PSA: Time Machine doesn't back up everything...I learned the hard way

[pinkoos]

Sold a black Macbook yesterday for which I had a TM backup to an external drive.

Migrated the backup to a different Mac and spent some time last night configuring some stuff.

Realized that TM doesn't backup the iTunes library and .xml databases.

Lost all my playlists (some of which were complicated smart playlists), play counts, last played dates, etc.

Searched around and apparently this is a known issue (though it was unknown to me). Apparently there are other things that TM doesn't back up as well.

Probably wise to keep a clone (using Super Duper, CCC, etc.) of your drive rather than a TM backup. I learned the hard way!

[earache]

TM saved my ass recently when my main drive went down. Was able to migrate my backup to a new drive and didn't lose a thing, including iTunes databases. Not sure why yours didn't get backed up.

[pinkoos]

[quote earache]TM saved my ass recently when my main drive went down. Was able to migrate my backup to a new drive and didn't lose a thing, including iTunes databases. Not sure why yours didn't get backed up.
That's weird. I even scrolled through the TM backups (via the Finder) and the Music folder contains the iTunes folder, but that folder only contains the actual music files and album artwork folder...no databases (and I didn't have anything set as exclusions when I first set up TM).

Waaaa.

[michaelb]

an ipod is a great way to back up itunes. You should get one. Since I recently shifted to TM for my backup, and don't have another drive just yet to do a full superduper clone, I am interested in learning more about how or why TM didn't work for itunes. Are there links to discussions of the problem (presumably buried in the apple discussions)?

Is there a way to check to see if my itunes (and more critically iphoto) libraries are backed up properly?

[pinkoos]

[quote michaelb]Are there links to discussions of the problem (presumably buried in the apple discussions)?

Is there a way to check to see if my itunes (and more critically iphoto) libraries are backed up properly?
This is the link I found last night before going to bed. I didn't bother searching some more at the time. Hope it helps somebody.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?s...8025026826

[kj]

>>an ipod is a great way to back up itunes. You should get one.

It can be if your collection will fit on it.

Man, I'd like to know more about this also. I used TM for my last backup. kj.

[space-time]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93313

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732

[swampy]

I don't do Time Machine. I don't trust it to back up EVERYTHING.

I SUPERDUPER once a week and use ChronoSync daily for data files/user folder etc and sync to my SuperDuper clone. I know SD will both clone and sync, but CS is so much faster for the daily data backups. I liken it to SD being a car tune up and CS just chainging the oil.

[pinkoos]

[quote space-time]http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93313

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732
"Note: If the iTunes Music Library.xml file is not available, follow the "Add to library" steps in "iTunes: About the Add to Library, Import, and Convert functions" to add files back to the Library (because the iTunes Music Library.xml file is not available, playlists and other information will not be available)."

[ADent]

The iTunes library is supposed to be backed up in Time Machine. Apparently the .xml is not supposed to be.

Not sure why your iTunes library file was not backed up.