Can't back up using time machine...

I am trying to back up my MBP (2010) running lion. Everytime i have tried to back it up over the last couple of weeks, i have returned to this message (shown below), and occasionallly a message telling me that my external drive (Western Digital 2TB) was disconected even when the power and USB cord were still plugged in. I don't know if I have some sort of a corrupted file on my computer or anything like that. Any suggestions on how to fix this probelm would be greatly appreciated. All of the software on my computer is up to date, so that should not be a problem (unless an update messed something up on my computer...)
Thanks,
Ben

What model extreme is this? Gen 1-5, apple specifically does not support TM backup to the USB drive.. even on AEgen6 it is not proving to be much better with people needing to constantly redo the backup.
To fix your drive.. plug it directly into the computer and reformat it with disk utility.. that will fix it. Until next time.
See http://pondini.org/TM/Airport.html

Similar Messages

  • I got a macbook pro 2008 and can not back up using time machine. it eject my external hard drive everytime. does someone has a fix???

    i got a macbook pro 2008 and can not back up using time machine. it eject my external hard drive everytime. does anybody has a fix???

    Does your external hard drive have it's own power supply?  It should.
    Is your external hard drive formatted with the NTFS file system?  It won't work.
    It needs to be formatted either with Mac OS Extended or FAT32.
    (There are drivers available to add NTFS support to OS X but their quality is unknown, especially the "free" ones.)

  • HT201250 Can I back up using Time Machine if I have some files already on the ExHD, or do I need a clean ExHD to use Time Machine?

    Can I back up using Time Machine if I have some files already on the ExHD, or do I need a clean ExHD to use Time Machine?

    If you try to use a new disk with time machine, it will try to reformat your EXHD. so I would save the items on your EXHD before backing up with time machine or partitioning your EXHD in disk utility

  • Can't back up using Time Machine/Time Capsule

    I just bought a new macBook (13") and it set up perfectly.
    My only problem is that I cannot seem to get Time Machine to run (or even connect) to my Time Capsule. I can see the device and can select it. I input the TC password etc. and after about 10-15 seconds of trying to connect, it errors out saying it "The backup disk image could not be created."
    It is a Time Machine error, not a Time Capsule error.
    Anyone else having this problem and any ideas on how to fix it?
    Thanks.

    The warranty entitles you to complimentary phone support for the first 90 days of ownership.

  • I have to turn in my old computer before receiving new one.  can I back up using time machine then restore to new computer/

    I have to turn in my old computer before receiving my new one.  Can I restore a backup from time machine to my new computer?

    Yep.

  • HT201250 Can I include external drives to be backed up using Time Machine.  Not only do I want to back up my IMac, but I have several extenal drives for one iPhoto, one iTunes and one for other files & documents.

    Can I include external drives to be backed up using Time Machine?  Not only do I want to back up my IMac, but I have several extenal drives for one iPhoto, one iTunes and one for other files & documents.  How do I know if they are included in the backup process?

    Yes, if they are not exclude then TM backs them up.
    Allan

  • HT201250 I don't store any files on my computer, I store them on a hd. Can I restore docs from my hard drive if they were backed up using time machine? And will it restore if the hd isn't even there? Like what if it got stolen or destroyed.

    I don't store any files on my computer, I store them on a hd. Can I restore docs from my hard drive if they were backed up using time machine? And will it restore if the hd isn't even there? Like what if it got stolen or destroyed.

    ehphotograph wrote:
    Can I restore docs from my hard drive if they were backed up using time machine?
    Yes.  
    And will it restore if the hd isn't even there? Like what if it got stolen or destroyed.
    Also yes.
    Directly-connected external drives (ie, USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt) are not backed-up by default.  You must remove them from the exclusion list in Time Machine Preferences > Options to get them backed-up.  (Network drives cannot be backed-up.)
    And they must be formatted for a Mac -- any variation of Mac OS Extended.
    If the drive is connected, you can browse or restore normally -- just go to the folder or document in question and Enter Time Machine.
    If the drive is not connected, it's a bit different.  See #E3 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
    Message was edited by: Pondini

  • HT201250 I have done my back up using time machine, now I have a new mac and I need to access the files that I had saved from my old mac. How can I do that?

    I have done my back up using time machine, now I have a new mac and I need to access the files that I had saved from my old mac. How can I do that?

    Use Migration Assistant on your new Mac:
    Click Continue:
    On the next screen, choose your Time Machine backup disk.
    Don't bother to migrate Applications unless you know they will work on your new Mac. For example, PowerPC applications won't work. Just migrate your user account which will copy all your photos, music, movies, and other documents.
    Note: you will not be able to migrate the information to same account in which you are already logged in. Migration Assistant will tell you that and recommend what to do. It can migrate the information to a new account, but you will have to give it a name you might want to change later. One way around this is to create a temporary account, log in to it, and run Migration Assistant which will replace your normal account. Then, log out of the temporary account, log in to your usual one, verify everyting works as you expect, and delete the temporary one.
    All this can be avoided when you set up a brand new Mac by running Setup Assistant which essentially does the same thing to create your new account, but most people are too excited to do that and elect to migrate later.

