I have a 2009 Mac Book that I back up on an external HDD using time machine. There are a lot of old photos and grad school documents taking up too much space on my computer.

I know that I could back up my computer, delete all the junk, and use that backup to access old files. However, this seems like a bad idea as Time Machine could eventually overwrite those files if the disc fills up.

Would I be better off partitioning my external HDD to create a file to seperately archive specific files, or should I just put all my old files on another storage device?

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Posted by ILikeLSUToo

Central, LA

Member since Jan 2008

18018 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 3:02 pm to Bmath

If you don't have those photos and documents on at least one additional, entirely separate storage device already (arguably two), you must be ok with losing them.

This post was edited on 6/5/14 at 3:03 pm

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Posted by Bmath

Member since Aug 2010

18664 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 3:21 pm to ILikeLSUToo

Everything on my computer is already backed up on an external HDD. This is done using time machine. So I don't really get your point. Also, all of my photos and music are backed up again on my 120 GB iPod.

However, I really just wanted a way to have easy access to them. Partitioning the external HDD seems to be the most cost effective, but it might just be easier to keep it dedicated to time machine, and to get another storage device for all the miscellaneous clutter.

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Posted by ILikeLSUToo

Central, LA

Member since Jan 2008

18018 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 3:56 pm to Bmath

I was going off the fact that you're afraid the Time Machine would overwrite the files, which doesn't sound like an effective static backup solution. I've never owned one so don't know exactly how the software works (incremental, differential, or some other method).

quote:
get another storage device for all the miscellaneous clutter.

What I would do, as long as they're also stored (as static, permanent storage) in at least one additional location.

This post was edited on 6/5/14 at 3:57 pm

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Posted by ADLSUNSU

Baton Rouge

Member since Sep 2007

3518 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 4:00 pm to Bmath

scan the drive with Grand Perspective and go from there

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Posted by Bmath

Member since Aug 2010

18664 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 4:21 pm to ADLSUNSU

The other reason I wanted to do this is because I am considering swapping the HDD for a SSD. Because the SSD would probably have a smaller capacity, I would want to streamline what I am putting back on the new disc.

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Posted by ADLSUNSU

Baton Rouge

Member since Sep 2007

3518 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 4:26 pm to Bmath

for my macbook i took it apart and removed the cd drive and replaced it with a caddy and harddrive to provide more space.

The caddys are cheap on ebay.

the process wasnt terribly difficult but id only attempt it if you kinda feel comfortable taking it apart.

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Posted by Bmath

Member since Aug 2010

18664 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 4:41 pm to ADLSUNSU

Any recommendations on a SSD?

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Posted by brucevilanch

Fort Worth, Tejas

Member since May 2011

24333 posts

Posted on 6/5/14 at 5:53 pm to Bmath

Crucial has their new MX100 SSDs coming out.A 256gb drive would run you a reportedly around $115. Based of the review I watched last night, their going to be really solid floor a consumer grade ssd.

This post was edited on 6/5/14 at 6:09 pm

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Posted by ADLSUNSU

Baton Rouge

Member since Sep 2007

3518 posts

Posted on 6/6/14 at 10:58 am to Bmath

i have crucial ones, but saw a study about how intel (maybe) cant remember which one it was was far and away better at the whole read and write number limit.

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Posted by Casty McBoozer