Time Machine does not recognize external journaled partition

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Level 1

31 points

Time Machine does not recognize external journaled partition

Machine: iMac 27" 5K, 4GHz i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB Flash, OSX 10.11.3

I just bought a new Seagate 4TB HDD and used Disk Utility to setup two partitions: 1.) 1TB OS X Extended (Journaled) - for backups; 2.) 3TB exFat - for file storage. Time machine does not recognize the journaled partition. When I try to start TM I get the following message: "Can't connect to a current Time Machine backup disk".

I've tried Erasing each partition to no avail. I can't try re-partitioning because the icon is greyed out.

What to do?

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.4.1, Touch screen problem

Posted on Feb 7, 2016 6:59 AM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Feb 7, 2016 8:34 AM in response to CarpeD1em

First, please deselect the partition as a Time Machine backup destination. You should then be able to repartition the drive. If you can't, disconnect it and reconnect it. It should be partitioned in GUID format with one data volume only. Using the same drive for backups and file storage is not a good idea, because the storage partition won't be backed up. Any data that isn't backed up will eventually be lost.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 9

77,176 points

Feb 7, 2016 8:39 AM in response to CarpeD1em

Open Disk Utility > highlight the 1T partition > select the First Aid tab > click Run.

If the repair goes well..?

Quit Disk Utility and open the Time Machine Preferences > click Select Backup Disk... > select the 1T Partition > click use.

If the repair does not go well...?

Return the Drive to 1 Partition and start over.

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