Questions about Time Machine

[mac_in_tosh]

I'm new to using Time Machine (TM) and have a couple of questions.

First, I assume that each backup is incremental to the initial one. So what would happen if I enter TM and manually delete the oldest backup? I read that TM automatically deletes the oldest one when disk space is running low. How does that work if subsequent backups are dependent on it?

Second, whenever I am done with a backup the external disk will not eject - I get a message saying some application is still using it - and I have to force eject. It doesn't seem to create an issue for the next backup, but any suggestion as to what is happening?

Thanks.

 

[cmaier]

I'm new to using Time Machine (TM) and have a couple of questions.

First, I assume that each backup is incremental to the initial one. So what would happen if I enter TM and manually delete the oldest backup? I read that TM automatically deletes the oldest one when disk space is running low. How does that work if subsequent backups are dependent on it?

Second, whenever I am done with a backup the external disk will not eject - I get a message saying some application is still using it - and I have to force eject. It doesn't seem to create an issue for the next backup, but any suggestion as to what is happening?

Thanks.

don‘t manual delete backups - it will corrupt the subsequent backups and time machine will force you to create a new backup from scratch. It does automatically prune old backups, and does so by fixing up the links so that it has everything it needs.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

don‘t manual delete backups - it will corrupt the subsequent backups and time machine will force you to create a new backup from scratch. It does automatically prune old backups, and does so by fixing up the links so that it has everything it needs.

Ok thanks. I'm glad that I asked before doing that. I'll just let it do things automatically.