Got a new 500GB TC...

[Habitus]

Good Morning!

I purchased a 500GB from a friend (only $50!) and set it up last night. I started backing up wirelessly for time machine. I have a 500GB internal drive with about 340GB used. I thought I would have enough time when I left my 13" MBP on over night. Wrong, I woke up this morning and only 60GB had copied. Could this be due to my Mac sleeping? Also, can anyone provide insight as to the difference in speeds when a external USB HD is attached and used for time machine compared to the internal TC drive? I have the latest firmware. Thanks!

Habitus

[fehhkk]

The first backup takes a LONG time, you should've done this plugged in directly to the TC instead of wireless.

[Habitus]

Thanks for the quick reply, you're referring to ethernet, right? Also, could I plug directly into the TC via ethernet and back up using time machine to a connected USB external drive? Thanks!

[rkdiddy]

Yep that is normal. The way TC/TM works it isn't a mirror of your HD so it takes longer the first time to convert it into the TM format.

I don't see a reason you couldn't use the USB - just have to make sure your external is in HFS+ format (Mac Journaled) - once you've mounted the external HD - it should show up in your TM preferences.

[Habitus]

Thanks fellow MacHeads! Feel free to send additional tips/tricks my way as this is my first TC/AirPort Extreme!

Habitus

[rkdiddy]

Thanks fellow MacHeads! Feel free to send additional tips/tricks my way as this is my first TC/AirPort Extreme!

Habitus

Do you know if your TC is the second gen (dual band) or the first gen?

[Habitus]

it's the 1st gen single band. I have it set to wireless N.