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I'm a very happy new MacBook user, and recently added an external hard drive for time machine.
All of a sudden the shortcuts via right click in the dock have dissappeared, there used to be 'backup now', 'stop backup now' etc, and the 'show time machine' doesn't do anything.
However time machine does back up soon as the hard drive is plugged in.
Only way to view TM is via spotlight,or go to applications. How did this happen, and how do I fix it?
(I have posted this in the Oz macforums, but have received no answer)

Might be as simple as dragging Time Machine out of the dock - to remove it. Open Applications and drag it back to the Dock.

Brilliant! That fixes it. Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it. Cheers, Audioman.