Error message: the backup disk is not available

I am trying to backup my laptop through time machine and am getting an error message that the backup disk is not available. The last backup was 10 days ago. I have not changed any of my settings. The desktop that has a direct (wired) connection to time capsule (my backup disk) is backing up fine. The wireless connection is good on my laptop. Any suggestions how to fix are much appreciated.

Is the desktop using different OS to the wireless version?
Reboot the whole network.. restart in correct order.. modem.. TC.. clients. 2min gap.

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My external hard drive is not recognized by Time Machine; "The backup disk is not available" according to Disk Utility

I'm not completely tech savvy, but I'm having troubles with my external memory & time machine. I'm a student, and thus its very important to me to be able to back up my computer.
I wanted to back up my Time Machine the other day. I clicked the icon at the top of the page (beside the battery icon, etc.) and the message "The backup disk is not available". I have a 500GB Seagate passport (ie: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate---FreeAgent-GoFlex-500GB-External-USB-2.0-Po rtable-Hard-Drive---Silver/9929098.p?id=1218196478444&skuId=9929098)
My macbook pro is version 10.7.5 Mac OS X Lion. My external memory is only about a year old. It hasn't been dropped or anything; it permanently sits secured to my desk.
What appears when I click "Repair Disk":
Verify and Repair volume “Time Machine Backups”
Checking file systemChecking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
Detected a case-sensitive volume.
Checking extents overflow file.
Checking catalog file.
Incorrect block count for file shutdown_time
(It should be 1 instead of 0)
Invalid node structure
Rebuilding catalog B-tree.
The volume Time Machine Backups could not be repaired.
Volume repair complete.Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.Error: Disk Utility can’t repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files.
After clicking "Repair Disk" this message pops up: "Disk Utility Stopped Repairing 'Time Machine Backups' Disk utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many as your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files."
I don't want to wipe my memory on my external disk just in case the disk doesn't restore (as I do not have another disk to back up my computer on to).
What is going on? Why is this happening out of the blue? How can I fix this?

Sounds like it either has, or is about to die.
If you don't need anything off the old drive, then yes, replace it immediately with something a little more reolaable. I use WD Caviar Black personally. But anything that has a known low failure rate.

HT201514 When I try to back up ,I get the error message:The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/ iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1).

When I try to backup I get the error message.The backup disk image"/Volumes/Data/iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed(error-1) Any Ideas? it was working fine and i can't think of any changes I made to the system to affect this?

Start with the best resource available..... Time Machine --- Troubleshooting from Pondini, the wizard of all things Time Machine.
" . . . sparse bundle could not be accessed (error -1)"

I am having issues with Time Machine. Error message "The backup disk image could not be created.

Error message "The backup disk image could not be created." I have tried everything I have found online in the community from TM full reset to changing my computers name. Anything else I can try? I am using a Seagate external HD with a connection through my router. I spent an hour on the phone with seagate and everything is ok on the HD end.
TM sees it and it is mounted but cannot go any further. HELP?!!!!
Thanks
-A

How should it be connected? It has a usb port and ethernet. The USB on the ExHD looks like the port on the back of my computer, so I would need one wth the same ends? Do they make those?
I can usually fix most my comp problems myself, but this new ExHD has stumped me.
Thanks for your help.
-A

How to fix this error message The backup disk image "/Volumes/AirPort Disk/FARES DEL VALLE's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1).

how to fix this error message The backup disk image “/Volumes/AirPort Disk/FARES DEL VALLE’s iMac.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error -1).

The troubleshooting C17 is the specific article.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
This is generally a Lion error.. and you will need 5.6 utility to get access to the disk area.
So download the real utility. Run it instead of v6 toy version.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Go to the manual setup, disk page and click on disconnect all users.. that will unmount all users connected to the disk and allow it to start working. But there are a number of other issues that are possible cause. Pondini lists some of them.

HT3275 My time machine does not back up and giving me this error message: The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data-1/Amiel's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use. Pls help.

My time machine does not back up and giving me this error message: The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data-1/Amiel’s MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” is already in use. Pls help.

Make sure that there are no other Macs backing up at the present time.
Pull the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule
Count to ten
Plug the power cord back in
This will "fix" things about 98% of the time. Post back if you are in the unlucky 2% category.

Since upgrading to Lion, my time machine backups are failing - error message: The backup disk image "/Volumes/Jackie Scanlon's Time Caps/Jacqueline Drabczynska's MacBook.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1). Any ideas?

Since upgrading my Macbook to Lion, the time machine backups are failing - error message: "The backup disk image “/Volumes/Jackie Scanlon's Time Caps/Jacqueline Drabczynska’s MacBook.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error -1)." I have rebooted the TIme Capsule and it worked OK, but don't want to do that every time. Any suggestions? Thanks

Any new info on this?
I had the exact same problem and went crazy and spent a hecka lot of time trying to deal with my brand new 2TB Time Capsule and almost brand new MacBook Pro. Then I thought I fixed it...and I tried SO MANY things, I don't really know what did it...except taking out any apostrophe's in names of stuff that Apple puts in there...BUT...now it's back.
Grrr...

