Oh, woe …

[french frank]

Time Machine is great for recovering that file you deleted a few days ago but for anything else....as MrGG says...Super Duper.

Exactly. Or even as soon as you clicked on Save instead of Save As and overwrote what you wanted to keep. That's the only reason I've ever used TM.

Everything is duly backed up. Curiously, the TM hard drive only sporadically mounts, proves to have some damaged files, won't back up and won't even let me erase everything and reformat as advised. I'm going to dig a deep hole in the garden and bury it - after I've sledgehammered it out of existence (off-stage, of course).

[MrGongGong]

after I've sledgehammered it out of existence (off-stage, of course).

Don't want any violence (or sex) on stage now do we (whistles Lone Ranger theme)

[french frank]

Don't want any violence (or sex) on stage now do we (whistles Lone Ranger theme)

Well done, you managed to decode the subtle reference.

[Anastasius]

Exactly. Or even as soon as you clicked on Save instead of Save As and overwrote what you wanted to keep. That's the only reason I've ever used TM.

....

oooh...never thought of using it for that (which I am always doing)

[french frank]

oooh...never thought of using it for that (which I am always doing)

If I'm writing a letter to someone I often write to, I open the previous letter which has all the address details. NOW, though, the first thing I do is Save As. I suppose Cmd + Z would reverse it if you noticed immediately, but I often noticed it later after I'd closed the file :-)

Anyway, the whole system is now very creaky and I'm getting a new(-ish) iMac (2013, with Yosemite). This doesn't have Firewire, so the next problem will be connecting it to the LaCie for back-ups :-)

[Nick Armstrong]

Anyway, the whole system is now very creaky and I'm getting a new(-ish) iMac (2013, with Yosemite). This doesn't have Firewire, so the next problem will be connecting it to the LaCie for back-ups :-)

I connect my mid 2010 MacbookPro to the LaCie by USB cable, doesn't seem to be an issue...

[french frank]

I connect my mid 2010 MacbookPro to the LaCie by USB cable, doesn't seem to be an issue...

I don't have a USB connection on the LaCie: that's the problem. And the new iMac won't have a Firewire connection. However, what's the connection (circled in red) as I think I have an old cable with a connection with that with a USB at the other end? Dunno what the one to the left of that is, sort of like a USB but not.

[Nick Armstrong]

I don't have a USB connection on the LaCie: that's the problem.

Very annoying...

Someone will know the answer to your pictorial questions!

[Stunsworth]

However, what's the connection (circled in red) as I think I have an old cable with a connection with that with a USB at the other end? Dunno what the one to the left of that is, sort of like a USB but not

Looks like USB.

[Nick Armstrong]

Looks like USB.

Ah yes.... it's true. I just peered at my LaCie, it's exactly the same (I never take that end of the USB out) - that sort of square socket with two corners off (with a black plastic oblong in the middle) is the other end of the USB I plug into the old MacBook Pro

[Dave2002]

Indeed https://www.lacie.com/download/manual/d2_quadra_en.pdf suggests USB.

At first I thought I might be looking at specs for some really ancient Apple machines, but checking further suggests it's the LaCie quadra specs which are relevant. Not sure whether a USB 2 or USB 3 cable is needed, but the socket shown is for a USB B connector.

If you (ff) don't have too many files I'd go with the suggestions for a replacement 1 TByte drive, though if there's getting on for 1 TB already then 2 TBs seem not to cost much more these days and I assume are reaonably reliable. I have both portable (USB powered) and chunkier (mains powered) models. Some people think the mains powered ones are more reliable. I can't say for sure that that is the case.

I also wouldn't necessarily bin the original drive - it might be serviceable enough if reformatted, but definitely do get the new one and get things sorted first before deciding whtether to smash it up and bin it.

I agree with mrgg - don't necessarily trust Apple Time Machine. I have found it to be of very limited use, and certainly not reliable for backups, which is a shame. Some of the claims made for it, such as can be used to "backup" multiple machines - take them with a large box of salt! It's perfectly possible that the error is with TM effectively, rather than the drive.

[Nick Armstrong]

2 TBs seem not to cost much more these days and I assume are reaonably reliable. I have both portable (USB powered) and chunkier (mains powered) models. Some people think the mains powered ones are more reliable. I can't say for sure that that is the case.

Yes I have the 2TB mains-powered LaCie P'9230, works a treat and very robust.

[french frank]

I think I have progressed, though I may need a new cable as the iMac is USB 3, I think. Is that just a matter of speed, though? Will a USB2 work (or more likely USB1 )?

At first I thought I might be looking at specs for some really ancient Apple machines

[Anastasius]

The one advantage of a working Time Machine is that you can physically locate it remotely away from your Mac and USB backup drive that sits right next door to the Mac and so ready to disappear in the same puff of smoke (if one is so unfortunate).

[Dave2002]

I think I have progressed, though I may need a new cable as the iMac is USB 3, I think. Is that just a matter of speed, though? Will a USB2 work (or more likely USB1 )?

if your drive is USB 2 there will be no point in usng a USB 3 cable. if you get a new drive with USB 3 then it'll probably come with a cable, but if not a USB 3 cable is the one to for. most new kit is now USB 3.