Multiple Time Machine backups - excluding folders from one drive only

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Level 4

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Multiple Time Machine backups - excluding folders from one drive only

I have been using Time Machine to make full, separate backups of my Macbook Pro on a Time Capsule and on a 500GB external hard drive. Time Machine makes alternate backups and it has worked well.

I would now like to use a new 250Gb SSD external drive to make a bare-bones backup (e.g. excluding music, pictures and video). In Time Machine preferences I have excluded the folders and got the backup size to under 250Gb. That is fine (the SDD is very fast) but my problem is that these folders are now also excluded from the Time Capsule backup. There does not seem a way to have different exclusions from different backup drives. Or have I missed something?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 8, 2014 3:22 PM

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Answer 1

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Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Apr 9, 2014 11:58 AM in response to Michael Paine

No, your conclusion is correct. Instead of using Time Machine for the SSD, try using a cloning program. That will allow you to reset Time Machine to backup everything.

Clone - Carbon Copy Cloner (Often recommended as it has more features than some others)

Clone Software – 6 Applications Tested

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Answer 2

Michael Paine Author

Level 4

1,357 points

Apr 10, 2014 2:14 PM in response to Eric Root

Thank you. I used to keep Carbon Copy backups before Time Machine came along (and before I switched to Mac in 2003)

I have successfully used Time Machine to restore systems or migrate to new Macs. The main purpose for the SSD drive backup is if I am travelling and my Macbook Pro fails. I can quickly replace it and restore the system and business data. The SSD card is lighter and faster than a hard disk for this purpose.

For now I will manually change the TM options to exclude folders when using the SSD drive for backup.

I have put in a feedback feature request to Apple.

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Apr 29, 2014 7:42 AM in response to Michael Paine

You are welcome.

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