Backup drive doesn't unmount

Hi,
Everytime Time Machine does a back up it seems to work fine, but the disk doesn't get ejected. Then they all start to accumulate in the finder window side bars. (They don't appear on the Desktop). See this for example:
http://www.dawg.ca/files/timemachine.png
Any ideas what's up?
Thanks.

Hi, never saw anything like it! Drag all those backups off your sidebar and "Poof!" them.
Then go to Users/yourname/Library/Preferences and trash these two files:
com.apple.finder.plist
com.apple.sidebarlists.plist
Then, restart.
(You will have to reset a few finder prefs the way you like them.)
-mj

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Using SuperDuper!, I thought I created a bootable backup on my LaCie FW 200GB ext. HD. I opened System Preferences/Startup Disk to try booting from the LaCie by changing the Startup Disk to the LaCie. The LaCie didn't appear, there. My Mac HD is there, and a Network Startup icon with a question mark in it, is there. I'm on a standalone machine. My Ethernet port is used for a cable modem.
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4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled, if supported.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
Next clone your system to the external drive:
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I have a model 1,1 Mac Book in the black case. How can I transfer about 30 GB of stuff to a MacBook Pro running Yosemite? Can't do a Thunderbolt transfer. The Seagate backup drive I bought doesn't support 10.5.8. Thank you.

How do I transfer 30 GB of stuff, mostly text documents, bookmarks and a few hundred photos from a MacBook model 1,1 in the black case, purchased in (2007?) running Leopard 10.5.8 with a 667 bus, 2 GB, 256 GB to a MBP 13" Retina running Yosemite 10.10.1? Using Migrate is out. Discovered after I bought it that the Seagate Plus Backup for Mac does not work with 10.5.8. OnetoOne recommends backing up my data before I do that, which seems like a good idea. Have a 801.11 n Time Capsule that also isn't working so that is not presently an option. Thank you.

The Seagate backup drive I bought doesn't support 10.5.8
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When I press "select backup location" in the Time Machine section of System Preferences, my external hard drive doesn't appear as an option. How do I change this? My external hard drive is a FreeAgent GoFlex Drive.

Hi, what Format is the external Drive?
They usually come PC Formatted for Fat32/MSdos, or NTFS... is there anything on it now?
How to format your disks...
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html
(To Install OSX on an IntelMac the Drive it needs the GUID Partitioning scheme mentioned at the bottom.)
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http://Pondini.org/OSX/DU.html

My imac doesn't recognize my backup drive anymore,what can i do?

My Imac doesn't recognize my backup drive anymore,what can i do?

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Mavericks doesn't mount my Time Machine backup drive

Since I downloaded and installed Mavericks, it can't find my external Time Machine backup drive. Not found by disk utilites - not on my desk top.

I had a similar issue but I think I've solved it (temporarily atleast). You can try this and see if it works for you.
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It ran the process for about 10 to 15 minutes (probably depends on your external drive size) and then Time Machine recognized the backup and just completed a backup minutes ago.
If you're interested in more information about the make of my MacBook, external drive and the problem I had, continue reading:
I've a 500GB WD My Passport with two partitions: Mac-Journaled partition for Time Machine backups and a FAT-32 partition for other stuff. My computer is a late-2009 white MacBook on which I've been running Mavericks since mid-October.
Yesterday I noticed that though both partitions showed up, the backup partition was orange and not green (which is the color usually) and the backup hadn't started automatically. I manually selected the partition in Time Machine and the backup began.
But today when I connected the external drive, only the FAT-32 partition showed up. The backup partition was not to be found anywhere other than the Disk Utility, where it was greyed out. The Repair Disk/Erase Disk didn't work (even when I did that in the boot screen after using the Command+R). I tried to earse the whole disk and partition it but even that was unsuccessful.
So that's when I restarted my MacBook with the external drive plugged in. My two cents: keep another backup (flash drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or a good old DVD) of very important information.

Time Capsule can't function as backup drive?

My main work computer's logic board fried yesterday. (Under AppleCare, so shouldn't be the end of the world, just a pain). I have it set for continuous hourly backups to a 1TB Time Capsule. So I should have all my files accessible.
I'm working on another computer now, that uses Time Capsule as a router, but doesn't back up to it. I need to pull some files off the Time Capsule in order to continue working. Is this possible? Calling Apple Support indicated that it was not, but then why tout this thing as a backup drive?? What's the point of having backups if you can't access them from anywhere but the computer that they were backed up from?
I'm desperate here. Any help would be hugely appreciated.

