What has renamed my Time Machine backup partition?

I have no idea what has happened here, but between my last TM backup (which was Friday, June 29th) and today (July 2nd), my backup partition has been renamed from `Name` to `Name_1`. Log files do not show any system process that occured, and the drive sat idly in my desk over this time period. There is so much odd going on here:
1. Backups appear to be progressing as usual
2. `Name` is now a partition under /Volumes/ that is owned by root; I have full permissions to `Name_1`.
3. `Name` contains .Spotlight-V100 and nothing else.
4. Depending on whether I am using Cmd-I or Bash, I get different info as far as when each of these were created, modified, etc.
Plus a couple of other odd bits.
Anyone ever run into this? I have had multiple problems over the past couple of months since installing a new HDD (posted a question or two on this forum, did not get any responses). These problems seemed to largely resolve through a few means, and backups have been going relatively smoothly since. I am and have been using a WD My Passport Elite 500 GB to back up a late 2008 MBP running 10.6.8. Like I said, before getting the new HDD mid-May, I never had a problem. This is the oddest of them all for sure. Any help or insight would be appreciated (do I even need to worry?).
Screen shots below illustrate attempting to cd to the directory (using bash alias tmj "time machine jump" which should've taken me to the directory right above the incrementals) and finding it wasn't there, then being denied access through manual cd.
Finder windows show the discrepancy between a "normal" window (bottom finder) and one I opened after cd'ing to 'Cortical' (`Name`) using `open .` from the command line.

It doesn't show up in Disk Utility, and it is not discoverable from the Time Machine setup.
I've restarted, shut off and on, etc. It was displaying in the Time Machine list of discs but erroring out on actually doing a backup. I removed it to see if I could reconnect, but now I can't even find it.
All cables are plugged in securely.
My guess is this is the is related to the 10.9.2 update.
Any other ideas?

Similar Messages

WHat happened to my time machine backup disc?

What happened to my time machine backup disc? It is no longer visible from finder or the time machine utility.

It doesn't show up in Disk Utility, and it is not discoverable from the Time Machine setup.
I've restarted, shut off and on, etc. It was displaying in the Time Machine list of discs but erroring out on actually doing a backup. I removed it to see if I could reconnect, but now I can't even find it.
All cables are plugged in securely.
My guess is this is the is related to the 10.9.2 update.
Any other ideas?

What happens if you Time-Machine backup an encrypted file-vault HD?

This is related to my previous post - but deserves special mention for those people who are using time-vault AND Time-Machine.
My question is this: If the backup of my Hard-drive is encrypted, and I then reinstall from backup, what will this situation likely produce?
This is what I have done. I also Archived and installed my Mac prior to installing from my Time-Machine backup.
I now have an error message that displays the following message at the login screen:
"Unable to log into the file-vault account "......." at this time. An error has occurred."
My password IS CORRECT. I have not changed it, and the log in window does accept my password, but it doesn't progress any further than the error message I gave above.
I'm wondering if the encryption process of file-vault is linked directly with the original installation I had of Mac OS-X before I Archived and installed.
Any thoughts/knowledge/Insight?? I want my old Mac back! (I don't recommend using file-vault). Any body else had this problem or can see what is happening to me here?
Thank you
Greg

I just did a backup, moved a folder with 600mb of images into a different folder, and did another backup. The free space on the backup drive dropped by the size of the folder's contents. The backup copied the files as I watched in System Preferences, and it looked like it was really copying the files to the external drive again. It looks like Time Machine isn't as smart as I hoped in this regard.
Still - I'd think the wasted space is only in the every-hour-for-the-last-24-hours bucket of Time Machine. I'm guessing the every hour backups are like a sliding window, where a backup that's 24 hours old drops out every hour rather than all the hourly backups getting wiped at midnight and starting over.
Regardless, only one version of the moved folder will eventually be stored as the daily backup for that day. I don't have proof, but that's what I think.
So, if you've moved a bunch of folders around or renamed them, the extra copies of the same exact files should drop off within 24 hours.
That's my interpretation, but I'm in no way positive!! The lengthy Ars review didn't offer an answer to this question.

