Airport / Time Machine error

I have an AirPort Extreme Base Station with a USB disk attached to it for wireless backups. Most of the time, everything works as expected, but I sporadically get the following error:
"Time Machine could not complete the backup. The backup disk image “/Volumes/Time Machine (Brian's MacBook Pro)/Brian's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” is already in use"
Whenever I see this error, all I have to do is restart the Base Station (via AirPort Utility), and everything is back to normal. But it's a hassle... any advice on how to fix this?

Welcome to the discussions!
Whenever I see this error, all I have to do is restart the Base Station (via AirPort Utility), and everything is back to normal. But it's a hassle... any advice on how to fix this?
As far as restarting, if it's faster, you can accomplish the same task simply by pulling the power plug at the back of the AirPort Extreme, waiting a few seconds, and then plugging it back in.
If this is the only error that you have seen, you are indeed fortunate because Apple does not support Time Machine backups to an attached drive at the USB port of the AirPort Extreme. You might want to reference the documentation in this regard.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15139.html
The usual problem with this setup is that backups start to become corrupted after a time...sometimes after a few weeks up to even a few months, so you might want to keep a close eye on things.

Similar Messages

Time Machine Error after moving disk to Airport Extreme

I have been using Time machine with a 1 TB, WD MyBook hard drive for the past 2 weeks with no problem. The drive had been connected directly to my Macbook Pro, via the Firewire 800 cable.
Today, I moved the drive and connected it via USB to my Airport Extreme Base Station version 7.3.1.
When Time Machine tried to create the next scheduled backup, I got the following error:
*Time Machine Error*
"This backup is too large for the backup volume. The backup requires 159.8 GB but only 159.1 GB are available.
To select a larger volume, or make the backup smaller by excluding files, open System Preferences and choose Time Machine"
It seems to me that Time machine is trying to do a brand new backup instead of the incremental one its supposed to do.
How can I fix this and have TM recognize that there is already a backup sequence in the disk?
Thanks for your help.

Time Machine uses a different method for creating its archive, depending on how the backup disk is connected. When using a directly connected drive, it uses a time-stamped folder structure. When using a networked disk, it uses a sparse disk image format. Therefore, when you connected that drive to the base station, Time Machine was trying to create a new sparse image archive with the leftover space. It did not find enough space, since your direct connect Time Machine archive was taking up too much space already.
If you want to use it over the network, you'll have to erase the drive and start over with Time Machine.

Time Machine Error: The backup was not performed because an error occurred

G'day (from Queensland, Australia)
Not for the first time Time Machine has broken down - originally in September 08 (I just can't recall how I fixed it!!).
Now it has failed after 14 months of faultless performance.
There seems to be little help available, but searching for solutions finds plenty of problems.
I get the message "The backup was not performed because an error occurred while copying to the backup disk.
The problem may be temporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair you backup disk."
(I have a Time Capsule as my backup disk)
Disk Utility runs and finds-
Verifying volume “Backup of xxxxxx’s iMac”
2010-01-25 12:16:09 +1000: Starting verification tool:
2010-01-25 12:49:21 +1000: The volume Backup of xxxxxx’s iMac appears to be OK.
2010-01-25 12:49:21 +1000: Repair tool completed:
So I search and find "Fix for broken Time Machine backups under Snow Leopard"
(http://www.andrewgrant.org/2009/09/22/fix-for-broken-time-machine-backups-under- snow-leopard.html) - downgrading to 7.4.1 of the Airport Extreme / Time Capsule firmware.
But still have the same Time Machine error!
On to http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=103919&highlight=TimeMachineError
and try-
"... suggesting would be something like renaming the existing TimeMachine file on your backup disk - e.g. add a date to the end of it.
And then go onto Time Machine preferences and set it up as if it were the first time you used it. (Renaming the file on the backup disk should make Time Machine think that you are starting fresh.)"
So, using Finder, I opened my Time Capsule and renamed "xxxxxx’s iMac_00224135e6fb.sparsebundle" as "091222xxxxxx’s iMac_00224135e6fb.sparsebundle091222"
And finally, this worked - I have my backups to 22 December and a complete backup as at today and hopefully for at least another 14 months!

pjh42 wrote:
G'day (from Queensland, Australia)
Not for the first time Time Machine has broken down - originally in September 08 (I just can't recall how I fixed it!!).
Now it has failed after 14 months of faultless performance.
There seems to be little help available, but searching for solutions finds plenty of problems.
On the contrary. At the top of this forum are four *User Contributed Tips,* including one on Troubleshooting that would have saved you a great deal of time.

