Cannot Lock the Preferences in Time Machine

In System Preferences -> Time Machine I cannot lock the the system to prevent further changes. Every time I click on the golden lock in the lower left corner of the widow it locks, but then when I open the window again later, the lock is again unlocked. Any idea why this is happening and how could I keep the settings locked? Thanks.

That sounds like the preferences file might be corrupt.
Try a "full reset" per #A4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

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Open time machine and shut it off.
Chances are you will still be receiving the emails, meaning that it is a spam type of malware that may have changed your mail settings and only appears to be from the time machine.
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How to Restore System Preferences From Time Machine

Hi,
Is there any way to restore past system preferences using Time Machine (such as desktop photo, trackpad settings, screensaver, etc.)? I would like to revert to some of these past settings without restoring my whole system from the backup disk & DVD.
Thanks in advance!

You can do that, but you have to figure out which preferences you want, and what file(s) they're in. And there are about a zillion of them!
Most user-level preferences you set via System Preferences are in one big file:
*<home folder>/Library/Preferences/com.apple/systempreferences.plist*
but a few are in separate files, such as:
*<home folder>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.screensaver.plist*
System-level preferences, such as Time Machine's preferences, are in separate files in the top-level Library folder:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
or one of several files in the sub-folder:
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguraton
Other preferences, such as all your Mail accounts, rules, etc., are in separate files at the user level, such as:
*<home folder>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist*

HT3275 What do i do when, having reconnected my Time-Machine Backup disk, i'm told that there is not sufficient space to do a backup ? it seems somehow that my previous backup was "closed" and i cannot continue using it, so Time machine appears to start a

I use an external 500 GB WD hard drive for my Time-Machine backup.
Sometimes - several times - after i've disconnected the drive to go travelling, when i reconnect the external drive, Time Machine tries to resume but tells me there is not enough space on the drive, and to chose a bigger disk.
It is as if the previous backup file is "closed' and cannot be written to again.
The only fix i can find is to erase, start again from scratch and do a full backup from scratch - which totally defeats the purpose of Time Machine.
I've tried repairing the disk, nothing appears to allow the previous backup to be continued.
Suggestions please ??
Jean-Noel Cozon

Hi Linc,
Thanks for getting back - if i understood correctly, the info you suggested i collect is hereunder ...
Jan 22 06:08:09 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: Starting standard backup
Jan 22 06:08:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time-Machine MBP15 Backup/Backups.backupdb
Jan 22 06:10:54 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.12 GB requested (including padding), 234.07 GB available
Jan 22 06:18:20 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: Copied 28083 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 06:21:57 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.13 GB requested (including padding), 231.88 GB available
Jan 22 06:29:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: Copied 23509 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 06:32:01 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: Starting post-backup thinning
Jan 22 06:32:01 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Jan 22 06:32:02 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4353]: Backup completed successfully.
Jan 22 07:08:09 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: Starting standard backup
Jan 22 07:08:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time-Machine MBP15 Backup/Backups.backupdb
Jan 22 07:10:52 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.13 GB requested (including padding), 231.88 GB available
Jan 22 07:18:26 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: Copied 28091 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 07:22:02 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.13 GB requested (including padding), 229.69 GB available
Jan 22 07:29:22 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: Copied 23517 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 07:32:14 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: Starting post-backup thinning
Jan 22 07:32:14 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Jan 22 07:32:15 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4474]: Backup completed successfully.
Jan 22 08:08:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: Starting standard backup
Jan 22 08:08:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time-Machine MBP15 Backup/Backups.backupdb
Jan 22 08:10:56 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.13 GB requested (including padding), 229.68 GB available
Jan 22 08:18:19 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: Copied 28099 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 08:21:50 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.14 GB requested (including padding), 227.49 GB available
Jan 22 08:29:18 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: Copied 23525 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 08:32:09 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: Starting post-backup thinning
Jan 22 08:32:09 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Jan 22 08:32:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4595]: Backup completed successfully.
Jan 22 09:08:09 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: Starting standard backup
Jan 22 09:08:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time-Machine MBP15 Backup/Backups.backupdb
Jan 22 09:10:55 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.13 GB requested (including padding), 227.49 GB available
Jan 22 09:18:48 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: Copied 28107 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 09:22:40 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.27 GB requested (including padding), 225.30 GB available
Jan 22 09:32:35 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: Copied 23533 files (2.3 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 09:35:25 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: Starting post-backup thinning
Jan 22 09:35:25 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Jan 22 09:35:26 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4716]: Backup completed successfully.
Jan 22 10:08:09 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: Starting standard backup
Jan 22 10:08:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time-Machine MBP15 Backup/Backups.backupdb
Jan 22 10:10:51 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.14 GB requested (including padding), 225.18 GB available
Jan 22 10:18:12 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: Copied 28115 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 10:21:49 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.14 GB requested (including padding), 222.99 GB available
Jan 22 10:29:05 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: Copied 23541 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 10:32:00 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: Starting post-backup thinning
Jan 22 10:32:00 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Jan 22 10:32:01 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4840]: Backup completed successfully.
Jan 22 11:08:09 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: Starting standard backup
Jan 22 11:08:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time-Machine MBP15 Backup/Backups.backupdb
Jan 22 11:10:53 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.14 GB requested (including padding), 222.82 GB available
Jan 22 11:18:10 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: Copied 28123 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 11:21:46 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.14 GB requested (including padding), 220.63 GB available
Jan 22 11:30:13 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: Copied 23553 files (2.2 GB) from volume MBP-15.
Jan 22 11:33:03 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: Starting post-backup thinning
Jan 22 11:33:03 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Jan 22 11:33:04 MBP-15 com.apple.backupd[4963]: Backup completed successfully.
Currently, having once again yesterday flattened and restarted my T-M from scratch i probably overwrote all the backups since the last time i had to do that - and as long as i don't disconnect my external backup drive it seems OK now.
I'm a bit paranoid as i use my MBP both as my Mac, but also as my Virtual PC so i have a lot of technical and commercial data which i need to keep properly backed up.
Is it possible when i've ejected my TM backup disck, gone travelling, and then reconnected it some days later - that i am causing a new backup to start by hitting the 'Backup Now' command on the menu bar.... should i let TM pickup by itself automaticvally without porvoking a Backup Now command ?
Thanks in advance for any futher advice

