Backup Reunion Plan

[Jeff89]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

If it's sticking to the TimeMachineEditor settings, then it isn't a TM and Apple issue, it's looks more like a TME issue with residual code left somewhere - I'd try reinstalling TME, switching it off, then uninstalling TME to probably solve the problem.

Your suggestions were most helpful and fixed the problem for me. The first time I trashed TME, not all of the files were deleted. But reinstalling and then trashing TME solved the problem - I had to wait a few days to be sure. I use an app called AppTrap that makes sure all associated files of a program are trashed, along with the app. I didn't get a dialog box from AppTrap the first time I deleted TME but I did the second time. Thanks for your help!

Jeff

[John M. Leggett]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

Regarding shutting down Reunion before doing a backup: I got that idea from Leister:

http://www.leisterpro.com/doc/version9/questions/answers/timemachine.php

I perfectly understand what Time Machine is: it is Apple's attempt to put mom-and-pop backup software developers out of business, the same business model that worked so brilliantly for Bill Gates, for a time.
Jeff

At the risk of continuing a pointless discussion, may I point out a few things.

1. Jeff, you got that idea from a MISREADING of what Leister wrote.

2. You do NOT perfectly understand what Time Machine is; a negative attitude toward it and toward Apple is clouding your understanding.

3. Criticism of Time Machine and Apple is ok but it is more helpful if it is accurate.

4. Super Duper is a great program and I have it and use it (though not as you do), but it is far more difficult for a novice to use than Time Machine.

[Jan Powell]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

FWIW I don't keep my back-up hard drive connected to my laptop all the time. Time Machine gives me a reminder that it's been 10 days since I last backed up, for when I forget.

[Bob White]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

I........I perfectly understand what Time Machine is: it is Apple's attempt to put mom-and-pop backup software developers out of business, the same business model that worked so brilliantly for Bill Gates, for a time........

Quote from Leister: "Before restoring any family files from Time Machine, be sure to quit the Reunion application. From the menu at the top, choose Reunion -> Quit Reunion." Substitute the name of any application on your Mac and this statement is 100% correct.

What it is saying to to quit the app to assure that you do not further update any file created by that application while you are in the process of recovering files. To do otherwise would create a mess.

Beg to differ with your attitude about Apple's intentions. Time Machine falls, company philosophy-wise, in the same category as locking up iPhoto --- which is to provided better support more efficiently. Time Machine has made it very easy for Apple's help staff rescue users as iPhoto being locked up made a significant dent in help calls.

[HJKeats]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

Not sure what all the hoopla is about in regards to Time Machine. I have a MacBook and a MacBook Pro backing up to Time Capsule over Wi-Fi and an iMac27

[Michael Talibard]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

Jeff, we are reading that advice from Leister differently. You have taken it that a back-up must not be made with Reunion open: John L. and I that a restore must not be made with Reunion open. Reading it as you do, then yes, that would be a real pain.

[Jeff89]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

Jeff, I'm wondering where you got the idea that it was necessary to "every 55 minutes, to shut down Reunion so that Time Machine could do a backup without causing problems with Reunion" I've had Time Machine since it first came out and never had a problem with it running all the time when my computer is on. It has never caused me a problem with Reunion or any other application, but it has saved the day for me several times when a hard drive went bad. Much of the discussion of Time Machine here and elsewhere seems to reveal little understanding of what Time Machine is, how it functions, and how to use it.

If you accept the default settings for Time Machine, it runs every hour. Thus, my comment regarding 55 minutes. Yes, the interval for TM can be changed with third-party software, but not from within Time Machine. Regarding shutting down Reunion before doing a backup: I got that idea from Leister:

http://www.leisterpro.com/doc/version9/questions/answers/timemachine.php

I perfectly understand what Time Machine is: it is Apple's attempt to put mom-and-pop backup software developers out of business, the same business model that worked so brilliantly for Bill Gates, for a time.

