Removing folders from time capsule backups

[drtanz]

I just removed a folder from the backup settings of time machine, backing up to my time capsule. Since that folder contained a lot of GBs, will that folder now be also removed automatically from backups stored on the time capsule, and free up the space?

 

[laudern]

I just removed a folder from the backup settings of time machine, backing up to my time capsule. Since that folder contained a lot of GBs, will that folder now be also removed automatically from backups stored on the time capsule, and free up the space?

No. As that would defeat the purpose of a time machine backup...

 

[drtanz]

I see, so how do I go about removing that folder from time machine, as it's eating up valuable space that could be used by more necessary backups from other machines.

 

[maflynn]

You can exclude folders from being backed up, but there's no supported way of removing them from prior backups.

 

[drtanz]

Ok, so I should just delete the old backups on Time Capsule or will they eventually be removed automatically after some time?

 

[maflynn]

If you don't need those folders backed up, and they're consuming too much backup space then delete the entire backup and start a new backup.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Ok, so I should just delete the old backups on Time Capsule or will they eventually be removed automatically after some time?

Time Machine will purge oldest data first as your Capsule gets low on space. As @MAFlynn said there's no way to selectively remove data. You could delete the backup and start fresh, but IMO there's no benefit in doing so. Even though your current backup set is not optimized, it exists... SOME info is backed up prior to today, which would not be the case if you start over. So just let it run, Time Machine will handle the housekeeping.

 

[flynz4]

No. As that would defeat the purpose of a time machine backup...

Agree...

One of the best benefits of backup is to protect you from human induced inadvertent deletion.

Just let it run... it will sort itself out if it needs the space.

/Jim

 

[glenthompson]

When I fill up a TM drive, I usually remove it from the backup process and start using a new one. My data is worth more than the cost of a drive.

 

[drtanz]

When I fill up a TM drive, I usually remove it from the backup process and start using a new one. My data is worth more than the cost of a drive.

We're talking about time capsule here which makes it slightly different.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

We're talking about time capsule here which makes it slightly different.

It's still an option though. Plug an external USB drive or SATA dock into your Time Capsule, and "Archive" the backup off to it:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1281