spinningstill

Q: How do I copy time machine to another drive?

I need to move TM to another drive but it won't let me.  Really need to move it.  I keep getting a permissions error.  Have read the process and it isn't working.  I don't have the "ignore button."  I have 10.10.1 MacBook Pro.  Moving from one external to another.

Posted on Dec 23, 2014 4:24 PM

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Q: How do I copy time machine to another drive?

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  • by schaafsmaster,

    schaafsmaster schaafsmaster Dec 23, 2014 4:28 PM in response to spinningstill
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Dec 23, 2014 4:28 PM in response to spinningstill

    Why not connect you're new HD to the computer and start a fresh backup before going to bed? That way you'll have extra redundancy of your data as well.

  • by spinningstill,

    spinningstill spinningstill Dec 23, 2014 4:56 PM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2014 4:56 PM in response to Allan Eckert

    Hi.  Tried all that already.  Still have permission issues.  I don't have a "ignore option." 

  • by spinningstill,

    spinningstill spinningstill Dec 23, 2014 4:57 PM in response to schaafsmaster
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2014 4:57 PM in response to schaafsmaster

    Was wanting to donate drive to friend in Haiti.  Plus wanted to add it to new drive.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 23, 2014 9:40 PM in response to spinningstill
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Dec 23, 2014 9:40 PM in response to spinningstill

    Although the documentation says you can copy Time Machine backups in the Finder, it's very slow and sometimes doesn't work at all.

    This technique will only work if the volume you're copying to is the same size, or larger than, the one you're copying from.

    First, open the Time Machine preference pane and click the Select Disk... button. You may have to unlock the settings first by clicking the padlock icon in the lower left corner of the window. Authenticate as an administrator.

    Delete the volume you're going to copy from the list of backup destinations. Then turn Time Machine OFF.

    Launch Disk Utility, open the built-in help, and search for the term "Duplicate." Follow the instructions. All existing data on the destination volume will be erased. That shouldn't be a problem, because you don't want to mix backup and non-backup data on the same drive anyway.

    If the volume you're copying was encrypted by Time Machine, you may have to unlock it first. Click the Unlock button in the toolbar of the Disk Utility window.

    Turn Time Machine back ON and select the new volume as a backup destination. You can also continue to use the old volume, if you wish. The two will be alternated when both are available.

    CAUTION: If the volume you're copying is corrupt, as shown by Repair Disk or Verify Disk in Disk Utility, then that corruption will be copied to the new drive. Don't copy data from a corrupt volume on a malfunctioning drive. Put the drive aside and don't use it until you're sure you'll no longer need the data. Then securely erase it and take it to a recycling center. Do the same if the Restore operation fails with "disk errors."

  • by spinningstill,

    spinningstill spinningstill Dec 23, 2014 11:02 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2014 11:02 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Looks like great insightful information.  Thank you.  I don't show a duplicate or an unlock feature.