Backup FAT32/NTFS with Time machine

[andreydzung]

I'm setting up the backup scheme for my very first Mac, and having some troubles. Ideally, I want to backup the computer + 250G Fat32/NTFS external drive into my 1TB HFS+ drive. The reason 250G cannot be formatted as HFS is that I need to use it with other windows and linux boxes.

Is it true that time machine can't backup non HFS drive? When I tried NTFS format, I can remove it from the exclusion list but it's not saved into preference.

Any suggestions? Thanks for the help.

 

[GGJstudios]

I'm setting up the backup scheme for my very first Mac, and having some troubles. Ideally, I want to backup the computer + 250G Fat32/NTFS external drive into my 1TB HFS+ drive. The reason 250G cannot be formatted as HFS is that I need to use it with other windows and linux boxes.

Is it true that time machine can't backup non HFS drive? When I tried NTFS format, I can remove it from the exclusion list but it's not saved into preference.

Time Machine requires HFS+ for backups to external drives. You can partition the drive and use one partition for TM backups, with the other for files to be shared with Windows.

Format A Hard Drive Using Disk Utility (which is in your /Applications/Utilities folder)

Choose the appropriate format:

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac OS X system files.
  [*]To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
  [*]To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB
• Mac OS X: Mac OS Extended format (HFS Plus) volume and file limits
• You can use this format if you only use the drive with Mac OS X, or use it for backups of your Mac OS X internal drive, or if you only share it with one Windows PC (with MacDrive installed on the PC)

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
  [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
  • For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon ($19.95) (Best Choice for Lion and Mountain Lion)
  • For Mac OS X 10.5 and later, including Lion, FUSE for OS X
  • For 32-bit Mac OS X, install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode)
  • For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this: MacFUSE for 64-bit Snow Leopard
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36), which is an enhanced version of NTFS-3G with faster performance.
  • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and later versions, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB
• You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
• You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
  [*]Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB
• You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.

 

[charlieegan3]

EDIT: read that^, it's much better.


as far as i know timemachine can only backup to a HFS+ drive

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1228127?start=0&tstart=0

 

[GGJstudios]

EDIT: read that^, it's much better.


as far as i know timemachine can only backup to a HFS+ drive

For reference, here's what Apple says (from the Time Machine link in my earlier post.):

Time Machine can’t backup to an external drive that's connected to an AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule, or a drive formatted for Microsoft Windows (NTFS or FAT format). If you select an NTFS or FAT-formatted drive, Time Machine prompts you to reformat the drive. Choose a different drive or reformat the drive in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.

 

[andreydzung]

Thanks! But what I mean is the source of backup. My backup destination is definitely HFS+, but one of my source is an external drive formatted in FAT32/NTFS. It seems that I can't remove them from the exclusion list in time machine.

 

[GGJstudios]

Thanks! But what I mean is the source of backup. My backup destination is definitely HFS+, but one of my source is an external drive formatted in FAT32/NTFS. It seems that I can't remove them from the exclusion list in time machine.

That's strange. You should be able to exclude any drive. I prefer using Carbon Copy Cloner for backups.

 

[Mac_Max]

Depending on how familiar you are with the command line, you could setup a launchd or cron job to run an rsync backup of the drive. You wouldn't get all the fancy features of TimeMachine but rsync couldn't care less what your drive format is.

 

[jbzcar]

That's strange. You should be able to exclude any drive. I prefer using Carbon Copy Cloner for backups.

He DOESN'T want it excluded.

He wants TM to backup not only his system partition, but his external NTFS drive to a third HFS+ backup destination.

That being said, CCC would probably be an easier option. I have CCC and TM set to backup my Air once a day, every day.

 

[Weaselboy]

Thanks! But what I mean is the source of backup. My backup destination is definitely HFS+, but one of my source is an external drive formatted in FAT32/NTFS. It seems that I can't remove them from the exclusion list in time machine.

Won't work. Any external that is not HFS+ will automatically be added to the exclusion list.

 

[GGJstudios]

He DOESN'T want it excluded.

He wants TM to backup not only his system partition, but his external NTFS drive to a third HFS+ backup destination.

Well, I'm doing a good job of grasping this thread, aren't I? Senility is a terrible thing! I don't know if TM can backup a NTFS external drive, but I know CCC can.

 

[jbzcar]

Well, I'm doing a good job of grasping this thread, aren't I? Senility is a terrible thing! I don't know if TM can backup a NTFS external drive, but I know CCC can.

From what I have been able to find, it can not.

CCC does look to be the best option.