Partitioning a drive for Time Machine

Question

Level 1

8 points

Partitioning a drive for Time Machine

I have a 1TB external hard drive that I have only used thus far for movies, music and tv shows. I use NTFS formatting and I have the application Paragon so that my MacBook Pro can write files in NTFS format.

I want to partition 200 GB of my external for Time Machine to backup my laptops hard drive and I would like to avoid buying another external for this purpose since I have the space on my current external. Is there a way to partition a section of my external for Time Machine without erasing the data that's already on my external? Also, does it matter what format the external uses, aka is a certain file format more compatible with Time Machine than NTFS is? If so, can I create a partition on my hard drive with a different file format while maintaining the NTFS portion with my movies and music?

Lots of questions but I hope you are following my situation.

Thanks

Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 30, 2011 3:02 PM

Reply

Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,051 points

Oct 30, 2011 3:54 PM in response to AlexMaczotta

Hi Alex, it''l need HFS+ formatting to use TM I believe.

How big is the Laptops HDD? You generally need at least twice the space of the drive you're backing up.

Re-partitioning can be dangerous, Disk Utility is supped to be able to do it in 10.5.8, but not tried it. iPartition might be easier, but the NTFS<->HFS+ issue might be a deal breaker, not sure.

One possibility other than TM would be Tri-Backup...

http://www.tri-edre.com/english/products/tribackup.html

Which would allow you to Backup using a compressed file on the NTFS volume, no Partitioning needed.

Reply

Answer 2

AlexMaczotta Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 30, 2011 4:51 PM in response to BDAqua

My laptops hard drive is about 180 total capacity. I'm thinking to avoid potential complications I should just get another external. I can get a 320 gb for about $50. It's not quite twice the total laptop hard drive but do you think that will be enough?

Thanks

Reply

Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,051 points

Oct 30, 2011 5:57 PM in response to AlexMaczotta

Yes, another External would be better, 320 will be far better, but if you really want to use TM for some reason, see if you can't spring for a 500GB drive... & I'd avoid any Bus powered Drives. What Brand/Model are you considering?

Reply

Answer 4

AlexMaczotta Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 30, 2011 6:08 PM in response to BDAqua

Hm, I actually wanted to get a Bus powered drive for convenience purposes. The current 1TB hard drive I have is Cavalry brand and uses an outlet power adapter. Maybe I'll get a Bus powered 500 gb (which is enough for my movies and music anyway) and use my current external as a backup drive instead.

Do you think in general bus powered drives are a bad idea or just a bad idea for a hard drive backup?

Reply

Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,051 points

Oct 30, 2011 6:12 PM in response to AlexMaczotta

Do you think in general bus powered drives are a bad idea or just a bad idea for a hard drive backup?

Bus powered drives are far more of a problem on Macs than on PCs ime, so I'd at least get one with an optional AC adapter, especially if used for anything important.

Reply