HT201250: Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac

Learn about Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac
PurpleSpresso

Q: Time Machine: please don't delete my old backup!

Hi, i do not want time machine to delete my oldest backup, because it hast data included i did not migrate to my current system..

 

Thank you!

Posted on Mar 22, 2015 2:01 PM

Close

Q: Time Machine: please don't delete my old backup!

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 3 of 3
  • by blackdogaudio,

    blackdogaudio blackdogaudio Apr 16, 2016 5:18 PM in response to Red and Blue
    Level 3 (675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 16, 2016 5:18 PM in response to Red and Blue

    Any external USB hard drive will work once its been formatted properly (OS X Extended Journaled - and don't install the drive maker's software - use OS X for managing it). Here's mine chosen after a relative decided he didn't need it after all and asked me if I could put it to use:

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/seagate-backup-plus-slim-1tb-external-usb-3-0-2-0-po rtable-hard-drive-black/3138005.p?id=121…

     

    I test it once every six months even if no new sensitive data has been added or changed with a quick transfer of data back to my iMac just to make sure all is well. Finger's crossed...I haven't had to use it yet for a real emergency.

  • by Red and Blue,

    Red and Blue Red and Blue Apr 16, 2016 5:31 PM in response to blackdogaudio
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 16, 2016 5:31 PM in response to blackdogaudio

    Thanks. I have been using a 2TB WDPassport My Passport for Mac, which is already formatted for OS X, so what do I differently to not use it for Time Machine, just as an archive? I had first purchased a Seagate disk formatted for Mac, but after hooking it up and inadvertently simply opening Time Machine instead of starting a back up, my computer would not recognize the disc anymore, so I returned it and got the WD Passport (I'm on my second one) which I've had no problems with.

  • by blackdogaudio,

    blackdogaudio blackdogaudio Apr 16, 2016 5:45 PM in response to Red and Blue
    Level 3 (675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 16, 2016 5:45 PM in response to Red and Blue

    Simply drag and drop or copy and paste the data to it just like you would a USB flash drive, etc. (The Manual Method in other words)

     

    Remember, a really effective backup strategy needs to include a manual backup method to rule out third-party backup and retrieval software corruption preventing data recovery. Of course there's much more for a truly effective backup strategy but this along with an offsite backup in a locked fireproof box is sufficient for most of us. Ultimately,  you want to base your backup strategy on your answer to one question: "How much is my data worth to me?"

     

    With that said, if I wanted (or need to) throw money at better backup hardware I'd consider this based on recommendations from senior ASC members:

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB

     

    hope this helps!

     

    Dave

  • by Red and Blue,

    Red and Blue Red and Blue Apr 16, 2016 5:48 PM in response to blackdogaudio
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 16, 2016 5:48 PM in response to blackdogaudio

    Thanks.

  • by blackdogaudio,

    blackdogaudio blackdogaudio Apr 16, 2016 5:49 PM in response to Red and Blue
    Level 3 (675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 16, 2016 5:49 PM in response to Red and Blue

    You are very welcome!

  • by Red and Blue,

    Red and Blue Red and Blue Apr 16, 2016 6:18 PM in response to blackdogaudio
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 16, 2016 6:18 PM in response to blackdogaudio

    One more question. Those OWC Mercury Elite Pro drives are only about 35% more expensive per TB (if I got a 3 or 4 TB drive) based on my 2 TB WD Passport, but the WD Passport I use is SSD, all the OWC are physical disk drives. Does one type have more reliability or have better longevity than the other?

  • by blackdogaudio,

    blackdogaudio blackdogaudio Apr 16, 2016 6:38 PM in response to Red and Blue
    Level 3 (675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 16, 2016 6:38 PM in response to Red and Blue

    Honestly, it appears the jury is still out on reliability but performance-wise, I think all will agree SSD has the edge.

     

    P.S. I think you'll be interested in this link: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go

  • by Red and Blue,

    Red and Blue Red and Blue Apr 16, 2016 6:39 PM in response to blackdogaudio
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 16, 2016 6:39 PM in response to blackdogaudio

    Thanks. Yes, I understand performance is quicker with SSD, and they're supposedly less vulnerable to electromagnetic influences, shock, and wear of the physical drive. I think I'll stick with the WD Passport I've been using.

  • by blackdogaudio,

    blackdogaudio blackdogaudio Apr 16, 2016 6:47 PM in response to Red and Blue
    Level 3 (675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 16, 2016 6:47 PM in response to Red and Blue

    Can't blame you a bit...

     

    As long as you have more than one backup strategy I'd say it's safe to assume you will not lose your primary work drives and all backup drives simultaneously if one is kept offsite unless your city suffered a natural disaster. A cloud-based backup will prevent loss with this type of event however.

  • by Red and Blue,

    Red and Blue Red and Blue Apr 16, 2016 6:58 PM in response to blackdogaudio
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 16, 2016 6:58 PM in response to blackdogaudio

    If these were crucial documents, I would keep them off-site but they're really just videos I record and collect as a hobby (no, not that kind). Do hurricanes and potential Hurricane enhanced tidal flooding count as natural disasters?

  • by blackdogaudio,

    blackdogaudio blackdogaudio Apr 16, 2016 7:18 PM in response to Red and Blue
    Level 3 (675 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 16, 2016 7:18 PM in response to Red and Blue

    LOL!

     

    Yep, I'd be concerned if I lived in a coastal area so would likely move my most critical data to the cloud. (I know many don't trust the cloud but there's a certain company in Cupertino that's yet to prove untrustworthy so... )

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Apr 16, 2016 7:26 PM in response to Red and Blue
    Level 5 (7,490 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 16, 2016 7:26 PM in response to Red and Blue

    I've had too many issues with manual file copies in Finder to rely on it as a backup strategy, (when a copy fails it is difficult to resume in Finder & it fails too often with GB's of files) so I also use Carbon Copy Cloner & Chronosync in addition to Time Machine backups.

     

    Both apps can copy to external disks & both can create bootable clones too. They can also verify a copy happened correctly. If you need a bootable copy CCC is a good choice (or SuperDuper!). Chronosync is more suited to 'sync a bunch of folders' backups or merging two sets of changes.  You can schedule these third party apps or set them to run when a disk is connected etc.

    http://bombich.com

    http://econtechnologies.com

    http://www.shirtpocket.com

     

    As for recovering files, you can grab them via Finder or setup another backup job to restore them (provided these are not system files or in use). You can also use migration assistant to move files from a bootable clone to a new installation. The backup is normally a copy that mirrors the current setup. Check the 'safety net' feature of CCC to keep copies of deleted files, it's similar to Time Machine but the backup can be bootable too.

     

    I'm not sure which tool would suit you best, ideally you'd have multiple copies that happen independently to different disks, also consider if the data can be backed up online, there are many services that can do that too.

     

    Keep using Time Machine, just try to avoid relying on it keeping old data forever. It's great for short term recovery, provided it runs often enough

first Previous Page 3 of 3