Where is the data for Time Machine Stored ?

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Level 1

16 points

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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Answer 1

Rudegar

Level 10

181,134 points

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

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Answer 2

RIFerrarr

Level 4

1,181 points

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

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Answer 3

greg1424 Author

Level 1

16 points

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,

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