greg1424
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Where is the data for Time Machine Stored ?

Where is the data for Time Machine Stored ?
I have to get a new External B/U HD.
I have 2 and have not used the "Time Machine" feature on my Mac's.

If I use it, where is the Time Machined stored ?
If it is on the External Drive, should a get a larger one then I planned on?
Is it on the iMac HD and do I need to allow for space?
Is the TM data reduced ?

I am a basic computer guy, learning as I go along, so please bear with my asking a question that may be obvious to the average computer person.

Thanks,

Posted on Sep 10, 2016 2:18 AM

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greg1424

Q: Where is the data for Time Machine Stored ?

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  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Sep 10, 2016 2:28 AM in response to greg1424
    Level 7 (28,411 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 10, 2016 2:28 AM in response to greg1424

    system preferens->Time machine->select Disk

     

    time machine backup is stored on the disk under backup disk

     

    you can connect another disk and select that as time machine backup disk

    or you can delete all data on the time machine backup disk using finder and start over with the disk

  • by RIFerrarr,

    RIFerrarr RIFerrarr Sep 10, 2016 2:29 AM in response to greg1424
    Level 3 (792 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 10, 2016 2:29 AM in response to greg1424

    Time Machine needs a separate external drive for backups. It should be at least as large as (larger is better) all that data you need to back up. Start it as soon as possible to keep your important data backed up.

     

    Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

  • by greg1424,

    greg1424 greg1424 Sep 10, 2016 10:23 AM in response to RIFerrarr
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 10, 2016 10:23 AM in response to RIFerrarr

    Ok!
    Can I use Time machine in a Partitioned External HD?

     

    I currently have an External HD in 3 parts:
    Main iMac, Laptop (Both get overridden when updating) and a permanent file that remains as storage for extra files not on my main iMac.

    I use SuperDuper for the backup.

     

    What I am asking is : Would Time Machine be an on going (constant update) addition to Super Duper ?

    Or is it a redundant method since the TM and SD are on the same HD and if it ceased working I have not accomplished any separate B/U ?
    Therefore I would need 2 External HD's : 1 for Super Duper and 1 for Time machine.

    I have another External HD for my permanent files.


    My Laptop is a basic travel unit and there is nothing on there that is not on my iMac, the B/U is just a safety issue to restore if needed.
    To use Super Duper for the laptop, I disconnect the HD from the iMac and connected it to the Laptop and then let SD do the rewrite to the Laptop partition. When finished I reconnected it to the iMac.

    I just found out that leaving the HD plug into the iMac and leaving it on 24/7 is not the ideal way to keep a HD for a long time.

     

    Please bear with me, at 73 I have to ask basic questions to fully understand so that I do not lose any files,

    Thanks,