Time Machine Backup Partition on Ext drive unmounts. Other partition doesnt

I have a 500 GB OWC Mercury Elite Pro FW/USB drive that has two 250 GB partitions. I use one for storage and one for Time Machine backups and have been using it this way for a long time. The backup partition never unmounts unless I drag it to the trash. The backup partition constantly unmounts after a while.
I have run Disk Utility and DiskWarrior on the disk and partition many times. They show no problems. I have reset PRAM.
If the backup partition is mounted when I put the computer to sleep, it is still mounted when it wakes up.
Nothing will keep the partition mounted indefinitely, while the other partition on the disk is always mounted. Any suggestions?

deerhound2 wrote:
Bulk setting Spotlight attributes failed.
Error: Flushing index to disk returned the error: 0
TM was having a problem writing to the backup disk, so the backup failed and ejected the disk.
Start by repairing it, per #A5 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

Old time machine backup partition erased, but new partition failed

I had a defective time machine backup and had to start over. My disk has 4TB. The original time machine backup contained two backups from different laptops and was in the largest partition of 2TB. I then had two addition 1TB partitions. I remade new time machine backups to each of the 1TB partitions for each of the mac book pros. When I went to delete and change the original 2TB partition I found I could minus it out to create free space, but all attempts to try to repartition it as 2TB or as 2 1 TB pieces and even a piece as small as 200MB failed and asked me to resize closer to the original partition.
I have seen many similar issues, but not quite like this. I have already shut down the external drive and unplugged it and the restarted my machine, but to no effect. I now have 2 1 TB partitions and a 2 TB empty space.
Any suggestions?
I'm a little afraid to copy the Time Machine backups to a new drive as I heard that is NOT a good idea.
Is this a problem created when a partition is used for a Time Machine backup?
Han

How are you looking for the backup?
Time Machine will only show the active backup.
You can hold down the Option key while selecting the Time Machine menu and you will have the option to Browse other Time Machine backups.
Here is some good info on how Time Machine "thinks:" http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

What happens to my Time Machine backups if I upgrade to Mt.Lion?

I have Snow Leopard and have been backing up using Time Machine. If I upgrade to Mt. Lion what do I do about my Time Machine backups? Do I just keep backing up from where I left off, or do I have to somehow start over?

You should be able to continue from there. Note though some applications that are Snow Leopard compatible are not Mountain Lion. Keep at least two backups just in case, and have your 10.6 installer disc ready if you find a necessary application or driver is not compatible.

Time machine backup partition could not be changed

Hello, I found that the backup partition could not be changed in OS X 10.7.5. When the option button was clicked, it could be seen that all partitions except the OS X lion partition were listed in the excluding list. And the excluded partitions could not be unselected using the "-" button, they are presented as gray.

when you select the TM hard drive in disk utility (the model, not the name) look at the bottom of the DU window. Do you see the line
Partition Map Scheme : GUID Partition Table?
Also, I looked at your first post again and it says that you only have 2.5GB of space available on your main drive. I don't know how big your hard drive is but that's a tiny amount. You need to offload part of your data to a different drive ASAP. when free space gets that low, disk fragmentation becomes a very serious issue. system slows done and start behaving in unpredictable fashion. This can lead to all sorts of problems including directory damage. Run "verify disk" on your main drive and see if any errors are reported. I don't know for sure if this is related to your TM problems but it very well might be.

What is password for time machine backup

I have bought a mountain lion compatible wd ny book live 1 tb external hard disk. While connecting through wifi, it is asking for password of system administrator. It is not taking either apple I'd or other download, application install passwords. What do I do ?

You almost certainly do not have a Time Capsule, however to look it up go to Apple's online store and search for it. Bottom line if you want TM to work properly and reliably please follow the directions of connecting the EHD directly to your computer or purchase a Time Capsule and connect using the enclosed instructions.

