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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Error msg: time machine couldn't complete the backup to time capsule

I did a first time back up of my imac with time capsule; now when I try to back up a second time the error msg says can't do it. When I try to access time capsule thru time machine; it won't let me. Any suggestions?

Sorry this is where it all gets unimpressive.. you need to reboot the TC.. it has gone to sleep and forgotten to respond or the Mac has lost it and doesn't know where to find it.
The bug has been our major issue in this forum since Mountain Lion arrived on the scene.
See C12 for more details..
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
But a simple reboot of TC, or restart of whole network, in correct order.. modem.. router/TC ... clients 2min gap is usually enough.

Time machine: An error occurred while copying files. The problem could be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk.

Time machine backups are failing. I've followed the instructions I found on the Time Machine troubleshooting page (http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html) but have gotten to where I don't know what to do next.
Sequence of events:
The main error message is always:
An error occurred while copying files. The problem could be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk.
Yesterday, I opened Disk Utility and verified the disk. Got this error:
Error: This disk needs to be repaired using the Recovery HD. Restart your computer, holding down the Command key and the R key until you see the Apple logo. When the OS X Utilities window appears, choose Disk Utility.
I ran Disk Utility and repaired the hard drive. Then I manually started the backup before going to bed, figuring it was going to take a long time to run. When I got up this morning, the backup had failed with the same "could be temporary" error. I checked the log, which says:
Starting manual backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Tery%20Griffin;[email protected]/Tery%20Griffin's%20Time%20Ca psule
Mounted network destination at mount point: /Volumes/Tery Griffin's Time Capsule using URL: afp://Tery%20Griffin;[email protected]/Tery%20Griffin's%20Time%20Ca psule
Disk image /Volumes/Tery Griffin's Time Capsule/Tery Griffin’s Computer (44).sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Macintosh HD
Error: (-36) Applying backup protections to /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Tery Griffin‚Äôs Computer (44)/2014-03-05-201742.inProgress/ABB10CF2-F041-4DE5-B6AE-3C228B59ADCC
Error: (5) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.SnapshotStartDate path:/Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Tery Griffin‚Äôs Computer (44)/2014-03-05-201742.inProgress/ABB10CF2-F041-4DE5-B6AE-3C228B59ADCC size:17
Error: (5) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.SnapshotState path:/Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Tery Griffin‚Äôs Computer (44)/2014-03-05-201742.inProgress/ABB10CF2-F041-4DE5-B6AE-3C228B59ADCC size:2
Deep event scan at path:/ reason:must scan subdirs|new event db|
Finished scan
Found 145601 files (11.88 GB) needing backup
16.1 GB required (including padding), 620.77 GB available
Copied Zero KB of 11.88 GB, 0 of 145601 items
Copied 0 files (Zero KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11
Ejected Time Machine disk image: /Volumes/Tery Griffin's Time Capsule/Tery Griffin’s Computer (44).sparsebundle
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
Starting automatic backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Tery%20Griffin;[email protected]/Tery%20Griffin's%20Time%20Ca psule
Mounted network destination at mount point: /Volumes/Tery Griffin's Time Capsule using URL: afp://Tery%20Griffin;[email protected]/Tery%20Griffin's%20Time%20Ca psule
Disk image /Volumes/Tery Griffin's Time Capsule/Tery Griffin’s Computer (44).sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Macintosh HD
Error: (-36) Applying backup protections to /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Tery Griffin‚Äôs Computer (44)/2014-03-05-201742.inProgress/9F8E7957-9C50-49C3-8314-880E5203E3D9
Error: (5) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.SnapshotStartDate path:/Volumes/Time Machine Backups/
Does anyone know what the problem is here and what I should do?
Thanks,
Tery

You have repaired your boot drive (which is good) but have you repaired your time machine drive? I don't own a Time Capsule so I don't know if disk utility can operate on it. If it can, you should repair it as well. You may need to erase it and start a new backup. That happens to time machine volumes from time to time and is why people who are serious about their data never rely on a single source of backup.

Can anyone help me?Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to... An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk. What is the problem? I've made no changes.

I recently starting receiving the error message "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to... An erro occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk. I have had no problems backing up my MacBook Pro 2011 to my Western Digital My Book Live through a Linksys EA4500 router until recently. I've made no major changes. I've ran a diagnosis on my back up drive with no problems. The Time Machine back up starts, but about after about 5 to 10 minutes I get the error message. I can see the shared drive in Finder. The light on the drive blinks while it starts the back up. I can see the shared folders on the networked drive. The backup process starts but for some reason it just stops. Can anyone help?

