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Q: Backup Windows PC on Time Machine?

I'm sure this has been covered in other posts that I have missed.

I am running Windows 7 on a Dell Studio 1737.

I have a MBP also, and all is networked together.  My MBP is backed up to my Time Capsule, through my Airport Utility.

 

I'd like to be able to set up the PC to be backed up on the same hard drive. Is this possible without a lot of changes, work or effort?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), WIndows 7 Cell Studio 1737 PC

Posted on Aug 31, 2014 5:13 AM

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Q: Backup Windows PC on Time Machine?

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  • by LaPastenague,Helpful

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Aug 31, 2014 5:22 AM in response to ffemt264
    Level 9 (52,655 points)
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    Aug 31, 2014 5:22 AM in response to ffemt264

    Work and effort are always required where windows is involved.

    Particularly when you mix it with Apple.

     

    Can you access the TC hard drive at all from the Dell??

     

    If not please load the airport utility for windows.. 5.6.1 available for download. It has several useful programs as part of it.

     

    Bonjour for windows and disk agent.

     

    Then simply type the TC name (if it is SMB compatible ie short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric) into the windows explorer address bar.

     

    \\TCname

     

    Of course if your TC name is

     

    Fred Blog's Airport Time Capsule.

     

    That will never work so I always recommend you give it a name windows can understand.. eg TCgenx

     

    You can however use the IP address if it is static.

     

    \\10.0.1.1 by default in router mode.. it is useless to use IP if it changes however.

     

    Mixing TM backups with windows backups is not a great idea since the TC cannot be partitioned but you can add a USB drive.

     

    Also you need to find a suitable backup software.. windows inbuilt backup is a shocker.. and useless if it is home version OS.. MS built it without ability to handle network. But there are a zillion windows backup softwares.. most are network aware.