Is this what it looks like? To back up my mac, do i have to erase everything on my hard drive? I have a lot of important stuff on there i can't erase
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Time machine first back up: will it erase everything on my external drive?
- Thread starter Soulweaponry
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Yes it will erase everything on the hard drive, because Time Machine can only work with Mac formatted hard disks HSF+, it looks like your current disk is not HSF+.
That sucks. I really wanted to back up my mac. Now i can't because the stuff on my hard drive is just too important to erase. What's HSF+?
"That sucks. I really wanted to back up my mac. Now i can't because the stuff on my hard drive is just too important to erase. What's HSF+?"
HFS+ is the Mac file system. I'm going to -guess- that the external drive you have is formatted in something else compatible for use on both a Mac -and- Windows. That won't do for TM.
Suggestions:
If you really want to use TM, you'll need -another- external drive. But what I'd really suggest is one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=usb+sata+dock&x=0&y=0
(many items shown, they all work the same, just pick one you like. Some can be had for as cheap as $25. You might consider getting one that's "USB3", will be faster than USB2 with the Macs of the future)
Then, just get a "bare" hard drive of your choice to go into it.
A "docked drive" will behave just as an external drive.
BUT --
The -best- Mac backup solution doesn't use Time Machine. Instead, download the free "CarbonCopyCloner" app from:
http://bombich.com
It's easy to learn and use and one of the best pieces of Mac software out there.
CCC will create a "bootable clone" of your internal drive (you CAN'T boot from a TM backup in a moment of extreme need). The files on it are in POFF (plain ol' finder format) -- just connect the backup, and it will show up on the desktop, ready to use.
CCC will also do "incremental" backups so you can maintain the clone in a state that is exactly like your internal (at the time of the last backup).
I have seen post after post from folks here who used Time Machine to backup, and then -- in a moment of extreme need -- find that they can't access their TM backup to get going again. Use CCC, and this won't be the case.
HFS+ is the Mac file system. I'm going to -guess- that the external drive you have is formatted in something else compatible for use on both a Mac -and- Windows. That won't do for TM.
Suggestions:
If you really want to use TM, you'll need -another- external drive. But what I'd really suggest is one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=usb+sata+dock&x=0&y=0
(many items shown, they all work the same, just pick one you like. Some can be had for as cheap as $25. You might consider getting one that's "USB3", will be faster than USB2 with the Macs of the future)
Then, just get a "bare" hard drive of your choice to go into it.
A "docked drive" will behave just as an external drive.
BUT --
The -best- Mac backup solution doesn't use Time Machine. Instead, download the free "CarbonCopyCloner" app from:
http://bombich.com
It's easy to learn and use and one of the best pieces of Mac software out there.
CCC will create a "bootable clone" of your internal drive (you CAN'T boot from a TM backup in a moment of extreme need). The files on it are in POFF (plain ol' finder format) -- just connect the backup, and it will show up on the desktop, ready to use.
CCC will also do "incremental" backups so you can maintain the clone in a state that is exactly like your internal (at the time of the last backup).
I have seen post after post from folks here who used Time Machine to backup, and then -- in a moment of extreme need -- find that they can't access their TM backup to get going again. Use CCC, and this won't be the case.
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How much free space do you have on the external drive ?
Might be better to create a HFS+ partition on the drive for Time Machine - is the drive formatted in NTFS or what ?
It's a 2 tb hard drive so about 1.5 tb left. NFTS? You'll have to excuse my ignorance. I don't know much about anything thats not getting on the computer and going on youtube or reedit. All i know is when i got the my book external hard drive, i drag dropped my stuff from my windows pc to the hard drive. I don't know anything about formatting or...anything. I just drag and dropped
It will be NTFS format - which is normal Windows formatting....
Do you still have access to the Windows PC ?
What you need to do is create 2 partitions on the external - 1 in NTFS and 1 in HFS+....
You will need access to a Mac and a PC to do it quickly and without extra software
Do you still have access to the Windows PC ?
What you need to do is create 2 partitions on the external - 1 in NTFS and 1 in HFS+....
You will need access to a Mac and a PC to do it quickly and without extra software
Yep! Still got the windows pc and my mac side by side. How do i create partitions? Is there an easy way to explain it to a dumb 'ol person like me?
(Was an answer to a question after last post but then reliezed it was a spammer which as since been removed. But will leave it here)
Can't you jsut copy it over to your desktop or whatever then move it back when done?
I always just do that when I needed to reformat an extrenal.
Can't you jsut copy it over to your desktop or whatever then move it back when done?
I always just do that when I needed to reformat an extrenal.
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