HT201250 mac wont connect to time machine

I was happily backing up my compouter to the time-capsule/time machine, and suddenly my computer wont back up or recognize my external harddrive. It wants me to reformat it and start as if it were new. I dont want to overwrite my content, so I am not sure quite what to do.

Scuba44 wrote:
Maybe similar question...External HD used as Time Machine.  Error message reads, "Time Machine Error: Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup directory."
Different problem. See #C10 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

Similar Messages

  • HT201250 Can I copy a time machine backup from one mac to another?

    I have two Mac Book Pros that I use for work - I have one at home and one at work. I'd like to copy the contents and setup from my work Mac to my home Mac using a time machine backup, and then continue to use the time machine backup back at work. I.e. the time machine would only be used with the home Mac to copy over the contents and setup of my work Mac.
    Can I just do a straight time machine back up in my 2nd (home) mac, or will this override the back up I have from the 1st (work) machine?
    Thanks!

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities
    Of course. Note that you can restore a Time Machine backup on all the Macs you want, always that the Mac uses the same or a newer OS X version than the one that had the Mac you used to make this backup.
    Also, you can back up different computers to the same Time Machine drive. In this case, Time Machine will create different folders in your Time Machine drive for each computer, so one Mac backup won't conflict with the other computer backup.
    To restore a backup, use Migration Assistant. Just connect the Time Machine drive, open Migration Assistant (it's in /Applications/Utilities) and follow the steps to restore the backup onto the computer

  • Hi, I am trying to connect a WD Mybook for Mac to my airport/time machine device.  On the AirPort Utility it listed under Disks at 0 Mb.  I enabled file sharing.  But nothing happens.  If I plug it directly into my MacBook it works fine.  How do I fix it?

    I am trying to connect a WD Mybook for Mac to my airport/time machine device.  On the AirPort Utility it listed under Disks at 0 Mb.  I enabled file sharing.  And also followed all the steps - "secured disk access: with a disk passord", "Airport disk guest access: read and write", "Share disks over WAN". But nothing happens.  If I plug it directly into my MacBook it works fine.  How do I fix it?  Also, its connected via a powered usb hub.

    I assume that you are using  Mac operating system 10.4.11, as your profile indicates.
    The instructions that you referenced are for use with AirPort Utility....not AirPort Admin Utility.
    Suggest that you download and install AirPort Utility 5.4.2 for Mac , which will run on 10.4.11.
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  • I have a new macbook pro and want to transfer my Mail autofill from my old mac. Never used Time Machine or Migration Assistant -- looks complicated. Any easy way to do this?

    I have a new macbook pro and want to transfer my Mail autofill from my old mac. Never used Time Machine or Migration Assistant -- looks complicated. Any easy way to do this?

    caitlinfromcambridge wrote:
    Thanks -- I would like to try this. I do not know how to reach hard drive from old mac to new. Can you help me with this?
    There are two ways - you can boot your old Mac in Target Mode (reboot your Mac, and as soon as you hear the startup chime hold down the T key on the keyboard until you see the yellow/orange Firewire logo on screen).  You can then use a FireWire cable to connect your new mac to your old one.  The old Mac hard drive will appear on your new Mac as if it is an external hard drive.
    Details on Target Disk Mode:  http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
    If you don't have a firewire cable but you do have a home network (i.e. both computers can access the Internet at the same time), you can share the hard drive on your old Mac and then connect to it on your new Mac.
    Good article on sharing your hard drive:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1549
    Finally, if the above doesn't thrill you, you can hook an external drive to your old Mac, copy the mail folder over to it, then connect the external drive to your new Mac and copy it over.  It's two steps, but if you don't have a firewire cable and aren't comfortable with sharing over a network it will work just as well - you just have to wait for the mail folder to copy twice instead of once.
    If you get stuck post back!

  • How do I use a Mac Mini + Airport Express + Time Machine disk to backup another iMac

    How do I use a Mac Mini + Airport Express + Time Machine disk to backup another iMac?
    The question pretty much says it all.
    I have a Mac Mini with an attached 3TB Hard Drive used for Time Machine Backups.
    I have an Airport Extreme base station which services that machine plus several others.
    I would like to backup my new iMac and a MacBook Pro to the Mac Mini.
    What do I need to do on the mini to export that hard drive so that it can be used as a Time Machine target from the other systems?
    All systems are running 10.6.8.

    Well you would have to do backups over a network which is much slower and has highest chance of becoming corrupt. I think your best option would be to get an apple time capsule to act as a network and back if thats how you wanna do that

  • I just restored my Mac HD from a time machine back-up and PS 4 Will not open. I get an error code 150:30. Any Idea what I should do ?

    I just restored my Mac HD from a time machine back-up and PS 4 Will not open. I get an error code 150:30. Any Idea what I should do ?

