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Do I Need To Buy the Next Size Up Time Capsule?

According to Time Machine I have 3 years of data backed up in my 2TB Time Capsule and it’s almost full. What’s the case for buying a larger TC now that older b.u.’s will start deleting? Isn’t three years enough for safety?
Thanks, Tom
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Tom Meade

Comments: 3 Responses to “Do I Need To Buy the Next Size Up Time Capsule?”

    6 years ago

    It depends on what you are using your Mac for. But for most people, that sounds fine. Remember, it isn't as simple as have X backups and then the oldest gets deleted. The backups are incremental. So if you created a file 3 years ago and haven't changed it since, then that file is in your backup once and that one time is the current version. Most of your files may be like this. But if you have a file you have modified 10 times in the last 3 years, then you'll always have the current version, but maybe the 2 oldest versions from 3 years ago will be removed to make room.

    Any drive, no matter how big, will reach its limits. If you need a complete record of every file and every modification you have ever made, then you will just keep needing to buy bigger and bigger backups. But I can't see any situation where you need this. Even for coders who do like to keep every version, they will use a code version repository system and not use a backup solution for that.

    Debee Graham
    6 years ago

    I have a time capsule that no longer holds everything on my mac. Instead of getting rid of it or getting a larger one, what items do you recommend backing up onto it? I shouldn't have to back up EVERYTHING. Are there items that are absolutely necessary? I am not a coder, just an average mac user.

    6 years ago

    Debee: Is this a desktop mac, or a laptop? If a desktop, then just get a USB hard drive. They are relatively cheap. If not, how big is your Mac's drive and how big is the time capsule drive? It would be rare that a MacBook drive is bigger than a Time Capsule drive. And if it isn't a MacBook then an attached hard drive is a better option anyway. Best to let Time Machine do its thing and back up everything, rather than trying to guess what you may and may not need in a disaster.

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