Time Machine and formatting

I just got an external harddrive to do backup of my MacBook Pro. I've never used Time Machine before, but I opened it and chose my new harddrive for backup although (next to the ext. harddrive's name) it said that the ext. harddrive needed to be reformatted first. I chose the harddrive anyways, thinking that it would do the formatting for me. It only told me that it needed to delete the stuff on the harddrive and I - not knowing if this really meant formatting and knowing nothing was on the harddrive to be deleted anyways - clicked OK. 2 seconds of deletion followed and 2 minutes later it started the backup...
My question is now this: What happened to the having to reformat it? I know the backup seems to be working wonderfully (won't know yet - it'll take hours by the looks of it...) - my concern is just that it sometime in the future when I need to use Time Machine to restore some document or whatever it'll let me know that the Time Machine doesn't work anyways, 'cause it needed to be reformatted...
I truly hope you all can give me some calming answers - I'm not the biggest computer genius when it comes to stuff like this....
In advance I thank you for your time!
By the way... The external harddrive I got is a Western Digital 1 TB "My Book Essential"

Pondini wrote:
What's on that other disk, and is it connected to your Mac? I ask because TM will, by default, back it up along with your internal HD unless you tell it not to.
I just switched from PC to Mac last year and so my 160GB drive was merely purchased when I ran out of room on my PC about 1-2 years ago. Back then I moved my iTunes library onto it (which was the thing that was really taking up space) and then most of my pictures was saved on there too. All that stuff is still on the drive, but my iTunes and my pictures is also now on my Mac. So now I just basically need to figure out what to do with the drive. It's only been connected to this computer twice - when transferring iTunes and the pictures. I wouldn't mind though if TM backed up this harddrive too when I delete all the duplicates and find out what to use it for... It's always nice to have a back up of all of your stuff, I think...
Pondini wrote:
Yup. You have an Intel Mac, right? Then everything's lovely!
I sure do! Thank you so much for your help! I can go to bed without worries now! It was truly an awesome and fast help! So thank you VERY much!

Similar Messages

I have a 1TB external hard drive (NTFS) that has all my files from my old PC, how do I create a partition on it for HFS without formatting it so that I can use it for Time Machine and the like?

I have a 1TB external hard drive (NTFS) that has all my files from my old PC, how do I create a partition on it for HFS without formatting it so that I can use it for Time Machine and the like?

There aren't any 3rd party apps or anything. I use PC's and Mac's at school and the only computer connected to a printer at my house is a PC so i need access to both

HT201250 Can I partition my external hard drive and use one partion for time machine and the other one for data that i may want to use in different computers?

I have this doubt. I've just bought an external drive, especifically a Seagate GoFlex Desk 3 tb.
I want to know if it is recomendable to make a partion exclusively for time machine and let another one so I can put there music, photos, videos, etc that I should need to use or copy to another computer.
May half and half, 1.5 tb for time machine and 1.5 tb for data.
I have an internal hard drive of 500 GB (499.25 GB) in my macbook pro.
Any recommendation?

As I said, yes. Be sure your Time Machine partition has at least 1 TB for backups.
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to two (2). Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

I want to use my 1TB Seagate Hard drive for time machine and transferring files from Mac to PC.

For about a year I've been using my 1TB external hard drive for only time machine. To be honest, it wasn't until today that I tried to connect my hard drive to a PC and realize it isn't compatible. I read about partitioning the hard drive so that it can work both for time machine and transferring files between pc and mac. I'm not what you would call tech savvy, so I was wondering if I can get some advice on how to do this.
Thanks in advance.

To do it, you have to partition the hard disk, so you will have one partition for Time Machine and another one to store files and use them in a PC and Mac. To create the partition, follow these steps > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU3.html
In order to read and write in the external disk on the PC, you have to select "MS-DOS (FAT)" as "Format". If you choose any other option, the PC won't be able to read your external disk. Apart from that, note that you can't use files bigger than 4 GB with FAT. If you want to use the external disk with files bigger than 4 GB, you have to format your new partition in exFAT, and you have to do it on a PC

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

How to store photo's on external drive and still use Time Machine and secondary back up plan

