Constant problems with external HD used for time machine.

I have had numerous problems with my backup disk and can't seem to solve the problem... I often get errors with disk not ejecting properly, sometimes when the iMac has gone to sleep, sometimes not. Often the Mac won't recognise the disk when plugged back in (it recognises the other partition though). I can get the disk in disk utility sometimes, but if I run repair disk it finds a lot of errors and tells me it can't fix the disk. I'm told to Backup, format the disk etc.
Running yosemite on a 2008 iMac - disk is Hitachi 1TB usb powered (plugged straight in to iMac). I have prevented spotlight from indexing the HD.
Any advice ideas? Thanks in advance.

applejoose wrote:
I can't because it's a specific type.
Is it hard-wired to the enclosure? If not, examine the connectors and compare with what is available. I doubt that it has a connector that is unique to this particular drive.
If you choose to replace the drive, don't get another manufacturer-branded external. They are often "crippled" so that they can't be used in anything other than the generally cheap enclosure in which they are packaged, or only usable if you re-format them. Here's a comment from a recent Macintouch thread on new Seagate 5TB externals (http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/harddrives/index.html#d23mar2015):
A word of warning for those who want to rip out their drive. If you have data on it, it will only be read by Seagate controllers such as its original case or the GoFlex adapters. If you stick it in something like an IcyDock, it cannot be read and require a reformat. If you used it with another controller, it cannot be read when you put it back on the Seagate controllers.
A good quality enclosure, such as the OWC Mercury aluminum cases, is a good investment. You can choose the drive you install, and you usually get a better drive warranty that way.

Similar Messages

I have an iMac OS X 10.6.8 and have problems with the backup Disk for Time Machine disconnecting itself with the message that I ejected it improperly.. It ejected itself - why?

I have an iMac OS X 10.6.8 and have problems with the backup drive to Time Machine ejecting itself and so does not automatically backup the way it is meant to do. It is connected with an USB cable to my iMac. What could cause this - malfuntioning drive?

The "iLife" apps are not part of any Mac operating system install and are a separate purchase.
Once you get past 10.6.6 you can purchase and download iPhoto, GarageBand and iMovie. iWeb and iDVD have been discontinued.
Snow Leopard 10.6.6 and higher include the App Store application which is what you use to purchase Lion.

Install problem because disk is used for Time Machine backups?

I am currently running OS 10.6.8 on a MacBook Pro 15 inch. I just purchased Mountain Lion from the App Store and I am trying to install, but it tells me that it can't install on my hard drive because "This disk is used for time machine backups". Which as far as I can tell is not even true, because I have set up an external hard drive for the Time Machine backups. So I can't get past this screen and install. What can I do?

Low possibility, but check System Preferences/Time Machine to make sure the hard drive isn't listed. While there, turn off Time Machine and try the install again. If that doesn't work, disconnect your external drive, restart and try the install again.
Also see these discussions.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/19033168#19033168
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15699444#15699444

External drive use for Time Machine change to "Read Only"

I have an external hard drive set up for backing up with Time Machine on my Mac. It has been working well. Now when time machine tries to back up it tells me the external disk is read only. The hard drive does mount to the computer and will let me open the Time Machine folder. When I am in disk utility it also sees the external hard drive but will not let me click on repair disk permissions. Under the drive info's sharing & permissions window it said " You can only read." , After unlocking everything is grayed out, but the permission is set to read & write. Any thoughts on how to get this drive back to read and write? Its a 2TB drive with 1.79TB on disk. The drive has not been ever used on a windows machine or use on any other computer and is use only for Time Machine backups. One day it was read/write next day read only. Thanks!

The backup drive has malfunctioned and corrupted itself. If that has ever happened before, or if it ever happens again, replace the drive. You may want to consider replacing it anyway for the safety of your data.
You should start another backup now, on another drive, if you don't already have one. One backup is never enough to be safe.
If you choose to keep using the problem drive, turn Time Machine OFF temporarily in its preference pane, then launch Disk Utility, select the backup volume, and run Repair Disk. This operation may take several hours. If the volume can't be repaired, you'll have to erase it and start over. Don't do that unless you have at least one other complete backup. Remember to turn TM back ON.

