Backup disk cannot be found

I have four Mac Laptops set up to back up to a time capsule.
Three laptops back up fine but my rMBP gives the "the backup disk cannot be found" error when it attempts to backup to the Time Capsule. It backups fine to a mini server and local disk. I can mount the timecapsule disk as well as the rMBP sparse image.
Its a current generation time capsule and my rMBP is OS10.9.5 (so are the other Macs). The disk is near full.
Before I start digging and blow away the TC backup I wanted to check in here. I don't see anything similar in the online guides.
The TC and rMBP have been restarted.

It seems that when waking from sleep TimeMachine is sometimes ready to backup before the wireless is connected (see complaints about wireless problems after latest OS updates). When this happens, TM seems to mark the drive not available and refuses to backup to it. Dunno, just a theory.
As you suggested, I verified the backup sparse bundle, and not an issue was found or repaired. The image was in great shape.
Anyway, I delete the problem drive from the TM preferences window and then added it back in. TM seems to find the sparse bundle just fine and presses on without issue. I hear that deleting the TM preference file also may help, but I did not try that. I think thats what you meant by full TM reset. Perhaps by deleting and adding the drive I dis a partial TM reset, just reset the problem drive.
I've been backing up four laptops to the same internal TC drive for maybe five-six years. It hasn't been a problem. There have been an occasional burp backing up to USB drives attached to a AEBS and the synology NAS has been a disaster. I just stopped doing that

Similar Messages

TM backup disk cannot be found after Snow Leopard install

Message from elsewhere re-posted here after helpful advice from Apple Discussions Team.
Just installed Snow Leopard (with TM switched off though not unplugged) and got all the software updates available. I re-installed the TM installation disk. Everything went ok until I wanted to restore from my Time Capsule. I switched the big switch on. TM is continuing to make backups but when I want to locate folders to restore TM won't go back further than the day I installed Snow Leopard. Having selected the TM disk and entered the password the dialogue tells me that the TM backup disk cannot be found and offers me the select disk dialogue again. I have gone through the unplug/plug routine.
Through Migration Assistant I tried the contents of my Pictures folder (including all my iPhoto libraries) but it just supplied an empty folder. Since I didn't migrate at the time of the Snow install I wonder whether it was migrating the earliest backup it had made after the Snow install. This would make sense if "the Time Machine backup disk cannot be found", as the dialogue keeps telling me.
Anyone any ideas?

I'm not sure just what you did.
Did you reinstall Snow Leopard? Did you do a full restore?
First, just re-select your Time Capsule in TM Preferences.
If that doesn't help, try a "Full Reset" of TM per #A4 of the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
If that doesn't help, see #E2 there.
If still no help, use the Finder to see if you have two sparse bundles on your Time Capsule. If so, try mounting one manually by double-clicking it, then using the Browse option per #E2.

Time Capsule Backup Disk Cannot Be Found

Hello,
I have a fairly new iMac (about 3 months old) running Lion OSX 10.7.4. This is my first Mac Computer. I have it setup wirelessly to a time capsule and had time machine backup. All was running fine until today when I noticed my last successful backup was June 18th. Ive spent several hour reading in apple support communities and other websites and I can't figure out what happened. I have kept all my software up to date.
All my other Apple devices are working fine on the same network: 2 Airport Expresses for Airplay, iPad, iPhone, iMac. . . I just can't get time machine to backup.
My error message is "Backup Disk Cannot be Found"
HELP!

Mac with Lion is about vista standard as far as networking goes.. did you turn it off and on again??
Turn off the whole network.. off not sleep.. reboot in the right order.. modem.. router.. TC if different to router.. then clients.. I think the TC should reappear.. if not connect to it by ethernet.. do not use extended wireless.. it is too flakey.
If it still doesn't appear press reset and do the setup again.
For lion make sure you download, install and use the tool utility.. not the toy utilty built into windows lion.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Tell me if the hard disk appears.. if so you know the procedure the next time.. in a few days when it happens again. It will happen again btw.. it is windows.. lion

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?