So, My Macbook Pro is now going on 4 years old and I've accumulated around 15,000 photos in iPhoto now. I would like to move everything (or at least everything older than 12 months) onto a portable external drive, but i'm not sure the best way to do this and still keep a good back up plan. My current process is the following -- I have external HD same size as my current internal drive on the MBP, which is formatted that i use Time Machine. I also have a paid subscription to Crash Plan online cloud back up that is connected to my laptop drive (CrashPlan is constant and easy, so I just USB plug in MBP to EHD a few times a month and that's it). If I were to move most of my picture/video's/important docs to an external drive, how would I back that up with Time Machine, and if I did, how would I back up my laptop drive with Time Machine also, and what drive would I assign my Crash Plan online account too? Cant seem to wrap my brain around the easiest and best method. (In short, I want most pics/video's stored off the laptop so that my HD is not consumed; but still easy to access if needed, and easy to back up) Also driving this need for a solution is the fact i would like my next lap top to be an Macbook Air, which I know I can't keep my current set up would not work. Any thoughts are appreciated.

if your internal drive has 250 GB and the external drive with the iPhoto library as well, your TimeMachine should have at least 1 TB.
I have read over some of CrashPlans support docs and it sounds like it will be able to back up and restore the iPhoto library, and as long as you restore the entire library and not single photos, it will save and restore all metadata as well.
I studied their documents to. They are saying they can backup any filetype. And they are saying the iPhoto libraries or Aperture libraries will be backed up automatically, when they are in in the Pictures folder, because the Home folder will be backed up.
On their screenshot you can see, that the libraries are backed up as a nested set of folders, and not as a package. That let's me doubt that the dependencies within the package will be treated correctly. To restore from the backup they recommend to restore the set of nested folders. What I could not find anywhere in the documentation is any information on the filesystem they are storing the backup on. If it is not Apple's MacOS Extended (Journaled, not case sensitive) the restored library may be corrupted, because the internal links in the databases may not work. Try to find out something about the filesystem on the backup servers, before you entrust your iPhoto library to that servers.

