Will a Samsung 256 gb SSD be compatible with Time Machine on a MacBook Air 2022, with 256 gb SSD internal drive? And, will I be able to use Time Machine to select one file to back up to the TM drive or is TM set and automated to run a certain back up routine?
MacBook Air (2020 or later)
That SSD is too small for TM. Should be at least 3-4 times larger. TM has a standard backup routine that you cannot tamper with.
That SSD is too small for TM. Should be at least 3-4 times larger. TM has a standard backup routine that you cannot tamper with.
TM no longer backs up the OS. What I do in addition to a TM backup is I also have a backup using Carbon Copy Cloner which would be great for you since you just want to do a backup occasionally (just as Lanny has suggested)..
Use a cloning software for your backup purposes, i.e., Carbon Copy Cloner. Unlike Time Machine, your backup will be bootable.
Thanks so much. I see now TM is not for me. I have a hand full of files I can keep backed up via a usb C port and I will create a backup usb flash stick (thumb drive) for OS backup. That's just what I have now for Windows. Mac trivia: My first Mac had its OS on a floppy drive like an Apple IIe. If you did not have double floppies, it would not work. First ones came with one floppy drive.
I've been waffling on whether to rely on flash drives (sticks) or a 500 GB Sandisk external drive and Time Machine to backup files. I do back ups only about every couple of months to my laptop. I may have just a couple of documents and/or photos that are copied to USB 3 drive (thumb, stick) on my Dell. It is easy and no special program like Time Machine needs to be involved so I'm thinking if the MacBook will at least do that so I may not use the Time Machine. It sounds like a pro user device for everyday back up, keeping its big drive connected. I think I can get my OS onto one USB C flash drive and my files to another stick then if I need to reinstall, I will wipe the Mac clean then set it all up again as if it were new...install apps, make settings etc. I had thought Time Machine backed up the whole shebang...OS, settings, updates, and personal files making a mirror image of whatever is on your internal SSD to restore if necessary. A member here said nope...does not do that. I won't pay a fee to the cloud so that is out. I guess a couple of USB C 32 GB flash drives will do it. Create a recovery one, then drag and drop file copies to the other.
Just remember that TM keeps a record of all the older files plus all your settings and apps should you need to restore.
Time Machine
