Help for files lost (?) from an external hard disk

[bobrock4]

Hi all.

I use an external hard disk for backup of my mac with time machine (OS 10.5.8).

I have made something wrong and I have found important folders in the recycler bin. These folders come from external hd. They are backup folders (backups.backupdb) and others.

I have tried to restore them draggin and dropping. Some of them came back in the external hd in a while. For the others it takes hours to "preparing to copy" and then it has said "there's no space to copy" on ext hd.

It's strange. Files are now in the recycle bin (180gb), and the ext had should have lot of free space. But it isn't really so. Ext hd is not free of space even if these files are in the bin.

I ask for advices. I'm not also able to use time machine now (and i have "lost" old backups) for the same reason. Ext hd says that it has not free space..

Thanks and ciao
Bob

[mmkerc]

Until you "Empty Trash" the hard drive space is still being used by the files you have in the trash.

[bobrock4]

yes, but how could I restore these file on the ext hd?

[mmkerc]

If you drag a file to the trash you should be able to drag it back to the same drive you had it at, unless after dragging to the trash you created a file with the same name. Then the system would want to create a copy (i.e. need more hard drive space).

I have not worked with TM much, but I recall reading a long time ago that TM would delete your oldest backups when you drive was full to make room for the newer (current) backups. So have you opened TM to see if it has your files backed up and how far back they are backed up. If TM does have your data backed up, do you need the files in the trash?

[bobrock4]

Originally Posted by mmkerc

If you drag a file to the trash you should be able to drag it back to the same drive you had it at, unless after dragging to the trash you created a file with the same name. Then the system would want to create a copy (i.e. need more hard drive space).

Hi Mmkerc, I tried to do that. It worked with some folders, but when I try with these backups it try to make a copy (not restoring) and exthd says it has no space (false). I deleted folders with the same name in the ext hd, but there's any difference..

Originally Posted by mmkerc

I have not worked with TM much, but I recall reading a long time ago that TM would delete your oldest backups when you drive was full to make room for the newer (current) backups. So have you opened TM to see if it has your files backed up and how far back they are backed up. If TM does have your data backed up, do you need the files in the trash?

TM says it is not able now to work because he has not enough space in the exthd (but those files are now in the thrash...).

Files in the thrash are the only existing backup copy now. I will delete permanently them to create space if I don't find any other way.

Thanks
Ciao

[mmkerc]

Chose Get Info on the files in the trash and see how big they are relative to the free space on your external. If they are not bigger than what is available then there are other issues with the hard drive.

I am assuming that you do not have another hard drive (internal or another external) that you can copy the files to. Lastly why do you want to keep these files? If they are just your back up, and everything you need copies of is still ok and available on your primary drive why not just erase the hard drive and start a new backup?

[bobrock4]

Originally Posted by mmkerc

Lastly why do you want to keep these files? If they are just your back up, and everything you need copies of is still ok and available on your primary drive why not just erase the hard drive and start a new backup?

This is what I have just started to do. I've thought that my attempts were not so useful. Thanks for your help. Ciao!