How to delete Time machine backup?

[zalle]

Hi,

I'm using a new disk for Time Machine, and I want to delete the old files (just delete, don't need the backups anymore).

They are in a 3TB drive. It just has one partition, and the backups are alongside with other files.

Thanks

 

[chscag]

If you no longer need the backups, just erase the drive. If the data is sensitive, use the Disk Utility security erase feature.

 

[zalle]

But I have 2GB os other stuff in the same partition.

I know I can just erase the backup, but it will take days to get erased...

 

[chscag]

You should have stated that in your first post. If there is data on the drive that you wish to keep, obviously you either need to copy it to another drive first before erasing the entire drive, or delete the Time Machine backups manually. Why would it take days to delete the Time Machine backups? If you no longer need the backups, you do not have to run Time Machine to do the deletions.

 

[zalle]

I decided to format the disk and put all the data back in it. It's a backup drive.

When you delete TM backups, like any other file, send it to trash, it takes aaaagesssss.
I've had problems with that before.

Thank you for your help