Time Machine Excluding External Volumes?

The following threads discuss backing up external volumes using Time Machine.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5316613?start=30&tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16591548#16591548
https://discussions.apple.com/message/6785149?searchText=Time%20Machine%20Exclud ing%20External%20Volumes#6785149
So apparently TM can backup external volumes but I have not been able to do so.
I've been experimenting with TM to backup external drives. It will not backup my external drive, even when I remove it from the exclusion list. It automatically re-added it to the exclusion list even though I explicitly removed it from that list.
My test:
- I plugged in a 1 GB thumb drive and formatted it as Mac OS Extended (journaled).
- I put some new files on it with unique filenames for a test.
- I told TM to run backups (several ones in sequence).
- I opened the thumb-drive volume then entered TM. TM showed only the current state with no backups.
I opened Preferences > Time Machine > Options… It listed the thumb drive as excluded. So I removed the exclusion.
I unmounted the thumb drive, mounted it again and repeated the experiment. Same result. It appeared in the exclusion list again.
What gives? How do I tell TM to backup external volumes (or not to exclude doing so)?

Yep. Read that before posting.
Also found https://discussions.apple.com/message/20711519#20711519
where Linc Davis says
External drives are automatically added to the Time Machine exclusion list. To back them up, remove them from the list. Volumes on the backup drive itself are automatically excluded, and you can't change that.
There is no reason why you shouldn't back up multiple volumes in Time Machine.
I did remove it from the exclusions list but TM added it back. What now?

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Time Machine plist file excluded external volumes

Mac OS 10.8, 10.9, Time Machine.
Posting here is my final step after a few hours of research. I am trying to find out whether Time Machine stores the names of excluded external volumes anywhere -- those volumes that one enters manually in the Time Machine exclusions options window. They are not in /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist. I have searched my Mac via "find" in Terminal as superuser and not found any other plist files that contain the name "timemachine" that contain this information, either. I've seen several apparently erroneous comments online that the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file contains this information, but in my own systems, at least, it does not.
Nor does the following command reveal this information:
mdfind "com_apple_backup_excludeItem = 'com.apple.backupd'"
Pondini's excellent Time Machine resource states, with regard to the Time Machine GUI: "Excluded External Volumes (shown in black) are placed there automatically unless removed by the user, and do not appear in the plist."
My guess is that because Time Machine excludes external volumes by default, that it doesn't need a plist to store that information, and only cares about them if you delete them from the excludes list in the preferences window.
ADDITIONAL INFO: I am also aware of the com.apple.metadata:com_apple_backup_excludeItem metadata. I haven't been able to determine for certain what creates it, but my guess is Time Machine, at least as regards volumes.

Hi! I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to Mac OS, I have used True Crypt for a long time, you seem to know what you are talking about and I was just wondering if you have an easy answer for me, as I understand only 1/2 of what you wrote on your first post and other wise am lost.
I just want to know if TM works for my needs or if am doom to find another back up software.
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HT201250 TIME MACHINE FOR EXTERNAL DISK BACKUP

I intend to backup my music library (HD and iTunes in AIFF format, ca 800GB) which is located on an external USB drive to another external USB drive. Can I do this with Time machine? The mac book I am using has a different time machine connected to back up th einternal drive.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You can do this, but you should make a new volume on your external disk. Time Machine needs a volume that is only used to store backups, so you can't store other data in the same volume as the one you are using for making backups.
If you want to create another volume on your external disk, use Disk Utility to do this > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU3.html Anyway, you should get another external disk to store other files, but if you don't want to, you can create another volume in it

HT4859 How do I back up my documents from my Macbook on iCloud? or can I only use time machine or external HD?

How do I back up my documents from my Macbook on iCloud? or can I only use time machine or external HD?
I think I have missed something in trying to read all of the pages on apple site about icloud.

Welcome to the Apple Community.
You can't back up a computer to iCloud.
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how do I access my iphoto library on time machine backup external drive using Lion, originally saved off old computer and system. It's not letting me open the folder???

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HT3275 Since updating OS to Mountain Lion from leopard, I get the following error message when trying to backup with time machine on external drive. Could not complete backup to media share. The network backup disk does not support the required AFP feat

Since updating OS to Mountain Lion from leopard, I get the following error message when trying to backup with time machine on external drive. "Could not complete backup to media share. The network backup disk does not support the required AFP features." What are AFP features and how do I get Time Machine to backup to my current external backup?

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I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David's MacBook Air.sparsebundle" is already in use.

I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David’s MacBook Air.sparsebundle” is already in use.
What now?
Macbook Air.
Was working fine for the past year until now.

See more like this on the right.. this is the most common error reported here since mountain lion came out..
Or read C12.. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Or just restart the whole network.. in right order from off.. modem.. router / TC.. clients 2min gap.

Is a WD My Book Studio Desktop 3TB Hard Drive - FW 400/800, USB 2.0, Apple Time Machine Ready external hard drive bootable with my Powerbook G4 12" PPC 10.5.8?

