Time machine ERASED essential files!!!

As my Time Machine Volume was full, time machine erased my very first backup without asking before.
In this backup I had essential files and projects of my musical studio work, now its gone.
Thanks Time machine.
I wanted to recover this very first backup to another drive to be sure it is safe, but then I realized that it was erased automatically.
I thought there is an option to choose older backups to erease when the drive is full???
Very dissapointed.
Message was edited by: Logicello

You need to realize that there are two types of backup: mirror images and archival.
Never trust very important documents to one drive! Put masterworks on CDs, and copies to back up drive, and to a drive that is off-site, in case your building or home were destroyed or burglarized.
I made the last mistake just once. I was burglarized, and the thieves not only took my computer, they took all the backup media, too. I was prepared only against hard drive failure. Now I find some off-site storage - .mac, my own domain, even email, to have important stuff also somewhere away from here.
I'm sorry your files are gone. Perhaps they are still on the drive. Take your hard drive to a drive recovery service and see if they can restore the files. Do this SOON before the files are overwritten.

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wcaroliner wrote:
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Message was edited by: joshz

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Time machine and hidden files

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(a recent switcher feeling somewhat chuffed at his findings)
Message was edited by: stevesant

Time Machine deletes "unchanged" files at some point?

I am worried with the fate of old files backed up with Time Machine and that are not changed, like old pictures.
I was told that after the first backup, Time Machine works by making links to unchanged files to avoid copying everything not changed.
_My question_: when Time Machine automatically deletes old backups to make save for the new backups - is it possible that these unchanged files (such a specific old pictures file) be also deleted ? In other words, some of _my old pictures might vanish of Time Machine if its file is not changed_?

Mikus wrote:
I am worried with the fate of old files backed up with Time Machine and that are not changed, like old pictures.
I was told that after the first backup, Time Machine works by making links to unchanged files to avoid copying everything not changed.
Correct.
_My question_: when Time Machine automatically deletes old backups to make save for the new backups - is it possible that these unchanged files (such a specific old pictures file) be also deleted ? In other words, some of _my old pictures might vanish of Time Machine if its file is not changed_?
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See How Time Machine works its Magic for an explanation.

HT201250 Will Time Machine backup the files on my desktop?

Will Time Machine backup the files on my desktop? Backup files anywhere on my computer even if they're not neatly in the document folders?

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3107
Most commonly used backup methods explained

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Peter,
I don't understand anything you have posted in any of your responses. What is it you want, here?
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Scott

Time machine ERASED essential files!!!

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