You can't repair a network volume in Disk Utility.
Backing up to a third-party NAS with Time Machine is risky, and unacceptably risky if it's your only backup. I know this isn't the answer you want, and I also know that the manufacturer says the device will work with Time Machine, and that it usually seems to work. Except when you try to restore, and find that you can't.
If you want network backup with Time Machine, use as the destination either an Apple Time Capsule or an external hard drive connected to another Mac or to an 802.11ac AirPort base station. Only the 802.11ac base stations support Time Machine, not any older model.
If you're determined to keep using the NAS for backup, your only recourse for any problems that result is to the manufacturer (which will blame Apple.)

Time Machine Error: "An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."

I have a MacBook Pro 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 4GB, 500GB HDD, running 10.8.2 My computer as been running slow and fearing my HDD might die. I bought a brand new 1TB G-Drive from Apple yesterday and started my back up. It gets to just over 22GB backed up then I get this error message:
"An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."
Anyone out there who might be able to help me fix this?

I have a MacBook Pro 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 4GB, 500GB HDD, running 10.8.2 My computer as been running slow and fearing my HDD might die. I bought a brand new 1TB G-Drive from Apple yesterday and started my back up. It gets to just over 22GB backed up then I get this error message:
"An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."
Anyone out there who might be able to help me fix this?

HT3275 "The problem may be temporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."

The problem may be temporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk.
what does this mean?? why can't i backup before i have to get my hard drive replaced?!!? arghh

brahr3 wrote:
I am getting the same error message: "The problem may be temporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk." I don't have a TC but rather an external drive, which is twice the size of my harddisc, and it still has plenty of free space. The problem has lasted for 5 days. I even used a different external drive -- still same error message. Needless to say that I have run Disc Utility several times. Can anybody help? Thanks
I am having issues with some USB drives on Mountain Lion.. work perfectly on another computer with Snow Leopard.. not even recognised by ML.
Is the disk recognised?
If so and TM cannot pick it up.. do a full reset of TM and try again.
A4 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

The problem may be temporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk. Have tried disk utility to repair but still not working.

My time machine backup has failed for the last couple of days. Im getting the message saying," error. this may be temporary, if the problem persists, go to disc utility to repair the problem."
I have done the first aid in the disc utility and still not repaired. Do I erase the disc, as it says????

1. Reboot the TC alone.. Just pull out the power cord.. count to 10 and plug it back in.
If TM still cannot find the disk..
2. Do a full network reboot.. everything off.. restart in correct order.. modem.. wait 2min.. TC wait 2min.. then all the clients..
If TM still cannot find the disk..
3. Factory reset the TC and do a fresh configuration. The TC is known to occasionally throw a wobbly and spontaneously forget its name.. part of old age.. (2years is starting towards old age for a TC).
The Factory Reset Gen1-4.
Unplug your TC. Hold in reset. and power the TC back on.. without releasing reset for about 10sec. When the status light flashes rapidly; release it.
Be Gentle! Feel the switch click on. It has a positive feel.. add no more pressure after that.
TC will reboot after a couple of minutes with default factory settings and will wipe out previous configurations.
No files are deleted on the hard disk.. No reset of the TC deletes files.. to do that you use erase from the airport utility.
If TM still cannot find the disk..
4. Wipe the old backup.. and start afresh.. this sometimes also happens.
You can try a verify of the disk. See A5 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Sometimes a clean fresh TM backup is the only way.
Good luck.

HT3275 My Time Machine Error persists even after changing from ex HDD to a new 3G Time Cap and using DU: "An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

