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Question about Apple Time Machine

SuziemaySuziemay Posts: 11,168
edited November 2011 in Technical Stuff and Help
Okay, I feel really computer-dumb these days.

I've maxed out my HD capacity on my macbook. I also have an Apple Time Machine that I've been using just to back-up my HD. Seeing that my HD is 120GB and the Time Machine is 500GB, seem like I can offload a lot of the stuff on my HD onto the Time Machine.

My questions:
1) Can I seamlessly access songs and videos on iTunes from my Time Machine?
2) Can I set up the Time Machine to back-up the files that are ON the Time Machine? Do I even want to do that?
3) Or should I have two Time Machines, one for storage and one for backup?

Thank you :mrgreen:
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • movaughnmovaughn Posts: 1,293
    I'm not a Mac fan personally but have been a PC tech for years. I would just get an external HDD that is big enough to store what you have and what you think you might put on in the future. I don't trust back up programs and such. I like my files to be accessed easily. If your Mac dies or whatever you can even hook up the external to your new one and easily access all you files no problem. Just make sure the drive is formatted for Mac which the box will state.
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    Alpine Valley - Sep 03, 2011, Wrigley Field - July 19, 2013
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  • movaughnmovaughn Posts: 1,293
    Also, I would try to take anything off your laptop you do not need so the drive is not maxed. It will begin to run slower and slower until you cant stand it and think something is wrong with it. I store all media on an external right away. In that case if your laptop crashes or dies or whatever. You will never have had those files on there so you won't have to pay an arm and a leg to get them from a dead HDD.(Worst case)
    Alpine Valley - Jun 26, 1998, Alpine Valley - Oct 08, 2000, Alpine Valley - Jun 21, 2003
    United Center - May 16, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 29, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006
    Alpine Valley - Sep 03, 2011, Wrigley Field - July 19, 2013
    Wrigley Field - August 20, 2016, Wrigley Field - August 22, 2016
  • SuziemaySuziemay Posts: 11,168
    Do you back up your external drive or is there no need?

    The main reason for getting the Time Machine was I liked the automatic backup it does on my HD, and I was able to set it up somehow in 10 minutes! And I feel better about not losing my music. Lost it all once before on my shitty Dell :cry::cry:
  • movaughnmovaughn Posts: 1,293
    Suziemay wrote:
    Do you back up your external drive or is there no need?

    The main reason for getting the Time Machine was I liked the automatic backup it does on my HD, and I was able to set it up somehow in 10 minutes! And I feel better about not losing my music. Lost it all once before on my shitty Dell :cry::cry:


    If you just store your music, pics, docs on the HDD as you get them there is no need to back up. Essentially that is the back up for your files. You will only have to reinstall programs which isn't too bad. Since you have a time machine you can empty your laptop of any of those files and free up some space(your programs will run smoother with that free space) and then back it up. On the off chance you need to restore your Mac you can use the time machine then just plug in the external and your good. If the backup file got corrupted or something at least your music and docs and pics are ok.
    Alpine Valley - Jun 26, 1998, Alpine Valley - Oct 08, 2000, Alpine Valley - Jun 21, 2003
    United Center - May 16, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 29, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006
    Alpine Valley - Sep 03, 2011, Wrigley Field - July 19, 2013
    Wrigley Field - August 20, 2016, Wrigley Field - August 22, 2016
  • movaughnmovaughn Posts: 1,293
    The external will just act as a bigger HDD for you. You can play, edit, delete and move all files as you wish. You can get 1TB or bigger as a slim portable one so it will fit in your laptop bag and only plug in USB.
    Alpine Valley - Jun 26, 1998, Alpine Valley - Oct 08, 2000, Alpine Valley - Jun 21, 2003
    United Center - May 16, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 29, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006
    Alpine Valley - Sep 03, 2011, Wrigley Field - July 19, 2013
    Wrigley Field - August 20, 2016, Wrigley Field - August 22, 2016
  • SuziemaySuziemay Posts: 11,168
    Thank you movaughn!! Extremely helpful , I will check out external hard drives this weekend :)
  • movaughnmovaughn Posts: 1,293
    No problem, they are getting cheaper now. If you shop Black Friday I am almost positive you will find a deal. Make sure it says Mac on the box. If you see an awesome deal but for a PC formatted one that you can't pass up, It can be reformatted to work on Mac. Let me know if you need any more help.
    Alpine Valley - Jun 26, 1998, Alpine Valley - Oct 08, 2000, Alpine Valley - Jun 21, 2003
    United Center - May 16, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 29, 2006, Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006
    Alpine Valley - Sep 03, 2011, Wrigley Field - July 19, 2013
    Wrigley Field - August 20, 2016, Wrigley Field - August 22, 2016
  • SuziemaySuziemay Posts: 11,168
    movaughn wrote:
    No problem, they are getting cheaper now. If you shop Black Friday I am almost positive you will find a deal. Make sure it says Mac on the box. If you see an awesome deal but for a PC formatted one that you can't pass up, It can be reformatted to work on Mac. Let me know if you need any more help.

    Ooh, Black Friday. Love it and hate it. I'm not going to be in the country but maybe some internet shopping :D Will def let you know if I need help. Thanks again!
  • __ Posts: 6,651
    Suziemay wrote:
    Thank you movaughn!! Extremely helpful , I will check out external hard drives this weekend :)

    The Costco in my town was just selling Seagate external drives with USB 3.0 - super-portable 1.5 TB for about $115 & desktop 2.0 TB for $100. I thought that was a pretty good deal.
  • SuziemaySuziemay Posts: 11,168
    _ wrote:
    Suziemay wrote:
    Thank you movaughn!! Extremely helpful , I will check out external hard drives this weekend :)

    The Costco in my town was just selling Seagate external drives with USB 3.0 - super-portable 1.5 TB for about $115 & desktop 2.0 TB for $100. I thought that was a pretty good deal.

    Appreciate the tip! I need to get on this. That Toronto show took up the last bit of space :D
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