Copying Time Machine backups

If you find you need more space for Time Machine backups, or want to change locations (local to network, or vice-versa), your best bet is to simply start a new set of backups in the new location. Keep the old ones "on the shelf" until you're sure you don't need them. (If you're backing-up to a locally-connected disk, it's best to give it a different name.)
You can always browse and restore from the old backups, via the +*Browse Other Time Machine Disks+* option (hold down the Option key while selecting the TM icon in your menubar, or right-click the TM icon in your Dock).
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But if you want, in many cases you can copy your Time Machine backups to a new location. It's not quick, and sometimes not easy. And there are some restrictions:
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If your backups were made to an internal or directly-connected USB or FireWire disk or partition, you must copy all the backups for all the Macs that were backed-up to the same disk/partition that way.
You can only copy a complete set of backups, not just some individual backups.
You cannot merge two or more sets of backups, even for the same Mac.
On Leopard, you cannot change from local to network, or vice-versa.
You cannot convert case-sensitive backups to case-ignorant, or vice-versa.
You cannot copy anything from corrupted backups.
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Because of the last two items, be sure your backups are ok by Repairing them, per #A5 in the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip.*
While you're using Disk Utility, determine whether the backups are case-sensitive; you'll need to know that below.
When you select a volume in Disk Utility's sidebar, the Format is shown towards the lower left. If your backups are in a +sparse bundle,+ double-click the sparse bundle to mount it, then select the +Time Machine Backups+ (or +Backup of <computer name>)+ partition that will appear, indented, below the sparse bundle.
The Format is either +Mac OS Extended (Journaled),+ meaning case-ignorant, or +Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, journaled).+
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The method of copying is different depending on how the backups were made; whether you're changing from local to network, or vice-versa; and, in some cases, for Leopard vs. Snow Leopard
Part of the complexity below is because Time Machine stores it's backups differently depending on how they were made:
+*Local backups+* (made to an internal disk or a USB or FireWire disk connected directly to a Mac) are stored in a folder named "Backups.backupdb", at the top level of the drive/partition.
+*Network backups+* (made over a network, whether via WIFI or Ethernet) are also stored in a folder named "Backups.backupdb," but it's on a partition inside a special container called a +sparse bundle+ at the top level of the drive/partition.
You cannot just switch from one method to the other.
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Note that below, a "volume" is either an entire disk drive or a partition on a disk drive.
Before starting to copy, turn Time Machine off, via TM Preferences. When done, select the new destination.
Copying backups will take a long time under the best of circumstances; even a small set of backups will contain +several hundred thousand+ files; a large one may number in the millions.
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*_C O N T E N T S_*
*1. To copy LOCAL backups from one volume to another LOCAL VOLUME*
*2. To copy NETWORK backups to another NETWORK location*
*3. To copy LOCAL BACKUPS to be used on a NETWORK*
*4. To copy NETWORK backups to be used LOCALLY*
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_*1. To copy LOCAL BACKUPS from one volume to another LOCAL VOLUME_*
*_Using SNOW LEOPARD:*_
a. Format the new drive/partition, with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and the exact same Format as the old backups. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
b. Connect both drives to your Mac, via separate ports if possible.
c. Right-click the new volume on your desktop or Finder sidebar and select +Get Info.+ If the +Ignore ownership on this volume+ box is checked, click the padlock at the lower right and enter your Admin password at the prompt. Then remove the check mark from the box and close the window.
d. Drag the Backups.backupdb folder from the old volume to the top level of the new one. Enter your Admin password when prompted.
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*_Using LEOPARD:_*
You cannot copy local backups properly from one volume to another via the Leopard Finder. But you can duplicate the backups to a different volume via the +Disk Utility+ app (in your Applications/Utilities folder).
Note that you must duplicate an *entire volume* to another *entire volume* -- if you have other items on the old volume, they will be copied, too (this is a bad idea: see item #3 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip).* Also, any data already on the new volume will be erased.
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a. Format the new drive/partition, with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and the exact same Format as the old backups. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
b. Connect both drives to your Mac, via separate ports if possible, then open a Finder window. Make sure both volumes are shown in the sidebar (if not, from the Menubar select +Preferences > Sidebar,+ and check the box to show +External disks+ in the sidebar). Leave the Finder window open.
c. Start Disk Utility, select either volume (indented under the main drive line), and click the Restore tab.
d. Drag the old volume to the Source box, and the new volume to the Destination box.
e. Check the +Erase destination+ box, then the Restore button. This will take a long time.
f. When the duplication is complete, note that Disk Utility has *+changed the name+* of the destination volume to be the same as the source. You do not want to leave it that way, so immediately rename one of them. In the sidebar of the Finder window opened above, right-click the one you want to rename. When done, look back at the Disk Utility display to be sure you renamed the right one, then quit Disk Utility.
+Go to Top+
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_*2. To copy NETWORK BACKUPS to another NETWORK location_*
*SNOW LEOPARD or LEOPARD*
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If you're copying to a Time Capsule, configure your Time Capsule for your network. (See the documentation that came with your Time Capsule for information about setting it up on your network.)
If you're copying from one Time Capsule to another Time Capsule, give the new one a different name. Then use one Ethernet cable to connect your Mac to the Ethernet port on the existing Time Capsule, and use another Ethernet cable to connect from the existing Time Capsule to the new one if at all possible. If not, leave your Mac in the same room as the Time Capsules.
If you're copying to a USB drive to be connected to a Time Capsule, Airport Extreme, or another Mac on your network, connect it directly to your Mac and format it with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and either +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ or +Mac OS Extended Case-sensitive, journaled)+ Format. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
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a. Configure Time Machine to back up to the new network location, but don't start a backup.
b. If possible, connect the old and/or new drive(s) directly to your Mac (or a Time Capsule via Ethernet).
c. Open a Finder window for each network location by double-clicking on each. Note the amount of free space on the new one.
d. Drag the +sparse bundle+ from the old network location to the new one.
Note that the copied sparse bundle will have the same +*maximum size*+ as the old one. (Just to be contrary, though, +Time Machine Preferences+ will incorrectly show the new volume size.)
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*SNOW LEOPARD: 10.6.3 and above:*
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That's not a problem; Time Machine will increase it automatically on the next backup. You're done!
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*SNOW LEOPARD: 10.6.0 through 10.6.2:*
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1. Drag the sparse bundle to Disk Utility's sidebar and select it, but don't mount the +Time Machine Backups+ or +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
2. Click +Resize Image+ in the toolbar (or +Images > Resize+ from the menubar).
3. Enter the size desired (that you noted in step c above) and click Resize.
4. Double-click the sparse bundle to mount the +Time Machine Backups+ or +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
5. With the sparse bundle still selected, click the Partition tab towards the top of the window.
6. In the diagram that appears, drag the lower right corner of the partition all the way to the bottom, and click Apply.
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LEOPARD:
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1. Drag the sparse bundle to Disk Utility's sidebar and select it, but don't mount the +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
2. Click +Resize Image+ in the toolbar (or +Images > Resize+ from the menubar).
3. Click the disclosure triangle below the slider, and select +Resize Partition and Image.+
4. Move the slider to the desired size and click Resize.
5. Double-click the sparse bundle to mount the +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
6. With the sparse bundle still selected, click the Partition tab towards the top of the window.
7. In the diagram that appears, drag the lower right corner of the partition all the way to the bottom, and click Apply.
+Go to Top+
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_*3. To copy LOCAL BACKUPS to be used on a NETWORK_*
*SNOW LEOPARD only; you cannot convert Local Backups to Network on Leopard.*
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If you're copying to a Time Capsule, configure your Time Capsule for your network. (See the documentation that came with your Time Capsule for information about setting it up on your network.)
If you're copying to a USB drive to be connected to a Time Capsule, Airport Extreme, or other Mac, connect it directly to your Mac and format it with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and either +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ or +Mac OS Extended Case-sensitive, journaled)+ Format. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
a. Configure Time Machine to back up to the network location, and start a backup.
b. As soon as the +sparse bundle+ is created, cancel the backup (that may take a few moments).
c. If possible, connect the new drive directly to your Mac (or a Time Capsule via Ethernet).
d. Use the Finder to mount the new sparse bundle.
e. Double-click it to mount the +Time Machine Backups+ partition inside it.
f. Click the +Time Machine Backups+ partition to open it, and delete the Backups.backupdb folder inside it.
g. If the old backups are case-ignorant (per the yellow box above), you must change the new sparse bundle to be case-ignorant, too:
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1. Select the +Time Machine Backups+ partition in Disk Utility's sidebar and click Erase.
2. Select the +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ Format, and click the Erase button. That may take a few moments (to unmount, erase, and mount the partition again).
3. Via the Finder, do a +Get Info+ on the +Time Machine Backups+ partition.
4. Click the padlock at the lower right and enter your Admin password at the prompt.
5. Remove the check from the +Ignore ownership on this volume+ box and close the window.
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h. Via the Finder, drag the Backups.backupdb folder from the old volume to the new +Time Machine Backups+ partition. Enter your Admin password when prompted. After a few moments, you may also get a prompt saying that you'll need to enter it again later: click Continue.
+Go to Top+
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_*4. To copy NETWORK BACKUPS to be used LOCALLY_*
*SNOW LEOPARD only; you cannot convert Network Backups to Local on Leopard.*
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a. Format the new drive/partition, with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and the exact same Format as the old backups. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
b. Right-click the new volume on your desktop or Finder sidebar and select +Get Info.+ If the +Ignore ownership on this volume+ box is checked, click the padlock at the lower right and enter your Admin password at the prompt. Then remove the check mark from the box and close the window.
c. Connect the old drive directly to your Mac if possible.
d. Use the Finder to mount the old sparse bundle.
e. Double-click it to mount the +Time Machine Backups+ or +Backup of <computer name>+ partition inside it.
f. Click the partition to open it, and drag the Backups.backupdb folder from the disk image to the top level of the new volume. Enter your Admin password when prompted. After a few moments, you may also get a prompt saying that you'll need to enter it again later: click Continue.
+Go to Top+

