Time Machine Disabled When MacBook on Battery
Time Machine Disabled When MacBook on Battery
by , 3:40 PM EST, January 8th, 2008
Time Machine's page in System Preferences shows the time for the next scheduled backup. However, if the power cord is disconnected, that time disappears and no backup is scheduled.
As soon as the power cord is re-connected, the next scheduled time reappears.
 System Preferences: Time Machine (battery disconnected) |
|---|
This is no doubt a safety mechanism to make sure the MacBook/Pro doesn't run out of power during a Time Machine backup, especially for travelers using a bus-powered external drive. Attention to that kind of detail is a welcome sight in Leopard.
Observer Comments
QuoteGuest wrote:
I mean, that's cool and all, but really, now.
Coming from someone who is too indolent to register and log in, that comment means very little.
More to the point, not every story is a "top story." Many of the TMO writers try to share tips they've discovered in one way or another. This is one that should be important for laptop users to know so that they don't rely on Time Machine for their only backup.
"Attention to that kind of detail is a welcome sight in Leopard."
Top story or not: Frankly I'm unimpressed by the "attention to detail." Instead of "--" why not type a few more characters and indicate something meaningful like: "When power cord is connected." Furthermore, if the OS is smart enough to realize the battery's running low and warn you to plug in, it should be smart enough to pause a backup in progress and start it up again when power is connected.
I'm anxious for Time Machine 1.1 when my MacBook can be backed up untethered (i.e., no power cord) and to Airport Disk.
QuoteGuest wrote:
"Attention to that kind of detail is a welcome sight in Leopard."
Top story or not: Frankly I'm unimpressed by the "attention to detail." Instead of "--" why not type a few more characters and indicate something meaningful like: "When power cord is connected." Furthermore, if the OS is smart enough to realize the battery's running low and warn you to plug in, it should be smart enough to pause a backup in progress and start it up again when power is connected.
I'm anxious for Time Machine 1.1 when my MacBook can be backed up untethered (i.e., no power cord) and to Airport Disk.
At first I thought that this was a good move, since it wont prevent a backup if the battery suddenly dies. However, wont the same thing happen on a MacBook if the MagSafe is accidentally tripped? As the above poster says, it would be slightly more meaningful if there "Next Backup" time states what the issue is. I hope that its still possible to force a backup update manually still, otherwise laptop users are going to be really buggered, especially those on the road.
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