Time Machine & iTunes library. Same HDD?

[Da Citizen]

When i set up Time Machine on my new MBP, I had to wipe the ext HDD i wanted to use, i couldnt partition it.

Does this mean this HDD can ONLY be used for my Time Machine? I wanted to use it as the repository for my iTunes library also, as there is plenty of room.

Thanks,

 

[simsaladimbamba]

TM uses one folder on the entire HDD to backup content, thus you can use the HDD for other things, like storing music, too.

Time Machine FAQ

 

[Da Citizen]

TM uses one folder on the entire HDD to backup content, thus you can use the HDD for other things, like storing music, too.

Time Machine FAQ

Could i have had to format it as it was used on a PC before then?
IE a mac fortmatted HDD would have just made a folder and kept all the existing information on there?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Could i have had to format it as it was used on a PC before then?

If I understand you correctly, the no, as TM needs to use HFS+ as file system (format).

IE a mac fortmatted HDD would have just made a folder and kept all the existing information on there?

I do not understand.

 

[Da Citizen]

Sorry if im not being clear, lets break it down.

- I got a new mac and wanted to set up TM
- I had a 1TB ext HDD that had music, pictures, etc on it, which i manually backed up my Windows laptop onto
- I plugged this into the MBP to tell TM to use this, but i had to format it. i wanted to keep all the stuff on there, and use the spare space as the TM but i had to format the whole thing
- this lead me to believe you had to assign the whole HDD to TM
- If this is not the case, then i can only assume it made me format it as it was used by a Windows machine in the past

Is this correct?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

As Windows uses a file system not compatible with TM, Mac OS X needed to format it using HFS+ as format, thus all data will be deleted on the HDD.
But you can partition the HDD in Disk Utility, so you can have one partition for TM and another for data, maybe even usable in Windows, if you use exFAT as format.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
  [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  
• Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx 33USD).
• Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
• To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB

Guide on how to use Disk Utility from the restore / installation DVD.

Format Your Hard Drive Using Disk Utility
Partition Your Hard Drive With Disk Utility

Using Disk Utility - Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks

DiskWiping – One Pass is Enough​