Bob Timmons wrote:
Ton of work...great job!
+You can always browse and restore from the old backups, via the Browse Other Time Machine Disks option (hold down the Option key while selecting the TM icon in your menubar, or right-click the TM icon in your Dock).+
Odd that on my MacBook Pro and iMac (both 2008, both running Snow Leopard 10.6.3), that I need to hold down the Control key to do this.
What do you show in +System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys+ for the Control and Option keys? I think I saw something in another forum about some keyboards having them reversed, perhaps some European versions?
I hate to put even more alternatives in these things, but perhaps I should add that one?
Great stuff and should be very useful as a number of users are buying new Time Capsules to replace their earlier generation models. Most seem to want to try to hold onto their old backups and transfer to a new TC when they get one.
Yeah, I really don't understand why some folks get so nutzo about keeping backups for years, but I guess it beats the opposite.
Was curious if you found a way to compact the sparsebundle after users delete a number of backups, but the sparsebundle file still indicates the same amount of data is being used. I know you can compact using Terminal commands, but Terminal scares me. I understand the basic nuts and bolts, but programming is a language that I don't speak.
Yes, in #12 of the FAQ tip I show how to do it via Terminal, but I hate sending a novice to Terminal. (I avoid it myself as much as possible.)
Now that you mention it, I'm going to use the Feedback site to request adding "Compact" to Disk Utility's options for sparse bundles. Maybe if a few of us chime in, they'll do it?
I still have my "first generation 1TB TC, now about 22 months old (holding my breath on the power supply capacitors),but the device has been flawless otherwise. Not too worried, as I also keep bootable SuperDuper clones of both computers on an attached drive on both computers along with another set of Time Machine backups that I manually handle about once a week. Redundant, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
I couldn't agree more! I backup via TM to an AEBS, so am even more paranoid! But I have a CCC clone updated daily; other things to CDs/DVDs in my safe deposit box; and some small stuff goes to iDisk via Backup daily.
Thanks very much for your help.

