Question about back ups (time machine).

Hi, it's me again. Going to buy my first Mac (MBP) this coming Sunday. (It seems oh so far away. Sigh.) I have a question about backing up files and the time machine program.

I also keep my documents, picture, and music folders backed up on an external hard drive. My wife also backs up her files (when/if she remembers ) to that drive. I plan on buying a different external hard drive to use for back up of the new MBP. A) so that I can format it just for the Mac and B) so my wife doesn't wipe out my back up files. (It's happened. )

I know that Mac OS X comes with Time Machine. Does this back up all files or just certain operating system files or will it also back up documents, photos/videos, and music? If I wanted to store some files just on the back up hard drive (ie some movies or music I didn't want to keep on the MBP all the time), could I do that or will it only allow for Time Machine to copy to it? What if I partition the drive? Could I have Time Machine back up to one partition and store files on the other?

ScubaDachshund said:

I know that Mac OS X comes with Time Machine. Does this back up all files or just certain operating system files or will it also back up documents, photos/videos, and music?

Click to expand...

It backs up everything unless you ask it to exclude items.

ScubaDachshund said:

If I wanted to store some files just on the back up hard drive (ie some movies or music I didn't want to keep on the MBP all the time), could I do that or will it only allow for Time Machine to copy to it?

Click to expand...

Only if you partition it!

ScubaDachshund said:

What if I partition the drive? Could I have Time Machine back up to one partition and store files on the other?

Click to expand...

Yes

I use an external drive as both my Time Machine backup drive and as a drive to permanently keep some files independent from the Time Machine schedule. So yes, you can use one drive to use as a Time Machine backup and as a regular external drive.

You do not have to buy a Mac specific HD, correct? I would like to get a Western Digital 2TB external to Time Machine backup my 3 Macs, would this be ok?

yzfmik said:

You do not have to buy a Mac specific HD, correct? I would like to get a Western Digital 2TB external to Time Machine backup my 3 Macs, would this be ok?

Click to expand...

-Plug in the external HD.
-Open disk utility.
-Format it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
-Name it something like time machine backups, and you are good to go

Awesome, thanks!

Thanks for the help. Look for me in the Switchers forum after tomorrow. I'll probably have a lot more questions after I get the Mac home and start playing with it.