Back up to Time Machine taking a whole day

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Back up to Time Machine taking a whole day

Hello - I have an iMac late 2013 model running the latest version of Catalina. I haven't backed it up for a few months and it is currently backing up via Time Machine to a WD Passport Ultra 2tb portable hard drive (which is around 5 years old but in perfect condition, as is the computer). The total hard drive memory used (out of the original 1tb) on the iMac is around 650gb. The size of the back up is 270gb. My question is: is it normal that this 270gb back up is taking a whole day to complete ?

iMac 21.5", macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 4, 2020 10:47 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LD150

Level 10

91,247 points

Apr 4, 2020 2:20 PM in response to Doctor Zhivago

Have you ever backed up in Catalina i.e. since the upgrade.

First one can take many hours.

see also

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204412

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Answer 2

Apr 5, 2020 2:07 AM in response to Doctor Zhivago

That is a big backup. It may take a while, but all day sounds like the days of dial up. I would expect it to take best part of daylight.

My first backups often take 4-5 hours, and probably not as big as that. SSD last time was much quicker.

Does it stop you using your iMac? I would just let it get on with it and then set backup to auto, if you need it. Each would then be much less, you would not notice it.

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Answer 3

Apr 5, 2020 6:23 AM in response to LD150

Thanks Peter - but I'm not sure I understand why this is a good idea. Having just spent hours and hours over the last few days trying to sort this out and also another issue which required extensive testing of software and hardware, plus reinstallation of the OS (guided by a senior Apple technician), I am desperate not to spend more time in front of this computer for now. Everything, finally, seems to be normal - so why would I want to restore the machine to a very out of date back up ? Thanks in advance for clarifying.

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Answer 4

LD150

Level 10

91,247 points

Apr 5, 2020 1:38 PM in response to Doctor Zhivago

I probably didn't explain well. Enter Time Machine. Go back in time and find an old file that has been deleted since. See if you can restore that One file.

If you cannot, or the history goes back only a few days, then the backup is a waste of space, literally

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Answer 5

Apr 5, 2020 1:11 AM in response to LD150

Excellent point - no. That would explain it. Thanks for your comment.

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Answer 6

LD150

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91,247 points

Apr 5, 2020 2:47 AM in response to Doctor Zhivago

My advice when updating to a new OS is replace (or reformat) the disk and start again.

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Answer 7

Apr 5, 2020 4:08 AM in response to antonyjwalsh

No problem using iMac during back up. It doesn't have a SSD, so possibly a bit slower. But all done now and already done next back up which was very quick.

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Answer 8

LD150

Level 10

91,247 points

Apr 5, 2020 5:54 AM in response to Doctor Zhivago

Great. Now enter TM and make sure you can roll back to your known early backups and restore one.

If not, there is an Apple Support refresh procedure but I cant lay my hands on it

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Answer 9

Apr 6, 2020 1:16 AM in response to LD150

Ok, get you. Thanks for the advice, I will try it.

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Back up to Time Machine taking a whole day

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