Recovering and restoring files using Time Machine

Thanks, I had read this article. It refers to the use of an external drive though. Have done this in past. On this occasion, my external drive back up was 18 months ago and therefore of no value in recovering records that I update on a frequent basis. Of interest to me was the fact that Time machine was pulling up files from a 'back up. it had carried out and hour before I totally lost my files. No external drive connected. Does time machines do back ups to the hard drive? If so, how often? Disc Space ??

Thanks Grant

I could see that old files old (1 hr back from my stupid mass deletion!!) were replaced using the date at time of recovery. Was just wondering where the old files were held. Articles always refer to backing up to external drive. BUT in this case, no external drive in place. Time Machine mu be carrying out back ups and storing Is this to the mac's internal HD? NO article that I have read states that this is possible ... always referring to use of external drive.

Not savvy on all of this stuff .... just VERY confused and curious !

Thanks. Realise how lucky I was !! Didn't even know that this was possible. Have never read any reference to TM performing back ups to anything other than external drive. As with my other responses, am asking where back ups were stored?

Have now read the article you provided. Many thanks. This was totally new info for me. Had never heard of snapshots!!