Deleting old backup files

[Golfmusician]

I am switching to an external drive for backup files (Time Machine). I currently am using an internal drive. It will not let me delete the old backup files, as it sees them still in use. Any help wold be greatly appreciated.

 

[chscag]

Removing old backups from Time Machine is a bit involved. You need to first enter Time Machine, highlight the backup to be removed, press delete and wait until it finishes. You will need to do that for each individual backup which can take quite long to complete. You might be better off to just remove the entire backup combined file from your internal drive and start over fresh with an external backup drive.

 

[Golfmusician]

Thanks for the quick reply. I think what I'll do is copy the files I want to save to another drive, reformat the disk, and copy the files back. It would be nice if Apple would create an easier way to do this.

 

[jeyf]

sometimes the apple proprietary file attributes and or permissions get lost when the file winds up in a backup situation.
if there are files you cant delete cut the chase and go radical:
Consider deleting the partition these files are on
or
totally re format the drive


-use "Move" to delete
-do it in Safe Mode
-try moving the files someplace different re try delete.
-use "get info" deselect the Locked checkbox
-use "get info" and modify permissions
-try a 3rd party Finder replacement
-high lite the file in a Finder window and use “Show Package Contents”

Terminal never worked for me but give it a try

 

[Fishrrman]

Use Disk Utility to erase the drive that the backups (you want to get rid of) are on.
Then... just "start over".

 

[Golfmusician]

Using the Terminal, I was able to delete the files. You point to the drive that was originally used for the backup. In my case, it was "Disk 2". Here are the entries:

cd /Volumes/"Disk 2"/.Trashes/
sudo ls 501
(Enter the Admin password)
It will then list the folders of the backup (ex.
2020-02-24-000002)
You then enter:
sudo rm -rf 501/2020-02-24-000002

You have to do it for each folder listed. It's a pain, but it works.

Thanks everybody for your feedback!

 

[jeyf]

i likely forgot the sudo
very nice!