Update 10.5.6: external HD used for Time Machine does not MOUNT anymore

I've used this LaCie external Little Big Disk since November 2007 with Time Machine, without problems. Recently, after updating to OS 10.5.6, the disk does not mount anymore when connected by FireWire800. Same result when using FW400 and USB.
The disk shows up in the System Profiler under FireWire. When I run analysis with a program 'Data Rescue II', it also sees the disk.
Main issue: disk does not mount anymore. So no more TM backups possible.
Although the disk also shows up in Disk Utilities, I can't partition or reformat it. I ran the LaCie Update Tool 2.0.1 and it says firmware is up-to-date.
I also reinstalled the Combo Update 10.5.6 without result. Also did all the forum recommendations such as resetting PRAM and using Terminal to 'mount /dev/xxx'. Does not help.
I feel this is an Apple issue.

Yes, did it three times. Also already hooked up in daisy chain, and yes, also connected to another Mac (also 10.5.6). Same result. I think it's an OS 10.5.6 issue, because it happened after the update and I had never problems in the last year using this disk with TM (it's not full either). I hope it's not, however, but I am afraid it is. Also I've posted the issue at LaCie support and see what they answer.
Thank you for your reply.

How to format an external drive used for time machine

My 150 Gig external hard drive showed too full for a time machine backup. It only showed 20 gig left. So I moved the time machine backup on it to the trash to make room for a new one. This did nothing. With the files in the trash the drive still shows full even though it has no time machine backup on it.
So I would like to know how I can format this drive again to get it to accept a brand new time machine backup. Or how do I get time machine to recognize the drive as empty instead of full.
I now know I should have at least a 500 gig drive to let time machine make it's plethora of backups. But the 150 gig drive is what I have right now to backup an 80 gig hard drive and I would like to start from scratch.
Thanks,
JJ Bula

With the files in the trash the drive still shows full
You need to empty the Trash before anything is actually removed from the drive.
If you want to completely erase the drive, launch Disk Utility, select the drive, go to the Erase pane and click "Erase".

Can I drag files to an external drive used for Time Machine to store them?

Is that possible without doing partition? if so, what's the difference (with partition and without)? I'm undecided on whether to partition or not. Thanks!

stellamaris5 wrote:
Sorry to chip in - I'm having a similar issue.
Aaargh.
I want to delete about 8Gb worth of data from my internal HD on my iMac. Will I still have a copy in time machine?
For a while, until time machine runs out of space and deletes its copy.
Is timemachine then deleting them from the TM backup disk if they are gone from the internal HD.
Eventually, yes.
I have done a similar thing as the OP and cut the 8Gb folder from my MacHD and pasted it into the external disk where TM is doing its backups.
Then you are wallowing in a state of sin.
1. Should I leave it like that?
No.
or
2. should I cut and paste it back into my MacHD, leave TM to do a few backups and then completely delete it from my MacHD?
Neither. If you want to keep it, keep it on your MacHD, if you want to delete it delete it. Leave the Time Machine disk the **** alone.
Thanks
Not at all.

Downloaded Yosemite but it will not install on Macintosh HD as it says it is used for Time Machine Backups but it is not. TM backup is to an external 2TB HD. Downloaded OX x twice with the same result.

Downloaded Yosemite but it will not install on Macintosh HD as it says it is used for Time Machine Backups but it is not. TM backup is to an external 2TB HD. Downloaded OX X twice with the same result.

OS X: Cannot install on a volume used by Time Machine for backups
For some reason you have a folder called Backups.backupdb at the root level of the hard disk on which you want to install Yosemite.
Move it to the Trash.

HT5988 I downloaded Mavericks and now my WD Smartware that I use for Time Machine is no longer compatible with this OSX version? How do I make that unit compatible? olefromca

I downloaded Mavericks and now my WD Smartware that I use for Time Machine is no longer compatible with this OSX version? How do I make that unit compatible? olefromca

I agree entirely, been messing with this since the upgrade to Mavericks but I didn't find it quite as easy as uninstalling the WD smartware as it still operates when you plug the drive back in - I think it gets loaded onto the drive and runs from within (?). The advice from WD was that time machine was faulty and I should contact Apple...thanks guys!
Anyway, for the OP's benefit, this is what I found:
1. My problem was that time machine couldn't see any further back than before the Mavericks install, but if I opened up and interrogated the WD drive, the old backups were still there.
2. When TM started doing new backups, it overwrote the ones that it could see, not the oldest ones on the drive. This indicated to
me that the WD software had somehow partitioned off the old backups and excluded that part of the drive from being overwritten. Of course, as the drive was practically full, it meant that any new backups wouldn't fit in the available space.....
3. The only way I could find to resolve this was to use the disc utility to erase and repartition the external drive. This will obviously remove all of the old files and backups, but I was more concerned about keeping a current profile as backup rather than a load of stuff from months ago.
4. Anyway, what happens after the eraseure has completed is that you get the WD icon on the desktop, and you're invited to install the software - this means the software has now been deleted. Juts don't reinstall it, just let TM do it's backup and all is well.
Usual disclaimers and warnings about keeping another copy of your system etc. obviously apply, and I know this is a radical move to delete all your old data but it worked for me. I guess I didn't appreciate that you could use the external drive without the software that came with it and just followed the screen guide.
I'm also aware that if you don't want to use TM to do a complete restore and only want to find one old version of a document, this is difficult. However, you can then install the WD software and find the file but you'll then have to do this all again.....

