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User profile for user: jessandgeoff
jessandgeoff Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

A new external hard drive will not connect to OS Monterey for time machine backup

Hello. I am using Monterey 12.6.3 and my time machine backups stopped working.

The message said "Files can’t be copied onto the backup disk because it is read-only. This hard drive (seagate 8TB) is formatted "Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive)" I am wondering if the reason it stopped working is because I am now on Monterey and the format is now no longer compatible?



I purchased a new seagate 4TB expansion drive, I formatted it to suit APFS but I cannot find instructions on how to add this drive to time machine now. I read on the seagate website that if using Monterey I need to format new external drives to AFPS.


Can someone please advise:

  1. What do I need to do to add the new expansion drive so that it will work with Time Machine and
  2. Do I need to and can I transfer the old time machine backups from the drive that now "read only" onto my new seagate 4TB expansion drive.


iMac 21.5″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Feb 27, 2023 9:09 PM

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User profile for user: PRP_53
PRP_53
User level: Level 10
91,723 points

Feb 28, 2023 1:49 AM in response to jessandgeoff

How to Use Multiple Backup Drives with Time Machine

  1. Connect your second hard drive to your Mac.
  2. Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar, then click on Open Time Machine preferences.
  3. Click Select Disk.
  5. Select the drive you want to rotate, then click Use Disk.
  6. Time Machine will ask you if you want to replace your existing Time Machine drive, or use both drives. Click Use Both.

Time Machine will now back up to each individual drive as they’re connected.

When you want to check on your Time Machine backups later, all you need to do is hold down the option key when clicking on the Time Machine icon in your menu bar. You’ll see Browse Other Backup Disks. You can use that to browse whichever Time Machine backup you’d like.


A - Set aside the Original 8 TB Drive for future use and or to re-purpose at a later time

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User profile for user: PRP_53
PRP_53
User level: Level 10
91,723 points

Feb 28, 2023 4:02 AM in response to jessandgeoff

The Expected Drive format for Monterey and Ventura is APFS / GUID and TM Backup and will Mark the Drive as READ ONLY.


That is how it works


Though, If you format a drive as HFS Journaled / GUID before associating it with TM Backup - it should still work fine 


If you Reformat  that  Entire Drive - Yes,  everything will be lost forever 


In last image - it appear that specific Drive has failed and they do fail 


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User profile for user: jessandgeoff
jessandgeoff Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Feb 28, 2023 3:23 AM in response to jessandgeoff

Hello P.Phillips.

Thank you of these steps.

I have followed the steps but the option you mentioned in step 3 "select disk" does not appear in the time machine preferences window. The pic below is all I can see.

The 8TB drive is still connected to the computer but the other Seagate shown in this image is an old one that is not plugged into the computer anymore.

The new 4TB expandable drive that I mentioned in the original message does not show in this time Machine preference window list at all.

The 4TB appears in finder and on my desk top but not in this time machine window.



I think you may have mis understood my 2 point or the they way I wrote the question may have confused you. I'll try and explain what happened differently and re-phrase the question.


The 8TB drive stopped working and is now read only, this happened when I upgraded to Monterey. The 8TB is formatted in "Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive).

I assume, If I reformat that 8TB I will lose all the backup and other data that is on the drive. Is this correct?


I have purchased a new 4TB external drive which called "seagate expansion" drive.

This new 4TB drive had to be formatted before I could use it, and as per Monterey requirements, I formatted it as APFS format.

So the new 4TB is formatted APFS and states this when I "get info", I can see it in finder and on the desktop but I cannot see it or select it in time machine preferences.



Question 1

Will I lose any of my back ups and history that are currently on the 8TB drive if I start a new external drive for my back ups?


My concern is this, because the 8TB has a lot of time machine back ups stored on it and it is in a different format to what Monterey how can I access those backs, if I start a new drive will I lose that history?


Question 2

What can I do to allow me to add the 4TB to my time machine list in time machine preferences?


thank you.



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User profile for user: jessandgeoff
jessandgeoff Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Feb 28, 2023 5:26 PM in response to PRP_53

Hi P.Phillip.


Thanks, but I recognise hard drives fail. I know they have a limited life span. I assumed the 8TB seagate device has failed.


What I need help with is


Question 1

Will I lose any of my back ups and history that are currently on the 8TB drive if I start a new external drive for my back ups? or can I somehow access them even though this drive is not formatted APFS.



Question 2

What can I do to allow me to add the 4TB to my time machine list in time machine preferences? Because time machine will not allow me to select this new drive.


thanks Geoff

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User profile for user: PRP_53
PRP_53
User level: Level 10
91,723 points

Mar 1, 2023 1:57 AM in response to jessandgeoff

Question 1

Will I lose any of my back ups and history that are currently on the 8TB drive if I start a new external drive for my back ups? or can I somehow access them even though this drive is not formatted APFS.


Answer 1


If the 8 TB drive has in fact Failed, whatever is on the Drive is lost. The possible way to get some data OFF that drive would to spend a lot of money to a Professional Data Recovery Company to attempt to salvage some data from the drive


They will tell you up front, salvaging Data is tricky. Even they could get some data off the drive, it would be only some and Not All Data


Question 2

What can I do to allow me to add the 4TB to my time machine list in time machine preferences? Because time machine will not allow me to select this new drive.


Answer 2


Remove the already Listed Drives from Time Machine listing and then try to Add the New Drive.

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A new external hard drive will not connect to OS Monterey for time machine backup

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