HT3275 My time machine is not able to complete a backup, giving me this error message: the backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Linda's iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use. How do I fix this?

My time machine is not able to complete a backup, giving me this error message: the backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Linda’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use. How do I fix this?

Stock standard issue.. asked 5-10 times per day here.. look at "more like this" on the right.
Simply reboot the TC ie pull out the power. .count to 10.. plug the power back in.
Maybe need to restart the network.. in order modem.. router .. TC.. clients. 2min gap.
See C12 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

I can't connect to my time capsule. the machine is on but the message is the backup disk is not available.

My Mac desktop has not backed up to my time capsule since July 10th. The time capsule is on and plugged in but the message reads that the backup disk is not available. What can I do?

It helps to know what OS you are running on the Mac.. let me guess.. Mavericks.. since it is the most buggy on the network side.. although Lion and ML are also lacking the rock solid nature of Snow Leopard.
Have you done the simple things.. ??
ie reboot the TC?
No luck then reboot the network.
No luck then I would recommend a complete reset of the TC.
I have outlined how to do this many times.
eg Re: Why the connection from Air to Time Capsule is lost suddenly?
As you will see this is not something unusual.
Apple has a document.. very well hidden.
OS X Mavericks: Time Machine problems
It is helpful (although it doesn't go far enough IMHO).
Try what I have suggested and tell me how it goes.. more problems then also give me more info.
Full network info and details on the OS you are running.

Time Machine Error Message: "The backup disk image could not be mounted"

I just installed Time Capsule and the initial back up was going smoothly. Now
all I get is a and the Error message "The backup disk image could not be mounted". Can anyone help me troubleshoot this problem? Thanks.

This works, if there is no corruption in the sparse image. But after weeks of backups, my sparse image on a USB disk attached to an Airport Extreme was corrupted.
I am right now repairing it by connecting the USB disk directly and using disk utility. It recovered the file system and is not rebuilding the B-Tree. I hope that works, otherwise it will have to be disk warrior...
On Time Capsule, I have heard folks having success with attaching the image, and then repairing it:
hdiutil attach -nomount -readwrite /path/to/sparse/image
Your mileage may vary, but you do not have a lot to lose in this circumstance...
This functionality should really be in the Airport or Time Capsule, or at least Disk Utility or Airport Utility.

Time Machine error message: The backup disk image could not be created

I got a new MacBook the other weekend and Time Capsule. I have set up the time capsule, its light is green, it shows up as a device in my finder window and the printer it shares is accessible.
The problem is when I try to run time machine I get the error message "the backup disk image could not be created" I have the time capsule selected as the drive I want to back up to. I have read through all 150 help topics on the Mac Support page regarding time machine and am now turning to you the community to help!

I found an answer in another place on this forum...http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1422065&tstart=330
Just have to give my computer a name under system preferences/sharing

Cannot Connect to Time Capsule: "the backup disk is not available"

I am having a problem that I can't diagnose with my 500 GB Time Capsule (my HD is 128GB). The firmware is current. I first did a search for 'the backup disk is not available' since that is the message displayed in the Time Machine window (with the red checkmark).The Time Machine widget says this:
Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/xxx%20xxx's%20Time%20Capsu
NetAuthConnectToServerSync failed with error: 89 for url: afp://[email protected]/xxx%20xxx's%20Time%20Capsu
I installed the widget after I went to the Time Machine - Troubleshooting user tip, here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2057525. Also went to Using TIME MACHINE with a TIME CAPSULE, here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2296894
I also renewed the DHCP lease, tried to do 'connect as' from the Sidebar window, also via go-> connect to server ("there was an error connecting to the server Timecapsule; Check the server name or IP address & try again"), go to Time Machine under System Preferences, select "None" for hard drive, turned off Time Machine, then turned it back on and reselect Time Capsule as the hard drive to backup (timed out), tried re-setting up the Time Capsule both automatic & manual (times out when reading TC configuration)., and finally, writing this post.
I am connected to the internet with the Time Capsule, and I am concerned about making too many changes, because I don't want to risk losing my internet connection, since that seems to be working fine. I was able to make regular backups until yesterday. Tracing my steps from when it used to work to when it 'broke':
1)I attempted (unsuccessfully) to mount the Time Capsule so that I could do a search on it. (I didn't realize at the time that I couldn't mount a wireless device.)
2)The only other thing I did was drag some music folders that I wanted backed up next to my sparsebundle backup (which I can no longer see, because the Time Capsule is no longer accessible via the finder) only to get the spinning ball with the copying window, which I couldn't force quit unless I quit the Finder. So, I force quit, rebooted, and repaired the disk/permissions with disk utility.
Did I do something wrong by dragging & dropping my files over trying to use it as a backup AND a an external HD? Or trying to mount the drive? Or maybe since adding several gigs of music, I took up too much space & now don't have room for a backup? (In which case, I need to access the drive & erase the music, and start over: if only I could SEE it I could do that.)
I am still doing searches trying to see what I need to do; I haven't yet re-set it, due to my concern about my internet connection, which could potentially prevent me from getting any information to fix it. At this time, I am not sure if this is a Time Capsule, Time Machine, or Airport issue. During the time that I have been writing this, the red check changed to 'connecting' but then the 'delayed - Time Machine is not available' message came back up
TIA

Reboot the network in correct order.. modem.. router/TC.. clients.. 2min gap.
This is just standard windows.. woops, Mac OS networking now.

Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Time Machine Backups". The backup disk is not available.

I have received an error message today - Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Time Machine Backups". The backup disk is not available.
I am using a WD 1.5tb Help!!! Everything is on there and the files are not showing. The WD SmartWare icon is on the Desktop but the Time Machine icon is not. When I save a file I open the Time Machine file and save it in there. What do I do? How do I get my files back?? I do not keep anything on the macbook pro. Help PLEASE!!!

Hi Yaann,
Thank you for your reply. Yes I did try that, but no luck.
After several hours of calls to a very unhelpful WD and further calls to Applecare, there was nothing anyone could do. Out of frustration when holding the WD 1.5TB hard drive, I smacked it (NOT recommended). Well, to my surprise the WD reappeared on my devices list. Let me tell you, I pulled my files off as fast as I could on to my MacBook Pro. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I confirmed that everything transferred back to the MacBook Pro fine. I spoke with the Applecare tech and he talked me through the set up on a new Lacie hard drive.
What I can say is that after further research into external hard drives and now personal experience - Lacie is the top of the line and you get what you pay for. I would NEVER ever recommend a WD to anyone. Given one, I would still through it away.
I was LUCKY.
I must say the support and understanding I received from Applecare was outstanding!! I would never own a apple product without applecare and from long term experience it is worth every penny.
All the best,

Time Machine says "The Backup Disk is Not Available"

Line 0: I have a 400 GB external Western Digital drive that I leave plugged into an Airport Extreme. Previously, this worked mostly without a problem. It took some massaging to get it to work at first (I had to create the backup with the drive directly connected to the computer, and then I moved the drive over to the Airport Extreme and it was fine after that), but after that, it worked forever. This was in the previous version of the OS that I was running (snow leopard?). I very recently upgraded to Lion and it seemed to be OK, but then suddenly it gave me an error that said it had not been able to do a backup for 10 days. I thought "wow, that means it hasn't backed up since I upgraded to Lion."
So I told it to do a backup right away. It failed with the error "The backup disk is not available."
I unplugged the drive and plugged it back in. No go.
I tried to reselect the drive from within Time Machine preferences. It would not appear and in fact it kept forcing me to go to the Airport Extreme software. I did this and there was no obvious way to set anything up from within that software. I left everything as it was ("Enable file sharing" checked, "Secure shared disks" was at "with device password," and it was remembering the password in my keychain).
Go back to Time Machine preferences and the disk still doesn't show up. Force a reboot on the router, it still doesn't show up.
I brought the drive over to the computer and plugged it in directly, and everything was fine. It did a backup on the spot, it read the backup that was there, the drive showed up, etc. I formatted it just for the heck of it and started over completely and it was happy. I did a disk check and everything was fine. After leaving it on all night to complete a new backup, I unmounted the disk, brought it over to the Airport Extreme, plugged it back in, and now we go back to line 0 and rinse repeat.
Can someone please tell me how to get my drive to start working with Time Machine again?

It should not have worked in the first place.. when you moved it from the PC to the airport extreme.. that is not correct.. I don't know how SL managed to work around it.. but Lion obviously cannot.
You will need to start all over again..
Also note.. the flakey nature of this setup.. according to well respected people here AEBS with USB drive does not give reliable TM backups.. I would pay close attention to what they are saying. Time Capsule is more than a AEBS with a hard drive inside.. although exactly the difference I don't know.
But you can expect the current setup to not work, because it never should have.

External drive says "the backup disk is not available"

I am trying to use an external back up drive with time machine on my macbook air. The air is an older model (150G) and the drive is 250G. I used to use this drive on my macbook pro, but then erased it to use on my air. Now I get a message "Time machine could not complete the backup. The backup disk is not available".
What I've done so far:
-I've looked on the drive icon on my desktop and made sure it is empty.
-I ran a disk utility repair.
-I rebooted the computer.
Thanks for anything you can suggest!
-Kate

old 250GB ext. HD, likely dead SATA card, or the HD is kaput
verify on another Mac,
verify on other USB port
see here:
Your dead external hard drive is likely fine! Great hope for your 'faulty' external HD
Purchase a new ext. 1TB HD, stay away from WD drives.

Error message: the backup disk is not available

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