ITunes 12.0.1 on Yosemite cannot locate my music after Time Machine migration

Hi hi
On my old 2008 iMac, my iTunes consists of music media on the internal iMac hdd and on an external HDD.
The option "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" was left unchecked on my iTunes.
My 2008 iMac froze and stopped working thereafter a few days ago and I bought a new iMac.
After updating my new iMac to Yosemite, I transferred my old iMac settings and data from the most recent Time Machine backup via Migration Assistant.
Loaded iTunes on my new iMac and noticed that certain playlist are not working, i.e. cannot locate the media file.
I narrowed those unplayable playlists to the music located on my external HDD.
For those that were working, when I get info on the music files, they were located in my new iMac's internal HDD that were transferred over from my Time Machine backup, i.e. ~/Downloads/MP3s/etc.
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Cannot install sl due to time machine

i am getting an error message that says i cannot install sl due to time machine being used as the backup, despite my turning off time machine...ideas?

Hi
Open Finder and open up ur Mac HD,u will have a folder called backup.db or backup,just drag that folder out from there and drop it on ur desktop screen.Restart ur computer and try installing it. It should Work
All the Best

HT3275 I get the following message - "Time Machine could not complete the backup." "Unable to complete backup." "An error occurred while creating the backup folder.""

I get the following message - "Time Machine could not complete the backup." "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.""
This MAC is partioned with Windows 7 with only 50 gig devoted to Windows so my son can play Flight Simulator X on the machine.
I have a WD Passport External Hard Drive for the Back Up
I have spoken with WD Tech Support and they have been fantastic but I still keep getting this message. Any thought?
Maxx

Reboot the TC.. it sometimes gets lost on the network.. are you still actually using 10.6.8 as the problem is more prevalent on Lion and ML it seems is no better.
You might find reset of the TC is needed. change the names to short, no spaces pure alphanumeric.
Reset the TM to the new name.. use the A4 in Pondini's great KB.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

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This is another one of those questions that I've searched the web for answers, and have gotten tricky answers back. So now I'm trying to introduce a clean slate to the mix.
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Well, what you mentioning is possible. However, I don't know whether it's supported (as in, "easy to set up."). Time Machine officially supports backing up to a locally attached drive, to a machine running a Time Machine server (i.e. running OS X Server software), and to a Time Capsule. I don't know that it officially supports a drive attached to an AirPort or to a Time Capsule. Though I know some people have gotten it to work.
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My Macbook pro Early 2008 is randomly slow at starting up and when I am backing up to my time capsule I am receiving the following message 'Time machine could not complete the backup. '' ''The backup disk image ''/Volumes/name time capsule/ my name MacBoo

My Macbook pro Early 2008 is randomly slow at starting up and when I am backing up to my time capsule I am receiving the following message 'Time machine could not complete the backup. '' ''The backup disk image ''/Volumes/name time capsule/ my name MacBook Pro (4).sparsebundle'' could not be accessed (error-1).
Problem started after deleting parrell desktop and window7 ?
Please help?

Look at the more like this column on the right.. this is the most frequently asked question in this discussion area.
Reboot the TC.. restart the whole network if the simple reboot did not work.. start in order. modem.. router/TC.. clients. 2min gap.
Read C12 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

HT1175 I have OSX Lion 10.7.5 and the backup in time machine is extremely slow

I have OSX 10.7.5 installed on my MacBook Pro and the backup to time machine is extemely slow. Time Machine indicates 4 days or more. Why?

Did you happen to update early in the piece.. there is a supplement.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1599
Test regime for software patches is now left to end users it seems.

What makes the color of the icon for my external HD change to the color of the icon for Time Machine?

What makes the color of the icon for my external hard drive change to the color of the icon for Time Machine?

Perhaps when you first connected the drive you were asked if you wanted this to be used for TM. If you clicked yes it remembers that.

I want to schedule my back ups to my Western Digital Elements HDD so that it doesn't interfere with my Skype calls with clients. Operating system - version 10.7.4. The default for Time Machine is to back up every 1 hour. I'd like daily at 3am. Any ideas?

I want to schedule my back ups to my Western Digital Elements HDD so that it doesn't interfere with my Skype calls with clients. Operating system - version 10.7.4. The default for Time Machine is to back up every 1 hour. I'd like daily at 3am. Any ideas?

Time Machine Editor.
Clinton

HT1176 My airport TM will not backup and i keep getting the error msg "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup...An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."

My Airport TM will not backup and i keep getting the error msg "Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup...An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."

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Cannot Lock the Preferences in Time Machine

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