How to reset TimeMachine for new HD

[mindquest]

I want to use a new external HD for TM. The old one is two small (1TB)

Can I just remove the old TM backup drive and add the new drive for TM to start from scratch and use the new HD exclusively?

 

[CoastalOR]

Yes, that will work. Once you get backups working on the new TM drive, then I would recommend going back in the TM Preferences and removing the old TM disk from the TM disk list so it does not start nagging about not doing any backups to the old TM disk.

 

[HDFan]

Or you can just add the new disk to TM to get alternating backup to both disks. Just make sure you have other backups as TM backups tend to fail.

 

[mindquest]

Or you can just add the new disk to TM to get alternating backup to both disks. Just make sure you have other backups as TM backups tend to fail.

I was looking to get rid of the old HD and swap out a new larger capacity one so old to hear I can just add it and it will strt from scratch.

Also how reliable is TM?

 

[HDFan]

Also how reliable is TM?

It isn't. When it works it is great. Multiple times I have tried to do restores and TM failed as it was corrupted. I would never rely on a TM as your only backup. Make sure you have at least 2 other backups - one via something like Carbon Copy Cloner, one in the cloud.