Kaj Hejer

Q: How to copy a Backups.backupdb from Terminal?

Hi

 

I need to move my Timemachine backup to a new backupdisk. The size of my Backups.backupdb folder is ca. 900Mb.

 

I have read Time Machine: How to transfer backups from a current backup drive to a new backup drive - Apple Support and tried to copy the Backups.backupdb folder to a new disk using Finder on a MacBook Pro (early 2013) with 16Gb RAM.

 

After the the copy job had been running for 12 hours is was still on "Preparing..." and have processed ca 1.000.000 out the ca 20.000.000 files in the Backups.backupdb.


Is it in any way possible to copy the Backups.backupdb folder without using the Finder?


Thanks!

 

 

-Kaj



Posted on Oct 1, 2015 1:43 AM

Close

Q: How to copy a Backups.backupdb from Terminal?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by norman.chonacky,

    norman.chonacky norman.chonacky Aug 29, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Kaj Hejer
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 29, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Kaj Hejer

         I have been trying to free external disk space, where my Time Machine backups are located. I intend to remove all, but preferably sub-folders selectively, from the existing, enclosing backup master folder.

         In response to these attempts I have been confronted variously with both "permissions" conflicts for the files I am attempting to copy/move and sometimes "application" version conflicts for purported lack of support in my installed Applications relating to the data content files of that are I am attempting to copy. Is any of this the experience of those of you in this community?

         I can understand a wish of Time Machine designers to maintain some integrity of the Time Machine database for file re-installation that it uses as the "in context" format to recover files  that the Time Machine database offers. But it seems unreasonable to override all control for those of us who are willing to forgo the promise of this "slick" recovery method if our primary wish is to preserve the information in those files regardless of the Time Machine application to be the mechanism for its retrieval.

        So, what is your suggestion of what I can do to copy Time Machine archival files without interference from Time Machine application protocols employed to prevent such "meddling" as I propose as needed?

    Cheers - Norman

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 30, 2016 9:43 AM in response to norman.chonacky
    Level 9 (70,011 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 30, 2016 9:43 AM in response to norman.chonacky

    You can corrupt your backup to the point where it won't work by deleting files within it.