Does Time Machine backup items on the time machine disk?

If I designate disk B as my Time Machine disk, are items on disk B, that aren't part of what Time Machine puts there, backed up? In other words, can I use a disk for both storage and Time Machine backups and have those stored items backed up too?

If you intend to use disk B as both a Time Machine Backup Disk and a Data disk to hold your files, the only way to do that would be to partion the Disk B volume.
How do I partition an external hard drive ?
When an external is connected to a mac, the computer sees that Hard Drive as a Volume. Paritioning the volume is the ability to "Split" the volume in more parts that are limited by size. Time Machine will use the entire partition of a volume if the whole volume is used as a single partition. If you use the right tools and "Split" the external hard drive in smaller logical volumes then you can comfortably use the external hard drive for both your Time Machine Backups and your Data that you want to carry on an external drive.
The easiest way to partition a volume in more the one partition or logical volumes is to use the Disk Utility application that comes with every mac. Use the Finder to go to your Utilities folder and open Disk Utility, or search for it in Spotlight. Whit Disk Utility you can select your external Hard Drive and either change the partition to add a second one or erase all data on the existing external hard drive and create 2 Partitions that you can adjust in size. Remember Make sure you understand that if you choose to erase the existing external drive to make room for a new partition , that all data present on the external drive will be deleted.
Now that you have your two new partitions you can assign one to Time Machine and use the second one for Data. And with Time Machine Options you will be able to exclude or include your new external data partition to backup to your new Time Machine Backup Partition !

Time Machine Backups of Encrypted Disk Images, Part 2

Hi:
If Time Machine is backing up a hard drive that contains a subset encrypted disk image as part of its contents, and this encrypted disk image is mounted (in an unencrypted state) where the enclosed data has been changed/manipulated in any fashion, what and when does Time Machine backup?
In other words, does the data in the encrypted disk image only change when the encrypted disk image is unmounted? Or is it somehow backed up real time even when the encrypted disk image is mounted on the desktop in an unencrypted state while Time Machine is working?
Sorry I can't explain this very well, but hopefully the gist is clear.
Thanks!
(OS 10.8.2)

Time Machine doesn't back up a disk image file while it's mounted, whether encrypted or not.

