Time Machine Backup In Trash

I bought my first Mac since the Apple IIe days at the first of April. I did a Time Machine back a couple of weeks later when I upgraded to a 500gb hard drive. I have to say that it worked like a champ! I was very impressed. Since that time I haven't done anymore TM Backups. I the past couple of weeks I have cleared enough space off my NAS unit to start doing TM backups again. I went to empty my trash today and that it has my old TM back from April 14 in there. When I try and empty the trash it counts up to over 40,000 files and then tells me that some of the files are locked. Do you want to delete them anyway. Anybody ever seen this before?

You do not delete a TM backup by dragging to the Trash. Backups should be removed using the TM application.
You will need to allow the OS to delete the files in the Trash including those that are locked. Be prepared for this to take a long time. In the future either use the TM application or erase the backup volume.
Note that TM will not backup to a NAS that does not support the AFP protocols or is formatted Mac OS Extended, Journaled on a drive partitioned with APM or GUID. See the following:
Requirements to use Time Machine
Time Machine is only available with Leopard and Snow Leopard (10.5.x or later)
1. External FireWire or USB 2.0 drive
2. Time Capsule
3. Drive shared by a Mac running 10.5 or later using File Sharing
4. Drive shared by a Mac running 10.5 Server
5. SAN volume managed by Apple's Xsan file system
A TM drive must be partitioned with either APM (PPC) or GUID (Intel) and formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
Also:
See User Tips for Time Machine for help with TM problems. Also you can select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "time machine" to locate articles on how to use TM. See also Mac 101- Time Machine.

Similar Messages

  • Accidentally deleted Time Machine backups into Trash...

    I messed up big time -- I moved my Time Machine backups into Trash from Finder.  I've looked around online and it seems like I've really screwed myself over.  I can't reformat/erase the disk because I have about 1.4 TB of other material on it and I don't have any other disk big enough to temporarily hold all these files.  Is there any way to either restore or delete the backups without harming the rest of the files on the disk?

    Full Details Here from Pondini....
    Can't empty the trash after deleting backups via the Finder

  • Time Machine backup folder trashed

    I've screwed up. I sent my Time Machine Backups.backupdb folder to the trash.
    Fortunately, I caught the error and didn't empty the Trash and dump the folder. But then instead of using "Put Back"  I copied it out of Trash to the HDD and now have two folders:  Backups. and RETRIEVED… but the Backups folder is empty and the RETRIEVED folder has an odd string of folders:   HDD> iMac > 2011-08-08-000744 and 2011-08-09-124425 both of which have >HD > System >Library > Core Services> boot.efi
    If I open Time Machine I see a full backup but only for the last day and I can't go back any further.
    I still show a Backups.backupdb folder in the trash, but I don't know what, if anything, to do with it. If I use "Put Back" I will then have 3 such folders. I'll survive losing the backup files because I have been duplicating most of my data files from the past several months on another HD 'just in case,' but I want to get this set up correctly.
    Any guidance on what I did, how to fix it? Thanks,
    Brian

    azartguy wrote:
    I've screwed up. I sent my Time Machine Backups.backupdb folder to the trash.
    Fortunately, I caught the error and didn't empty the Trash and dump the folder.
    You can't. Once removed from the Backups.backupdb folder, backup folders can't be put back:
    Unless you need something from it, move the "Retrieved" folder to the trash and empty it (while holding the Alt/Option key).
    Or, if there's nothing left on the drive (not a good idea to mix other stuff with Time Machine backups anyway), just erase it with Disk Utility.

  • Deleting a Partial Time Machine Backup? Trash?

    OK so the other night I left my computer alone for a bit and it started making a backup that I didn't want. When I came back to my computer it was half done so I told it to stop backing up. Long story short I had put a clone on the drive and forgot to tell time machine to not backup to that same drive. So now I have a partition with a clone and a partial time machine backup. I want to remove the backup.
    I can't find it within the actual time machine window, since it wasn't a finished backup. Also, I read online somewhere that I shouldn't try to delete in the trash, cus a) that can cause problems supposedly and b) it takes forever.
    Does anyone know how I can do this?
    It is currently sitting in my trash, but I haven't actually deleted it from there yet.
    Thanks

    The issue is that it may take days for the removal to occur if it occurs at all mainly because the backup contains a disc image file with all the data then a bunch of incremental backups that contain some files and some hard links. The system has a real problem when it tries to delete a file that is pointed to by a link but the file is stuck inside an unmountable disc image.
    Trust me. Erasing the volume is your only safe bet.