Time Machine Error: An error occurred while creating the backup directory

Time Machine Error: Unable to complete backup. An error occured while creating the backup directory.
I back up to wirelessly to a Time Capsule. I get these errors often. I'll go for a few days with everything working and then encounter these errors. I've even completely erased the Time Capsule drive and started over. It'll work fine for a few days and then start the errors over again. Interestingly, when the errors occur, the Time Capsule drive can not be unmounted even if clicking the eject button. I am on 10.5.8 but it happened in 10.5.7 as well. I have another Mac that doesn't seem to have any issues with the same Time Capsule.
Here's a log - they all seem to fail with similar errors:
Starting standard backup
Backup destination alias resolved to path: /Volumes/AirPort Disk
Disk image /Volumes/AirPort Disk/Brittney’s Computer_0019e33d4fde.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Backup of Brittney’s Computer
Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup of Brittney’s Computer/Backups.backupdb
2009-08-27 13:52:48.465 FindSystemFiles[2955:713] Querying receipt database for system packages
2009-08-27 13:52:48.693 FindSystemFiles[2955:713] Using system path cache.
Failed to create progress log file at path:/Volumes/Backup of Brittney’s Computer/Backups.backupdb/Brittney’s Computer/2009-08-26-212437.inProgress/.Backup.273091970.250248.log.
Error: (-50) Creating directory 7CCE60DD-ADCC-4004-A0D9-3EC83D892372
Failed to make snapshot.
Backup failed with error: 2
Failed to eject volume /Volumes/Backup of Brittney’s Computer (FSVolumeRefNum: -114; status: -47; dissenting pid: 0)

Nancy H wrote:
I used it as it came, supposedly formatted for a mac.
It may or may not be right.
I'd be inclined to start over, per #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
If that doesn't help, go on to #C10, etc., in the Troubleshooting Tip, as in the previous post.

Time Machine Error, backup disk couldn't be mount

I have a USB drive plug to my Airport Extreme and I use it for Time Machine. Today I had a message saying: "Latest Backup:Failed"
Time Machine Error
The Backup disk image could not be mounted.
The hard disk is there, I can drag, drop, copy, delete files on that disk. There's is a big file call Serge'siMac_001ec205f583.sparsebundle, the file does not seem corrupted, I could probably drag it to the Desktop. How can I mount the backup disk.
Serge

I had the same problem and found out how to fix it
You can check the whole process here in a post I wrote for the Hardmac blog (it's rather long...):
How I saved my corrupted Time Machine sparsebundle image…

Time machine error: The backup disk image could not be mounted

Time Machine worked OK for several months. Now I get this error every 10 minutes or so.
I unplugged Time Machine capsule and "Change Disk" in Time Machine options.
Nothing helps, I continue to get this error.
I cannot Enter Time Machine either. "Connecting to Server, Connecting to backup" does not work.
Help please because I will probably have to archive and reinstall Leopard. I need the backups,
Christine