Below are two ways in which to get a file from the Time Machine backup.
When Time Machine does a backup it creates a 'sparsebundle' image file on the backup disk. This file is named after the computer so to locate and identify it easily. All you need to do is mount the 'sparsebundle' (by mouse double click or other method) from any computer that has access to the backup disk. When mounted it should show on the desktop or in a Finder window (depending on your Finder preferences).
Once mounted you can manually browse the disk by opening this newly mounted disk (named after your computer - example: backup of yourcomputer). When you open it, there should be a folder inside named 'Backups.backupdb' and inside are all the contents of the backup - just find what you need and copy and paste. Or once mounted, right mouse click (or hold 'control' and mouse click) on the Time Machine icon in the dock and select 'browse other disks' (or click the icon in the menu bar - upper right of screen - and when the menu comes out press and hold the 'option' or 'alt' key to bring up the 'browse other disks' choice). And it should now show the 'backup of yourcomputer' available to browse. You will now enter the Time Machine as normal. To retrieve a file - locate the file you want and then click the action (or gear like) icon and select the 'restore to' option and choose a location to put the file.

Using Time Machine Backup Drive with NEW Macbook Pro

I just got a new Macbook Pro. I migrated from my old MacBook Pro. Now I want to use my Time Machine Disk with this new machine.
When I connect the external drive, and select back up now, it says there is not enough space (due to the fact this is a new machine and it wants to backup the entire thing)
Also, when I go into the TimeMachine, it doesn't show me anything past today. . . all of my backups are not displayed over the past year. . .
How do I make it so that the external drive displays all my old backups. . . ??
Thank you for your help.

Turn off TM or set the backup drive to null. Rename your computer in Sharing preferences to the same computer name of your old computer. Turn TM back on and reselect the backup drive. TM will behave as you expect. Of course if the file dates on the new machine are all changed since the migration, then TM will correctly assume that they require backing up. You will then find that there will not be sufficient space on the drive for the new backups. If this occurs then you should simply erase the backup drive and start your TM backup anew.

Can I use it for both a backup drive and shared network drive?

Is it possible to use the Time Capsule for both an automatic backup drive for my Mac AND use it as a shared network drive to store my large library of home videos? If so, does it require partitioning the drive and are there instructions available? Alternatively, if I store my home videos on its own network drive, will Time Capsule backup this drive too? If I don't want any external drives tethered to my mac, how would set up the 2 drive scenario, so that home video drive can be shared on the network?
To be specific, I'm looking for a networked drive solution that allows me to do the following:
1) automatically back up my Mac
2) act as the primary storage drive for 750GB of the kids home videos (to save room on Mac) [Side question - ]
3) have the ability to watch the home videos on both my family room Apple TV (is this even possible?) and my kitchen Mac Mini display (would my Mac's iMovie's library be able to include my home video content that is stored on a network drive, or does it require the content to be on the Mac hard drive?).
4) If I use a two drive solution (time capsule backup and cheaper second drive), I want to be able to have Time Capsule back up the home video content on the second drive.
5) I do not want any drive tethered to my Mac, only wirelessly connected. Would the second drive be connected to the Time Capsule? How would this be set up?
Many thanks!

christianfromshaker heights wrote:
Is it possible to use the Time Capsule for both an automatic backup drive for my Mac AND use it as a shared network drive to store my large library of home videos?
basically yes, but i wouldn't recommend it.
If so, does it require partitioning the drive and are there instructions available?
the disk in the TC can't be partitioned in the traditional way. but you can use disk utility to create a "fixed-size" sparse disk image on the TC's disk for use with other data. use the instructions here, just leave out the encryption part.
Alternatively, if I store my home videos on its own network drive, will Time Capsule backup this drive too?
no.
time machine can not back up from network drives.
To be specific, I'm looking for a networked drive solution that allows me to do the following:
1) automatically back up my Mac
2) act as the primary storage drive for 750GB of the kids home videos (to save room on Mac) [Side question - ]
consider a NAS that is time machine compatible.
3) have the ability to watch the home videos on both my family room Apple TV (is this even possible?) and my kitchen Mac Mini display (would my Mac's iMovie's library be able to include my home video content that is stored on a network drive, or does it require the content to be on the Mac hard drive?).
it's possible to stream content stored on a TC (or NAS) to TV. using home sharing, your mini would be able to access files in homeshared libraries.
it doesn't matter where the files are stored as long as iTunes knows they are there. in other words, the content needs to be in an iTunes/TV friednly format and in your iTunes library - that doesn't mean the content can't be stored on an external HD, a TC, or a NAS.
4) If I use a two drive solution (time capsule backup and cheaper second drive), I want to be able to have Time Capsule back up the home video content on the second drive.
What can Time Machine back up, and where can it put it’s backups?
5) I do not want any drive tethered to my Mac, only wirelessly connected.
IMO, your best course of action is to get a NAS. if you're interested, i can highly recommend this device by Synology.
Synology NASes play very well with Macs and have excellent backup features on board. given enough space (i have 4x2 TB drives installed) you can store your media files there, use time machine to backup your Macs to it and can use the on-board backup solution to back up the whole shebang to a USB drive connected to the NAS.