The old "backup disk cannot be found" conundrum

i've seen this message a few times before but the resolution has always been as simple as checking the connection. but not this time.
time machine is not seeing the external drive at all. it shows up in disk utility and these are the messages i received. it is stuck on the last one.
Verifying volume “Jane's backup”
Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.
Verify and Repair volume “Jane's backup”
Volume repair complete.Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.
when i open the time machine preferences, TM is switched off. if i switch it on, then click on "select backup disk", it just opens a window which shows no backup disk to select. if i hit cancel, it automatically turns off TM.
HELP!

Hello Jane:
conundrum
Great word!
I could not tell from your post. Did you run repair disk from your software install DVD on the external disk? If it did not complete properly, there are third party programs that are more robust (DiskWarrior is the "gold standard," but it is pricey at about $90). In any event, if the disk cannot be repaired, an erase and then new TM backup would seem to be the option. It appears that something is wrong with the disk, not with TM.
Barry

OS 10.8.2 - time capsule backup disk cannot be found

I updated to OSX 10.8.2 last night and now my Time Capsule cannot be found even though my wireless connection to the Time Capsule is fine and the Time Capsule appears in the Finder.
Anyone havng similar issues?

I've had this problem a few times with two MacBooks on OS X 10.8.2. I had to restart the Time Capsule the first few times to get the backup to execute. Last time it happened, I ejected the time capsule from the finder window. It didn't disappear, but seemed to refresh. I activated the time capsule "back up now" and it worked fine. Might give one of these a try.

"Your Time Machine back up disk cannot be found." What does this mean?

I have an external hard drive that has never been disconnected from my iMac.
About 3 weeks ago, I started noticing that some of my iTunes library songs had "!" in front of them, and I wasn't able to find them to play. Over time, more and more iTunes songs had this problem. Someone recommended that I look in the hard drive library, for individual titles, and sure enough, there they were! I've been dragging them back to iTunes but this is going to take forever, because I'm a music teacher and I have a lot of songs in my library.
In this process, I decided to see if the songs were still on the external hard drive, the Time Machine. However, I get the message "your time machine back up disk cannot be found." I have no idea what this must mean, because the Time Machine has been plugged in for a couple of years now. But somehow, the computer doesn't recognize it any more.
Are the two problems related? And what should I do?

There is no relation.
Time Machine backups : my opinion is that this is a real waste of disk space, usefull for a few number of files but that's all ! In case of a reinstallation, everyone is performing a fresh installation ... In addition, after a certain time, TM erases the oldest files.
I personnaly backup only on mediums (CDs, DVDs, DVDs) etc ... then i'm always sure to find again what i'm searching for.
iTunes : a "!" means that you have moved from one place to another an audio file (or erasing it by error) and iTunes has just stored a link to the file and not the file inside its own folders. Probably you have never consolidated you library. The question is : where are you storing your files ? inside your mac plus inside external drives ? Please make sure, if you are managing often files in iTunes, to consolidate them in order for iTunes to copy them inside its own folders, else it becomes quickly a nightmare.
iTunes manages files on 3 different ways now :
- real files inside it
- links to files out of its folders
- files from iTunesMatch

The required disk cannot be found

I changed the settings on my iPod nano so that it would sync songs from a new playlist I created. However, once I did that and hit "Sync", it kept telling me that the iPod cannot be synced because the required disk cannot be found. I tried ejecting and plugging in my iPod again, however, every time I plug it back in the settings go back to the original, and I have to change them to sync to the new playlist again. But every time I do this, I keep getting the same error message (The required disk cannot be found). So I deleted the old playlist entirely and as a result, all the songs on my iPod disappeared and it now keeps giving me a message that the playlists to sync to no longer exist. And if I try to change the settings so it would sync to the new playlist, I once again keep getting the message that the required disk cannot be found. Can anyone help?

