Using an old PC for Time Machine

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Using an old PC for Time Machine

I have an old PC, with a spare disc drive which I use to backup files from my iMac using the wireless connection. I thought I might be able to use it with Time Machine but when I click on 'Choose Backup Disc', Time Machine does not find it, despite its icon sitting there in Finder. Does this mean I cannot use Time Machine with a computer only with a separate disc drive?

Cheers

Chris Shaw

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Dec 13, 2008 4:42 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 13, 2008 4:48 AM in response to clichoid

Hi Chris

I think Time Machine will only work with drives formated as Macintosh Extended. How are you going to format the drive in the PC when the Windows OS does not recognize Macintosh Extended as a valid format?

What you could do if the drive is large enough is to remove it from the PC completely. Purchase an external drive case and install the drive. Connect the external case via USB or Firewire (preferably Firewire) and reformat the drive using **. Should work after that.

Tony

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Answer 2

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 13, 2008 6:35 AM in response to clichoid

Time Machine can only use directly attached drives or drives directly attached to other Macs on the same network running leopard. It can also use a Time Capsule. an internal drive on a PC can not be used. also, as Antonio said the drive has to be formatted mac os extended.

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