Christ1ne,
Before you reformat the disk, consider these causes of this error.
*_"The Backup Disk Image Could Not Be Mounted" (Console - “Failed to mount disk image”)_*
First, it is important to distinguish this error message from another, similar Time Machine error that states “The backup volume could not be mounted”. This is important as the causes and cures for these two errors can be very different.
Consider each topic below separately. When one option does not resolve your issue, then move on the next one.
*Unmount the Backup Disk Image* (TC)
If, for some reason, you have manually mounted the Time Machine backup disk image (sparsebundle), or Time Machine failed to eject it after the previous backup, subsequent backups may fail. (Console - “Failed to mount disk image”… “Backup failed with error: 21”)
Eject the backup disk image (white drive icon) by either clicking the little Eject icon to the right of the disk image in the Finders’ Sidebar, or Ctrl-Click the drive icon on the desktop and select “Eject” from the contextual menu. Now try backing up again or launching Time Machine to view previous backups.
*“Disconnect All Users…”:*
If your Time Machine backup drive (“Backup of Users Computer”) is mounted on your desktop or in the Sidebar of the Finder window. then Time Machine may think the drive is already in use. Alternatively, if the Time Capsule hard disk has been recently accessed by a Windows machine, it may not have fully relinquished control. Do the following:
Open Airport Utility and select the Time Capsule on the left.
Click “Manual Setup”.
Select “Disks” at top of window.
Click “Disconnect All Users…” at bottom of window.
Close the Airport Utility.
Now try Backing up again.
One poster reported: “I got it resolved. Apparently it had to do with one of the files being open on the disk from the drive. I had browsed the disk with one of my windows boxes here and it must have left one of the folders "open". Anyway, I rebooted the TC and we are good to go now.”
*Proper Computer Name* #
Make sure your computer has a proper name. Go to System Preferences --> Sharing. Time Machine needs to differentiate your computer from others on your network (i.e. "Bills MacBook" or "Office iMac"). If the "Computer Name" field is blank, create a name. Realize that if this step is necessary, you will likely have to start the Time Machine backup process over again and do another full initial backup.
According to this article, [http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1760], Time Machine may experience problems if your computer name includes certain characters. Make sure the computer name only includes ASCII characters from the following set.
(0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ)
Once a change in the computer name occurs, you should stop and restart Sharing on the affected computer. Uncheck and then recheck Sharing in the Services list on the left.
# Try removing the apostrophe from the disk images name (sparsebundle).
*A Stalled .inProgress Files:* #
It may be that the previous backup attempt was ungracefully interrupted leaving remains that Time Machine can’t deal with.
Stop any current backup attempt. Choose “Stop Backing Up” from the Time Machine menu.
Open the Time Machine Preferences and turn “OFF” Time Machine.
Open your Time Machine drive.
Open the folder labeled “Backups,backupdb”.
Now open the folder containing backups of the computer in question.
Are there any “.inProgress” files there. Delete them by dragging the file to the Trash. Or Ctrl-Click the file and select "Move to Trash" from the contextual menu. (Give this time as deleting a large file on an external disk can take a while.)
Turn Time Machine back “ON”. Now try backing up again.
NOTE: If the above procedure becomes impossible to perform, try accessing the disk image from another Mac. Some have discovered that attempting a repair from another computer succeeds where the original computer failed.
Let us know if any of the suggestions above helped to resolve your issue.
Cheers!

Time Machine Error: "The backup disk image could not be created." Help.

I have two Macbook Pro's. One is able to backup to the Time Capsule with no problems. The other connects just fine to Airport Utility, but I get the following error after I attempt to backup: Time Machine Error: "The backup disk image could not be created."
I have reset the Time Capsule several times, so that is not the fix.
The first thing I see when attempting to open Time Machine is the following message: :The storage location for Time Machine Backups can't be found." It gives me the option to setup the Time Capsule, which I select. The next thing I select is to Change Disk. The window that opens has the Icon with Three people on it. The name of that Icon is The Moreman Time Capsule. I select it, and enter the password I created. I then choose to Backup. Then I choose to backup now. That is when I get the error: Time Machine Error: "The backup disk image could not be created."
Any ideas? Has anyone encountered this problem?

You have to delete the .dmg file and start over. This happened to me 3 times already, I finally switched to Déjà Vu, works perfect and only once a day instead of 24 times a day.
http://propagandaprod.com/

HT201405 how to solve time machine error-1

how to solve time machine error-1

I checked the pondini fixes and ended up doing the following - in case this could help someone else with OSX Lion and Time Capsule... http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
First, I downloaded and used Airport Utility 5.6 instead of 6.1 - BTW, I had to attempt download and installation THREE times before the program actually installed. Be persistant.
Pondini #5: It's possible some names (of all things!) may be a problem. See item C9. I had to re-name my Mac, Time Capsule, network, etc... to remove all apostrophes and spaces.
Pondini #7: If you have WD SmartWare installed on Lion, it's not compatible, per RoaringApps, and there are reports it can cause this problem as well. Use Western Digital's uninstaller, or delete the app from /Applications and the files com.wdc.WDDMservice.plist and com.wdc.WDSmartWareServer.plist from /Library/LaunchDaemons. There may also be a file in Library/Application Support.
I then had to shut down computer, unplug Time Capsule, unplug modem; plug everything in again, then reboot computer; then had to go to Apple- System Preferences- Network- and reselect my Time Capsule to connect to WiFi again.
Then opened Time Machine preferences again and attempted back up - it worked!

