Need to decide a formatting partition size for Time Machine!

To be perfectly honest with you, it's not going to be adequate. The way I see it is, lets say you split it 50/50, you have 125GB for Time Machine which isn't a lot even if you're backing up one computer. I figure you're going to be installing/saving files on your HDD in OS X which is going to make the backup even bigger with each update. I don't even have movies and music on my HDD but my OS size is 115GB.

 

It doesn't seem like a lot or enough space to me either. Sure initially, but media grows so fast. And Time Machine uses more than you think too.

There is a reason why Apple sells 1TB and 2TB Time Capsules! People need the space. Especially when using as both a media storage and Time Machine backup.

I have a MacBook Air, and need to store entertainment media, photos, movies, and etc on a remote drive. I use a full 1TB of backup and have 250 GB set for Time Machine.

Maybe you could get away with it if you really don't have many of what you stated as "LARGE" audio/video files.

I would say use that one drive as your Time Machine or file storage drive and get a second for the other.

Good luck.

 

Hello.
I am new to mac. I have same question. My external HDD is 500GB. Using it for Time Machine. Can I use free space and store my few important DVD backups, ~50GB size from outside OS, on it without worrying that they will be deleted somehow?
Thank you in advance.

 

Wait...so should I be using a separate partition for both time machine AND for backups? Thought they were one in the same?

 

I have a 400GB Freecom HDD, and I have it partitions in two.

300GB for Time Machine
100GB for Media

When you partition it in Disk Utility, it will come up as two drives on your desktop/Finder. You can then designate one partition solely for Time Machine, which will back up as per your instructions.

 

Whats the point of this though? I just drop media folders onto my 500gb HDD which aslo has a backsups folder on it.