Backup fail on Time Machine and My Passport for Mac on Yosemite

Cannot seem to get Time Machine to do a full backup of my NEW My Passport for Mac.
I've:
- Updated firmware on WD external drive (and formatted correctly for Apple)
- Updated to latest IOS 10.10.3 (Yosemite)
- Verified and repaired Mac HD via iOS Disk Utility and the WD Drive Utility (no issues found on either)
Error message continues to be "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to My Passport for Mac. An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."
I'm backing up about 250 GB and have done this numerous times on my Passport for Mac. Everything SEEMS to be fine during backup, until after about 2-3 hours, into a 4-hour backup, the error message appears without any error codes.
Does anyone have any input? I don't think it is on the WD side. Anyone know if there an issue with Time Machine and this external drive? Help!
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Linc,
I hope this helps you.
Thanks,
Dave
4/21/15 2:30:48.894 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Starting manual backup
4/21/15 2:30:48.924 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Backing up to /dev/disk3: /Volumes/My Passport/Backups.backupdb
4/21/15 2:30:50.165 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Forcing deep traversal on source: "Macintosh HD" (device: /dev/disk1 mount: '/' fsUUID: FAA966F2-1745-37AB-9FF9-CF4C23D771E4 eventDBUUID: B2005948-1DDE-40E6-ABC9-46245CA94AD1)
4/21/15 2:30:50.175 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Didn't get valid migration dates.
4/21/15 2:30:50.180 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Found 1181547 files (63.52 GB) needing backup
4/21/15 2:30:50.187 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: 77.33 GB required (including padding), 819.06 GB available
4/21/15 2:30:55.943 PM mdworker[699]: code validation failed in the process of getting signing information: Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-67062 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -67062.)"
4/21/15 2:30:56.050 PM mdworker[700]: code validation failed in the process of getting signing information: Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-67062 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -67062.)"
4/21/15 2:32:39.865 PM com.apple.mtmd[688]: low disk space thinning needed for volume Macintosh HD with 2.8 <= 10.0 pct free space , no snapshots can be thinned
4/21/15 2:32:39.866 PM com.apple.mtmd[688]: volume Macintosh HD is now in an emergency freespace condition
4/21/15 2:34:39.000 PM kernel[0]: nspace-handler-set-snapshot-time: 1429641281
4/21/15 2:34:39.893 PM com.apple.mtmd[688]: Set snapshot time: 2015-04-21 14:34:41 -0400 (current time: 2015-04-21 14:34:39 -0400)
4/21/15 2:34:44.894 PM com.apple.mtmd[688]: attempting to thin because of low free space on Macintosh HD by removing 2015-04-21 14:30:39 -0400, estimate 18498 bytes to recover, 1 snapshot can be thinned
4/21/15 2:36:51.268 PM com.apple.backupd-helper[687]: Not starting scheduled Time Machine backup: Backup already running
4/21/15 2:37:01.460 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.imfoundation.IMRemoteURLConnectionAgent) The _DirtyJetsamMemoryLimit key is not available on this platform.
4/21/15 2:37:02.384 PM com.apple.iCloudHelper[838]: objc[838]: Class FALogging is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/FamilyCircle.framework/Versions/A/FamilyCircl e and /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/FamilyNotification.framework/Versions/A/Famil yNotification. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
4/21/15 2:37:02.402 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.imfoundation.IMRemoteURLConnectionAgent) The _DirtyJetsamMemoryLimit key is not available on this platform.
4/21/15 2:37:02.662 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.auditd[840]) Endpoint has been activated through legacy launch(3) APIs. Please switch to XPC or bootstrap_check_in(): com.apple.auditd
4/21/15 2:37:02.673 PM david81968[844]: audit warning: soft /var/audit
4/21/15 2:37:02.673 PM david81968[845]: audit warning: allsoft
4/21/15 2:37:02.676 PM david81968[846]: audit warning: closefile /var/audit/20150421183034.20150421183702
4/21/15 2:37:02.839 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.imfoundation.IMRemoteURLConnectionAgent) The _DirtyJetsamMemoryLimit key is not available on this platform.
4/21/15 2:38:59.000 PM kernel[0]: CoreStorageGroup::completeIORequest - error 0xe00002ca detected for LVG "Macintosh HD" (D6FA6085-F105-4739-8C98-5794D7B5F901), pv 0759D4F3-CB92-452D-98FD-C34240DB00A7, near LV byte offset = 60459065344.
4/21/15 2:38:59.000 PM kernel[0]: disk1: I/O error.
4/21/15 2:38:59.999 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/david81968/Pictures/iPhoto Library.migratedphotolibrary/Masters/2011/10/08/20111008-103336/SAM_0979.JPG to (null)
4/21/15 2:40:50.969 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>: notification observer: com.apple.FaceTime   notification: __CFNotification 0x7fd518f10980 {name = _NSDoNotDisturbEnabledNotification}
4/21/15 2:40:50.970 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>: notification observer: com.apple.iChat   notification: __CFNotification 0x7f801a41a7a0 {name = _NSDoNotDisturbEnabledNotification}
4/21/15 2:40:51.010 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>:    NC Disabled: NO
4/21/15 2:40:51.011 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>:    NC Disabled: NO
4/21/15 2:40:51.025 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>:   DND Enabled: YES
4/21/15 2:40:51.025 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>:   DND Enabled: YES
4/21/15 2:40:51.025 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>: Updating enabled: NO   (Topics: (
4/21/15 2:40:51.025 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>: Updating enabled: NO   (Topics: (
