Delete All Backups on Time Machine and Start Over

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Delete All Backups on Time Machine and Start Over

Since I used Migration Assistant and not Setup Assistant when reconnecting my Time Machine after a hard drive replacement in my iMac, I have 2 user accounts. Because of this, I cannot access files saved on Time Machine prior to September of 2010. Also, those backups aren't needed anymore. Plus my Time Machine only has 40G left all of a sudden. Odd.

Anyway, how do I delete all backups from 08-today and start backing up fresh today? Everything I need backed up can start from today and I will be fine.

20" iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), bought 2008

Posted on Jan 29, 2011 9:41 AM

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Answer 1

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Jan 29, 2011 11:30 AM in response to thetrudz

thetrudz wrote:
. . .
Plus my Time Machine only has 40G left all of a sudden. Odd.

That's because you have a new HD. Everything on it is treated as new, and was backed-up again.

Anyway, how do I delete all backups from 08-today and start backing up fresh today?

Just erase the disk/partition, per #2 in [Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks|http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/DU.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Using Snow Leopard+ forum).

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Answer 2

thetrudz Author

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Feb 5, 2011 2:08 AM in response to thetrudz

Did a quick erase and backed up computer as is, so that is fine for me.

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Answer 3

Sep 6, 2013 5:58 PM in response to thetrudz

Anyway, how do I delete all backups from 2010-today and start backing up fresh today?

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Answer 4

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 7, 2013 12:11 AM in response to mehrdad zar

As thetrudz says, just erase the drive. Time Machine will start over automatically.

If you're not sure how to do that, and your backups are on an external HD, see #2 in Using Disk Utility. If they're on a Time Capsule, use the Disks panel of Airport Utility (see the green box in #Q5 of Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule).