Time Machine, 2 computers, 2 osx, files invisible

Question

Level 1

4 points

Time Machine, 2 computers, 2 osx, files invisible

La Cie external 2 TB drive used with Time Machine to backup two computers, iMac 10.7 and MacBook Air, 10.9. Went OK.

On each machine, when the La Cie is mounted, the files for the other machine are not visible. For example, when the La Cie drive is attached to the MacBook Air, the Time Machine files for the iMac are not listed or visible.

Is this normal?

If the iMac fails and I want to access the files from the MacBook Air, how would I find them if they are not visible?

Is there a better way to back up files with mulitple computers and operating systems?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Nov 3, 2013 2:08 PM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Nov 3, 2013 4:26 PM in response to dm87

See Pondini's TM FAQs, for details. AFAIK, the two different OS have OS-specific TM apps running and I'm not surprised that they're not forward or backward compatible. As for better solutions, bootable backups, IMO, are superior. For those I recommend Carbon Copy Cloner.

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Answer 2

dm87 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 3, 2013 5:10 PM in response to baltwo

So, lets say that Tima Machine apps are OS-specific. Then if the iMac is updated to Mavericks it the files in the backups for both machines can be read by both machines? I wonder if anyone has tried this and can confirm that if the Time Machine app version is the same for two seperate backups of two separate computers, then both computers will be able to read the files in both backups?

If Time Machine apps are no forward and backward compatible, that is a deal breaker for me. I am surprised Apple has not thought this through more thoroughly. Developing software that assumes that consumers are using only one operating system seems a little short sighted.

Thanks for the tip about Carbon Copy Cloner, it is worth looking into.

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Nov 3, 2013 11:35 PM in response to dm87

All you can do is test it out yourself. I don't use TM.

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Answer 4

dm87 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 4, 2013 5:40 AM in response to baltwo

Rather than install a buggy Mavericks on another machine, I downloaded Carbon Copy Cloner to give it a try. So far it has the same issue as Time Machine. The MacBook Air with Mavericks backup, made using Carbon Copy Cloner, does not display files on the iMac with OS10.7.

However, if files are dragged and dropped from the MacBook Air with Mavericks, to the La Cie drive, then they are visible when the La Cie drive is connected to the iMac with 10.7.

My issue seems to have something to do with the backup software, both Time Machine and Carbon Copy Cloner.

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