ryanweb
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Q: Can't switch between multiple Time Machine backups

I usually back up my 2010 Macbook Pro to a 2012 Time Capsule, which is attached to my (newer) wireless router via ethernet cable. While traveling, I make additional backups to an external hard drive. However, when I get home and try to switch back to the TC, my internal HD is now on the Time Machine "Exclude" list and can't be removed (greyed out). When I try to back up, I get a message saying "No disks are available to back up."

 

This has happened a few times, and the only solution I could find was to delete my original Time Machine back up and make a new one (which took forever).

 

Any ideas why my internal HD gets added to the Exclude list after using Time Machine with an external HD?

2012 Time Capsule, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 21, 2016 7:30 AM

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ryanweb

Q: Can't switch between multiple Time Machine backups

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  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 21, 2016 9:02 AM in response to ryanweb
    Level 9 (54,906 points)
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    Aug 21, 2016 9:02 AM in response to ryanweb

    Time Machine backups to a network drive vs. a locally attached drive are saved in different formats. Switching between them was not in the overall design theme of this OS X service.

     

    I suggest that you configure Time Machine to use multiple drives.

     

    FWIW, in my case, I have Time Machine backup destinations on a Time Capsule and an external Thunderbolt 2 drive. When both are available, Time Machine will "take turns" backing up to each drive.

     

    If one drive is not available, it backs up to the one that is and skips the backup of the other. When both are connected again, backups continue on both.

  • by ryanweb,

    ryanweb ryanweb Aug 21, 2016 9:06 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Aug 21, 2016 9:06 AM in response to Tesserax

    That's so helpful to know, Tesserax! (Had no idea they were stored in different formats.)

     

    I didn't make this clear in the OP, but I thought I did select the "Multiple Drives" option. Maybe I configured it wrong? These are the 2 options I see for backing up:

    Screen Shot 2016-08-21 at 11.54.50 AM.png

    This is what it says for the Network drive:

    Screen Shot 2016-08-21 at 11.56.41 AM.png

    When I try to make the suggested change in "Options," my internal HD is greyed out:

    Screen Shot 2016-08-21 at 11.59.38 AM.png

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 21, 2016 11:34 AM in response to ryanweb
    Level 9 (54,906 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 21, 2016 11:34 AM in response to ryanweb

    ... and here's what mine looks like:

    CapturFiles.png

    In my case "TM" is my Time Capsule's internal drive. The Time Capsule has a base station name of "TC2." SG2 is one of my hard drive partitions on my My Book Pro that is directly attached to my Mac mini's Thunderbolt 2 port. As you can see, as I posted this, the TM backup is currently running.

    CapturFiles_1.png

    The My Book Pro has three partitions. SG1 & SG3 are used as "file servers," and again, SG2 is used for Time Machine. Notice how SG2 is grayed-out? That is because, Time Machine has recognized this partition as an existing Time Machine backup destination. The Time Machine interface will not allow you to remove these from the exclude list.

    Screen Shot 2016-08-21 at 11.56.41 AM.png

    When I try to make the suggested change in "Options," my internal HD is greyed out:

    Screen Shot 2016-08-21 at 11.59.38 AM.png

    Which is your Mac's internal drive: RyanHD or Ryan as depicted in the above image?

     

    In my case, I use the default Macintosh HD as provided by OS X. It is NOT on this exclude list as that wouldn't make any sense.