Transferring data from 750GB backup drive to new MacBook Pro with 256 Gb PCI-e flash storage?

Yesterday my late-2008 aluminium unibody MacBook died - absolutely and definitively. I've tried SMC reset multiple times to no avail. However, it served me well for almost six years and it's now time to move on. I've decided to buy a 13 inch MacBook Pro Retina with 256Gb PCI-e flash storage. Obviously, it will come with Mavericks installed as the operating system.
When it died, my MacBook was running OS X 10.8.5, the original hard drive had been replaced with a Western Digital 750GB, 7200 rpm drive of which I believe about 350GB was used. I keep two x 1Tb Lacie Rugged backup drives, each of which has both Time Machine and SuperDuper Bootable Clone backups.
My questions are these -
1.     How should I proceed to transfer my data from my external backup drives to my new MacBook Pro Retina, given the difference in storage capacity of my existing backup drives and my new MacBook Pro?
2.     I have over 32,000 photos in my iPhoto Library which, obviously, consume a big slab of disk space. I'm not sure how I go about 'quarantining' the iPhoto Library so that it doesn't use all the flash drive storage.
3.      One of the Lacie Rugged's has a 'triple interface' - i.e. USB 2, Firewire 400 and Firewire 800. The other has a USB 2 and 2 x Firewire 800 (IIRC).    The MacBook Pro Retina has two USB 3 ports and two Thunderbolt 2 ports. I want to continue to use the Lacies as my backup drives. Am I better off to use the USB ports or should I invest in a Thunderbolt to USB cable? Does it make any real difference in terms of backing up (which, in my case, doesn't have to be all that speedy).
4.     What else should I be thinking about? I know I'm bound to have overlooked the most obvious problems but can't think what they may be ...
Cheers
Tricia

Patricia Henwood wrote:
3.      One of the Lacie Rugged's has a 'triple interface' - i.e. USB 2, Firewire 400 and Firewire 800. The other has a USB 2 and 2 x Firewire 800 (IIRC).    The MacBook Pro Retina has two USB 3 ports and two Thunderbolt 2 ports. I want to continue to use the Lacies as my backup drives. Am I better off to use the USB ports or should I invest in a Thunderbolt to USB cable? Does it make any real difference in terms of backing up (which, in my case, doesn't have to be all that speedy).
USB3 is backwards compatible with USB2, so you can use the old USB cables. For faster data transfer rates, Firewire 800 would be available using this adapter:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD464ZM/A/apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapte r
Firewire 800 is about twice as fast as USB2, theoretically.
Ciao.

Suggestion for backup drive for Air

I've enjoyed getting to know my MacBook Pro this past year or so, but I'm still new to the Airbook and need some assistance. I'm going to help an elderly friend move data from her old iMac to her 1st Gen. Airbook. I'm insisting she get a backup drive, but the Seagate Free Agent I recently bought won't work for her, because it is either FireWire, which Airbooks don't have, or it requires two powered USB ports. Given that the Air has one USB, would we be able to get around it by using a powered USB hub? Is there a specific drive that anyone can suggest? I'd prefer Mac formatted/ready to go, but not absolutely necessary. An external drive with a built in power supply tends to be bigger than we'd prefer. What about a USB flash drive? I don't think she's filled the 80 GB solid state drive on the Air so she doesn't likely need a huge capacity drive. Any help you can give would be most welcome.

Hi SFMacNewbiew,
Happy to hear that you're enjoying your MacBook Pro.
I have the following drive currently:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR043ZM/A
What's nice about it, is that I have FW flexibility. The cable for the USB has the double USB cables and I've been backing up to it using the single USB (power & data) without problems for 4+ months now.
I've also used this one as well:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TV523VC/A
When you think about it, the second one is a better bang for the buck. It is, however, USB only.
One thing you mentioned is that she has an older iMac, so getting a drive with a FW interface wouldn't be all that bad and with enough storage she could theoretically use the HD with both machines. I've yet to come across a reasonable priced portable HD that I've had to use with a powered USB-hub.
Regarding the thumb drives, I'd recommend against them. Even a "base install" with some data is 12-19 GB on most MacBook Airs unless she did a custom installation.

