Can i use an external HD with time machine?

[backinblack875]

i have a TB external HD and was wondering if that can be used with time machine to back up my mac? also i have some other things on there (other stored files), would the time machine erase those, or would it remain untouched?


ALSO, i have itunes media folder already stored on the external HD (as in the source folder is on the external HD) to take up less space on my main HD, will it make a back up again of my itunes media folder? anyway to tell it not to? since it would be redundant and waste space on the external HD.

THANKYOU!

 

[GGJstudios]

i have a TB external HD and was wondering if that can be used with time machine to back up my mac?

Yes, as long as it's formatted as HFS+. A good approach is to partition the drive and make one HFS+ formatted partition for TM backups, and the other partition(s) formatted and used however you need them.

ALSO, i have itunes media folder already stored on the external HD to take up less space on my main HD, will it make a back up again of my itunes media folder?

No, TM would be backing up your internal drive to the external. It wouldn't be backing up your external drive to itself.

 

[backinblack875]

Yes, as long as it's formatted as HFS+. A good approach is to partition the drive and make one HFS+ formatted partition for TM backups, and the other partition(s) formatted and used however you need them.

No, TM would be backing up your internal drive to the external. It wouldn't be backing up your external drive to itself.

im not sure mine is, the format says mac OS Extended, would that not work?

 

[GGJstudios]

im not sure mine is, the format says mac OS Extended, would that not work?

That IS HFS+.


FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB

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: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
• Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx 33USD).
• Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, 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

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• 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

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

 

[backinblack875]

That IS HFS+.

oh, i did not know that, thanks.

so would if i just selected it for my time machine back up in time machine preferences. Would it just make a folder labeled "time machine backup" or something and leave my other contents alone? or would i have to do the partition thing you suggested?

 

[GGJstudios]

Mac 101: Time Machine

 

[backinblack875]

Mac 101: Time Machine

Thanks very helpful! Although i saw no specific mention, i assume it will be a time machine backup folder on the backup HD. I know for sure it mentioned it may be done if separate files on the the backup HD. Thanks for the help!

EDIT: yes, i have started it and it made a folder for it, thanks for the help!