Law Students

Delete Old Junk from Time Machine

By Timothy Lee, Jr

Like many, I use Time Machine to regularly backup my entire machine (and Dropbox for my most often used and important files). The great thing about Time Machine is that you install a hard drive, turn it on, select which folders you don?t want backed up, and you?re done. The next time you need to remember Time Machine is when you need to restore a deleted file, or if you’ve purchased a new computer and want to transfer your stuff.

But what happens when you?ve filled up your Time Machine hard drive? While Time Machine automatically deletes the oldest backups to make room for the most recent, if you?re like me, you already know that certain of your backed up files will never be needed again (like raw video from an undergrad project taking up 48 gigs on Time Machine). Deleting individual files is easy.

Enter Time Machine:

Once the nifty interface loads, make your way to the project you want to delete.

Select the file, right click and select Delete All Backups of ?your file?.

You?ll be asked if you?re sure.

In case you accidentally clicked yes accidentally, you need to enter your password to confirm.

At any time before you type your password and press enter, you can ESC out.

However, once you type your password and press Enter, that file or folder is gone FOREVER (dramatic, huh?)!

The delete process bypasses the trash, so be careful. There might be a way to undo this process but I hope I never need to find out.

Full post as published by Mac Law Students on March 09, 2010 (boomark / email).