[Ham-Mac] Manual Deletion of Older OS X Time Machine Backups

[Dave Wright]

There isn't really anything to delete…at least not that is easily accessible.  If you go into the Data folder on your Time Machine drive, you'll see the "sparse bundle" that contain all of your backups.  The sparse bundle is a single file that is similar in concept to the DMG files used by OS X, but that are variable and changeable in size.  You can't easily get into that file and just delete the old stuff…it doesn't work that way.

You're better off looking either a new Time Machine drive (the new 3TB models are NICE!), or simply continue letting Time Machine do what it does.

73

Dave
K3DCW




  On Jul 21, 2011, at 12:54 PM, Hal Mueller wrote:

> I can't imagine this would be safe. Time Machine is intended to be a black box. Deleting part of the backup set manually is just asking for trouble. 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jul 21, 2011, at 9:44 AM, Dick Kriss <aa5vu at att.net> wrote:
> 
>> This is not a ham radio related posting but it something I have been thinking
>> about and would like to know how others feel.
>> 
>> The Apple Time Machine has been working great and has saved my six a number
>> of times.  The problem or issue is my external Time Machine drive is full. If the
>> Time Machine determines it needs more space, it tosses the oldest backup.  The
>> only problem is the Time Machine it takes forever to ditch the old stuff to make 
>> room for the new stuff. 
>> 
>> I have wondered what would happen if I just opened the Time Machine backup
>> hard drive in the Finder and trashed some the older backups?  To me this would be
>> faster; however, I worry that manual deletion could screw up the Time Machine's 
>> index to go back and restore when needed.
>> 
>> Has anyone manually trashed some of the older ™ backups?
>> 
>> Dick  AA5VU
>> 
>> Ps: Just noted something in the new OS X 10.7 version of Apple's Mail (v5.0)
>> that I do not recall in the previous version. When I type the letters "T and M"
>> as an abbreviation for Time Machine, it shows up as a Trade Mark ™. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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