What is time machine backing up?

I noticed today thought that Time Machine had run out of space and needed to clear some up. It was the first time I'd seem this message, so I figure after having backups since November, I was due for the delete message, but I got a couple of them throughout the day today which concerned me.
I installed Aperture 2 yesterday and have been doing some website changes in iWeb. From what I understand, Aperture 2 works with Time Machine and shouldn't need to copy the entire library over if there is just a small change within it. My iWeb domain file is only 40'ish megs.
It seems like Time Machine is doing some weird stuff. I just checked the time machine logs and it's suddenly trying to backup 46GB of stuff when there certainly haven't been 40GB of changes.
I'd like to try to figure out what Time Machine is actually doing.
I followed this hint: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071201084525895
But I was unable to get Instruments to show anything. All I get is a "Could not load DTrace server" - whatever that means.
Anyone have any magic bullets?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1397034

Similar Messages

  • HT201250 What does time Machine back-up?

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    Mike

    Try going system preferences>time machine.select disk>highlight the disk, click use for back up (make sure the padlock is unlocked.  If this has already been done there might be a problem with the disk.  Go to utililites>disk utilities highlight the disk click verify disk.

  • Exactly What Does Time Machine Back Up?

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  • What was time machine backing up?

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    HI,
    Try here. Mac 101 - Time Machine
    Removing a file from your backup disk
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    Carolyn
    Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

  • What is Time Machine really Backing Up?

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    If you have photos, then editing any photos will also require an update. You didn't mention which email client you are using. Are you using VMWare or Parallels? To see what folders/files are being updated, you can try:
    www.charlessoft.com/timetracker.zip

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    You are mixing up a couple of things here.
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    Hi all,
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  • "Your Time Machine back up disk cannot be found." What does this mean?

    I have an external hard drive that has never been disconnected from my iMac.
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    There is no relation.
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  • I just restored my Mac HD from a time machine back-up and PS 4 Will not open. I get an error code 150:30. Any Idea what I should do ?

    I just restored my Mac HD from a time machine back-up and PS 4 Will not open. I get an error code 150:30. Any Idea what I should do ?

    Photoshop's licensing information might have lost when you restored it to new HD. Re-install Photoshop CS4 and enter the same serial key for PS CS4 which you used before.
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    Let me know in case you still get any issues.
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  • HT201250 How do I get Time Machine back on my dock? I made a mistake and removed it from dock, somehow ended up in trash, what do I do

    How do I get Time Machine back on my dock? I made a mistake and removed it from dock, somehow ended up in trash, what do I do?

    Uh…you're saying two entirely different things here. If you removed Time Machine from the Dock, it could not be in the Trash. But if you removed it from your Applications or Utilities folder and put it in the Trash, that's a problem.
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  • Time Machine backs up 250-300 mb every hour no matter what

    Every time Time Machine backs up it starts backing up 250-300 mb. It can just complete a backup, and once that is over, if I select ‘Back Up Now’ immediately after, it’s another 250-300 mb that it starts backing up. I'm definitely not downloading anything. This seems to have started with 10.10.3.

    Load in the widget so you can see the log.
    A1 here.
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    And if you really want to know what TM is doing.. here.
    Q7, Q8 http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    TM always seems to have a bit to do.. if you don't want it to happen turn it off... but you are worrying about something that TM looks after itself.

  • What does it mean when a box says my Time Machine back-up disk can't be found?

    I clicked on my Time Machine icon on the Dock and a box popped up that says my Time Machine back=up disk can't be found.  What does this mean?  What should I do about it?

    Have you been using Time Machine up until now?
    If yes, then check that your Time Machine backup disk is properly connected and mounted. It should appear on the desktop. If it is indeed there, then open Time Machine Preferences and make sure that the disk is designated as the backup disk.
    If you haven't been using Time Machine until now, check that a disk that is ~ 3 or 4 times larger than what you plan to back up is connected and mounted, and go into Time Machine prefences and designate it as your backup disk.

  • What exactly does Time Machine back up?

    May seem a basic question. I've always assumed my home folder which, at the moment, weighs 120 Gb, give or take a kb. So why does TM report that it cannot complete backup to a 180 Gb external drive as it now needs 220 Gb, despite having done so for a number of years without a hitch?

    Time Machine backs up your entire system (except for some things like system work files, most caches, trash, etc.), unless you specifically exclude things.
    It sounds like your TM drive is too small -- it usually needs 2-3 times the space of the data it's backing up, to keep a reasonable "depth" of old backups.
    It may also be trying to do a new, full backup. Some possible reasons for that are listed in #D3 of the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.
    If in doubt, see #A1 there. Download the TM Buddy widget and copy and post the messages here. That may clarify the situation.

  • Can I use my time capsule for time machine back ups and as an external storage device?

    I have a time capsule and have set it up so that my time machine back ups are saved on it, but I would also like to use it as an external hard drive. Is this possible?
    I know nothing about computers so please tell me in very basic terms. thankyou!

    By external hard disk we usually mean one plugged into the computer by USB or Firewire or Thunderbolt.
    None of those works on the TC.. it is plugged in by ethernet or use wireless connection.. that means it is a network drive.. not an external drive. The difference might not mean much to you.. but it is totally different to the computer. In the former case the computer has full control of the disk. In the case of the network drive, the disk is controlled by the TC firmware and the files are stored and accessed by network. This has large implications.
    So here is my standard response.
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    This is asked several times a day.. obviously people are struggling with their latest SSD being too small.
    The TC is not suitable for network file server.. but many people having no choice press it into service as such.
    Major issues.
    1. No backup.. no way Time Machine can backup a network drive. No place to backup to.. So all your files will be at risk. And you will need to buy a third party like CCC to do backup.
    2. The TC cannot be partitioned and mixing TM backups and data is not great. It was and is and ever shall be a backup device for Time Machine.
    3. The drive is slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. there is no control. In fact the TC is so lacking in controls for even the router side.. that you cannot do more than the most basic of setups.
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    4. iPhoto in particular can easily corrupt its entire library with wireless networking causing a disconnection to one photo. Even if you do this;;; do not move your photo library... you have been warned!!
              Even apple btw say don’t do it.
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    5. iTunes can constantly lose connection to the library. The disk is slow to respond.. itunes on the computer will constantly spit out errors. Even in the midst of streaming the TC can spin down the disk due to caching.
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    7. The only suitable location for most libraries is a computer. You can plug in an external hard disk.
    Read pondini for some work arounds.
    Q3 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html

  • I am trying to get space on an external hard drive which has some old time machine back up files that I do not need but can not eliminate, even by going into the time machine, clicking on the backup file to be eliminated and using the drop down eliminate

    I am trying to get space on an external hard drive which has some old time machine back up files that I do not need but can not eliminate, even by going into the time machine, clicking on the backup file to be eliminated and using the drop down menu with the gear box symbol to eliminate

    I cannot find this 300GB "Backup" in the Finder, only in the Storage info when I check "About This Mac".
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    I have restarted my computer, but the information remains the same. How do I reclaim the use of the 300GB? Why is it showing up as "Backups" when it used to indicate "Photos"? Are my photos safe on the external drive?
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