"The storge location for time machine backups can't be found"

I posted this on the TIme capsule forum and got no reply. PLEASE somebody, I need help with this.
Time machine on my new MBP (Leopard 10.5.2) is now failing on my new Time Capsule and I am unable to connect to my backups. Whenever I open Time Machine I get the error message: "The storge location for time machine backups can't be found"
I've tried rebooting, going into "Set up time machine" and changing the disk to none and then back to both the Time capsule Volume and the Time capsule backup volume (should there be 2?).
I AM able to open the Time Machine Drive through Finder.
Has there been a recent update which renders Time Machine useless?

I don't have an answer, but I get this error when I try to mount the sparcebundle to my hd to try to get Time Machine to mount as stated in this article http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1329.
I've had this problem before I upgraded to 10.5.3

Similar Messages

  • The storage location for Time Machine backups can't be found

    I recently purchased a Time Capsule and have successfully backed-up both a PC (via ethernet) and my MacBookPro via wireless. However, after a few hours of inactivity on my MacBook Pro, the Time Capsule icon on my desktop is gone. When I launch Time Machine, I get the following message:
    "The storage location for Time Machine backups can't be found". I have browsed the forums and noticed some answers to similar queries to check the "Remember password" option when establishing the connection. I do not have this option when I reconnect. What am I missing?

    Glasses,
    It does work! I have successfully use DW on my TC both wirelessly and via ethernet. Ethernet is of course much quicker. And I have run into more DW errors trying wirelessly, so I avoid that method whenever possible. As for other NAS device - I wouldn't know.
    Glenn
    BTW RetroBot - That post was over 6 months ago!

  • Do I need to use all the hard drive for time machine or can I partition it

    Do I need to use all the hard drive for time machine or can I partition it

    You cannot partition a TC disk.
    See pondini about mixing data and backups.. but remember this.. the TC has no way to back itself up and TM cannot backup files on the TC. Anything not backed up on the TC will be lost at some future point.
    http://pondini.org/TM/TCQ3.html

  • Can I partition a hard drive so that one partition is for windows files and the other is for time machine backups?

    I have a 1TB WD passport that currently contains windows files e.g photos, documents, etc. Can I partition it so that one partition contains these files and the other partition is used for time machine backups? Also, how do I change the partition system on the hard drive so that it uses the GUID partition system?
    Thanks in advance.

    Yes, you can, though you need to format and partition the drive from the scratch.
    1) back up your PC data on other drive.
    2) partitioning your drive into 2 partitions with Disk Utility.
    3) format one partition by Mac OS extended (journaling) for Time Machine, the other by exFAT for PC data.
    4) restore PC data on exFAT partitioned drive.

  • Mac OS X cannot be installed on "Macintosh HD"  This disk is used for Time Machine backups-can you help in layman terms?

    I know there are discussions out there regarding this but my system is 10.5.8, I know how to turn the computer on and run some programs but understanding partitions, etc...forget it.  I have programs on my computer I don't want to lose, images in photoshop that, if lost, I would kill myself so please help me in basic English terms...what the heck do I need to do to update to OS X so I can feel inferior again when I update to OS 7?

    Somehow, your internal HD got selected as the destination for TM backups, perhaps long ago.
    That left a Backups.backupdb folder at the top level of your internal HD.
    All you need to do is open your internal HD (probably named Macintosh HD) via the Finder, locate and delete that folder.

  • Time Machine Backup Disk Cannot be found

    While my iMac was in sleep mode, I disconnected the power to my external, firewire time machine backup disk. The backup is a Western Digital hard drive.
    Now I get the error message "Your Time Machine Backup Disk Cannot be Found"
    I have rebooted the computer with the disk connected and the disk still doesn't show up on the desktop.
    I rebooted the computer with the disk powered up but the firewire disconnected, then connected the firewire. The disk still doesn't appear on the desktop.
    I tried Disk Warrior, and Disk Warrior doesn't see the external Time Machine disk.
    What to do?

    Dan Mackey1 wrote:
    While my iMac was in sleep mode, I disconnected the power to my external, firewire time machine backup disk. The backup is a Western Digital hard drive.
    That might corrupt your backups, but shouldn't make the disk completely un-usable.
    Disconnect it and power it off for several minutes, turn Time Machine OFF, then Restart your Mac again. Let your Mac get powered-up and running before connecting and powering the disk on. Then see if Disk Utility can see it.
    Is this a dual-mode disk? If so, try connecting via USB -- it may work that way.
    Can you tell if it's running? Is it one with a light, and/or can you hear it run or feel it vibrating?

  • HT3275 "The external disk must be erased before it can be used for Time Machine backups because it has an incompatible filesystem." What if I don't want to erase the disk?

