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Time Machine on Monterey supposed to be Read Only ?

harleymhs

harleymhs

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 19, 2009
790
176
Hi All. I just set up my time machine on my M1 Imac.. I erased the SSD , 2 times and it only shows read only. But it seems to be doing the backups with no issue. But I cant move any files manually being its read only. How can I make this Time Machine EXT SSD rear & Write ? TIA
 
M
kitKAC said:
You’d have to wipe the disk, format it as HFS+, and start again.
Click to expand...
My understanding is that since Time Machine switched to APFS and snapshots, when ever you set up a new TM backup it automatically formats the drive APFS (case sensitive). You have no control over this. It happens in the 'preparing' stage.

At the time that TM switched to APFS, it carried on working with pre-existing HFS backups, so that people didn't lose their history. But you would not be able to set up a new HFS Time Machine backup now.

What do you want to write to it?
 
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Mike Boreham said:
M

My understanding is that since Time Machine switched to APFS and snapshots, when ever you set up a new TM backup it automatically formats the drive APFS (case sensitive). You have no control over this. It happens in the 'preparing' stage.

At the time that TM switched to APFS, it carried on working with pre-existing HFS backups, so that people didn't lose their history. But you would not be able to set up a new HFS Time Machine backup now.

What do you want to write to it?
Click to expand...
I thought that's what was going to happen once formatted then when TM asks if you want to use this disk , it will re format to what "IT" wants to format too! Thank you for your reply! I guess thats it. You can use a TM drive for anything other than TM now.. Ugh
 
harleymhs said:
I guess thats it. You can't use a TM drive for anything other than TM now.. Ugh
Click to expand...
No.... you can still add other space sharing APFS Volumes to the drive with Time Machine on it, as I have. Just use Disk Utility to add an APFS volume to the Container that holds the TM volume.
 
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Mike Boreham said:
No.... you can still add other space sharing APFS Volumes to the drive with Time Machine on it, as I have. Just use Disk Utility to add an APFS volume to the Container that holds the TM volume.
Click to expand...
How if the TM drive gets formatted to read only ?
 
harleymhs said:
How if the TM drive gets formatted to read only ?
Click to expand...
Only the TM Volume gets formatted APFS case sensitive. Here is my DU showing the TM volume in same Container as two Data Volumes. I also have two HFS partitions for installers.

7845FE1B-D3FE-4FC2-B086-94DD6BCC95FE.jpeg
 
harleymhs said:
Thank you... How would I do this add another partition to the TM drive?
Click to expand...

Make sure in Disk Utility that View > Show all Devices is selected.

Then select the Container holding the Time Machine Volume, "Container disk 9" in my case see screenshot.

Then click the little + sign above the word "Volume" in the top bar of the DU window.

A window appears where you can select the Volume name, the file system and file size limits (I don't usually use this):

Screenshot 2022-11-29 at 22.15.47.png



PS You are not adding another partition, but another Volume in the same Container. Broadly Partitions and Containers are equivalent but wherever possible it is preferable to add another APFS space sharing volume to the same Container rather than create another Partition/Container. All the Volumes in a Container have to be APFS, so if you want HFS (as I did for the bootable installers) you have to add partitions. This space sharing capability is one of the biggest user benefits of APFS imo.
 
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Mike Boreham said:
Make sure in Disk Utility that View > Show all Devices is selected.

Then select the Container holding the Time Machine Volume, "Container disk 9" in my case see screenshot.

Then click the little + sign above the word "Volume" in the top bar of the DU window.

A window appears where you can select the Volume name, the file system and file size limits (I don't usually use this):

View attachment 2120801


PS You are not adding another partition, but another Volume in the same Container. Broadly Partitions and Containers are equivalent but wherever possible it is preferable to add another APFS space sharing volume to the same Container rather than create another Partition/Container. All the Volumes in a Container have to be APFS, so if you want HFS (as I did for the bootable installers) you have to add partitions. This space sharing capability is one of the biggest user benefits of APFS imo.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I totally understand now! Thanks for all your help !!
 
Mike Boreham said:
Make sure in Disk Utility that View > Show all Devices is selected.

Then select the Container holding the Time Machine Volume, "Container disk 9" in my case see screenshot.

Then click the little + sign above the word "Volume" in the top bar of the DU window.

A window appears where you can select the Volume name, the file system and file size limits (I don't usually use this):

View attachment 2120801


PS You are not adding another partition, but another Volume in the same Container. Broadly Partitions and Containers are equivalent but wherever possible it is preferable to add another APFS space sharing volume to the same Container rather than create another Partition/Container. All the Volumes in a Container have to be APFS, so if you want HFS (as I did for the bootable installers) you have to add partitions. This space sharing capability is one of the biggest user benefits of APFS imo.
Click to expand...
So if I make another volume in the TM drive and use APFS will it be read/write ?
 
In Ventura.........same, TM changes your format to APFS sensitive. All is normal . I spoke with Apple Support just now and TM does auto format the drive to case sensitive and read only. My only concern now is that Black Magic speed test cannot read a case sensitive format. I will contact them
 
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DonCarlos said:
My only concern now is that Black Magic speed test cannot read a case sensitive format. I will contact them
Click to expand...
You can create another volume in the existing container on the TM drive. Pick the format of APFS (which I believe is case-insensitive) and Black Magic will be able to use it.

@Mike Boreham posted instructions in post #13 above.
 
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