  • How to delete Time Machine backups from Trash

    OK, so you deleted Time Machine backups via Finder and now you can't delete them from Trash.
    First of all - you should NOT delete Time Machine backups in this way.
    BUT all is not lost - to remove the backup folders from your Trash can, all you need to do is hold down the Alt key whilst using the Empty Trash facility.
    Hope this helps.

    I have same problem keep getting annoying error something like 8003. trying to delete all of my back ups as well as the one back up i placed in the trash

  • How to delete time machine backups from trash bin

    Hello,
    I've got a little issue with time machine and doing something stupid on my part. I have seen different posts on this question, but it appears that most people haven't found a working solution, so I want to see if anybody has more insight.
    A few weeks back I found that there were some files and folders that were getting backed up to time machine that I didn't want getting backed up for various reasons. Rather than wisely removing the individual folder and files like I've since learned, I removed the whole backup for that date to the trash bin. I know, bad choice.
    I've tried to empty trash bin and delete the backups altogether, but error codes and permissions keep me from doing that. Space isn't an issue on the external drive I use for Time Machine, so I'd be fine with just getting the files OUT of trash and back into the folder with other backup dates-now that I know how to delete individual files. When I try and drag them back to TM folder from trash, get another error message saying something along the lines of the "drive not being able to be modified".
    I've heard of some people using Terminal to remove files, while other folks say that that's dangerous and asking for bigger problems in the OS. So, what are my BEST options? Just want to get locked files out of the trash bin, don't care where they go at this point. I've tried the secure trash delete option and some other simple suggestions with no luck. Backups still sitting in trash.

    Hi DonnaR,
                   What's not good is to remove them via the Finder or any way other than within Time Machine
    Unfortunately this is what I did, and I know better now, but I can't undo what foolish thing I did. I have tried the steps to a T that you included in earlier post from this page- http://pondini.org/TM/E6.html using the Terminal method. The files are still sitting in trash, no change. I have also done the "secure trash" thing holding down option key and that hasn't worked either. I have also done repeated REPAIR DISK operations of the external drive within Disk Utility and a freeware program called Maintenance, and unless there' some special reboot needed, I still see the files there. At this point, and after reading more on pondini.org, I'd rather figure out a way to "Put Back" deleted backups sitting in trash bin to their place in Time Machine folder via finder, if I could figure out a permissions way around the error message I get saying "The operation can’t be completed because backup items can’t be modified." Is there some way of tricking the Finder window into letting me copy back items somehow? Once I get them back in, I will go through and delete the files from INSIDE Time Machine Star Wars view like suggested.    Force deleting items from trash using TrashIt or OnyX is my very last resort. Once I get this figured out, I intend to upgrade to Mavericks, but I want to do it with everything working and clean.   Thanks again!

  • How can I delete all the Time Machine backups to make room for more? And how do I force the trash to empty?

    I moved a bunch of my husband's files from his Macbook (which is dieing) to my iMac.  I created a user for him on my iMac so he'd be able to keep his stuff separate from mine.  All is working great except my Time Machine is now unable to backup.  The total of used space on my hard drive (including the recently added user's files) is about 420 GB.  The amount of capacity of my external hard drive is 999GB.  I think Time Machine failed because there was all of a sudden so much more data and a new full backup would be more than the unused capacity of the HD?  Regardless I don't need any old backups.  I have all my files and all his files.  So I moved all the backups from the external HD to the trash.  Apparently that's a no no.  I can't fully empty the trash now and that is making my iMac crazy slow. 
    1) Can anyone tell me how to force the trash to empty?
    2) Is there a way to delete the whole external HD and start over with a new full backup via Time Machine?  In Disk Utility I try to erase the partition and get an error "Volume Erase failed with the error: Couldn't unmount disk." Then I try to Unmount it and get another "Unmount failed. The disk Backup iOmega could not be unmounted.  Make sure that all applications and files are closed on this disk." I turned off Time Machine and tried again but with the same errors.
    The external HD is called iOmega.  It only connects to the iMac with USB.  Any help is much appreciated!!!!

