Deleting a Partial Time Machine Backup? Trash?

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Level 1

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Deleting a Partial Time Machine Backup? Trash?

OK so the other night I left my computer alone for a bit and it started making a backup that I didn't want. When I came back to my computer it was half done so I told it to stop backing up. Long story short I had put a clone on the drive and forgot to tell time machine to not backup to that same drive. So now I have a partition with a clone and a partial time machine backup. I want to remove the backup.

I can't find it within the actual time machine window, since it wasn't a finished backup. Also, I read online somewhere that I shouldn't try to delete in the trash, cus a) that can cause problems supposedly and b) it takes forever.

Does anyone know how I can do this?

It is currently sitting in my trash, but I haven't actually deleted it from there yet.

Thanks

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5), 2.4 GHz intel Core 2 Duo; 4GB Ram

Posted on Apr 6, 2015 2:47 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,183 points

Apr 6, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Jmanntai

Use Disk Utility to erase the drive.

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Answer 2

Jmanntai Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 6, 2015 2:59 PM in response to Kappy

Is that the only option?

I'd like to keep the clone. Besides, I have a second partition on there that has other files I do not want to lose.

*edit.* Sorry I wasn't thinking. I know I can just erase the one partition. But I'd still rather not lose the clone.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,183 points

Apr 6, 2015 3:05 PM in response to Jmanntai

Just delete the partition on which you have the Time Machine backup you don't want. There really are no options other than putting it in the Trash. You know what happens then.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

362,183 points

Apr 6, 2015 7:51 PM in response to Kappy

Rather I should say just erase the partition. You don't have to delete it. You can individually erase partitions without affecting the other partitions.

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Answer 5

Jmanntai Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 6, 2015 3:24 PM in response to Kappy

is it true that deleting it in the trash can cause issues? Or will it just take a long time. If it is just time, I can set it to work overnight. But if it would result in other issues then I won't risk it.

Is deleting it via trash risky? If so how risky?

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Answer 6

Jmanntai Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 6, 2015 7:36 PM in response to Jmanntai

Any further help or advice on this?

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

362,183 points

Apr 6, 2015 7:40 PM in response to Jmanntai

The issue is that it may take days for the removal to occur if it occurs at all mainly because the backup contains a disc image file with all the data then a bunch of incremental backups that contain some files and some hard links. The system has a real problem when it tries to delete a file that is pointed to by a link but the file is stuck inside an unmountable disc image.

Trust me. Erasing the volume is your only safe bet.

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