Time Machine: Error occurred while creating the backup folder

Mac Mini 2.53 GHz, 8 GB DDR3
OS X 10.8.4
Time Capsule 1 TB, connected via ethernet
Airport Utility 6.3.1 (631.4)
"Time Machine Error. Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder."
I believe my Time Capsule is out of space and isn't removing older backups to create space for itself. Time Machine preferences says only 98 MB available on the 1 TB volume. I have used Pondini's superb troubleshooting page with the following results:
A1: Time Machine Buddy Widget. Partial log from backup attempt:
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Failed to create progress log file at path:/Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Macmini-34159E18D208 (4)/2013-04-04-223516.inProgress/.Backup.400571203.603238.log.
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Macintosh HD
Error: (Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=640 "You can’t save the file “598C5622-100E-456A-89AF-DEBC87A6CA89” because the volume “Time Machine Backups” is out of space." UserInfo=0x7f88a330cef0 {NSFilePath=/Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Macmini-34159E18D208 (4)/2013-04-04-223516.inProgress/598C5622-100E-456A-89AF-DEBC87A6CA89, NSUnderlyingError=0x7f88a33056a0 "The operation couldn’t be completed. No space left on device"}) Creating directory 598C5622-100E-456A-89AF-DEBC87A6CA89
Failed to make snapshot.
Backup failed with error: 2
Ejected Time Machine disk image: /Volumes/Data/Macmini-34159E18D208 (4).sparsebundle
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
A4: Full reset of Time Machine. Done, did not change error from occurring on next backup attempt.
A5b: Verify backups on Time Machine. Done, successful (no problems).
C10: Also attempted switching out ethernet cable and tried different ports on the Time Capsule, to no effect.
I have no exceptions listed in Time Machine preferences (under Options) and the box for "notify when deleting old backups" is UNchecked.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated!!

grifftastic wrote:
I believe my Time Capsule is out of space and isn't removing older backups to create space for itself. Time Machine preferences says only 98 MB available on the 1 TB volume.
"You can’t save the file “598C5622-100E-456A-89AF-DEBC87A6CA89” because the volume “Time Machine Backups” is out of space."
Yes, it's so full it can't get started -- not even far enough to start deleting old backups.
If you have other data there (not usually a good idea), move some of it elsewhere temporarily, and try again.
If not, manually delete a couple of old backups, and "compact" the sparse bundle, per Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #12.

Time Machine Error...sparsebundle in use

New Time Capsule; overnight backup successful; there's a disc image which when massaged appropirately generates a list of files that looks like my hard disc, who is named 'FMBP', probably standing for F's MacBookPro. So far, so good.
However, every hour it tells me "Time-Machine Error: The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data-1/FMBP.sparsebundle” is already in use." My impressions is that it is in use containing the files that it just backed up.
Speaking softly to, or kicking, the Time Capsule, does not help. Fumbling about clicking things labelled "Time ..." sometimes does something unexpected--after while--but does not generate a backup.
The instructions say to keep books 'n stuff off of the Time Capsule, lest they impede cooling. The cat points out that he is *not* a book, and if I'm not going to heat the house during this European cold spell, he should be allowed to sit on it. But surely OS X doesn't consider this 'using' the sparsebundle?
Anyone know how to 'unuse' sparsebundle?

Power down both your computer and the Time Capsule. Start both up again and try a backup.
Or, if you do not want to power down both devices and restart, you can open AirPort Utility and click Manual Setup. Click the Disks icon, then click the Disks tab just below the icons. then click Disconnect All Users.
Then try another backup.