    I'm trying to use Time Machine on my Macbook (which is a year old) to back up onto a 1Tb external hard drive. I have 860 Gb free on the hard drive. But for some reason Time machine presents me with the statement above. How can I back-up my laptop without clearing out the data I already have on the hard drive?

    Time Machine must back up to a hard drive that has been formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Your drive is likely formatted in FAT 32.
    If you want to use the drive for Time Machine backups, you will have to erase it and reformat using Disk Utility on your Mac.
    First, move the files that you do not want to lose to another temporary location and test to make sure they are OK.
    Second, erase the drive that you want to use for Time Machine backups and format it for Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
    Third,  move the files back to the hard drive.  Test  to make sure they are OK. When you are sure that the files are safe, you can erase them from their former "temporary" location. (Although I do wonder how you are backing up these files).
    Time Machine will not touch the other files that you have on the hard drive.

  • I have a lion server set up to host storage for time machine backups. Is there a limit to how many different computers can back up to the single server to back up. I am only backing up the users folders . The backup drive is an external Drobo with 6 TB.

    I have a lion server set up to host storage for time machine backups. Is there a limit to how many different computers can back up to the single server to back up. I am only backing up the users folders . The backup drive is an external Drobo with 6 TB. Right now it seems to back up my users all day long. I set their time machine interval to every 5 hours but it still runs all day long and is very slow. Server is on a new Mac Server mini.

    AFAIK, there is no user limit.. it is simply a question of the network load. AFP is a fairly clean protocol.. but TM is not.. it does a lot of testing of the backup.. infact your setting of 5hour gap could well make it worse.
    I would sort out the clients that are doing 100GB backups to a different backup location.. no matter how fast your network.. 100GB takes time to backup.. and over wireless forever.. it will never end.
    I guess some of these clients are on wireless?? I would separate the TM of wireless to those that are wired. No more than 4 or 5 wireless clients to a target device. Otherwise you are saturating your network with backup data. And use 5ghz.. so close by.. it is much faster than 2.4ghz and you will get much better transfer rates.

  • Can you use the same external hard drive for Time Machine backups and as an additional storage drive?

    I have an external HD that I've been using exclusively for Time Machine backups. I need to clear space on my hard drive, so I was thinking to move music & photos to an external drive.  Wondering if I can use the same one I have (which I'll aslo keep using for Time Machine) or if I need to get another drive. 

    Hi Jossydtaylor,
    Time Machine can use either an entire external disk or a partition of that disk:
    OS X Mountain Lion: Disks you can use with Time Machine
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11171
    You can use Time Machine with a Time Capsule, and with USB, FireWire, and Thunderbolt disks. The backup disk can be directly connected to your computer or be on a network. If the backup disk has been divided into partitions, you can use one of the partitions.
    If the disk is partitioned using the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition type, some partitions may not be available for use with Time Machine. The GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition type is recommended.
    For more info on partitioning, see this article:
    Disk Utility 12.x: Partition a disk
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5845
    Cheers!
    - Ari

  • I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard.  When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed.  Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Mach

    I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard.  When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed.  Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Machine)?

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2986

  • I can't install OS X mountain Lion to my macbook pro. It says when I'm trying to choose the disk, (This disk is used for time machine backups'. What can I do about it? thanks!

    I can't install OS X mountain Lion to my macbook pro. It says when I'm trying to choose the disk, (This disk is used for time machine backups'. What can I do about it? thanks!

    From the Finder's Go menu, choose Computer:
    Double-click your hard disk icon. It is usually named "Macintosh HD":
    Look for this folder:
    Drag it to the Trash.

  • My external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive. Same thing has happened with Final Cut Express.

    My new LaCie external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive.
    The same thing happened recently between Final Cut Express and my other LaCie external hard drive used as the Scratch disk. It fixed itself.
    I've run out of ideas. Help would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

    have you done some searches on FCPx and time machine? Is there a known issue with using a TM drive with FCPx? dunno but ...wait...I'll take 60 sec for you cause I'm just that kind of guy....   google...." fcpx time machine problem"  Frist page link 
    http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/fcpx-bug-best-practices-for-using-external-hard- drives-and-final-cut-pro-x/
           You cannot have time machine backups on your hard drive if you intend to use it in FCPX.
    booya!

  • Can two macs use same disk for Time Machine backup with Airport Extreme?

