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Level 1

133 points

TM backup: can I use two drives to back up data on two other drives?

Hi to all!

I have with me a 1 TB/ Thunderbolt EHD [external hard drive], a Lacie 2 TB/FW, EHD, a Seagate 2 TB/ 2 USB, EHD, a Seagate 3 TB/ 2 USB, EHD and [to be purchased] a Seagate 2 TB/ 2 USB, EHD.

I mainly use my Mac for making HD videos using FCPX.

I am planning to use these drives in the following manner as indicated by the table below:

Drive:

1 TB,

Thunderbolt,

Buffalo

2 TB/ FW

LaCie

2 TB/ 2 usb

Seagate

d
3 TB/ 2 usb
Seagate

e
2 TB/ 2 usb
Seagate backup
[to be purchased]

500 GB, internal

Macintosh HD

Partitions

USAGE:

editing videos, one

active project at a time

mainly for camera

archives, music files,

FCP events, projects

and exported movies

same as the LaCie,

as a backup of data

intend to have 2

partitions of 1.5 TB each;

one partition for personal

data and the other partition

to back up data on the

Thunderbolt [current project]

intend to use this for

TM back up of my

Mac's internal HD

applications, documents etc.

backed up by:

one partition of 'd'

by the 2 TB Seagate

backup 'e'

I would like to know whether I could do these things:

Can I use the TM backup feature in this manner of using 2 separate drive/partition [e/d] to back up data on 2 other drives [f and a]?

Further, I am manually copying files from 'b' drive to 'c' drive; without incurring further expense, can I ensure that whatever I write onto the LaCie [b] gets copied to the 'c' drive automatically?

Any thoughts, suggestions and instructions in these matters are welcome.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5), garage band, FCPX:10.0.6 version

Posted on Mar 13, 2013 4:26 AM

105 replies

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 23, 2013 7:03 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

. . .

I have tried to change the download destination in Safari and Firefox, but the download file is stated to be unable to download to the 'e' drive.

So I downloaded the dile to the downloads section and tried to drag the file to the 'e' drive partition set apart for the personal data...but some error 36 popped up and I was unable to place the downloaded book to the intended destination. Unwilling to keep this data on the Mac's IHD, I trashed the downloaded files.

Error -36 is an I/O (inpout/output) error -- some part of it can't be read or verified. This is likely a problem with the file, or a bad connection, not the destination drive -- you'd probably get the same error there.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 23, 2013 7:12 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

. . .

Please look up this post and guide me how I can have this 'free' access to the treasures of heaven on earth!

I don't know. If the app won't run on a Mac, you'd have to install Windows on your Mac. That can be done, in various ways. I have a general idea of how that's done, but I don't do Windows at all.

You can use Apple's free BootCamp, which creates a separate partition on your OSX drive for Windows. You then either start and run OSX, or shut OSX down and run Windows from that partition.

Or, you use "Virtual Machine" software, that allows WIndows to run at the same time as OSX, in separate windows, using separate files that are treated like a separate partition. That seems to be what the "CrossOver" software is.

However you do it, you need a licensed copy of Windows.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 23, 2013 7:25 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

I am puzzled at what is happening to the two partitions I had made of the 2 TB Seagate: the upper one is stated to have the clone of the IHD, but upon opening the volume [Mac backup] I do not find any files upon it.

The clone stated it completed successfully, didn't it? If so, when it was done, did you start your Mac up from it?

Does it appear as an option when you go to System Preferences > Startup Disk?

Does Disk Utility show roughly the same amount of data on it as on your OSX drive?

If it's really empty, it must have gotten erased somehow.

The lower one [PERSONAL] is of course empty, bu I am unable to place any data upon it: tried to drag one folder from the desktop into the lower partition and this pop up came: error-36:

Pray what is this error code -36 which is disabling placement of data upon this drive? Is this error in someway responsible for the esword not downloading onto this partition?

That's the same -36 error as you got when downloading -- OSX can't read or write it. Can you read the file on your desktop? If not, that's where the problem is. If so, the problem may be on or with the destination drive.

That drive does have the GUID partition map scheme, and the Mac OS Extended (journaled) Format, right?

And it's a new drive, right?

EDIT: Ah, I wrote this before seeing your next post.

Message was edited by: Pondini

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 23, 2013 7:32 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

. . .

While trying to verify and repair the new 2TB Seagate, I encountered the following blocks:

. . .

Am getting this sinking feeling that I have been saddled with a 'congenitally defective' drive. Hope it is not.

Please instruct me as to how to proceed.

That is rather strange.

The "couldn't unmount disk" errors mean some other process is using it. It's hard to tell what -- could be Spotlight trying to index it, or any of a number of things.

The Backup disk does show there's data on it (305 GB).

The problem fixing the partition map is rather strange.

Try starting your Mac from the Recovery HD, and using the copy of Disk Utility there. See

Using the Recovery HD if you're not sure how to do that.

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 9:10 AM in response to Pondini

Thanks for your inpu:

Pondini wrote:

However you do it, you need a licensed copy of Windows.

Guess I need to sit on my PC once again!

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 9:50 AM in response to Pondini

Pondini wrote:

The clone stated it completed successfully, didn't it? If so, when it was done, did you start your Mac up from it?

Does it appear as an option when you go to System Preferences > Startup Disk?

Does Disk Utility show roughly the same amount of data on it as on your OSX drive?

If it's really empty, it must have gotten erased somehow.

I have gone to the System Preferences > Startup Disk and found this:

I had opened disk utility and found that this backup volumes has nearly 300 GB of data in it. It has not been erased. What next?

