Can I delete Backups.backupdb?

TM will automatically create a new Backups.backupdb folder without overwriting anything existing on the same volume.
Of course you choose a volume where, although there are already some other folders on it, there is also enough free space for your new TM backup, right?
(otherwise no it still won't overwrite anything, but it will prompt a "not enough space" message)

I am only saying there are a bunch more hurdles to jump if you trash a time machine backup,
(especially one that contains an OS as part of the backup) as opposed to trashing standard OS
and Data files and folders. I am sure they made it difficult on purpose, to keep users from
inadvertently trashing their backups.

Fortunately, Apple built in a way to manually delete the backups using the Time Machine interface:
unfortunately I don't think they included instructions on how to do it in Apple help;

Open Time Machine
Select your TM Drive
Select Backups.Backupd folder
Click the Gear, a context menu opens, select Delete All backups of "Backups.Backupd"

note: to select only certain backups to delete:
Open Time Machine
Select your TM Drive
Open Backups.Backupd folder, Navigate to individual backups, select the one(s) you wish to delete
Click the Gear, a context menu opens, select Delete All backups of "+the backup(s) you selected+"

Kj

Great tip Kj, thanks!

You welcome, It suddenly dawned on me (slaps forehead) that you guys probably weren't
aware of the time machine delete feature. I wasn't either until I stumbled across it while
searching the internet.

Glad to have helped. There is a Time Machine forum here also that probably has some good
information to dig through and a few Time machine Gurus, whose brains you can pick. 😉

Kj

+It sure would be nice if a folder could be limited to a maximum size+

Oh working like a Disk Utility dmg file, why not, good idea,
although this too you get it by assigning one specific partition to TM backup, as the others pointed already.

Enjoy your Mac!

You can limit data TM backs in time machine down to the folder and even to the file level in time
machine preferences.

Kj

from Apple TM help:
You can exclude items from a Time Machine backup to save space on your backup volume. If
you’re using a different method to back up certain files and folders, you may want to exclude
them as well.

To exclude items from a Time Machine backup:

Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and then click Time Machine.

Open Time Machine preferences

Click Options.

To specify an item that shouldn’t be backed up, click Add {+} and choose one or more items. You
can also drag items to the list. To remove an item from the list, select it and then click Remove {-}.

The backup disk is automatically included in the list of items that shouldn’t be backed up.


Click Done.

If you choose to omit the System folder from backups, a confirmation message appears asking if
you want to also exclude other system files. For more information, click the Help (question mark)
button in the confirmation message.

Kj