other external hard drive?

I have two external hard drives. One is my Time Machine backup drive. The other I use for external storage of files (documents, photos, movies, etc). Can I set Time Machine to backup BOTH my Mac hard drive and my other external hard drive?

Yes you can make multiple backups on one hard drive, for example if you’ve 1TB hard drive installed in your PC and you’ve two Mac Machines with 500GB drive each then you just make two backup images with size of 500GB each.
http://www.halfspot.com/use-your-pc-hard-drive-for-time-machine-backup/

I deleted a contact from my phone and it synced with all my other devices including my Mac. However, I have setup time machine and have many previous backups. Can I open or use a file in back ups to get my contact back? Where and which one? Thanks!

Its all in the question.
I have backups from months ago.
And ICLOUD deleted my contact from others devices.

Bring the Contacts window forward, then enter Time Machine and scroll back to a snapshot that includes the contacts you want to restore. Select the contacts and click the Restore button in the lower right corner of the screen.
If you don't have a Time Machine backup, but your contacts are all on iCloud and haven't been overwritten, then you can recover them by following the instructions on this page. Double-click the downloaded file to import it into Contacts. This procedure will not work if you've synced an empty Contacts database to iCloud.

Old computer I had is OSX Snow Leopard with Entourage. New one is OSX Mavericks. Using Mail where are my addresses and old address book. Transferred old computer backup by Time Machine and other things work? Can't see a symbol for address book.

Old computer I had is OSX Snow Leopard with Entourage. New one is OSX Mavericks. Using Mail where are my addresses and old address book. Transferred old computer backup by Time Machine and other things work? Can;t see a symbol for address book.

Where are addresses kept on MAIL? I don;t like the new format at all. Frances
Begin forwarded message:
From: Frances Topping <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: - Old computer I had is OSX Snow Leopard with Entourage. New one is OSX Mavericks. Using Mail where are my addresses and old address book. Transferred old computer backup by Time Machine and other things work? Can't see a symbol for address book.
Date: August 25, 2014 at 9:46:01 AM EDT
To: discussions-replies <[email protected]>
Old Entourage is POP and new Mavericks MAIL is IMAP I believe. I don;t know how to export in the forms you mention. Frances

Can time machine and carbon copy cloner use the same backup drive?

Can time machine and CCC use the same esata backup drive?

Yes, but you will need to first partition the drive so that TM and CCC will backup to their own respective volumes. This way the CCC volume can accommodate a bootable clone.
Be sure the TM volume has adequate space. A TM backup volume should have about twice the capacity of the volume it backs up.

Using Time Machine to backup and restore multiple external hard drives

I currently use Time Machine to back up my primary HD on my MBP as well as two other external hard drives that I use to store video editing and other large files.
Unfortunately, one of the external drives (500GB LaCie) recently died. I have purchased a replacement drive (1T LaCie) and I would like to restore my most recent time machine backup of the 500GB drive to the new 1T drive.
As I am new to time machine and have never actually tried to restore anything, can someone walk me through the process? I have already noticed that when I open time machine, the finder window shows only those drives that are currently mounted. Since the drive I want to restore is dead, I obviously cannot mount it...so I 'm not exactly sure how this is supposed to work.
Thanks!

This is a frustrating issue compounded by Apple’s penchant toward hopelessly poor documentation.
My problem concerns an old G4 (AGP) with an OEM Adaptec SCSI board and internal SCSI drives. That probably doesn’t matter but one of the drives (one of three) recently died. I had a back up with Time Machine to a firewire drive. But, when I put in a new SCSI drive and tried to restore - the fun began! At first I tried to select the old drive in the TM - from the “my computer” folder and copy it to the new differently named drive. That resulted in a “Preparing Copy” hang. 18 hr later I gave up! I then tried to open the TM drive directly and move the old disc (as a full folder) to the new drive - same result happened. Finally, I found this discussion. It worked for me!!! I renamed the new drive the same as the old one and starting from that newly named folder went into the Time Machine, found the latest copy and after a “select all” of all the files and folders there, accomplished a successful restore! Now, what I suspect really happened is the “select all” step. Using this this technique you have to actually go to the backed-up folder within TM and select all the files in it, then restore. Perhaps if I had done that with one of the other attempts it would have worked - who knows - I didn’t do the experiment? Thanks to Scott (a lot!) on this one.

Time machine and backup

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