4/21/15 2:40:51.025 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>: notification observer: com.apple.iChat   notification: __CFNotification 0x7f801a533500 {name = _NSDoNotDisturbEnabledNotification}
4/21/15 2:40:51.033 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>:    NC Disabled: NO
4/21/15 2:40:51.041 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>:   DND Enabled: YES
4/21/15 2:40:51.041 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>: Updating enabled: NO   (Topics: (
4/21/15 2:40:51.120 PM WindowServer[155]: device_generate_desktop_screenshot: authw 0x7fd09e980ad0(2000), shield 0x7fd099f396d0(2001)
4/21/15 2:40:51.156 PM WindowServer[155]: device_generate_lock_screen_screenshot: authw 0x7fd09e980ad0(2000)[0, 0, 1440, 900] shield 0x7fd099f396d0(2001), dev [1440,900]
4/21/15 2:41:03.172 PM loginwindow[90]: CoreAnimation: warning, deleted thread with uncommitted CATransaction; set CA_DEBUG_TRANSACTIONS=1 in environment to log backtraces.
4/21/15 2:45:23.309 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Stopping backup.
4/21/15 2:45:23.310 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Error: (-43) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/david81968/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/Masters/2011/10/08/20111008-103336/SAM_0979.JPG to /Volumes/My Passport/Backups.backupdb/David’s MacBook Air/2015-04-21-143049.inProgress/442FA756-4F11-4553-B1AD-FD0D08D9DDF3/Macintosh HD/Users/david81968/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/Masters/2011/10/08/20111008-103336
4/21/15 2:45:23.464 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Copied 22884 items (437.4 MB) from volume Macintosh HD. Linked 90492.
4/21/15 2:45:23.546 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Copy stage failed with error:11
4/21/15 2:45:23.605 PM com.apple.backupd[696]: Backup failed with error 11: 11
4/21/15 2:45:23.644 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.auditd[1026]) Endpoint has been activated through legacy launch(3) APIs. Please switch to XPC or bootstrap_check_in(): com.apple.auditd
4/21/15 2:45:23.658 PM david81968[1030]: audit warning: allsoft
4/21/15 2:45:23.658 PM david81968[1031]: audit warning: soft /var/audit
4/21/15 2:45:23.660 PM david81968[1032]: audit warning: closefile /var/audit/20150421183702.20150421184523
4/21/15 2:47:24.762 PM SystemUIServer[258]: Attempt to use XPC with a MachService that has HideUntilCheckIn set. This will result in unpredictable behavior: com.apple.backupd.status.xpc
4/21/15 2:47:24.764 PM com.apple.prefs.backup.remoteservice[683]: Attempt to use XPC with a MachService that has HideUntilCheckIn set. This will result in unpredictable behavior: com.apple.backupd.status.xpc
4/21/15 2:48:21.585 PM WindowServer[155]: CGXDisplayDidWakeNotification [1669794395052]: posting kCGSDisplayDidWake
4/21/15 2:48:21.586 PM WindowServer[155]: handle_will_sleep_auth_and_shield_windows: Deferring.
4/21/15 2:48:21.706 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>: notification observer: com.apple.FaceTime   notification: __CFNotification 0x7fd518c34ab0 {name = _NSDoNotDisturbDisabledNotification}
4/21/15 2:48:21.706 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>: notification observer: com.apple.iChat   notification: __CFNotification 0x7f801a531dd0 {name = _NSDoNotDisturbDisabledNotification}
4/21/15 2:48:21.750 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>:    NC Disabled: NO
4/21/15 2:48:21.750 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>:    NC Disabled: NO
4/21/15 2:48:21.771 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>:   DND Enabled: NO
4/21/15 2:48:21.771 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>:   DND Enabled: NO
4/21/15 2:48:21.771 PM imagent[281]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7fd518c317e0>: Updating enabled: YES   (Topics: (
    "com.apple.ess",
    "com.apple.private.ac"
4/21/15 2:48:21.771 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a5487f0>: Updating enabled: YES   (Topics: (
    "com.apple.private.alloy.icloudpairing",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.continuity.encryption",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.continuity.activity",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.idstransfers",
    "com.apple.private.ids",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.phonecontinuity",
    "com.apple.ess",
    "com.apple.madrid",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.continuity.auth",
    "com.apple.private.ac",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.idsremoteurlconnection",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.sms",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.screensharing",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.maps",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.callhistorysync",
    "com.apple.private.alloy.continuity.tethering"
4/21/15 2:48:21.772 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>: notification observer: com.apple.iChat   notification: __CFNotification 0x7f801a41a7a0 {name = _NSDoNotDisturbDisabledNotification}
4/21/15 2:48:21.782 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>:    NC Disabled: NO
4/21/15 2:48:21.788 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>:   DND Enabled: NO
4/21/15 2:48:21.789 PM identityservicesd[285]: <IMMacNotificationCenterManager: 0x7f801a722240>: Updating enabled: YES   (Topics: (
    "com.apple.madrid"
4/21/15 2:48:26.347 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.auditd[1095]) Endpoint has been activated through legacy launch(3) APIs. Please switch to XPC or bootstrap_check_in(): com.apple.auditd
4/21/15 2:48:26.357 PM david81968[1100]: audit warning: soft /var/audit
4/21/15 2:48:26.357 PM david81968[1099]: audit warning: allsoft
4/21/15 2:48:26.374 PM david81968[1102]: audit warning: closefile /var/audit/20150421184523.20150421184826