Thanks for this Pondini! I swapped back to my original 2TB back up from the new 3TB Time Cap with still no luck. It last succesfully backed up 16th June 2012 but has failed since then. I'm getting multiple error -36's from the same folder ...Backup/599c... but involving different files eg .../02f... and .../03e... etc. This is going to be a nightmare to exclude them all one at a time. Can I just exclude the entire ...Backup/599c... folder?
Dimitri.
Aug 3 08:11:08 cathy-hatchs-imac.local com.apple.backupd[23752]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/DIMITRI/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/599c5ea5c84fd845b43fab22ce6d0dba3246b5df/02f517f9d3de 637c63fad6447558fcea3f289734 to (null)
Aug 3 08:12:08 cathy-hatchs-imac.local com.apple.backupd[23752]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/DIMITRI/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/599c5ea5c84fd845b43fab22ce6d0dba3246b5df/03e718ec4f0e fa74179f2ddf4f690a397c7bfd83 to (null)
Aug 3 08:12:47 cathy-hatchs-imac.local com.apple.backupd[23752]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/DIMITRI/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/599c5ea5c84fd845b43fab22ce6d0dba3246b5df/0f4105650705 e06d625f3216693c054c7ab1bdba to (null)
Aug 3 08:13:03 cathy-hatchs-imac.local com.apple.backupd[23752]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/DIMITRI/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/599c5ea5c84fd845b43fab22ce6d0dba3246b5df/0f4f0381dc35 0a7b4911f13939631e8d19c9d3d6 to (null)
Aug 3 08:13:37 cathy-hatchs-imac.local com.apple.backupd[23752]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/DIMITRI/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/599c5ea5c84fd845b43fab22ce6d0dba3246b5df/114ae1ea6eda e56b90384d0fdb63290c0ca336c7 to (null)
Aug 3 08:14:43 cathy-hatchs-imac.local com.apple.backupd[23752]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/DIMITRI/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/599c5ea5c84fd845b43fab22ce6d0dba3246b5df/13e1187ef5a4 98ee59bd3a1ec80e0e148cd995fb to (null)
Aug 3 08:15:17 cathy-hatchs-imac.local com.apple.backupd[23752]: Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Users/DIMITRI/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/599c5ea5c84fd845b43fab22ce6d0dba3246b5df/180a9f76a50f f281515a50a5d89e3de044954ce3 to (null)

I have an error message:Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to Time Capsule. The backup disk image is already in use.

I'm a single user, no Airport, and the Time Machine has been backing up nicely for several months. Recently, I've been getting the above message. Any help is appreciated.

Restart the TC. If that doesn't work, do as follows.
If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left.
Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard." Note the timestamp of the last such message. Clear the text field and scroll back in the log to that time. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them (command-C) to the Clipboard. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — anonymize before posting.

I keep getting this message: "The back up was not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk. The problem may be tempory. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."

I've repeatedly "tried again" over the past month with no luck. I'd rather not delete everything if that's what "repairing" the back disk involves.

On a time capsule the error message is meaningless. That would only apply to an external drive...TC is a network drive.
I recommend you just reboot the whole network.. from off..
Restart in order.. modem.. TC.. clients. Wait 2 min between each one.
If the disk still won't mount give us more info..
Are you using wireless or ethernet?
How is the TC configured?
What sort of internet?

HT3275 I am received an error on my Time Capsule which states the backup disk image "Volumes/Data/MacBook Pro. sparse bundle? is already in use. so time machine couldn't complete the backup to time capsule - any suggestion

I've received an error message Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to Time Capsule, the backup disk image /Volumes/Date/....MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use. Any suggestions as to what I can do to fix it?

I've got mine working again by deleting a partial backup that was on the Time Capsule.
I mounted the backup sparsebundle, and then browsed the content and found a filestucture named <timstamp>.inProgress. I removed that and the followed the tip to disconnect described above. That did the trick for me.

Error Warning that Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to disk, an error occurred while copying files.

I've been getting this warning on my MBA for the last week: "Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to “LaCie-2big-NAS.” an error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, us Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."
I have MBA and iMac, both running Maverick (10.9.4), backed up to LaCie NAS. However, when I go to Disk Utility on the MBA and the iMac, the LaCie does not appear and thus can't be selected to run repair. The iMac seems to be backing up to LaCie without problem. And even seems that MBA is backing up sometimes; when I check Time Machine, I can find files added in the last couple of days.
Is this a real problem? What's fix?
Thanks

You can't repair a network volume in Disk Utility.
Backing up to a third-party NAS with Time Machine is risky, and unacceptably risky if it's your only backup. I know this isn't the answer you want, and I also know that the manufacturer says the device will work with Time Machine, and that it usually seems to work. Except when you try to restore, and find that you can't.
If you want network backup with Time Machine, use as the destination either an Apple Time Capsule or an external hard drive connected to another Mac or to an 802.11ac AirPort base station. Only the 802.11ac base stations support Time Machine, not any older model.
If you're determined to keep using the NAS for backup, your only recourse for any problems that result is to the manufacturer (which will blame Apple.)

HT3275 the backup wad not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk.

the backup wad not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk.
The problem may be temporary.try again later to backup.if the problem persists,use disk utility to repair your backup disk.any body help me...!

realtek wrote:
the backup wad not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk.
The problem may be temporary.try again later to backup.if the problem persists,use disk utility to repair your backup disk.any body help me...!
Not one of Apple's better messages.
If you haven't found it yet, see #C3 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting. TM is likely having a problem with a file, and that will show you how to find and fix it.