    Try this instead:
    Drive Partition and Format
    1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. Select the backup volume from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    3. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
    4. Click on the Erase button.
    You will need to reconfigure Time Machine preferences for the backup.
    FYI: Never remove Time Machine backup data except through the Time Machine application. If you aren't sure about using Time Machine then visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things related to Time Machine.

  • How can I "Put Back" a time machine backup from the trash to my external hard drive?

    Basically what happened was I accidentally put an older time machine backup from my external hard drive into the trash on my macbook. Since then, time machine has made new backups onto my external hard drive. How can I either "Put Back" or replace the deleted backup back into my hard drive?
    Whenever I try to move it it says "A newer item named “Backups.backupdb” already exists in this location. Do you want to replace it with the older one you’re moving?" I click replace and after a few minutes of loading, it says "Cannot replace. An item named "" already exists."

    As long as you don't delete the trash, the files should be recoverable.
    I suspect using the Put Back command could take a long time, so be patient.
    If your Time Machine backups are mixed with your daughter's backups you might want to buy a larger drive and move the Time Machine files to the new drive.
    Regarding missing photos in iPhoto...There might be options to rebuild/recover that data from iPhoto rather than trying to revert to a Time Machine backup.
    Check out this third party app, iPhoto Library Manager. It has a demo.
    http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/
    Options for a larger drive.
    I like the Seagate USB 3.0 Backup plus drives. Works on USB 2.0 ports. They come formatted for PC but easy to format in Disk Utility.
    I don't recommend Western Digital because of the boot problem with some of their drives.
    LaCie makes good drives.
    All Mac formatted drives will cost more and it’s easy to reformat with Disk Utility. Do not use the software that comes with the drives. It’s recommended that you use Apple’s Disk Utility.
    Prices vary but this gives you an idea of what you’ll find. As you notice the second and third TB is usually only $15 more per TB. Normally, you’ll find these prices but right now the 1T is more than the 2T
    Seagate Backup Plus 1 TB USB 3.0 $85
    Seagate Backup Plus 2 TB USB 3.0 $99
    Seagate Backup Plus 3 TB USB 3.0 $115
    I have seen the 3T on sale for $99.
    Locally, Best Buy seems to have the best prices.

  • Hi, Question about secure empty trash. I moved some Time Machine backup files to the trash from an external hard drive. Now I can't secure empty trash. It starts, finds 74,003 files, and does nothing. The external hard drive shows it's empty, but it isn't

    I moved some time machine backup files from an external USB hard drive to the trash. Tried secure empty trash. It counts 74,003 items, then just sits there. The external hard drive window shows it's empty, but the info pane says it only has 50G of memory left. I left the secure empty trash on over night. It did nothing. Ideas?
    Thanks,
    Ron

    Relaunch the Finder, then from the Finder menu bar, select
    Finder ▹ Preferences ▹ Advanced
    and uncheck the box marked Empty Trash securely. Try again to empty the Trash.

  • I threw out 24 time machine backups from an external hard drive into my desktop trash and now I can't empty my trash.

    I threw out 24 time machine backups from an external hard drive into my IMac desktop trash and now I can't empty my trash.

    Since you didn't mention what type of error message you were seeing, I'm going to guess on what is happening.
    I'm guessing that since you threw away Time Machine backups, that Time Machine is probably active on your Mac. There is a chance then that the files you tossed are marked as in use. You can't delete files that are in use.
    Try turning Time Machine off, then restart your Mac. Then try deleting them again.
    Once done, turn Time Machine back on.
    Tom

  • I accidentally deleted my media files from iTunes and Trash when I was trying to move the files to an external hard drive. Is there a way to restore the media files from a Time Machine backup or from iTunes Match? What are the steps to do this?

