Time Machine - Does changing the file directory cause headaches in the future?

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi all,


Thinking around the angles of setting up Time Machine backups For Macs.

I will be getting my 1st mac in a week. I’m coming from Windows world, so new to all this and would really appreciate your insights.


RE: Time Machine backups:
If I set up Time machine on a smallish SSD external drive to start with, then change the back up device later to a larger desktop HHD, will this cause horrible issues in the future for file recoveries? I’m hoping TM is an idiot proof polished OS app after all these year, but I’m checking about things NOT to do, just in case.


Are the below possible issues I will be creating?


1. Incremental file backup Nightmares?
- To do a file restore, would I need to connect the old SSD, to same path and settings (Or however Macs work), and also the newer HDD drive, for the later version changes to the file I’m trying to restore?
- What if there are file path conflicts etc. so I can’t mount the old SSD to how it was originally set up?


2. Looking for an old old file
- Does TM not backed up all the files onto latest HDD drive? (E.g. That idea of back up once an month, then once a year for files not updated after a while. If I change to a new Backup drive, I take it those old old files are not automatically backed up onto the new drive?)
- It would be horrible to have pile of old SSDs / HDDs and no idea where the latest copy of an old file is saved.


Be great to set up a good backup system, not over the top for a casual home user, that I can just set up and forget. Everything backed up in one place etc. I’ll sort out the CCC type backups in due course as well. Be good to set this native Apple the best way for a new M1 Mac though 1st.



Hope you can advise

Martin 😀

 

[ght56]

It will not cause issues. You can use more than one Time Machine disk, and you can also migrate your entire Time Machine backups living on your small drive to a larger drive should you desire. The restores can be initiated through the GUI and don't require you to manually enter in a path. You can use the SSD for a while and then either, A) move the previously made Time Machine backups from the SSD to the HDD (which will carry over the backups from whenever you made the first SSD backup), or B) make an entirely new Time Machine backup to the HDD (which will make a fresh full copy of your hard drive at the time of the first backup.)

There are a few ways you can look for an old file within the Time Machine backup. You can manually navigate to its location with the Finder, you can use the Finder's/Spotlight's search function, you can restore backed up items, or you can do a system restore where it reverts your entire system to a previous point in time (i.e., it can even go back to a previous operating system that you had previously made a backup when using). Bear in mind that Time Machine will keep multiple versions of the same file if that file changes between the points of backups, so it's not always as simple as finding a file but finding the file from the date where that file was correct/functional/different.

Time Machine is something where after you set it up that it will automatically make hourly backups for the past day, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for for all previous months and there is no action needed on your behalf as long as ensuring the hard drive is connected to the computer. It starts deleting older backups when the drive gets full.


These might be helpful:

Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support

If you have a USB drive or other external storage device, you can use Time Machine to automatically back up your files, including apps, music, photos, email, and documents.

support.apple.com

Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac

Use Time Machine to back up your entire Mac, including music, photos, and documents.

support.apple.com

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac

On your Mac, use a Time Machine backup to retrieve lost items or recover older versions of files.

support.apple.com

Recover files using Time Machine and Spotlight on Mac

If you use Time Machine to back up your Mac, use Time Machine with Spotlight to recover lost or deleted items.

support.apple.com

Recover all your files from a Time Machine backup

If you use Time Machine to back up your Mac, you can recover your files if your system or startup disk is damaged.

support.apple.com

Use Time Machine on your Mac to back up to multiple disks

For extra security, use Time Machine to back up your Mac to multiple disks. Time Machine rotates the backup schedule among the disks.

support.apple.com

Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon

Learn how to use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon.

support.apple.com

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi again ght56,

Onto a full sized keyboard now, so can do a proper reply, rather than iphone tiny screen responses 😌


Brilliant info, thanks 😊


Also, many thanks again for taking the time to explain and provide the further reading, really appreciated from a mac newbie 😀


All the best

Martin

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi Moderators,


Can ght56’s reply above be made a sticky for this beginner’s area please?

Really helpful for beginners, and will save a lot of mac newbies restore headaches in the future 😀



Hope that is possible

Regards
Martin