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My Time Machine backs-up too much data
Keeps adding 12 GB per day. My ext. drive now full.
I’m frustrated
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The best solution from everyone
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imonz,
Do you use vmware or parallels?
Time machine is more than just a copy-to-external-hd agent: it keeps a history of files as they change. As you change a document it will continually backup the new versions.
If it is consuming 12GB every day that means you are probably affecting a lot of large files during your daily use. In most cases I've seen, there are two causes: Downloading lots of video, or using virtualization products. Seeing that we are talking 12GB a day, I would imagine your most likely culprit is a single huge file that is being changed constantly (the virtual hard drive file for a virtual machine fits the bill) rather than video given that 12GB of video to go through per day is a whole lot!
I would recommend tracking down this file and adding it into the Time Machine exclusion list. You can find that under the time machine preferences.
3 people say
this solves the problem
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Inappropriate?It will keep backing up until it fills that external hard drive. Basically, it wants to back up as much as possible -- as many versions of files as possible. But, you can partition the drive and set aside part of it for other files. That's what I do. I have a 160GB drive, and I set aside 60GB as a place where I can store other files. Try it. It works great!
I’m hoping this helps
1 person says
this solves the problem
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Inappropriate?Thanks. Good suggestion but doesn't solve the real problem. I have a 300GB external drive and Time Machine has filled it up. Even though I only have 160GB on my main drive. I've solved the problem - until Apple fixes the flaw - by disabling Time Machine, erasing my external drive and manually backing-up all my important files and folders. My ext. drive is now only 40% full and my main drive - free from Time Machine hourly backups - is much faster and more stable.
I’m no longer frustrated.
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Inappropriate?imonz,
Do you use vmware or parallels?
Time machine is more than just a copy-to-external-hd agent: it keeps a history of files as they change. As you change a document it will continually backup the new versions.
If it is consuming 12GB every day that means you are probably affecting a lot of large files during your daily use. In most cases I've seen, there are two causes: Downloading lots of video, or using virtualization products. Seeing that we are talking 12GB a day, I would imagine your most likely culprit is a single huge file that is being changed constantly (the virtual hard drive file for a virtual machine fits the bill) rather than video given that 12GB of video to go through per day is a whole lot!
I would recommend tracking down this file and adding it into the Time Machine exclusion list. You can find that under the time machine preferences.
3 people say
this solves the problem
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Inappropriate?Thanks Scott. And Eric too. I weighed the value of having Time Machine with CPU draining hourly "back-ups" and a full external drive against having a super-fast main hard drive and an external hard drive with tons of free space. And must tell you since I disabled Time Machine my system which was a BMW is now smokin' like a Lamborghini. The difference is amazing.