Time Machine and Seagate External hard drive

I connected my Seagate External Hard Drive (300GB) to my MacBook pro for the first time. I got a prompt asking if I would like to use this as a backup disk with Time Machine. Absent-mindedly, I hit "NO".
Now the Hard drive is not showing up in the list of disks in Time Machine and I can't figure out a way to search for new disks or change the settings. I would like to use the hard drive to back up my Mac.
(Also, my Mac has a Windows partition) and I have used Norton to backup the Windows side on the same hard drive.)
Any suggestions?

MG1373 wrote:
(Also, my Mac has a Windows partition) and I have used Norton to backup the Windows side on the same hard drive.)
Hi, and welcome to the forums.
Do you mean there's already Windoze data on the external you want to use for Time Machine? If so, this probably isn't going to work. The external is almost certainly set up with the MBR (Master Boot Record) partition scheme, which will not work for TM backups. To check this, use Disk Utility (in your Applications/Utilities folder). Click the top line of the drive (with the make and size), then look at the bottom of the display for *Partition Map Scheme.*
If it is MBR, the only way you can put a partition for Time Machine on this drive is to erase it completely and reformat it with the GUID partition map scheme (unless it's a PPC Mac, which needs the +Apple Partition Map+ scheme), then make 2 (or more) partitions, one formatted +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ for TM.
If you do that, you may not be able to set up a partition that you can use for the Windoze data. I don't do Windoze, so can't be sure about that.

I have 2 WD external HD for back up. One is hooked up to the Time Machine and the other is used to store all my large photo files. The time machine excludes the second one. I need to back this up as well . How do I reformat it so it will ?

I just purchased 2 WD TB external hard drives. I have one formatted to be used with the time machine and it is working well. the other that i am using to store large files is excluded from the time machine. I can't click on it and add as per instructions. It won't allow me to. I need to back t his up as well. Ive backed up this one so I am able to reformat it but it doesn't recognize the drive unless it is formatted in FAT which is what WD advices it be formatted in. It should be in Mac extended journaling but I can't get it to mount in that. Help?

In addition, TM will not backup drives partitioned in FAT as the OP stated his 2nd EHD is formatted. My recommendation to the OP is to reformat the 2nd EHD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and then include it in his TM backups. Of course in order to do this the OP must first move the data on the FAT partitioned drive to his internal HD and then once the EHD is re-partitioned correctly he can move it back.
In addition as Pondini mentioned the 2nd EHD must be directly connected to the iMac rather than be a network drive, TM is NOT, repeat NOT a network backup solution with the single caveat of using a Time Capsule backup.

Time Machine And Repair Permissions Error

Hi.
I have a new Intel Mac running Leopard. "Set up Assistant" worked like a charm and brought over all my preferences, iTunes, iPhoto etc. with out a hitch. Verified permissions and the disk and came up clean.
I bought a USB LaCie 500GB external hard drive and connected it up with the idea that I would eventually use it for Time Machine.
First thing after connecting up the new hard drive, Time Machine came up and asked if I wanted it to use the new drive as a Time Machine drive and I clicked on "cancel." Thanks to all of you I knew enough to need to GUID partition and re-format the hard drive, from the FAT 32 that it came with to Mac OS Extended (journaled) that Time Machine needs. After completing this, again, the dialog box popped up about activating Time Machine and I cancelled it again.
I have not, yet, activated Time Machine. But running permission verify and repair yielded this error message both times: Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired.
This is the same message seen on so many other people's machines and posted here when they run into problems with Time Machine. If I don't resolve this error, will I, too, have problems running Time Machine?
This is so weird. The only thing I did between the clean permissions verification and the one with the error was connect the USB LaCie hard drive and partition and and re-format it. Time Machine has not yet been activated on this machine.
What does this SUID warning mean? Is this something I need to worry about? Should I wait to start using Time Machine?
Or... is this not a problem but there are other things I need to do to insure a good running of Time Machine?
Thanks so much for any advice you can offer.-Charlotte

The SUID is nothing to worry about.
It is documented from Apple stating this.
Everyone of us has that error.
It has not bothered Time Machine from doing its thing.

Partitioning an External 320gb drive for use with Time Machine and...

I want to be able to use my Western Digital 320GB external drive for use with Time Machine and to use as extra storage space on both my Mac and when I boot into Windows Vista.
Is this possible?
I was playing around in Disk Utility and would I partition the part I want to use for Time Machine with the Mac OS Journaled, and whatever I want as space for windows, use a MS - DOS format?
Has anyone done this before?
Cheers-

Unless you are using 64 bit version of MSWindows (64 bit XP/Vista), it won't be able to handle a disk with GUID partition table (GPT). Disks with Apple Partition Map (APM) or GUID partition table are the only ones that Time Machine will work with (not MBR disks). Note also that the MBR/APM/GPT are at the DISK level and not the partition level, so don't mix the format with partitioning scheme. Time Machine disks are meant to live in the Mac universe (for now, anyway) and sharing with the MSWindows 32-bit universe is not possible.
See http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=macpcdiskdd06sv8.png for some additional background.