Sirs or madams,
Is my Powerbook G4 12” PPC 10.5.8 'bootable' with a Western Digital My Book Studio Desktop 3TB Hard Drive - FW 400/800, USB 2.0, Apple Time Machine Ready external hard drive? Western Digital says officially no, but that it MIGHT be. I primarily live in China and bought a datastorage.com.cn Clearlight s400+ external hard drive enclosure with a 320GB disk drive a few years ago in China. My computer 'boots' fine from it, but since I got it in China all the paperwork, etc. is in Chinese; my Chinese isn't quite sufficient enough yet to read it. But there are references to something called "SATA", whatever that is.
My level of computer 'under the hood' knowledge is extremely low. I've been told that SATA has some relationship as to whether or not an external hard drive will boot a computer via the Firewire connection, something relating to 'interface', which I assume is how separate electronic gadgets work, or don't work, with each other.
I frankly don't care much for computers, the internet, or their related gadgets such as all these fancy phones. I longingly reminisce about the days when there were no such things. I use a computer & the internet because I have to, and unfortunately unlike a car where one doesn't have to have 'under the hood' knowledge to operate it, just knowledge of the steering wheel, brake, gas, etc., one seemingly must know a ridiculously great amount of 'under the hood' knowledge, including jargon, to operate computers.
So, please try to respond accordingly; thank you.
If this particular external hard drive won't, for certain, be bootable with my computer, can you advise as to what readily available brand/model would be in the 3TB range for a similar price, roughly $150ish??
Thank you very much.

Mr. BGreg,
Thank you very much. "...under the covers...". I think you meant "under the hood", as in a car. I suppose "under the covers" would be man/woman interfacing, which I am familiar with!
Actually, I'm back in the US now for a few months. I looked at the OWC web site, but only cusorily so far. I'll contact them; they appear knowledgeable about Apple computers.
As to what you wrote about Western Digital's cases, I certainly wouldn't want a poor case. In China I had over time gotten 3 different external drive cases, 3 different Chinese brands, and separately bought Hitachi brand disk drives that 'simply' plugged into the cases. The drives are roughly 80GB 120GB and 320GB. The two larger ones are in cases that have Firewire plugs/jacks, which are bootable with my computer.
So my understanding, as you wrote, has been that my Powerbook will boot from an external hard drive, provided it connects via Firewire, and the disk drive itself is 'normally' formatted with however my computer's own disk drive is formatted, (HFS OS extended (journaled) or some such??). So I was left wondering why Western Digital would indicate that even though their such-and-so external hard drive case/drive was Firewire capable, that they would then say it would not be bootable with my Apple PPC computer......
Well, anyway, since you indicated Western Digital's case quality is suspect, then I'll try OWC and disregard Western Digital.
Naturally, OWC should be able to address this, but your thoughts are also welcome. You mentioned the OWC cases are good with Apples. Would the disk drives OWC supplied with the cases also be of relatively dependable quality?? From my so far only cursory look at their web site they appear to have various options, including case only options where I could insert my own or their own drives. These sorts of options seem preferable, also along with quality components.
My Powerbook has been in use since 2004. In China I put in a 1.25 memory 'chip' in the bottom and installed the 10.5.8 operating system, which I understand are the maximum workable with my Powerbook. When I inquired with Chinese friends if my 1.33 GHz processor could be taken out and a more powerful one put in, they said it wasn't feasible because in my particular computer my processor was, as I recall them saying, soldered/'permanently' connected with the 'motherboard', that it would just be easier to get a new computer.
I would be with them and they would nonchalantly open it completely up showing me all its tightly arranged 'innards' while at least giving it a good internal dust/dirt clean job for cheap lunch and a beer (& so much dirt/dust/lint there was!)...these are the same folks who build the things of course...fast moving hands with tiny screws flying everywhere, but everything 100% all back in place when finished.
My Chinese friends also said that nowadays Apples are not as well built as when my Powerbook was built, that nowadays an Apple's life expectancy was considerably lower, so I fear that when I get a new computer that, though it will be more up-to-date and powerful, etc., it most probably won't last near as long as my Powerbook has. They also said that in an older computer the fan was often the first component to go bad, and if a new one couldn't be easily found, as they said was my case, then you're just left with having to get an entirely new computer. Part of why I dislike electronic computer gadgets generally is that they are obsolete so quickly.
So, anyway, thanks very much for your information.

How to prevent Time Machine from ejecting volume?

I just set up a Buffalo Cloustor NAS (which is working very nicely, thank you) and one of its features is that it plays nice with Time Machine backups. I also recently took advantage of a MacUpdate promo on Back-In-Time. BIT works fine as long as the NAS backup volume is mounted but for some reason Time Machine ejects that volume when it's finished its backups. I've seen similar problems in threads of non-Lion version of OSX but they seemed to be troubles with USB or FW drives rather than an Ethernet NAS. I'd rather keep the NAS volume mounted so I can use this 3rd party app.
Here is a copy of the console messages filtered on "time machine" for the relevant time period:
3/24/12 7:11:03.180 PM
com.apple.backupd
Disk image /Volumes/cloudshare/Mini2009’s Mac mini.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
3/24/12 7:11:03.196 PM
com.apple.backupd
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
3/24/12 7:12:37.276 PM
com.apple.backupd
Ejected Time Machine disk image.
3/24/12 7:12:37.678 PM
com.apple.backupd
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
Is there a way of telling Time Machine to not eject when finished? I'm comfortable writing stuff using Terminal if that's what it takes.
Thanks!
-Tod