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 9:58 AM in response to Pondini

Pondini wrote:

somanna wrote:

. . .

While trying to verify and repair the new 2TB Seagate, I encountered the following blocks:

. . .

That is rather strange.

The "couldn't unmount disk" errors mean some other process is using it. It's hard to tell what -- could be Spotlight trying to index it, or any of a number of things.

The Backup disk does show there's data on it (305 GB).

The problem fixing the partition map is rather strange.

Try starting your Mac from the Recovery HD, and using the copy of Disk Utility there. See

Using the Recovery HD if you're not sure how to do that.

Tried to use recovery HD but startup disk options were not given. Appears to have started up as usual from IHD. Then I went to system preferences>startup disk and I was pleasantly surprised to see both Mac's IHD and Mac backup being given as startup options. Opted for the backup and I am presently writing from this startup!

I have opened disk utility and was able to do all of this:

Guess, when operating from the Mac backup, this drive seems to be operating well. Now what do I have to do next? If your reply comes before I go to sleep well, otherwise I have to wait till tomorrow for attending to your advice. Till then bye Pondini and have a great day.

Thanks for being so helpful.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 23, 2013 10:02 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

. . .

I have gone to the System Preferences > Startup Disk and found this:

The image didn't post properly (these forums are a bit flaky with images sometimes), but your next post confirmed it's there.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 23, 2013 10:07 AM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

. . .

I have opened disk utility and was able to do all of this:

Looks like everything's fine with the disk.

But that doesn't explain why you couldn't see anything on the clone, or the problems trying to copy to the second partition.

It's possible there's an intermittent problem with the ports or cables. Be sure they're all snug and secure; try a different cable, or just swap ends.

Does it have it's own power supply? If so, check that and the power cable as well.

Is this drive connected directly to your Mac? If there's a hub or daisy-chaining, that might be at least part of the problem.

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 2:59 PM in response to Pondini

In response to:

Pondini wrote:

somanna wrote:

. . .

I have gone to the System Preferences > Startup Disk and found this:

The image didn't post properly (these forums are a bit flaky with images sometimes), but your next post confirmed it's there.

What I had intended to convey was this:

The image shown in that post showed that the startup disk having only my Mac's IHD but not the Mac Backup clone. However, disk utility was showing the existence of nearly 320 GB of data upon it.

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 3:33 PM in response to Pondini

Pondini wrote:

Pondini wrote:

somanna wrote:. . .

I have opened disk utility and was able to do all of this:

I was able to verify/repair the EHD and have the satisfaction of disk utility giving it a clean chit only after I had shut down the computer and an aborted attempt to boot up from the backup [pressing upon the option key] resulted in the Mac running upon my Mac's IHD. This shutting down and starting up of the Mac seems to have had some effect: for now the startup disk was showing both the startup options. This time I selected Mac backup and restarted the Mac. it was while the Mac was running from the EHD that I verified/repaired the EHD and got the report that all was fine. Hope I have clarified the matter.

Guess I should restart the Mac as usual and see whether, when running on the Mac's IHD, startup disk and disk utility behave as they are behaving as they are doing now. Before restarting, I shall see whether I will be allowed to place any data upon 'PERSONAL' partition or whether error code -36 will reappear!

The cable connection is ok.

Shall keep you posted of the developments.

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 3:37 PM in response to somanna

First things first:

I was able to successfully drag a folder and a file onto the personal partition. A relief:

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 3:56 PM in response to somanna

Good news Pondini! Upon restarting the Mac [I hope it has restarted by default from the IHD!] I find that startup disk has both the startup icons, and am yet to check disk utility. BTW, how can I positively know that the system is operating at this moment of time from the IHD? Looked into activity monitor but was not able to decipher anything!

I shall do this to be sure I am operating rom the IHD: open up startup disk and choose the Mac's IHD for restarting! PAINS OF THE IGNORANTS!

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Mar 23, 2013 4:03 PM in response to somanna

somanna wrote:

. . .

an aborted attempt to boot up from the backup [pressing upon the option key] resulted in the Mac running upon my Mac's IHD.

The timing of pressing the option key can be a little tricky, especially if you're using a wireless keyboard. Some of them aren't recognized early enough in the startup sequence, and you have to use a wired one.

I was able to successfully drag a folder and a file onto the personal partition. A relief:

Yay!

BTW, how can I positively know that the system is operating at this moment of time from the IHD?

Click the Apple icon at the left of your menubar and select About This Mac. Among other things, it will show the Startup Disk.

somanna Author

Level 1

133 points

Mar 23, 2013 4:57 PM in response to Pondini

Pondini wrote:

Some of them aren't recognized early enough in the startup sequence, and you have to use a wired one.

BTW, how can I positively know that the system is operating at this moment of time from the IHD?

Click the Apple icon at the left of your menubar and select About This Mac. Among other things, it will show the Startup Disk.

Thanks a lot Pondini.

You have written about the [relative] slowness of bluetooth. Can I use my PC's wired keyboard for this?

Learnt fro About this Mac that the system was still running from the Mac backup. After that, while writing in this thread and made use of cut/copy features, the spinning beachball came up and the system became irresponsive...had to resort to the power shutdown button to end the session and restated the Mac. This time too it started up from the Mac backup. Next, I went to the startup disk and restarted after selecting the Mac's IHD.

Using this startup disk I opened and fountthat the startup disk was displaying both the options of restarting. Also successfully used disk utility to verify/repair the drive/partitions of the Seagate EHD. Clean chit given.

Opened up the PERSONAL volume and learnt that I could drag new data onto it and also trash selected files. Whew!

TM backup: can I use two drives to back up data on two other drives?