What SuperDuper! does that Time Machine does not is that SuperDuper! creates a bootable backup. When your hard drive went south, were you able to boot from your backup?

Jeff

[John M. Leggett]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

I found that the interruption to my work of having to remember, every 55 minutes, to shut down Reunion so that Time Machine could do a backup without causing problems with Reunion, was too much to deal with. I can remember every day at 6:00 p.m. (helped by Reminder), but every hour?

Jeff

Jeff, I'm wondering where you got the idea that it was necessary to "every 55 minutes, to shut down Reunion so that Time Machine could do a backup without causing problems with Reunion" I've had Time Machine since it first came out and never had a problem with it running all the time when my computer is on. It has never caused me a problem with Reunion or any other application, but it has saved the day for me several times when a hard drive went bad. Much of the discussion of Time Machine here and elsewhere seems to reveal little understanding of what Time Machine is, how it functions, and how to use it.

[Peter Cook]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

SuperDuper! doesn't turn Time Machine on, to the best of my knowledge. The error message I get comes every 6 hours, the interval I set with Time Machine Editor before that program quit working. The message arrives 3 hours after SuperDuper! finishes its backup. I don't think it has anything to do with SuperDuper! - it's a TM and Apple issue.

If it's sticking to the TimeMachineEditor settings, then it isn't a TM and Apple issue, it's looks more like a TME issue with residual code left somewhere - I'd try reinstalling TME, switching it off, then uninstalling TME to probably solve the problem.

[Bob White]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

That is the program that quit working after a day. I couldn't do anything to TM and I was so irritated with TM by then that I trashed Time Machine Editor (rather than downloading another copy) and switched to SuperDuper! Then, I found out that I couldn't get rid of TM. I'm not a happy camper.

Jeff

Did you flip the TME switch to OFF before trashing? Their website is specific about that. (http://timesoftware.free.fr/timemachineeditor/) Did you check your scheduling in SuperDuper? If you like six hours, you may have set SuperDuper at six sometime in the past..... These are just troubleshooting suggestions.

[HJKeats]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

Hi Rupert,

"Defaults write" is a command line statement that writes instructions to the Mac OS. I would suggest it is not for the faint-of-heart if you are uncomfortable using line commands from the terminal screen. These are other line commands using default writes from the same website entitled 10 of the Best Defaults Write Commands to Improve Mac OS X.

[rclrocco]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

HJK. Yes that is useful, but I'm stuck on the first line, where it says,

"Using the command line and defaults write, ......."

Can you perhaps explain what that is please

[HJKeats]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

I

[Jeff89]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

Thanks for this valuable reminder. What Leister are saying here matches my experience. The simple golden rule is to quit Reunion before you restore. That rule being observed, TM's hourly back-ups seem to do no harm at all, and are so useful in all sorts of other contexts.

By the way, I quite agree that you should be able to remove what you don't want, and that Apple is far too paternal.

I found that the interruption to my work of having to remember, every 55 minutes, to shut down Reunion so that Time Machine could do a backup without causing problems with Reunion, was too much to deal with. I can remember every day at 6:00 p.m. (helped by Reminder), but every hour?

One thing that SuperDuper! does that Time Machine does not is that it creates a bootable copy. That is invaluable in the case of a hard disk crash. You can then boot from your external hard drive while you get your problem fixed. That isn't possible with Time Machine.

Jeff

[Michael Talibard]

Re: Backup Reunion Plan

… My first objection is that it is generally not a good idea to have any software applications running when making a backup. Here is what Leister has to say about that matter:

http://www.leisterpro.com/doc/version9/questions/answers/timemachine.php

Thanks for this valuable reminder. What Leister are saying here matches my experience. The simple golden rule is to quit Reunion before you restore. That rule being observed, TM's hourly back-ups seem to do no harm at all, and are so useful in all sorts of other contexts.

By the way, I quite agree that you should be able to remove what you don't want, and that Apple is far too paternal.