Use this tip at your own risk. If it works on my PC, it can work on yours.
For the ones having that iTunes problem, which iTunes recognizes the iPod but doesn't sync and shows the message "iPod cannot be synced. Required disk cannot be found" or ""The iPod could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (1418)", here's my advice:
1 - Read the Apple Troubleshooting article available at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304996. Try every solutions, even the one saying "Try deleting or removing any third-party Windows OS skins, Windows themes, or desktop mods that are installed(...)". Yes, you should uninstall VistaMizer. He's the one who messed up your computer.
2 - Still not working? Try reinstalling your iTunes, but backup your library first.
3 - And finally, the solution which really worked well. Disconnect your iPod, close iTunes. Remove the iPod from the dock, open "My Computer" and leave the window on a visible spot. Place the iPod on the dock. Check if any new removable drives appear. If it does, keep reading. If not, then I'm afraid I can't help you. Now that we can see the iPod drive, open iTunes. [POINT OF RESTART] Put the new songs you want, as much as you want, or delete the old ones, do something that trigger the automatic syncing by iTunes. The software will try to sync, and it probably will show the same problem as before. Don't panic, everything is fine, don't use CTRLALTDEL, please. Just close the window displaying the odd message when it appears. Leave iTunes open, displaying your iPod content. Go back to the "My Computer" window. Leave it on a visible spot. Now let's start the magic, go to "Start" -> "Control Panel" -> "Add New Hardware". Click on "Next". You will see your iPod drive reappearing on the "My Computer" window. Just return to the iTunes window, click on "File", "Sync iPod" and it's done. After syncing, the iPod drive will disappear from the "My Computer" window. To sync again, repeat the operation from the point of restart. To eject your iPod, do it as you would do on a normal operation.
That is just a trick, but it works perfectly while Apple doesn't release a bug fix. Forcing the detection of the iPod drive was the only solution that I found after hours trying to make my brand new iPod Shuffle work. Sorry for any misunderstandings caused by bad english.
Solution by Renato Caggiano Concilio
*Keep the credits, please!*

"Error occurred while converting the file 'song name'. The required disk cannot be found"

Hi, I saw this issue in an archived discussion, and I just had the same problem, but figured out how to resolve it.
I think this error is a result of:
A) downloading a new version of iTunes, and;
B) storing my iTunes library on an external hard drive.
Because when the new version of iTunes was downloaded, I found that the destination folder for my iTunes music was no longer selected. Therefore, I was getting the error message: "Error occurred while converting the file 'song name'. The required disk cannot be found" when I tried to import CDs.
To fix: go to:
iTunes>Preferences>Advanced
and specify your destination folder for your music.
Just wanted to share!

Thank you so much! I was in the same situation (iTunes library stored on external hard disk). Strangely, iTunes knew where my music was stored (i.e. if I clicked a song it would link to the library location and play with no problems). But in the "Advanced" settings, the location of my iTunes Library was blank. So I just pointed to the correct location and now everything is working OK! Thanks again.

Error message Ipod shuffle cannot be synced. required disk cannot be found.

I just bought the ipod shuffle. I loaded about 110 songs. Then the next day I wanted to load just 9 more and it wouldn't let me giving me the "cannot be synced. required disk cannot be found. Please answer. This is frustrating.

I remember getting that msg periodically when I got my shuffle, but now it's extremely rare [I've not seen one in more than two months].
I donno what causes it, but what always worked for me was to eject the shuttle, un-dock it, quit iTunes, launch it again, cycle iPod power (turn it off if it's on, and on if it's off) once or twice, put it back on the dock, and voila!

"The iPhone cannot be synced. The required disk cannot be found."

