Time machine, seagate backup plus

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Level 1

65 points

Time machine, seagate backup plus

Hi ive bought a seagat backup plus external hard drive. Ive been using it to transfer files from a pc to my new mac. When i originally used it for the first time, i think it asked me if i was using it between both windows and mac formats so i said yes, and this has worked seamlesly.

Now all my files are on the mac, i want to use it for a time machine back up. Upon trying this it failed because it is not in the correct format i think.

So here is a couple of questions....

1- How do i give it the correct format?

2- Some of my family still use the windows pc, and i would have liked to have still been able to use the hard drive across both formats. So if i format for Time machine, will this not then be possible?

Thanks.

iMac

Posted on Jan 18, 2014 9:20 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 9

76,990 points

Jan 18, 2014 9:46 AM in response to Laptopdog 78

It is most likely currently formatted MS-DOS FAT-32, which works fine for sharing files under 4GB cross platform. If you reformat it for OS X and Time Machine, it will erase everything on it and then ideally only be usable for Time Machine.

To me it sounds like your best bet is to, keep that drive as is and get yourself another drive to use for Time Machine.

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Answer 2

Laptopdog 78 Author

Level 1

65 points

Jan 18, 2014 10:53 AM in response to den.thed

Ive just found In info that it says its format is Windows NT Filesystem. I was transfering much larger files than 4GB.

Having just paid a nice sum for this drive i dont really want to go buy another.

When you say, ideally only used for time machine, does this mean i could use it across both formats if needs be once time machine is backing up to it?

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 9

76,990 points

Jan 18, 2014 11:13 AM in response to Laptopdog 78

You can not use NTFS for Time Machine and reformatting it will wipe all the data currently on it.

In addition, you will no longer be able to use it for your PCs without windows software that can write to HFS.

Lastly it is best to use a drive for only Time Machine, because sooner than later it will use the entire space on the drive.

see > Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac

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Answer 4

Laptopdog 78 Author

Level 1

65 points

Jan 18, 2014 11:10 AM in response to den.thed

I know the data will be wiped, thats fine.

How do i re format it then to work with time machine?

When you say dedicated is better, do you mean the main drive in the mac? Cos i thought if you had it externaly, should your main drive seriously malfunction, you still at least have another source with all your important files.

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Answer 5

den.thed

Level 9

76,990 points

Jan 18, 2014 11:16 AM in response to Laptopdog 78

Sorry, an external that is used only for Time Machine.

see > Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac

Because sooner than later, Time Machine will use all the space on the drive.

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Answer 6

Laptopdog 78 Author

Level 1

65 points

Jan 18, 2014 11:33 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks den.thed for your help. ive had a read of a few of them articles you sent.

I think its a little poor though how i cant configur time machine to only use a certain amount of space on a drive before it starts deleting older backups.

I thought i would be able to occasionally connect the drive, force a back up, and remove the drive till i felt the need again.

Im just a home user, not a buisness. So as much as i have things i dont want to lose, family videos, photos etc, its not like i need backing up every hour, every day, every week, every month and so on.

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Answer 7

den.thed

Level 9

76,990 points

Jan 18, 2014 4:10 PM in response to Laptopdog 78

You can split the drive into 2 or 3 partitions and then use something like CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper if you really only need daily or weekly backups.

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