BordeauxQuill wrote:
If it is useful to anyone else, these are Western Digital My Passport Studio 640GB drives.
Yup, you're the 3rd or 4th to report it with various models of WDs (one fellow had 3 of them!), and a few weeks ago someone had some Iomegas, I think, too.
This confusion may well also explain some weird stats in Get Info I noticed last week (such as the drive apparently having used more bytes than its capacity, as I recall).
Quite likely.
Thank you for your support. I shall come back and mark the thread resolved when I have reformatted the drive.
Cool. Also double-check the contents of the one you don't erase; you may find some extra stuff there.

My time machine backup external hard drive has failed. I have a newer external drive already connected to my MAC but can't figure out how to get Time Machine to set up on it?

My time machine backup external hard drive has failed. I have a newer external drive already connected to my MAC but can't figure out how to get Time Machine to set up on it

http://pondini.org/TM/21.html

Time machine excludes other items in /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist??

Hey. I heard that time machine excludes some items even if they are not selected by you in time machine preferences. The items time machine excludes "secretly" are located in /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist Is there any way to remove these items. Things like calendars and iphoto show up on this exclusion list. I want to make sure I dont lose those.

The only items excluded by default are cache and index files that will be regenerated automatically if deleted.

Time machine to external USB vs. indexing of that USB

Time machine to external USB vs. indexing of that USB
To all who plans to use external USB as Time Machine destination.
Problem was found with 10.9.5. Other versions possibly affected as well.
No idea if external storage connected through cable of other kind affected as well.
Mavericks on iMac 2013 late. Addressed external USB is used as second Time Machine target.
It worked pretty well few months long after had declared that external usb as TM target.
Suddenly the backup gets stuck. It can keep to stuck for-ever.
However users here do not accept to be confronted with this state for-ever.
Longest attempts were approx 10 minutes long, in our environment and circumstances long enough to be called "for-ever".
Stuck in the stage of size calculation.
Part. Repair by Disk Utility did not help.
Unmount, disconnect USB, reconnect did not help.
Verify the part by Disk Utility did not help.
New Spotlight exclusion rule for all partitions on that external was the only measure which helped.
Before encountering the problem one could observe that partition verification by Disk Utility
always failed. Partition repair prior to Verify was always necessary for Verify to succeed - it is not normal!!!

Start with D1 in the 1st linked article.
Time Machine Troubleshooting
Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems

My newish MacBook Air was just lost to a coffee spill, and I need to migrate back to my MacBook Pro using a recent back-up (Time Machine to external disk). Can I do this?

My newish MacBook Air was just lost to a coffee spill, and I need to migrate back to my MacBook Pro using a recent back-up (Time Machine to external disk) for a few weeks. This same disk was used to back-up the Pro earlier, and to migrate from the Pro to the Air. Can I do this "back-migration" from the Air to the Pro? Is it maybe better just to migrate the specific folders (Outlook email, Office docs) I am sure I need?

Do not attempt to copy files/folders from a Time Machine backup. Only use the Time Machine application to restore from the backup.
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Recover items using Time Machine and Spotlight
If you use Time Machine to back up your Mac, you can use Time Machine with Spotlight to recover lost or deleted items.
Note: You can retrieve earlier versions of TextEdit documents from within TextEdit. For more information, see:
View and restore past versions of documents
Open a Finder window and type a search word or phrase in the search field in the upper-right corner.
Select a location to search in the location bar.
Refine the results by specifying search criteria. Narrow down Spotlight search results
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Restore items backed up with Time Machine
If you use Time Machine to back up your Mac, you can easily bring back lost items or recover older versions of files.
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Open a window for the item you want to restore.For example, if you accidentally deleted a file from your Documents folder, open the Documents folder. To recover an email message, open your inbox in Mail. To recover an iCloud document, open the document’s app, choose File > Open, then click iCloud to view the iCloud documents for that app.If you’re missing an item from the desktop, you don’t need to open a window.
From the Time Machine menu in the menu bar, choose Enter Time Machine. A message may appear while your Mac connects to the backup disk.
Use the arrows and timeline to browse the snapshots and backups.White tick marks represent snapshots stored on your internal drive (portable computers only). Pink tick marks represent backups stored on your backup disk. If a tick mark appears dimmed or grayed, there’s no backup available or the backup disk is not connected.
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Time machine cannot find volume, error-1. Where can I fine solution for this error? Have latest updates for Airport and TM, running Lion.

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See #C17 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

Time Machine with external HD

Guys, I have a problem in my Time Machine.The external HD is not found, but the mac recognizes the HD, only the Time Machine is not.What is very strange is that until a few days ago before the backup was working properly at this Time Machine HD.
I checked the disk using Disk Utility but not solved the problem. Can anyone help me?

Try this Time Machine troubleshooting page http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Time Machine Excluding External Volumes?

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