I have been having this problems since I got my iphone last year. Early on the phone would sync after 2-3 tries but as of the last 2-3 months I have been only able to sync it 2-3 times even after trying all the solutions presented by the troubleshooting and reading forum posts that seem to have a similar or near similar problem.
The first message I get after having the phone sync is
"The iPhone cannot be synced. The required disk cannot be found."
After itunes attempts to sync again I get a different message that says
"The iPhone cannot be synced. An error occurred while writing to the device."
Ive ran the diagnostic and this is what I got:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
EVGA__ 132-YW-E179-FTW
iTunes 9.1.0.79
QuickTime 7.6.6
FairPlay 1.7.16
Apple Application Support 1.2.1
iPod Updater Library 9.0d11
CD Driver 2.2.0.1
CD Driver DLL 2.1.1.1
Apple Mobile Device 3.0.0.102
Apple Mobile Device Driver 1.46.0.0
Bonjour 2.0.0.34 (214.3)
iTunes Serial Number 5DD5EE0A2E39800E
Current user is an administrator.
The current local date and time is 2010-04-21 16:55:29.
iTunes is not running in safe mode.
Video Display Information
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260
** External Plug-ins Information **
No external plug-ins installed.
The drive E: Memorex 52MAX 325216AJv2 Rev RW$5 is a USB 2 device.
** Network Connectivity Tests **
Network Adapter Information
Adapter Name: {5EC41707-0E19-4943-9EBF-169BD17E249E}
Description: NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport
IP Address: 192.168.15.4
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.15.1
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 192.168.15.1
Lease Obtained: Wed Apr 21 16:35:40 2010
Lease Expires: Wed Apr 21 17:35:40 2010
DNS Servers: 192.168.15.1
192.168.15.1
Active Connection: LAN Connection
Connected: Yes
Online: Yes
Using Modem: No
Using LAN: Yes
Using Proxy: No
Firewall Information
Windows Firewall is on.
iTunes is enabled in Windows Firewall.
Connection attempt to Apple web site was successful.
Connection attempt to iTunes Store was successful.
Secure connection attempt to iTunes Store was successful.
Secure connection attempt to iPhone activation server was successful.
Last successful store access was 2010-04-21 16:15:50.
** CD/DVD Drive Tests **
No drivers in LowerFilters.
UpperFilters: GEARAspiWDM (2.2.0.1),
D: SONY DVD RW DRU-V200A, Rev 1.60
Drive is empty.
D: SONY DVD RW DRU-V200A, Rev 1.60
Drive is empty.
E: Memorex 52MAX 325216AJv2, Rev RW$5
Data or MP3 CD in drive.
Found 1 songs on CD, playing time 255:57 on CDROM media.
Track 1, start time 00:02:00
Get drive speed succeeded.
The drive CDR speeds are: 4.
The drive CDRW speeds are: 4.
** iPod/iPhone Connectivity Tests **
iPodService 9.1.0.79 is currently running.
iTunesHelper 9.1.0.79 is currently running.
Apple Mobile Device service 3.0.0.0 is currently running.
Universal Serial Bus Controllers:
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller. Device is working properly.
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller. Device is working properly.
FireWire (IEEE 1394) Host Controllers:
Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller. Device is working properly.
Most Recent Device Not Currently Connected:
iPod nano (4th Generation) running firmware version 1.0.4
Serial Number: YM9023TZ5BF
iPhone 3GS running firmware version 3.1.3
Serial Number: 879230PW3NP
** iPhone/iPod Touch Sync Tests **
Sync tests completed successfully.
If anyone has a possible solution please let me know as its getting very frustrating not being able to update my phone.
Message was edited by: powerweb11

I had the same problem and fixed it.
"The iPhone cannot be synced. An error occurred while writing to the device."
I think it is caused by downloading too many apps, or large apps, and then when syncing over USB it doesn't recognise the iPhone and you get "The iPhone cannot be synced. An error occurred while writing to the device."
To fix this:
1. Ensure iTunes is closed & iPhone is disconnected but keep USB cable connected to iPhone
2. hold down CTRL + SHIFT on your keyboard
3. connect USB cable to PC and wait. If iTunes doesn't start for a minute then start it (keeping hold of CTRL + SHIFT)
4. if it wont let you start iTunes or all your icons are selected then release CTRL + SHIFT
5. when iTunes starts it may ask you about safe mode or something similar, say yes
6. Your iPhone should list as a device as normal, click sync.
It will then start the sync as normal and you may find it will transfer only one or two apps and you may get the dreaded error message again as I did. However, persist with the above steps and eventually it sync'd all my apps with no error message. Because I have only just done this I haven't downloaded any more apps so it might be a frequent thing but better than the error message.

Weird Problem "The iPod cannot be synced. The required disk cannot be found

I have had my 2nd gen Ipod Shuffle since May 9th, 2008 and it has never given me problems until now. My computer was getting kind of backed up (I am running on 37.5 gig with 256 mb of RAM), so I decided to completely re-do my computer. Not a problem, I have done it hundreds of times before. Well, I get everything set up again and decide to change what is on my shuffle. I plug it into my computer like normal and Itunes comes up asking to erase and sync to the computer. Everything looks fine. But then when it goes to sync, it comes up with the error "The iPod cannot be synced. The required disk cannot be found.". So I reinstall Itunes and try it again. Same problem. Then I format it using my computer. The problem is still there. I tried to restore it in Itunes, but it came up with the error again and froze. Then I downloaded the ipod restore program and ran it, and it did take everything off. I plugged it back in, but it still had the same problem, even when it was completely re-set. I even tried unplugging my mouse and keyboard, but it didn't work. Then I decided to experiment. I uninstalled Itunes for a while and plugged the ipod into my computer to see it it would show up as a disk. It did. Then I reinstalled itunes and tried it again, but as soon as itunes started up, the ipod icon in the "My Computer" box disappeared. So I cannot use itunes to fix my problems because the computer reads that the ipod isn't there while itunes is running.
I have no idea what to do now, and if anyone knows, please help me!!!
Thanks
P.S. Sorry this was so long

