Mystery file appearing in iMac/Time Machine backups

[Sir Cecil]

Since updating to 10.5.3, all my iMac Time Machine backups contain a mystery file, alongside the Applications/System/Library folders etc. I don't like the look of it. It's called a Mach_kernal file and it takes up over 10mb.

I went to the trouble of an erase/install because I suspected something unpleasant, but it still appears on every Time Machine backup.

Anyone have any info on this? Is this something that needs attention?

Thanks in advance.

 

[upsguy27]

Since updating to 10.5.3, all my iMac Time Machine backups contain a mystery file, alongside the Applications/System/Library folders etc. I don't like the look of it. It's called a Mach_kernal file and it takes up over 10mb.

I went to the trouble of an erase/install because I suspected something unpleasant, but it still appears on every Time Machine backup.

Anyone have any info on this? Is this something that needs attention?

Thanks in advance.

Just noticed that mine has this too.

 

[Sir Cecil]

Just noticed that mine has this too.

A friend of mine also confims his iMac/Time Machine backups show it. So at least I know I'm not alone. I assume that if it's a situation caused by the 10.5.3 update, other Macs (apart from the iMac) might show it in Time Machine's Applications backups also.

Again, any insights appreciated.

 

[bankshot]

That's the OS X kernel - the lowest level of the operating system. It's getting backed up along with everything else. I'd be worried if it wasn't there.

 

[Sir Cecil]

That's the OS X kernel - the lowest level of the operating system. It's getting backed up along with everything else. I'd be worried if it wasn't there.

Thanks for letting us know what it is. But aren't I right in saying it was not showing in Time Machine before 10.5.3 update? I feel sure it wasn't. Pity I no longer have a pre-10.5.3 Time Machine backup to check :-(

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Thanks for letting us know what it is. But aren't I right in saying it was not showing in Time Machine before 10.5.3 update? I feel sure it wasn't. Pity I no longer have a pre-10.5.3 Time Machine backup to check :-(

it was always being backed up, but maybe it just wasn't displayed. If you use tinkertools you can see all the invisible files on your hard disk.