Can I use an HDD for Time Machine and Storage?

[EliteF50]

I just purchased a 1TB external HDD because I ran out of HDD space on my iMac. The first thing that popped up when I plugged it in was Time Machine. I'm currently using my 1TB HDD with Time Machine, but can I also use it as extra storage as well? If so, how?

Thanks!

 

[GGJstudios]

Yes, you can use Disk Utility to partition the drive, using one partition for Time Machine and the other for whatever you like.

 

[roadbloc]

Or just create a new folder and store all your stuff in there. No need to partition at all.

 

[GGJstudios]

Or just create a new folder and store all your stuff in there. No need to partition at all.

Since I don't use Time Machine, forgive my ignorance here. First, does Time Machine allow you to create a new folder in the middle of the backup files? Or, if you mean create a new folder on the external drive outside the Time Machine backup, won't TM overwrite that in time, as the TM backups consume more space on the ext. HD?

 

[karsten]

Since I don't use Time Machine, forgive my ignorance here. First, does Time Machine allow you to create a new folder in the middle of the backup files? Or, if you mean create a new folder on the external drive outside the Time Machine backup, won't TM overwrite that in time, as the TM backups consume more space on the ext. HD?

the TM files are just a Backup directory on the drive. you can fill the drive up on the root level with whatever else you want. i'd be surprised if TM touched anything other than its own data for deletion.

 

[aristobrat]

won't TM overwrite that in time, as the TM backups consume more space on the ext. HD?

TM won't overwrite it, but what TM will do is continue to use all of the free space on that drive until there is no more, which puts an end to using it for files other than TM.

FWIW, Time Machine creates a folder in the root, and keeps all of the backups in subfolders on that. You're free to create other folders outside of the TM folder.

 

[GGJstudios]

the TM files are just a Backup directory on the drive. you can fill the drive up on the root level with whatever else you want. i'd be surprised if TM touched anything other than its own data for deletion.

Yes, I think I got the idea from having read this:

Time Machine works best if you use your backup disk only for Time Machine backups.

But forgetting this:

If you keep separate files on your backup disk, Time Machine won’t back up those files, and the space available for Time Machine backups will be reduced.

TM won't overwrite it, but what TM will do is continue to use all of the free space on that drive until there is no more, which puts an end to using it for files other than TM.

Yes, that's what I thought. Hence, the recommendation to partition.

 

[emptyCup]

I'm currently using my 1TB HDD with Time Machine, but can I also use it as extra storage as well?

Yes, you can put other files on the drive or partition the drive, as has been suggested, but Time Machine can not back up the drive that it is on. Any other data you put on the Time Machine drive will not be backed up.