Using Time Machine and other uses on one drive

I want to get the Iomega Prestige 500 GB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive 34270 to back up some files from a Tiger machine, and possibly from some Windows machines to, but I also want to be able to use it for Time Machine in the future.
How do I format the drive for Time Machine? If I format it after I start putting files on, would the files be removed? If it's formatted for Time Machine, will it work with the Windows computers? If formatted for Time Machine, will I be able to use it for Time Machine AND regular file storage?

Prepare the drive as follows:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder. If you need to reformat your startup volume, then you must boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the drop down menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID (only required for Intel Macs) then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Now, you cannot use a Mac formatted drive with Windows unless you install Windows software that enables this such as MediaFour's Mac Drive.
If you format the drive FAT32 instead of Mac OS X Extended then you can use the drive on both the Mac and Windows without anything additional, but the drive will not be usable with Time Machine unless it's formatted Mac OS X Extended.
Now, you can partition the drive so that one partition is formatted for OS X and the other for Windows, but to do that you must partition the drive using GUID instead of APM. The former is not compatible with Tiger or non-Intel Macs.
Note that to use Time Machine you must upgrade to Leopard. TM is an incremental archiving backup program so your backup drive will need to be at least twice the capacity of the drive you will backup.

Can you use an external hard drive (G-Tech 1 TB) as both a time machine and for storing extra files?

I just got a new external hard drive and will be getting my macbook pro next week. I was wondering if the external hard drive could be used as both a time machine and to have extra files on it? And if so how would you do that?

Time Machine requires a drive that is formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled), so you will need to check to make sure that this requirement is met.
A drive that the manufacturer says will work with both Mac and Windows will not work with Time Machine.

How do I view the photos ? I backed up with iPhoto closed as is recommended , when I enter time machine and click on iPhoto library is calculates there is 11gb so photos are there when I click on view using iPhoto nothing happens ????

how do I view the photos ? I backed up with iPhoto closed as recommended but when I enter the Time Machine and click on iPhoto library it calculates there is 11gb in there so files must be present but when i click on open with iPhoto nothing happens ? any help welcome please !!??

The external hard drive must connect to your Mac using a USB or FireWire connection.
Note that the hard drive must be formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) to work correctly with the iPhoto Library and be backed up to the Time Capsule and with the backups of your Mac.
We are really talking about iPhoto uses here, so you should post in the iPhoto Support area for more details about this. The link is just below.
iPhoto for Mac

Leopard, Vista, Time Machine, and Shared on a single disk

A friend of mine recently bought one of the new Mac Pros and I'm helping him set it up.
Here's what I want to do and I've been having considerable trouble getting this to work.
My friend got a single terabyte hard drive and I want to partition it into four partitions- one for Leopard, one for Vista, one for Time Machine, and one for Sharing files (FAT 32).
I found out the long way that Boot Camp will not let you install Vista if you already have several partitions on your hard drive.
Here's what I have done so far.
1. Erased the drive and installed a fresh installation of Leopard
2. Run Boot Camp to install Vista (this worked fine and I was able to boot into both operating systems)
3. Booted from OS X install disk and used disk utility to create two new partitions from the HSF formated Leopard drive
My problem is that creating these new partitions deactivated the Vista Partition. The windows partition still shows up in Disk Utility as it did before but when I hold down option to try booting into Windows, Vista no longer shows up. The Mac Works fine as does the Time Machine and Shared partitions.
Could someone please help me to get Vista working again. I hope I won't have to reinstall everything to make this work but if that's the only way, could someone at least tell me how to accomplish my original goal with the computer setup?

VaatiKaiba wrote:
I'm going to install Windows on my Mac soon (for dev purposes, I love Leopard!), but was just wondering something. When I install Vista, will Time Machine backup the Windows partition of the HD?
No but wait ...
If not, can I backup the Windows partition using a Windows program? Also, can I back them up onto the same disc, or will that confuse Mac OS if it has to look back for a backup?
Even better there is a program that will make an image of your Windows partition from OS-X!
It's called Winclone and the latest version supports both NTFS and FAT32.
Get it here - it's free.
You should not backup a program onto the same HD. When the HD fails, you lose the backup as well as the original.
Backup your Windows partition to your TM drive. It's a perfect match.
http://www.twocanoes.com/winclone/
Thanks!

Time Machine and formatting

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