Time Machine backup not complete?

I've had Time Machine running now succesfully for a while.
HOWEVER ... a week ago my machine all of a sudden came to a grinding halt, with the internal HD becoming unresponsive.
After a lot of checking for solutions online, I've decided to erase the HD, and restore a former system thru TimeMachine.
The internal HD is still not functioning properly, but when I start up from an external HD, I can see it in Finder. When I check the contents, however, it does not seem to contain my applications!
I thought TM was supposed to make a full system backup?
Or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?
Also, it now takes AGES for a folder to open on the restored drive. Is this normal?

TC-Productions wrote:
I've had Time Machine running now succesfully for a while.
HOWEVER ... a week ago my machine all of a sudden came to a grinding halt, with the internal HD becoming unresponsive.
After a lot of checking for solutions online, I've decided to erase the HD, and restore a former system thru TimeMachine.
Exactly how did you do the restore?
The internal HD is still not functioning properly, but when I start up from an external HD, I can see it in Finder. When I check the contents, however, it does not seem to contain my applications!
I thought TM was supposed to make a full system backup?
Or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?
Since there's a problem on the internal, don't trust anything you see there. When you start up from the external, use Time Machine to see what's on the Time Machine backups, via the "Star Wars" display. Unless you excluded the Applications folder via TM Preferences > Options, it should be there.
Also, it now takes AGES for a folder to open on the restored drive. Is this normal?
If the drive is failing, don't count on anything being normal!

Some confusion about Time Machine backup mechanism for duo systems

I want to install an addtional SSD as a replacement for the Superdrive,and was planning to make a clean installation of Mountain Lion on that SSD and keep the original Lion System in the HDD intact.
But that raised a question for the Time Machine.
Can I use the original time machine backup partition of my external drive to backup both drives? If this can be done,wil the new contents in the mountain lion be backed up incrementally to the external drive or it will overwrite the drive?
Can I use either time machine to backup both HDD and SSD,or I have to back them up seperately from two systems?
As that external drive is the only backup destination I have, try these stuff seems risky, so, can anyone help?
Thanks

Can I use the original time machine backup partition of my external drive to backup both drives?
Yes.
If this can be done,wil the new contents in the mountain lion be backed up incrementally to the external drive or it will overwrite the drive?
Time Machine creates a series of snapshots of each volume it backs up. A snapshot is created by backing up only the files that have changed since the last snapshot was taken. In that sense, it's incremental.
Can I use either time machine to backup both HDD and SSD...?
Yes.

Import Time Machine backup to new user account? Migration Assistant?

Long story short: my wife has a recent Time Machine backup from HER iMac that we would like to import as a new user account on MY iMac.
No need to import apps--just user profile, settings, photos/docs, etc.
Do I need to create a new user account for her on my iMac first? Or will it be done during the import?
Also, should I be using Time Machine for this, or the Migration Assistant?
Just looking for the easiest way to do this, as it will be a temporary situation until her new MacBook Pro arrives.
Thanks!
EDIT: Not sure if it makes a difference, but her iMac was running Snow Leopard at the time of the last Time Machine backup, and my iMac has Lion.

Use Migration assistant and import her user account from TM backup.
Don't create her user account first. Migrating her account will take care of that.
Shouldn't matter if her previous backup was SL.

HT3275 "The external disk must be erased before it can be used for Time Machine backups because it has an incompatible filesystem." What if I don't want to erase the disk?

I'm trying to use Time Machine on my Macbook (which is a year old) to back up onto a 1Tb external hard drive. I have 860 Gb free on the hard drive. But for some reason Time machine presents me with the statement above. How can I back-up my laptop without clearing out the data I already have on the hard drive?

Time Machine must back up to a hard drive that has been formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Your drive is likely formatted in FAT 32.
If you want to use the drive for Time Machine backups, you will have to erase it and reformat using Disk Utility on your Mac.
First, move the files that you do not want to lose to another temporary location and test to make sure they are OK.
Second, erase the drive that you want to use for Time Machine backups and format it for Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Third, move the files back to the hard drive. Test to make sure they are OK. When you are sure that the files are safe, you can erase them from their former "temporary" location. (Although I do wonder how you are backing up these files).
Time Machine will not touch the other files that you have on the hard drive.

What has renamed my Time Machine backup partition?

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