I am trying to install Mavericks on my McbookAir, but it won't install, saying that my hd is used for time machine backups. I have an external HD connected to my mbAir that I'm using for time machine.

2012 Macbk air, with OSX 10.8.5. See my question above. Mavericks won't install on my Air's HD, says that both the HD - AND - the external HD (which has a different name from the laptop HD) are used for time machine backups. I've deleted my time machine plists, restarted, repaired permissions, turned time machine off, repeatedly selected the external drive in time machine preferences. HELP. (Install went perfectly on my desktop Mac, which also has an external HD for time machine).

I need to add that the only place I have the "Backups.backupdb" folder is on my backup external disk, and it's not on my HD :-( . If it were, I'd delete it!

Can you use the same external hard drive for Time Machine backups and as an additional storage drive?

I have an external HD that I've been using exclusively for Time Machine backups. I need to clear space on my hard drive, so I was thinking to move music & photos to an external drive. Wondering if I can use the same one I have (which I'll aslo keep using for Time Machine) or if I need to get another drive.

Hi Jossydtaylor,
Time Machine can use either an entire external disk or a partition of that disk:
OS X Mountain Lion: Disks you can use with Time Machine
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11171
You can use Time Machine with a Time Capsule, and with USB, FireWire, and Thunderbolt disks. The backup disk can be directly connected to your computer or be on a network. If the backup disk has been divided into partitions, you can use one of the partitions.
If the disk is partitioned using the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition type, some partitions may not be available for use with Time Machine. The GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition type is recommended.
For more info on partitioning, see this article:
Disk Utility 12.x: Partition a disk
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5845
Cheers!
- Ari

External hard drive used for Time machine is full and having a hard time backing up. what should I do?

External hard drive used for Time Machine is full and having a hrad time backing up. What is my best option moving forward? NAS?

For All things Time Machine see Pondini's Excellent Infirmation here...
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
Start with FAQs and Troubleshooting.

Can you unplug the external hard drive you are using for time machine

can you unplug the external hard drive you are using for time machine and then plug it back in and it work normals because i have a mac book and don't want to always be carrieing the external hard drive every where i go so can you ?

Yes, that will work fine. It will back up normally once you plug it in again. I do this with my MacBook.

Is it possible to use an external hard drive for time machine backup and also as a regular hard drive?

Is it possible to use an external hard drive for time machine backup and also as a regular hard drive?

I am using an external drive in the exact way that you described. You just keep it plugged in to the computer when you want to access the movies and files. In order to put files on it, just go to finder open up the drive under devices and drag and drop files onto the drive. It is just like using a usb drive with a terabyte of space.

Cleaning virus-infected files on external hard drive used for Time Machine

I am kinda reposting this with some extra explanation since I didn't really get any good respnses on my first post:
I am running McAfee VirusScan and it locates and cleans virus infected files just fine on my computer, but when it finds infected files on the external hard drive I use for Time Machine backups, it says "Repair Failed". Is there a way to clean infected files on my Time Machine backup drive?
I had found a virus in several documents on my Mac, which I cleaned, but it seemed to infect a bunch of the files located in Time Machine as well. I know these files shouldn't harm my Mac, but I still don't like having virus infected files. They seem to propagate and I don't want to give them to any of my Windows-using friends.

Hi,
Usually (but not always), virus-infected files aren't system-related, so if they cannot be repaired, there should be an option in VirusScan to delete them or quarantine them instead of repairing them. Assuming that you are archiving Mac-related files and not archives of Windows files, then it should certainly be safe to just have VirusScan delete or quarantine them. An alternative is that you could delete them manually. But before you do any of this, be sure to take a look at the filename and its location in the folder hierarchy to make sure that you aren't removing a file that's critical to the operation of some piece of software.
Hope this helps,
Ken

Constant problems with external HD used for time machine.

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