Deleting TimeMachine files on OSX
March 31, 2022 12:57 AM Subscribe
I am looking for a solution to erase TimeMachine partitions on external hard disks, while keeping the data on the rest of the disk safe.
I've been using a variety of external hard drives over a number of years to act as backups for my Mac. These drives have a dedicated partition for the TimeMachine backups and I would like to rescue that space for other purposes.
However, there seems to be no method to erase TimeMachine partitions or the files themselves. It seems you can either format/reset the entire drive or OSX allows you to delete a backup at a time (a time-consuming process with several years of backups). Attempting to manually delete the TimeMachine file itself takes a physical age and then usually throws up an error about being unable to complete due to some file "being in use".
The last resort is backing up the entire drive and resetting it, but this is (again) a time-consuming process. Is there any other method of zeroing the TimeMachine partition while protecting the data on the rest of the drive?
I've been using a variety of external hard drives over a number of years to act as backups for my Mac. These drives have a dedicated partition for the TimeMachine backups and I would like to rescue that space for other purposes.
However, there seems to be no method to erase TimeMachine partitions or the files themselves. It seems you can either format/reset the entire drive or OSX allows you to delete a backup at a time (a time-consuming process with several years of backups). Attempting to manually delete the TimeMachine file itself takes a physical age and then usually throws up an error about being unable to complete due to some file "being in use".
The last resort is backing up the entire drive and resetting it, but this is (again) a time-consuming process. Is there any other method of zeroing the TimeMachine partition while protecting the data on the rest of the drive?
As Kyol mentioned, for at least some partition schemes, you should be able to repartition the disk using Disk Utility.
However, it’s ALWAYS recommended to back up a hard disk before messing with the partitions, in case something goes wrong. Depending on how much you care about the other data on the disk, you should consider just biting the bullet and making a backup.
posted by mekily at 6:51 AM on March 31, 2022
However, it’s ALWAYS recommended to back up a hard disk before messing with the partitions, in case something goes wrong. Depending on how much you care about the other data on the disk, you should consider just biting the bullet and making a backup.
posted by mekily at 6:51 AM on March 31, 2022
You could boot a Linux live CD on the box and use the GParted tool that's usually included with those; that way you'd be pretty much guaranteed that the system you're running isn't automatically trying to use your external drives in ways you didn't explicitly ask it to. Mac OS is a bit "helpful" about automatically trying to manage equipment that Apple assumes you're too stupid to use on your own.
posted by flabdablet at 8:12 AM on March 31, 2022
posted by flabdablet at 8:12 AM on March 31, 2022
OSX allows you to delete a backup at a time (a time-consuming process with several years of backups).
Say more about this - when I open a time machine drive in the Finder, I see a timestamp'ed list of folders, and it's easy to Command-A to select all of them. (I did not try deleting them, however).
How are you trying to delete them one-by one?
posted by soylent00FF00 at 8:40 PM on March 31, 2022
Say more about this - when I open a time machine drive in the Finder, I see a timestamp'ed list of folders, and it's easy to Command-A to select all of them. (I did not try deleting them, however).
How are you trying to delete them one-by one?
posted by soylent00FF00 at 8:40 PM on March 31, 2022
Also - what version of macOS are you on? The recent versions of Disk Utility hide some of the details - go to the View menu and be sure you have chosen "Show All Devices" - this will show more about the Devices and volumes - you may have an easier time deleting an entire volume this way.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 8:42 PM on March 31, 2022
posted by soylent00FF00 at 8:42 PM on March 31, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Kyol at 6:09 AM on March 31, 2022