WD MyCloud - Time Machine Couldn't Complete The Backup; how to fix?

I use Time Machine to backup my 3TB iMac (v. 10.8.5) with a 4TB WD MyCloud drive. It has worked fine for a few months, until I one day received the message "Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to “*******”. An error occurred while copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk.".
This happened despite there being 1.3 TB of free space, and the firmware being up to date (v04.01.02-417).
I've tried turning off Time Machine on the hard drive's dashboard and rebooting it, hoping it would solve the problem. Instead, when it looked as though it was going to back-up ("Backing up 0 KB of x GB"), I got that message again.
I also tried connecting the network cable directly to the computer so I could use Disk Utility (Version 13 (450)) to repair it, but the application kept freezing.
It's not the first time this has happened to me. I originally fixed the problem by simply erasing the entire hard drive and starting again from scratch, only this time by following the MyCloud manual carefully step by step. I never thought I'd have to see that message again.
I don't know if it has to do with the way I turn off the hard drive; I usually do it every time I'm about to switch off my computer. I once tried to do so via the menu bar, but despite waiting, the HD is still switched on and running. Instead, I usually disconnect the cable as long as there's a blue light showing (having read the WD manual on this matter).
Please let me know if you have any solutions.

Start with C3 in the 1st linked article.
Time Machine Troubleshooting
Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems

Time Machine will not complete a system backup and terminates with "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume. This follows a problem when Time machne terminated when the volume was almost full.

On 11/1/2011, Time Machine (TM) terminated with an error message I did not record. I noted that the drive was full and decided to do a separate complete bootable system backup using Carbon Copy Clone (CCC), before clearing the TM volume and trying to start it over clean. Part way through the full system backup CCC put up a message that there was a Physical Problem "Library/Application Support/Techtool Protection/McIntosh HD/Directory Backup 2011-11-01-16-28-16". That was about the time that TM malfunctioned, so I assumed they were related. After starting CCC over a couple of times, and getting the same error message, I let it go through to completion of the backup, which took three or four hours. I then ran tests using Disk Utility and verified that there was nothing physically wrong with both the internal hard drive and the TM volume. I also erased and reformatted the TM volume. However, every time I started Time Machine, it would record a few GB and terminate with "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume". I restarted the computer with no change in results. Note that prior to starting the CCC backup, I "Repaired Permissions", "zapped the PRAM" and "re-set the SMC", hoping to have a clean bootable system on the backup. I ran Techtool and no problems were found.
I'm running this on an Intel iMac under 10.5.8 and recording to a 500GB My Passport drive. My hard drive is only about half full at 246 GB. My assessment is that something happened at 16-28-16 on 11/1/2001 to screwup the Backup Directory in the file at "Library/Application Support/Techtool Protection/McIntosh HD/Directory Backup 2011-11-01-16-28-16". My question is, how do I fix it?
I had just completed writing everything above here, explaining the problems I had been encountering for the past 24 hours. I had the Time Machine window standing open on the desktop where I could see it, having recentlycleared it after the last termination. As I was proofing what I had written, I looked at the window and noted that the clock had started a new run for a full back up, since all prior efforts had failed and the TM volume was empty. As I watched and waited for it to fail again, as it had been doing at about 13 GB, it kept going and going until it just finished a complete backup, about 4.5 hours later, with my having done nothing. Now my question would have to be - what could possiibly have happened to make it perform this way? It will be interesting to see if it continue to operate normally, or if the problem will return, in a later backup run.

jcm21 wrote:
CCC put up a message that there was a Physical Problem "Library/Application Support/Techtool Protection/McIntosh HD/Directory Backup 2011-11-01-16-28-16"
You should not keep those files for long, and probably shouldn't back them up (if you need them at all -- since you do regular backups, I'm doubtful just how worthwhile that feature is).
"Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume".
One of Apple's maddeningly incomplete messages. Most likely, there's a problem with a file (quite possibly the one CCC didn't like). See #C3 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting for details and instructions on finding and fixing it.
If you continue running the Directory Protection app, be sure to exclude your Time Machine drive from it (as it will just take up lots of room, and won't help repair your backups if there's a problem); and exclude the folders it creates from being backed-up by Time Machine (as they'll create large backups, and you probably can't use the backed-up folders anyway), per #10 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.

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."

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