Time Machine and pre-existing data on external HD

[kas23]

I have a simple question about how Time Machine will affect the pre-existing data on my external HD. When in Leopard and I connect my external HD, will I be able to access these files without going through TM? Does TM erase them or cause you to be unable to access them?

Or conversely, will I ever be able to store files on my HD (using my Mac) without going through TM? Thanks.

 

[Eidorian]

You can store files alongside what Time Machine uses.

 

[elmo151]

SuperDuper (my daily backup) wants an entire drive. I partitioned an external drive and gave superduper and Time Machine

 

[kas23]

Thanks guys!

Another thing I have been reading is that Time Machine will not work with a HD that is formatted as MS-DOS (FAT32)? Is this correct? I hope so because I just barely jammed everything back onto my internal HD and reformated it using Mac OS extended. Was this the right thing to do? Now when I get Leopard, Time Machine will work?

 

[Eidorian]

You were right. You're going to need a HFS+ drive.

 

[kas23]

This may seem completely obvious, but I just want to make sure:

An external HD formated as "Mac OS Extended" is an HFS+ formated drive?

Thanks.

 

[compuwar]

This may seem completely obvious, but I just want to make sure:

An external HD formated as "Mac OS Extended" is an HFS+ formated drive?

Thanks.

Yes.