I apologise beforehand this messgae is long
I have a strange problem too. This doesn't involve "required disk not found" problem.
I also have a 2nd generation IPod Shuffle.
I have a Windows XP and the latest service pack, so my PC is not at fault. I have all my music on an external hard drive which works all the time, as i have playlists in ITunes and Windows Media Player and they always work. I also bought a 80GB Ipod some 2 years ago never had a problem with the music being on an external hard drive.
With the shuffle i made a playlist up of all the tracks i wanted on it. I then Plugged the shuffle in and i seemed to sync. The playlist has 200 tracks this in total is 900MB. The shuffle is 2GB!!
After syncing i unplugged went to listen and only 5!!! songs were on it.
I noticed that the external hard drive was dissapearing. I mean when i go into my computer and into external hard drive and it was empty. When its got 350 albums on it, 1000s of pictures etc.
The external hard drive seems to dissapear when the shuffle is plugged in
Does anybody know how to fix this as listening to 5 songs i rather boring!!!!

Receive error message, The iPod cannot be synced. The required disk cannot be found. iPod nano 6th Gen, all latest updates, Macbook Pro, with OS 10.6.7

Receive error message, "The iPod cannot be synced. The required disk cannot be found. This is a iPod nano 6th Gen, all updates on iTunes and iPod, Macbook Pro OS 10.6.7. This is getting frustrating. I have changed USB ports, cables, reset, restored and was able to sync one time in parts, not all songs at once. I have seen a lot of this same issue, will Apple please find a solution, nothing works, I think I wasted my money with this iPod. I have the iPod touch, iPod shuffle, 4th gen iPod nano, iPhone and iPad. This is the only device that has this issue.

I was actually able to investigate and solve the problem myself. After readng many posts, I found that someone else's tips worked for me:
Re: 30gb 5th gen. Probs syncing.
Posted: Oct 13, 2009 8:48 AM in response to: johnnyfrommars
Try running a disk check out the iPod using the tools provided by windows.
To do this:
1. Plug in your iPod and close iTunes.
2. Go to "My Computer". Click on the iPod drive once. Go to File, and then click Properties.
3. Go to the Tools tab. Under "Error Checking", click Check Now.
4. Check both boxes. One says "Automatically fix file system errors" and the other says "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors". Place a check mark next to each of these options and hit Start.
The scan may take several minutes or more to complete, but once it has, go ahead and restart iTunes, and try re-syncing files to your iPod.
B-rock

'required disk cannot be found'???

My Ipod classic (brand new) isnt syncing. It's recognised by the computer but then when I plug it in, it says 'the ipod cannot be synced, an unknown error occured (13010)' or 'disk could not be read or written to' or, and this is the one i get most 'required disk cannot be found'. My pc has told me that in E:ipod (etc etc) 'data has been lost'.
So I sent it to apple. A few days later, I got it back. They couldnt find anything wrong with it. Somehow, I've got it to load all my videos, and one playlist of 5 songs. Now it wont do anything...It's STILL broken, and im at a loss as what to do with it - please help!
Message was edited by: something_9

Hey there,
Have you tried these troubleshooting solutions?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1207
One of the last solutions on the document above is to restore your iPod. Just remember that restoring your iPod deletes all the music, files, and such so make sure you have them backed up somewhere. Otherwise, try putting the iPod into Disk Mode before that as well and see if that helps. The document below explains how to do this. Hope this helps.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1363
B-rock

Ipod won't sync with itunes says required disk cannot be found any help plz

Hi, my ipod basically froze stopped working and then eventually it allowed & recommended me to restore it which i did & lost all the music on there in the process, but when i go to resync it with my itunes it says that it cant be synced as the required disk cannot be found but both my computer and itunes seem to recognise the ipod as it comes up in both, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Joe

Any help here?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6476702

Backup disk cannot be found

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