    I accidentally deleted my media files from iTunes and Trash when I was trying to move the files to an external hard drive. Is there a way to restore the media files from a Time Machine backup or from iTunes Match? What are the steps to do this?

    If you have been backing up on Timemachine.
    All you need to do is enter time machine... Then the rest is obvious.
    Find the iTunes folder and hit 'Restor'.
    If not the only way to get all your iTunes music back is to enter iTunes Store.
    On the right hand side you should see 'Purchased'.
    Click 'purchased' and there you have it.

  • Need to restore trashed time machine backup - help

    Help.. 
    I was recently burgled and my iMac and my backup drive ( on which I used TIme Machine) were taken.  So I lost everything. (No, i didnt have the time or extra monel to create another backup for off-sire storage, a mistake i will never make again)
    I have an older ext harddrive that I used to use for Time Machine backups, but since i decommissioned it from being a backup drive, I deleted (trashed) the TM backup folder on it, and have written new data on there.
    So far the situation is sounding grim, I know.   Surely there must be a chance of recovering at lease something from the drive.  
    Will things like MacKeeper  or Stelar phoenix Mac Data recovery  (or others) work?   
    Please help.  I have lost the majority of my life's work (some was on other drives thankfully).

    MacKeeper is something to avoid.   Period.   There are data recovery services but they do tend to be expensive.   Type 'data recovery' in the search box above, you will certainly find some recommendations ... the link below is typical.  
    Accidentally erased external hard drive: Apple Support Communities

  • I dragged some of the Time Machine backup folders into the Trash and now I can't empty them out of the trash because it says the applicaiotns ar ruining - what can I do?

    I have dragged soem of my Time Machine folders into the Trash. Now when I try to empty the Trash it says it cannot empty some of the files because the applicaitons are running.
    What can I do to delete them and completely empty the Trash.
    NOTE: the Trash is on my iMac, not the Time Machine backup drive.
    Thanks!

    Greetings Dennis,
    Time Machine handles file deletion of its backups or you can use the Time Machine window to tell Time Machine to delete specific files: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
    Follow the steps here: http://Pondini.org/TM/E6.html
    Cheers.

  • Accidentally I have deleted my Time Machine Backup but deleted files are in the Trash !

    Hi Folks,
    Accidentally deleted my Time Machine backkups but all files are in the Trash. I am copying my files from Trash folder to another Portable Drive just incase I will not be able to restore my files as Put Back is not working because seems Time Machine backups is a part large database.
    Is there anyway I can restore the files to Time Machine again? If there is, could you please tell me step by step ! If there is not any procedures, please advise me what should I do in this stage?
    Thanks in advance.

    The following excellent Support articles may help you with that:
                http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
                         http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

  • I deleted my Time Machine backups using Finder, now the trash won't empty

    Hello
    I've just been to the Apple genius bar and thought this was solved, there the trash emptied no problem.  But I realized that the problem has to do with two external drives that have time machine backups on them.  I deleted some of the older back ups because my drive was filling up and I didn't see any other way to delete them. 
    Now they can't be reinstated back where they were, and the trash won't empty using any method.  I've even tried the Terminal SUMO methods on here and other sites, and the Trashi It app, and Cocktail app - nothing works. 
    The only solutions I've found say to wipe your back up drive completely and start over but that is NOT an option as I have ALL of my photos on there.  I use my external drive for my images (I am a photographer) and use time machine to back up my MacBookPro onto there as well.  I had no idea deleting those was going to be an issue.  Now I've tried to delete other things on both external drives and they are all stuck in the trash. 
    Someone please help! 

    photogirl67 wrote:
    I use my external drive for my images (I am a photographer) and use time machine to back up my MacBookPro onto there as well.
    Not a good idea, as you've learned the hard way. 
    And especially bad in the same partition, as you can't just erase the TM partition.
    Plus, how do you back up the images?
    For best results, consider getting another external HD; one for the images, and one for TM.  Then you can have Time Machine back up both your Mac and the external.  See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #32 for details and considerations.
    But my question for Pondini is this - if I use that command will it erase that entire drive, or just the trash on it?
    Just the trash folders.  I've reworded those instructions a bit, hopefully more clearly and safely, and put them in #E6 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

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