Time Machine Set-Up

Ok, here is an easy one. First, a little background. Yosemite pitched a glitch and needed to be wiped and replaced. When I accessed Time Machine to do the restore, it loaded everything but my Parallels Windows files. Fortunately, I also use an online backup service that had the Windows file.

Somewhere while I was trying to find the Windows file in Time Machine, I ran across a check box that was checked which stated it prevented backup of the virtual machine. Don't ask why I didn't uncheck it right then, but I didn't. Now I cannot find it.

So the question is where is the check box that permits Time Machine to backup the virtual machine?

If Parallels see this Rick:-


KB Parallels: Backing up virtual machines with Time Machine

@Rick T Just something to keep in mind about using Time Machine to back up virtual machine files. Unless something has changed since the last time I checked on this backing up virtual machine files with time machine causes the size of Time Machine backups to balloon. In essence every time the virtual machine is run Time machine registers that as a file that needs backup even if there are no significant changes to the virtual machine.

Thank you, harryb. The fact that the default configuration is to NOT back up the virtual machine in Time Machine likely relates to SlyDude's information on how the Windows file is treated.

Thank you both for your replies.

Just to clarify something Rick T. Under the normal setup Time Machine will back up virtual machine files unless you exclude those files. AS I mentioned one reason to exclude these files is that every time they are opened Time Machine thinks the file has changed and needs to be backed up in its next run.