  • Why can't I back-up using time machine?

    I'm running OS 10.8.5 Maverick. (On a used Mac)
    Processor 13 GHz Intel core 2 duo
    memory is 2 GB  800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
    this is a 2009 machine I purchased a week ago
    Previous to this machine,
    my experience has been, Powerbook G4-OS 10.5.8

    Hi 2bblues,
    I apologize, I'm a bit unclear what is happening when you try to back up using Time Machine. Depending on the specific issue, you may find the troubleshooting outlined in the following article helpful:
    OS X Mavericks: Time Machine problems
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14187
    Regards,
    - Brenden

  • How do I make the Volumes folder visible so it will back up using Time Machine?

    Hi
    How do I unhide the Volumes folder for backing up using Time Machine?

    OK I have to say this even though you probably realize it, having anything but mount points in the Volumes folder, especially regular files that are critical to you is really a bad bad idea. 
    You should do everything in your power to correct this asap.
    In the meantime as to Time Machine, your profile says you are running 10.6.8 is that correct? TM has changed some since then.
    Basically if you are not excluding system files from the backup the Volumes folder should be in the backup. If the regular files are in there is an other issue.
    You can check by opening a Terminal window cd to your TM backup drive then into the .backup folder. Pick a backup and see if the Volumes folder is there and if the files are in it.
    But again having anythgin in there is going to be a problem.
    good luck

  • I am using 10.9.1 on a 21.5" iMac. I am backing up using Time Machine. The hourly backups are over kill. How do get TM to backup daily?

    I am using 10.9.1 on a 21.5" iMac. I am backing up using Time Machine. The hourly backups are over kill. How do get TM to backup daily, only?

    See Pondini's TM FAQs, for details.

  • HT201250 What do you do if your mac crashes as while you're backing up using time machine?

    What do you do if your mac crashes as while you're backing up using time machine?

    It could be right, how is the drive connected... interface wise?
    Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this is going on.

  • How do I find my photos on my external hard drive backed up using Time Machine?

    How do I find my photos on my external hard drive backed up using Time Machine?
    My hard drive died so this is my only storage. The hard drive was from an early 2008 Macbook Pro.
    I had recently installed Snow Leopard.

    If they’re in an iPhoto library, look in the Pictures folder of your home folder first. Otherwise, they’ll be in the location corresponding to the one you saved them to.
    (111765)

  • How do I retrieve files from a backup hard drive (was backed up using Time Machine) on a different computer

    how do I retrieve files from a backup hard drive (was backed up using Time Machine) on a different computer?

    Please visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.

  • I can't back up with time machine to WD my book live

    I can't back up with time machine to WD My Book Live home network disk. I get this error : The network backup disk does not support the required AFP features.

    This is more a network problem than a disk error..
    Reboot.. the network.. restart in correct order.. modem router /TC.. clients with 2min gap.
    If you have trouble reset TM and redo it.
    See A4.. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Maybe you are looking for

  • Not supported hardware to boot from disk

    Hi everybody I have a problem by installing windows vista ultimate on my mac pro. All four disk bays contain the same harddrive (Samsung HD501LJ). Bay 1+2 are configured in a RAID0 array,. Bay3 is a native disk for windows and bay4 is used for the ne

  • Announcing: Developing JSF Portlets with WebLogic Portal Whitepaper

    Just Released: Developing JSF Portlets with WebLogic Portal Whitepaper A supplemental developer's guide has been published to help guide WLP 10.x customers that wish to use JSF as the web framework for building portlets on WebLogic Portal. This is a

  • DVD Studio Pro

    i recently purchased final cut pro 7 from a store, and it came with Dvd studio pro, wich is what i was mainly needing, cuz i bought final cut pro x already, butwhen i upgraded to Lion,  DVDSP does not work, it says that it does not support PowerPC ap

  • I have photoshop cs4 getting 150:30 error, using macbook air and mountain lion  solution?

    i have a macbbook air(2013) using mountain lion  10.9.2  i have photoshop cs4 and now get error 150:30(license error),  i tried looking to delete flex net program but i don't seem to have it. how do i resolve this?

  • How to turn off Smart Mix audio

    Friends, Very new to video processing. My main use is in syncing audio from computer to replace the camera mic. Elements seems to randomly turn on the Smart Mix and tries to adjust volumes. Tracks don't stay muted when the mixer window is minimized.