Time machine, MacBook Pro and moving about

windymiller · windymiller #1 (**permalink**)

02-22-2010, 10:20 AM

I'm going to buy a new external hard drive for the MacBook Pro and like the idea of using the Time Machine.

I've been reading up on it and watched a few videos etc. But I'm yet to find out how to use it if you are away from the hard drive at times. I would be unable to set it to back up every hour for instance because I'm not always using the MacBook where the Hard Drive would be. So that each time I return to the hard drive the Time Machine has chosen, do I just plug the firewire/usb back in and perform a manual back up through Time Machine.

Thanks in advance for any help.

TattooedMac · TattooedMac #2 (**permalink**)

02-22-2010, 10:32 AM

You should be able to set it up to do weekly, monthly or hourly and when you hook your Mac back up to TM, it will just do its thing. TM also does a back up once you decide to to your Mac off as well (or might just be with FV turned on) Not quite sure about that.
But as goo as TM is we recommend you make a bootable clone of your HD as well using either Carbon Copy Cloner or my favourite SuperDuper as TM doesnt do bootable clones of your HD.
Its a extra precautionary as if your HD fails in some way you can still use your Mac until the new HD arrives.
It doesnt take much either.
All you need to do is get info of your home folder, and get the size of it, then just make a partition say 5 MB bigger than your home folder, and make a bootable clone.

Hope it helps some

Cheers

windymiller · windymiller #3 (**permalink**)

02-23-2010, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TattooedMac

You should be able to set it up to do weekly, monthly or hourly and when you hook your Mac back up to TM, it will just do its thing. TM also does a back up once you decide to to your Mac off as well (or might just be with FV turned on) Not quite sure about that.
But as goo as TM is we recommend you make a bootable clone of your HD as well using either Carbon Copy Cloner or my favourite SuperDuper as TM doesnt do bootable clones of your HD.
Its a extra precautionary as if your HD fails in some way you can still use your Mac until the new HD arrives.
It doesnt take much either.
All you need to do is get info of your home folder, and get the size of it, then just make a partition say 5 MB bigger than your home folder, and make a bootable clone.

Hope it helps some

Cheers

Thanks for that. I certainly have a look into the cloning tip.

chas_m · chas_m #4 (**permalink**)

02-23-2010, 06:06 AM

If the drive for Time Machine is not found, TM will simply wait until the drive is re-mounted, then do an automatic update backup.

If you have been away from your TM backup drive for a while, this may take a few minutes.

Jaygray · Jaygray #5 (**permalink**)

02-23-2010, 08:57 AM

chas_m is right. It's a non-issue. Leave TM set for hourly backups. While you're traveling it will automatically skip/postpone the backups. When you return, it picks up right where it left off.

live steam · live steam #6 (**permalink**)

02-23-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TattooedMac

You should be able to set it up to do weekly, monthly or hourly and when you hook your Mac back up to TM, it will just do its thing. TM also does a back up once you decide to to your Mac off as well (or might just be with FV turned on) Not quite sure about that.
But as goo as TM is we recommend you make a bootable clone of your HD as well using either Carbon Copy Cloner or my favourite SuperDuper as TM doesnt do bootable clones of your HD.
Its a extra precautionary as if your HD fails in some way you can still use your Mac until the new HD arrives.
It doesnt take much either.
All you need to do is get info of your home folder, and get the size of it, then just make a partition say 5 MB bigger than your home folder, and make a bootable clone.

Hope it helps some

Cheers

If the HD crashes, is there a way to retrieve files from TM on another machine?

McBie · McBie #7 (**permalink**)

02-23-2010, 02:15 PM

Yes, you can recover files from time machine on another Mac.
Right click on the TM icon in the dock and select " Browse Other Time Machine Disks "

Cheers ... McBie

TattooedMac #2 (permalink)
Member Since: May 19, 2009 Location: Waiting for a mate . . . Posts: 6,567 Mac Specs: 13"MBP 2.9Ghz Intel Core i7 10.8.3 ~ iPhone5 6.1.3 ~ iPad Mini 6.1.3 ~ ATV2 5.2.1	02-22-2010, 10:32 AM You should be able to set it up to do weekly, monthly or hourly and when you hook your Mac back up to TM, it will just do its thing. TM also does a back up once you decide to to your Mac off as well (or might just be with FV turned on) Not quite sure about that. But as goo as TM is we recommend you make a bootable clone of your HD as well using either Carbon Copy Cloner or my favourite SuperDuper as TM doesnt do bootable clones of your HD. Its a extra precautionary as if your HD fails in some way you can still use your Mac until the new HD arrives. It doesnt take much either. All you need to do is get info of your home folder, and get the size of it, then just make a partition say 5 MB bigger than your home folder, and make a bootable clone. Hope it helps some Cheers Dont forget to use the Reputation System if someone has helped you out !!! Arguing with a zealot is only slightly easier than tunneling through a mountain with your forehead!!!!! "Can't innovate any more, my ***" Phil Schiller
	QUOTE Thanks

chas_m #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 22, 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 13,808 Mac Specs: 2009 MacBook Pro, Black speakers, Black Benq second monitor, black iPhone 4, Black 2012 iPad, etc.	02-23-2010, 06:06 AM If the drive for Time Machine is not found, TM will simply wait until the drive is re-mounted, then do an automatic update backup. If you have been away from your TM backup drive for a while, this may take a few minutes. Cheers, chas_m -- My essay for switchers and newbies
	QUOTE Thanks

McBie #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 26, 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,841 Mac Specs: 2008 MBP 17" - 10.8.4 & iPad - iOS 5.1	02-23-2010, 02:15 PM Yes, you can recover files from time machine on another Mac. Right click on the TM icon in the dock and select " Browse Other Time Machine Disks " Cheers ... McBie " Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. " A. Einstein The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem. You understand ?
	QUOTE Thanks

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windymiller #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 17, 2009 Location: UK Posts: 73 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 13" using Mountain Lion, iphone 4s, ipod nano 1.3.1, ipod touch, iPod Classic, iPad 1	02-22-2010, 10:20 AM I'm going to buy a new external hard drive for the MacBook Pro and like the idea of using the Time Machine. I've been reading up on it and watched a few videos etc. But I'm yet to find out how to use it if you are away from the hard drive at times. I would be unable to set it to back up every hour for instance because I'm not always using the MacBook where the Hard Drive would be. So that each time I return to the hard drive the Time Machine has chosen, do I just plug the firewire/usb back in and perform a manual back up through Time Machine. Thanks in advance for any help.
	QUOTE Thanks

Jaygray #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 04, 2008 Posts: 1,115 Mac Specs: Unibody MacBook Pro 2.26, 4gb RAM, 500gb HD	02-23-2010, 08:57 AM chas_m is right. It's a non-issue. Leave TM set for hourly backups. While you're traveling it will automatically skip/postpone the backups. When you return, it picks up right where it left off.
	QUOTE Thanks

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