I want to do a "Clean/Install" of my Time Machine. Nothing else

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Level 1

53 points

I want to do a "Clean/Install" of my Time Machine. Nothing else

My Time Machine went loopy about three months ago. It will not do any backups but has something like, "Waiting to connect" and more. Recognizing my limited Mac skills, I would like to completely wipe my Time Machine. I have TWO hard drive backups so not worried.

If I can actually do that. I would like to restore the Time Machine.

Can I do that directly from my external backup? Can't see how that would be done without obviously a screen to observe.
Can I do some type of Migration Asst. to the Time Machine?
Pardon my ignorance, but does my MacBook (new, 2022 M2) have all that memory and be as simple as Migrating from MacBook to Time Machine.
Of course, what also concerns me is whether a clean/install would remove whatever that problem is with the Time Machine. I did try various AD help to fix the problem but no luck.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

MacBook Air, macOS 13.0

Posted on Nov 11, 2022 12:35 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,886 points

Nov 11, 2022 1:11 PM in response to Tom Perkins1

I would like to completely wipe my Time Machine

Looks like you have some names mixed up. Apple does not make it easy in this regard.

Time Machine is software on your Mac that is used to back up the data on the Mac to another hard drive.

Likely, you are really asking about a Time Capsule.....which is hardware ....... a router with a built in hard drive that can store backup data. Please check to make sure that you really do have a Time Capsule.

Wiping the Time Capsule involves erasing the hard drive. It takes a few minutes if that is what you want to do.

Once the Time Capsule hard drive has been erased, Time Machine on your Mac will start a new backup to copy all of the data on your Mac over to the Time Capsule again and then subsequent incremental backups will continue after that.

The initial backup will likely take 3-5 hours or more. The incremental backups normally only take a few minutes.

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Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,886 points

Nov 14, 2022 1:35 PM in response to Tom Perkins1

In my infinite wisdom, I deleted my Time...Capsule.

So, if you open AirPort Utility (Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility).....the Time Capsule does not appear at all, correct?

We'll work on other questions later, but for now, we need to make sure that the Time Capsule is connected to your network correctly.

Please keep in mind that if you do really want a "clean install", the Time Capsule hard drive will be erased, so you will have to start over again with new backups from all of the Macs that will be backing up.

If you decide that you really don't want a "clean Install", we can try to get back ups going again without erasing the Time Capsule's hard drive. But.....if that won't work, then it will be necessary to erase the Time Capsule hard drive before we can proceed further.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,886 points

Nov 29, 2022 10:39 AM in response to Tom Perkins1

Unfortunately, not much is going to happen until the Time Capsule appears when you open any Finder window on your Mac.

Try restarting the Mac and powering off and then powering the Time Capsule back up.

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Answer 4

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,886 points

Nov 24, 2022 8:22 AM in response to Tom Perkins1

Is the Time Capsule connected to your network correctly?

If it is, you can open any Finder window and the Time Capsule will appear under the Locations or Devices leading on the left side panel of the Finder window.

In addition, if you open AirPort Utility on any of your Apple devices......Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc......the Time Capsule should appear in the main window.

Assuming that the Time Capsule is connected to the network correctly, what do you want to do next?

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Answer 5

Tom Perkins1 Author

Level 1

53 points

Nov 13, 2022 5:13 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Harrr. Yes sir. You're right. Thank you for helping me with this!

Time Capsule..Time Machine...Time Out...Time Delay...Time After Time.

In my infinite wisdom, I deleted my Time...Capsule. So, here are two screen shots. The second is about to reinstall Time Capsule. However, I'm struggling with the nomenclature. Which one is the "existing backup"? Are they talking about Time Capsule or one of my external hard drives. I'm hoping to be able to use one of the external backups because I know "for sure" it goes back a year or so. Because it seems like my Time Capsule is corrupted and it has not backed up for about two months now, I would not want to have to skip two months and restart. Does this make sense? Again, thanks for your prompt reply!

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Answer 6

Tom Perkins1 Author

Level 1

53 points

Nov 19, 2022 10:03 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Apologies for delay! Work has been rude in this.

Airport IS connected to Time Capsule
There are green "buttons" on each one.
However, per my screenshot, you can see that in my screenshot that there is an explanation for Time MACHINE, but no "data or Time Capsule".
If you decide that you really don't want a "clean Install", we can try to get back ups going again without erasing the Time Capsule's hard drive. Oh, heck yes. I would much prefer that.

Again, I am sorry for the delay and THANK YOU for your quick responses and help. I will be more present from now on.( Sigh, I've been saying that to my wife for 40 years.)

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Answer 7

Tom Perkins1 Author

Level 1

53 points

Nov 24, 2022 7:03 AM in response to Bob Timmons

"We'll work on other questions later, but for now, we need to make sure that the Time Capsule is connected to your network correctly."

Mr. Timmons, I do not want to appear rude. But I believe I'm on the cusp of finally figuring this out. As time permits, could you do a follow up from our conversation? Thank you.

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Answer 8

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,886 points

Nov 29, 2022 11:29 AM in response to Tom Perkins1

Click on the "smiley face" Finder window on the dock of the Mac

Click on the Finder menu at the very top of the screen next to the Apple icon

Click Preferences

Click the General (gear) icon

Under the heading of Show Items on Desktop, make sure that there is a check mark in the box next to Connected Servers

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Answer 9

Tom Perkins1 Author

Level 1

53 points

Jan 11, 2023 8:21 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, again, apologies. In another subscription I did an end around with a new MacBook and used Migration Asst. PLUS an external hard drive. I will try your suggestions above. I actually would like to completely wipe that data off and start fresh. The screenshot shows how I stupidly deleted the "Data" - Time Machine off.

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Answer 10

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,886 points

Jan 11, 2023 12:29 PM in response to Tom Perkins1

When you open the Finder, the name of the Time Capsule should appear on the left panel of the next window. The heading will read "Devices" on older operating systems and "Locations" on newer operating systems.

In the example below, you can see that the name of my Time Capsule is TC.