Time Machine Backup and Disk Utility Primer Tutorial

Time Machine Backup and Disk Utility Primer Tutorial

Yesterday was backup day on this MacBook Pro, but this time it is a full backup day. We’re trying out a backup media whose maker we used before, Seagate, but a different product, namely Seagate Wireless, though we opted today for the external media via (ubiquitous) black lead … aren’t leads wonderful?! “Wake me up from this non-Wireless dream!”

Anyway, it wasn’t an “out of the box” experience, now wouldn’t it be?! But it would be for your Windows users, and it’s not that we’re complaining … far from it … but it did bring about the need to use a Mac OS X utility we generally try to avoid … Disk Utility. In our books, things have come “to a pretty pass” when you need Disk Utility, but then to calm the nerves … how long ago were we all going format a: (or even that old favourite format b: at the drop of a (Melbourne Cup) hat) … around about the same time they adjust interest rates … but we digress.

46 years … oh, right then … that long ago … well … hasn’t time flown?!

And so that is the bullet we had to bite to get over doubts in our mind over getting the Mac OS X Time Machine backup working with the Seagate Wireless and the MacBook Pro using Mac OS X … and we ventured in this direction not by reading the product instructions (who does that?! … this comment is unsponsored and completely out of order), but advice on the net, usually, from forums. But actually there is credence in my attitude … after all, after the product release, who uses these products and has problems or not … users … so thanks to all those contributors to forums and blogs … keep those cards and letters rolling in.

Once we …

• turned on Seagate Wireless
  … even through the box!
• plugged in Seagate Wireless with (ubiquitous) black lead
  … you must have blinked
• backed up the data of the Seagate Wireless to our MacBook Pro hard disk
  
• ran Application -> Utilities -> Disk Utility … Erase tab -> Erase…
  
• set off Time Machine from Apple icon -> System Preferences -> Time Machine setting new Seagate Wireless as backup media
  
• sun come up … sun go down … red sky at night … shepherd’s delight
  

… a completed backup does tend to ease the mind, and is a thing you could do, left alone, but powered, overnight. In this mode (of use), ironically, it takes a lot less time. Conversely, doing it while you work is possible, but the backup takes longer.

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