    Hi
    I use a Western Digital disk as a wireless Time Machine backup connected to the USB port on my Airport Extreme and it works great. My question is: can my girlfriend use that same disk for Time Machine backup from HER computer too? (I don't mind formatting the disk if needed.)
    If she can't, is it then possible to connect a USB hub and have two disks hooked up to the Airport Extreme?
    Thanks for helping. I am constantly in awe of all the help people like you give people like me. Thanks!!!
    Jakob

    I've gone through the manual setup and the assisted setup and can't seem to get my MacBook to use the Time Machine. Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated.
    Well, as the Jolly Giant points out....+this type of configuration is not supported by Apple+, so it's difficult, if not impossible, to provide a fix for something that Apple says that you cannot do. Reference these Apple Support documents regarding this topic:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2038
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15139.html
    Your situation is not unlike other users who try this and find that one computer may backup...(usually for a limited time before corruption issues start to creep in)...but another computer cannot backup. Count me as one of those users who thought that because things seemed to work that I had somehow "beat the system".
    I started getting the corruption error messages after 4-5 weeks of successful backups, so I figured that it did not make sense to continue to try to get a second computer to backup (yes, I too could not setup a second Mac to backup).
    Sorry, I could not get a second machine to backup, so can't tell you how to accomplish that goal. If you want to continue to try backing up this way, you might want to also think about a second backup strategy...just in case backups become corrupted on the WD drive.
    Maybe if Apple says you cannot do this, they just may be right?
    Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

  • Can I select certain drives only for Time Machine backup?

    I have several internal drives and several external drives connected to my MacPro desktop computer.  If I backup everything in all of the drives using Time Machine, the capacity on my designated external drive for Time Machine backup will soon be filled.  Is there any way to selectively backup via Time Machine from  only designated drives, not all drives connected (internally or externally) to my computer?  Is so, how can that be done?  I assume that Time Machine will start deleting data when its capacity is exceeded.  If that is so, and I remove the designated Time Machine drive at that point and replace it with a new drive, will the removed drive thereafter be able to be reinserted and the prior material read and transferred as needed? Is there any way to utilized Time Machine after I insert the replacement drive to only archive new material saved after the switch of drives?

    Yes, mount the drive by opening a new Finder window and clicking on your base station's name in the left column that says 'Shared'. Then double click on the drive name to mount it on your desktop. From there, open Time Machine prefs and select that mounted drive as your backup disk. Time machine will then back up to it. Theoretically.
    If you want that disk to automatically mount every time you login to your computer, go to Sys Prefs Panel and select 'Accounts'. Then click 'Startup Items'. From there, drag the mounted drive's icon from the desktop in to that startup items list. It will then auto-mount from there forward.
    I have had many problems backing up this way with Time Machine. It will, 9 times out of 10, fail over a wireless backup with an Airport Extreme Gigabit base station and a 1TB Western Digital My Book. Nothing seems to fix, so I have given up. When TM is finally fixed - I will use it. Until then, it's junk software as far as I'm concerned.
    But - best of luck. The instructions above are how it's 'supposed' to work..

  • HT201250 How do I find out what portable drive was the drive I used for Time Machine Backup?

    Hi, I have 10.7.4 and need to figure out what drive I was using for Time Machine Backup.  I have three drives and I have connected each of them to my macbook pro, but I get an error, "Time Machine Error, The backup disk is not available" when I hit the time machine icon on the top of the screen and the "backup delayed" prompt.  If I try Back up Now I get message, "Time Machine could not complete the backup.  Back up disk is not available."  I am trying to figure out what the time machine back up would actually look like as a file on the drives but I don't see a folder/file name Time Machine.  If I enter Time Machine I can see in the far right column, in purple, the last back up date (Sept. 12, 2012), but when I hit it nothing happens.  In the Time Machine preference box the select disk has, in red and to the right, "Delayed" with an "i" within a circle, and the option indicates, "Next backup: when disk is connected."
    I know I have a years worth of backups on one of the three drives, but I can't figure out how the heck to find them or how to determine what was the last drive I used for the backups within Time Machine.  Help please.

    Hi, I have 10.7.4 and need to figure out what drive I was using for Time Machine Backup.  I have three drives and I have connected each of them to my macbook pro, but I get an error, "Time Machine Error, The backup disk is not available" when I hit the time machine icon on the top of the screen and the "backup delayed" prompt.  If I try Back up Now I get message, "Time Machine could not complete the backup.  Back up disk is not available."  I am trying to figure out what the time machine back up would actually look like as a file on the drives but I don't see a folder/file name Time Machine.  If I enter Time Machine I can see in the far right column, in purple, the last back up date (Sept. 12, 2012), but when I hit it nothing happens.  In the Time Machine preference box the select disk has, in red and to the right, "Delayed" with an "i" within a circle, and the option indicates, "Next backup: when disk is connected."
    I know I have a years worth of backups on one of the three drives, but I can't figure out how the heck to find them or how to determine what was the last drive I used for the backups within Time Machine.  Help please.

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