I'm seeing hints around the web about how to use to Unix shell commands to delete files from a Time Machine backup drive.
Don't use them. Besides, as usual, there's a better way.
The people doing this want to reclaim space from their Time Machine backup drives, which is understandable.
However, most of the methods start by deleting the access control lists (ACLs) used by OS X to, well, control access to your files. Delete the ACLs from the directory, and you essentially let anyone into your backup data.
Besides, Time Machine already makes it easy. Here's how:
1) Open a Finder window and start Time Machine.
2) Find the file or files you want to delete, and select them.
3) Click on the Tool icon in the Finder Toolbar, and select "Delete All Backups of YOURFILENAMEHERE" from the dropdown menu.
4) Confirm that yes, you want to delete ALL of your backups.
That's it. Time Machine will remove all of those files or folders from the backup drive and reclaim the space.
Apple should really enable right-clicks on files in the Time Machine window in order to do the same thing, because they've hid this option pretty well.
But now you know about it too.
So tell EVERYONE.
If you think Apple should make this option more accessible, then let take a minute and leave 'em a note at www.apple.com/feedback.
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