TM drive doesn't always mount on iMac startup

Hi,
TM seems to work well most of the time. Once in a great while though, TM drive doesn't mount on iMac startup, and if I don't notice the missing icon on the desktop, backups don't happen.
TM drive is a Seagate Free Agent USB 500G. It's connected directly, not through a hub. The drive has no power switch, so I leave it alone -- out of sight, out of mind.
Two questions:
1. Is is something that I am doing or the way I'm set up that causes this infrequent failure?
2. When I notice the missing connection, what's the best way to get the TM drive reconnected? What I do now to reconnect is: shut down the computer, pull the power plug on the TM drive, restart the computer, plug the drive back in.
Your thoughts appreciated.
Jerry

My understanding is that the disk doesn't mount, ie not visible to the system. In that event I can't see that changing Time Machine's disk allocation will achieve anything. It's a hardware initialisation issue.
If the disk isn't mounted (personally I'd check System Profiler to be absolutely sure) then there can't be any transfers going on so you should be safe to just unplug, pause to let the electronics settle and then plug back in. If that works, and the problem is rare, that might be the best way to go, although it might be that there is some problem with the drive which is not good if you are relying on it for back up. I don't know enough about hard drives to comment on that aspect (maybe it's just a driver issue?).

My Master Drive @ 10.4.8 won't boot up now - It auto boots to Backup Drive

As of this morning when I booted up to my Master SATA drive (10.4.8) my secondary ATA drive (Backup OS 10.4) came up instead. This happened before several weeks ago and when I just restarted it booted up with the correct Master drive instead. This time its not happening and the strange thing is when I restart under the Start Disk preference panel with my Master drive highlighted it still boots with the backup drive instead.
Back in Dec 2006 I installed an
ACARD AEC-6290M Serial ATA (SATA) 2 Channel PCI Controller Card
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/ACARD/AEC6290M/\
for a new Seagate 400GB SATA drive (Mac friendly retail box version)
At that time I also upgraded the standard 400 MHz processor to
OWC Mercury Extreme [email protected] 2MB L3 Cache
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEG42M1500/
Everything has been AOK until now. Can't imagine my ACARD is the problem being that I can still see my master drive when booted under my backup drive. I just can't boot to it and when I throw in a OS X Tiger Install Disk it doesn't see any OS on that drive at all.
The last update for anything that I did was iTunes 7.3 a few days ago.
Anybody have clue or good idea what it could be?
PowerMac G4 400MHZ-upgraded to 1.5 GHZ thru OWC Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Have you tried going into Disk Utility, on your working drive, and see if you can run a repair on your main drive? Check your S.M.A.R.T status, on that drive, if you are able to see it in there.
Dr.Smokes Disk Utility link will show you how.
If you have DiskWarrior run that instead.
Cheers!
DALE

How large of a backup drive should I get for my 500 GB MacBook Pro?

I have a MBP with a 500 GB hard drive. How large of a backup drive should I get for time machine backups? If I get a 500 GB drive will it just back up everything twice (as I have 250 used) and then delete the second backup every time it rebacks up so I will just have 2 backups? Or does time machine only backup changes every time it backs up? Thanks in advance.

tehsnyderers wrote:
OK, so I ordered a Seagate 1.5 TB external drive. That should suffice for my iMac w/ 320 GB and MBP w/ 500 GB shouldnt it?
Probably. See #1 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
Should I just partition it 750/750? or maybe 600/600/300
Use roughly the same proportions as the data on the two Macs, adjusted for how you use them. If one changes lots of big files frequently and the other doesn't, give more space to the first one.
so I have space to put random files as well?
If you put important stuff on a 3rd partition, you can have TM back it up, too (unless the drive is attached to your Airport), but it will send you a warning reminding you that it's not a good idea to have both originals and backups on the same physical disk. You'll be much better off finding another way to back that up, perhaps archiving to CDs/DVDs.
Am I able to partition it and use it with my airport extreme?
Officially, no: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15139.html
and: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2426
But some folks (including me) are doing it anyway!
So if it works for you, just be aware it's technically unsupported, and you'll get little or no help from Apple if there are problems. And a future update may break it.

Backup drive doesn't unmount

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