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Catalina - Files can't be deleted from Time Machine backup

Hello,

After upgrading to Catalina I made a 1.72TB Time Machine backup (ext. USB 3.0 HD). A few days later Time Machine had added some additional backups. Then I found some large files (video footage) which I don't need anymore, so I deleted them from my Mac, and I tried to delete them from the backup too using "Delete all backups of..." (Time Machine context menu). I could delete the files from the latest backup, but I thought it should have been deleted completely, however there are early backups where the files are still there. When I select one of these files and right click to get the context menu "Delete all backups of..." is not available (missing). This means these files can't be deleted. I hadn't seen such a behavior of Time Machine ever before (since OS X Leopard). Can this be fixed?

Thank you.

iMac 27", macOS 10.12

Posted on Feb 18, 2020 2:40 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Mar 15, 2020 4:49 PM

It is not advised deleting anything from the TimeMachine db using the Finder—


This defeats the purpose of a recursive backups (ie enabling you to restore a specific file or the entire drive— from a certain point in time,) and typically corrupts the data base— requiring an erase & reformat to get back to a stable condition.


The TM manages it's own backups which requires no user interference:



How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250


Use Time Machine to restore deleted files or older files - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209152


Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/restore-files-mh11422/mac






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7 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Mar 15, 2020 4:49 PM in response to coxorange

It is not advised deleting anything from the TimeMachine db using the Finder—


This defeats the purpose of a recursive backups (ie enabling you to restore a specific file or the entire drive— from a certain point in time,) and typically corrupts the data base— requiring an erase & reformat to get back to a stable condition.


The TM manages it's own backups which requires no user interference:



How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250


Use Time Machine to restore deleted files or older files - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209152


Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/restore-files-mh11422/mac






Apr 3, 2020 3:35 PM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad wrote:

It is not advised deleting anything from the TimeMachine db using the Finder
You're in Time Machine not the Finder. From TM you can delete a one time backup or all backups of the same item.

By deleting from the Finder means opening the TM drive, selecting an item and trying to drag it to the Trash bin in the Dock to delete it. That can't be done. If you get it to the Trash bin you won't be able to empty the bin nor return it back to the TM drive. At that stage your only recourse is to erase the TM drive and start over.


https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/f0e954e5-b63d-4a93-9222-199bebd720d1

Of course!

I never had such a problem, I never tried to delete from the backup drive using Finder.

I wrote: [...] using "Delete all backups of..." (Time Machine context menu)

Apr 3, 2020 2:11 PM in response to coxorange

It is not advised deleting anything from the TimeMachine db using the Finder

You're in Time Machine not the Finder. From TM you can delete a one time backup or all backups of the same item.


By deleting from the Finder means opening the TM drive, selecting an item and trying to drag it to the Trash bin in the Dock to delete it. That can't be done. If you get it to the Trash bin you won't be able to empty the bin nor return it back to the TM drive. At that stage your only recourse is to erase the TM drive and start over.


Mar 15, 2020 3:04 PM in response to coxorange

Unfortunately I didn't get an answer so far.

I want to add that I'm using two external 3TB drives alternately.

When I "Enter Time Machine" the backups are listed alternately one behind each other.

I found out all backups from one drive (= every second one) had been deleted,

but I can't delete the backups from the other drive (see above).

In the past (Leopard–Sierra) this was never a problem.

Any help/information/suggestion is appreciated.

Catalina - Files can't be deleted from Time Machine backup

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