TNNoah

Q: Adding a second Time Machine HD to Mac

I have an iMac (mid 2011). OS X Ver 10.11.5.  I started using a 2 TB external HD with Time Machine as B/U when I first started using the  iMac in 2012. That HD became full a few days ago and starting deleting early files to make room for current backups.  I added a new 4 TB external HD a couple days ago and set it up with Time Machine to be my backup HD.  The old drive has been disconnected  since Time Machine is not happy with two BackUp HD's. Therefore I have lost access to the old B/U files.  I found an Apple support article that tells me I should  have copied the backup files from the old HD to the new HD before I started using the new HD as my backup.  Can I do this now?  What will be happen to the couple of days of backup files I have on the new 4 TB HD if I copy the old B/U files to the new 4 TB unit?  Any words of wisdom will be appreciated.

Thanks

Final Cut Pro X, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 31, 2016 10:58 AM

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Q: Adding a second Time Machine HD to Mac

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 31, 2016 11:34 AM in response to TNNoah
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    May 31, 2016 11:34 AM in response to TNNoah

    I found an Apple support article that tells me I should have copied the backup files from the old HD to the new HD before I started using the new HD as my backup.

    I don't know of any such article. If you mean this one:

     

    Time Machine: How to transfer backups from a current backup drive to a new backup drive - Apple Support

     

    it doesn't say that you should copy the backups; it says that you can, and it only applies to switching from one drive to another, not to adding a drive. If you're keeping the old drive in service, there's no need to copy anything. There should be no problem using two or more drives at the same time. If you do have a problem, please provide details.

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane May 31, 2016 12:28 PM in response to TNNoah
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    May 31, 2016 12:28 PM in response to TNNoah

    TNNoah wrote:

     

    I have an iMac (mid 2011). OS X Ver 10.11.5.  I started using a 2 TB external HD with Time Machine as B/U when I first started using the  iMac in 2012. That HD became full a few days ago and starting deleting early files to make room for current backups.  I added a new 4 TB external HD a couple days ago and set it up with Time Machine to be my backup HD.  The old drive has been disconnected  since Time Machine is not happy with two BackUp HD's. ...

     

    Time Machine works just fine with multiple hard drives. Time Machine will alternate use between all the hard drives designated for use for backup.

     

    Why do you think that Time Machine did not like multiple drives?