can my passport for mac work for multiple computers

Over time older backups may be deleted to make space on the backup drive, if needed, or to remove old files no longer on the hard drive itself.

I have lots of data on my mbp, namely, Family Tree Maker software (from Ancestry.co.uk).

It contains all my tree data, and lots and lots of Microsoft Word word-processed documents, eg, vast type-ups of Wills etc.

I also have lots of saved info downloaded from the net, e.g., photos and census stuff.

Whilst I can see the FTM.app, I cannot open to see whats inside.

I have 2 Trees on my software, but I cant see if they are in there for me to re-open from My Passport.

If all the above are backed-up, if I change as much as a DoB on a Word document, will that document then be backed-up with the changes Quite basic questions for you Apple folk, but the answers would help me and others a great deal.

Thank you. Helen My machine is: mbp, mid-2010; Mavericks.

Where you will start at this point also depends on what you may have already backed up to the Passport and if you are using the pre-installed Passport software.

If you want every change you make to a document instantly backed up to the Passport, then you need the right software to do that (if it exists.) If you wish to use Time Machine that is part of OS X, then it backs up every hour but does not instantly backup a changed file.

You would have to repartition and reformat the Passport in order to use Time Machine.

Also, for Time Machine to work properly your Passport must be at least twice the capacity of your computers drive.

Get Backup 3. Deja Vu 4.

SuperDuper 5. Synk Pro 6.

Tri-Backup Others may be found at MacUpdate.

My computer is: - OS X 10.9.5 - Processor: 2.4 GHz, Intel core i5 - Memory 4 GB My stategy is to leave Time Machine attached to my Passport most of the time.

When I bought my Passport and attached it to the computer, I just used the time machine and away it went.

I dont need to instantly backup a word document if Ive changed anything; a routine time machine backup will do, but how can I find if it has backed up said word document Does it just back up the FTM app itself Thats pointless because I have the software here.

I suppose I expected to be able to back up everything, the mac system itself and everything I have ever produced.

Is this not the case If not, what is the point of My Passport, and backing up in general.

I bought it because my old external Seagate drive had become too small for the backups on Time Machine.

Im pretty sure that the answer to your question is yes but as Kappy says above, Time Machine backs up hourly rather than every time you make a change to a file.

A question I would ask though is what you use for your word documents - MS Word or Pages I ask because with Yosemite due out soon, iCloud Drive should work seamlessly with iOS to back up documents there, obviating the need for backing up to a physical hard drive.

The size of your backups using Time Machine to your My Passport should be the same as the amount of space taken on your MBPs hard drive.

If you look at the bottom of a Finder window, you can see how much space you have left on your hard drive (and therefore calculate how much space youve used) and your backups should be that amount.

You can also change Time Machine backup details in Preferences.

I dont know what FTM.app is, but that is an application, not a backup unless it is a backup of the application.

Can My Passport For Mac Work For Multiple Computers