Time Machine Error when upgrading from old iMac to new iMac

Hi. I recently purchased the new 27" iMac and just completed migrating all data from an old PPC iMac. When I went to activate Time Machine and begin backing up on an existing 1TB Time Capsule, I received the following Time Machine error: "The backup disk image "xxxx" iMacG5 sparsebundle" is already in use."
Does this mean I need to go into Time Capsule first and delete the old iMac's sparsebundle before activating Time Machine on the new iMac? If so, is it safe to just drag the sparsebundle file to the trash?
Thanks!

sgrubman wrote:
Hi. I recently purchased the new 27" iMac and just completed migrating all data from an old PPC iMac. When I went to activate Time Machine and begin backing up on an existing 1TB Time Capsule, I received the following Time Machine error: "The backup disk image "xxxx" iMacG5 sparsebundle" is already in use."
Does this mean I need to go into Time Capsule first and delete the old iMac's sparsebundle before activating Time Machine on the new iMac?
No, you shouldn't have to do that, but you may want to if the TC's disk isn't well over twice the size of the data you're backing-up.
Most likely, all you have to do is eject the sparse bundle via the Finder.
A new feature in Snow Leopard will allow you to continue backing-up to the same sparse bundle. See #B5 in the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip,* also at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum.
If so, is it safe to just drag the sparsebundle file to the trash?
Yes, but if there's nothing else on the Time Capsule, this will be much faster:
Use the +*Airport Utility+* app, in your Applications/Utilities folder.
Select +*Base Station > Manual Set-Up+* from the Menubar, then Disks in the tool Bar, then Erase.

Time Machine Error - No Backup Volume Has Been Selected

Just got the time capsule. Successfully had it replace old Airport Extreme setting. Successfully hooked it up via Ethernet to my iMac and completed a backup. Now I have it hooked up via Ethernet to my MBP. But I can't get it to backup
The Time Capsule disk mounts and I can see the files in it from my iMac backup. I'm connected to the Airport network.
In Time Machine preferences, it asks me to choose a backup disk. I select the time capsule. I turn the switch to on. And nothing happens. With the iMac, the backup started immediately.
After a minute, I get this error message:
Time Machine Error
No backup volume has been selected.
To select a backup volume, open System Preferences and choose Time Machine.
Obviously, I have done this, but the Time Machine never turns on.
I have spent thirty minutes messing with this.
And suddenly, as I writing the post, and the error message comes up again, and I click Preferences, it switches to Preferences and suddenly, the backup starts.
Go figure.

I had the same problem, though I have a non-conventional setup. My Time Machine volume is on a linux box shared with netatalk. Looking in the system log I was receiving, "System Preferences[295]: FSMountServerVolumeSync received error: -36". It turned out that the problem was with Little Snitch. Another post I found stated that Little Snitch was interfering with Time Machine's authentication when it was mounting the TM volume. Turning off Little Snitch fixed the problem. Seemed that simply rebuilding the Little Snitch rule list fixed the problems I experienced.

I'm having trouble backing up my second macbook to a new time capsule. continue to get an error message -- "Time Machine Error. The backup disk image could not be created." Is there something I need to change in my time capsule or time machine?

I just set up a new time capsule. it worked fine on my first macbook. But now I cannot backup my second macbook. Getting "Time Machine Error" "The backup disk image could not be created." Do I need to change settings on my time capsule to allow the second computer, or do I need to change something on the computer to allow time machine to work right?

Try #C9 in Pondini's Time Machine Troublshooting
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

I have a Airport Time Machine at my computer, a Airport Extreme in the kitchen, and I want to set-up my Airport Express in my second office. How is this done so all show 4 bars on my iPhone?

I have a Airport Time Machine at my desk in the office with the router, a Airport Extreme to have WiFI in the kitchen connected by my ethernet, and I have a Airport Express in my second business office connected to the ethernet thru a switch.
Will this all work? And what is the best configuration?
Do I connect my Express to the Ethernet? From the installation notes it seems I do, but I'm not sure?
Any help on these is appreciated?
NoviceJM

It is on DHCP & NAT under router mode yet my isp is still the one issuing ip addresses to my devices instead of the router issuing them

I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David's MacBook Air.sparsebundle" is already in use.

I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David’s MacBook Air.sparsebundle” is already in use.
What now?
Macbook Air.
Was working fine for the past year until now.

See more like this on the right.. this is the most common error reported here since mountain lion came out..
Or read C12.. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Or just restart the whole network.. in right order from off.. modem.. router / TC.. clients 2min gap.

Airport / Time Machine error

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