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How do I delete Time-Machine back-ups on external HD

Hello everybody, I would like to delete all the Time Machine back-ups on my external hard drive and create a new full back-up. This is because after several months my HDD is quickly filling up and I would like to clean out all the old back-ups. What is the best way to do this? Sould I simply delete the old back-ups through finder, or is there another and better way to do this? Many thanks for your help!

MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 26, 2012 8:09 PM

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6 replies

Nov 26, 2012 9:02 PM in response to AnaMusic

Thank you AM, I have read the links you posted, but am still a little confused .... the suggestion to enter the TM "Star Wars" display only applies to back-ups residing on my internal SSD, right? I would like to delete the back-ups on my external hard drive, do I still do it the same way? Also, if TM is backed up to an external HDD, why does it also keep back-ups on the MBA's internal SSD?

Nov 26, 2012 9:08 PM in response to peiper1

peiper1 wrote:


....... the suggestion to enter the TM "Star Wars" display only applies to back-ups residing on my internal SSD, right? ...


No.

peiper1 wrote:


...Also, if TM is backed up to an external HDD, why does it also keep back-ups on the MBA's internal SSD?


As far as I know it doesn't. You may be meaning this...


Time Machine Local Snapshots Laptops


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4878


peiper1 wrote:


.. I would like to delete the back-ups on my external hard drive, do I still do it the same way? ...


Follow Pondinis Instructions for Deleting Backups on the TM external Drive.

Jan 1, 2013 10:12 PM in response to peiper1

I found a easy way to delet TimeMachine back-up files.


I downloaded the Trashit app. http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/8214/trash-it!


Then make a folder on the external HDD where your TM Back-up files are located. Name the folder anything you want like "drag'em here" Put the Trashit.app in that folder.


Drag the files you want to delete in the drag'em here folder and onto the TRASHIT.APP


You will have to enter your user password (your computer user login password)

How do I delete Time-Machine back-ups on external HD

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