    Photoshop's licensing information might have lost when you restored it to new HD. Re-install Photoshop CS4 and enter the same serial key for PS CS4 which you used before.
    In case you need the download link for PS CS4, you can get it from here. Download CS4 products
    Let me know in case you still get any issues.
    ~ Arpit

  • I baught Seagate Backup plus 2T hard drive to use as my Backup time machine. But its not working when i connect to time machine its not coping files, it keep saying preparing files. Can someone help me please...

    i baught Seagate Backup plus 2T hard drive to use as my Backup time machine. But its not working. when i connect to time machine its not coping files, it keep saying preparing files. Can someone help me please...

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.
    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
    The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
    Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
    Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
    The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
    Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
    After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

  • Will my mac back up to time machine wile it is on but shut (asleep) and can you set a time for backups???

    will my mac back up to time machine wile it is on but shut (asleep) and can you set a time for backups???

    If your Mac Model supports POWERNAP under Mountain Lion, yes backups and software updates can occur while the mac is taking a power nap (kind of light sleep).

  • Can I backup two macs onto one external time machine?

    Can I backup two macs onto one external time machine drive? I am trying to do this over Wi-Fi.

    Yes, the external drive has to be formatted correctly to HFS+ and shared to the network.
    It doesn't matter how the second machine logs into the network but wireless back will be extremely slow as it will involve double hop wireless, I presume to a wifi router somewhere. For incremental backups this is no biggie but do the initial backup with the drive plugged into that particular computer or over ethernet.. gigabit for preference.
    Pondini has some instructions as he has for most things.
    http://pondini.org/TM/4.html
    Also look at Q33 where he lists using a shared drive on another Mac.
    If you are planning using something other than wifi router give clear information about the network layout you have and hope to use.

  • Migrating to new Mac Book Air using time machine and seems stuck?

    I am transferring my data my  5 year old Mac Book Pro to new Mac Book Air via Time Machine because other methods were not working due to technology out of date incompatibility and my old computer is on its last legs here.  Need to get moving on this. Everything appears to be going fine. Just wondered since I have never done this and I realize it takes awhile. At present, the screen is saying it is transferring documents and will take another 13 minutes and it has said this for the last 2 hours and the line below shows still about 2/3 more to go.  This has been going for about 4 hours total now. Just wondering if this is normal?
    Thank you in advance.

    It takes awhile, especially if you have a lot of data. The last time I did this it took over 6 hours. The time estimates are usually way off.

  • Just moved CS4 Web from old mac to new using time machine. Apps won't launch. Help?

    Just moved CS4 Web from old mac to new using time machine. I get an error when I try to launch a program on the new computer (150:30). After contacting live chat about the issue and providing all serial numbers etc. I was directed to a download. The download was a .dmg file that my computer did not recognize. It was suggested that I ask the experts on the forum how to resolve the issue. I have all the discs and serial numbers but the new macbook pro doesn't take discs (I guess they think all apps are downloadable now). Any ideas?

    Hmm... I don't know why they sent you here... CS4 is not part of the Cloud
    I have some download links for earlier versions of Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements, but not CS4 Web
    My best idea is to take a LARGE USB memory stick to a friend with a DVD drive and copy your DVD over to the USB memory stick
    Or, ask in the forum for your program(s) to find out if anyone has CS4 download links
    If you start at the Forums Index https://forums.adobe.com/welcome
    You will be able to select a forum for the specific Adobe product(s) you use
    Click the "down arrow" symbol on the right (where it says All communities) to open the drop down list and scroll

  • I just bought and backed up my computer and time machine with a "Seagate BackUp Plus for Mac". Now my time machine is empty. Panicked. can anyone help?

    I just bought and backed up my computer and time machine with a "Seagate BackUp Plus for Mac". Now my time machine is empty. Panicked. can anyone help?

    Lets start over...
    Please restart the network.. shut down everything..
    Restart in order.. modem.. router.. if different to TC.. or TC.. client devices.. wait 2min between each startup.
    If the TC does not show up on the computer, in finder.. then we need more info.. what OS are you running?
    Does the TC show up in Airport utility? Are you running wireless or ethernet?
    If you still have issues.. plug the TC directly into the computer by ethernet.
    Do a full factory reset of the TC.. and see if it now shows up.
    Please tell us exactly what model TC it is and how old.. the A1xxx model number from the base will help if you don't know.
    You take a screen shot of the TC opened in finder.
    eg..
    My TC is named Tardis4.. click on it.. and then open the data folder.. on this one called Tardisdata.
    Then take a screen shot of it so we can see what the problem is.. screenshot.. with area selection.. control + shift + 4 .. the picture goes into the desktop.. and then you click the picture icon in the posting web page controls and select the picture.

  • My mac wont connect to the wifi network but all other devices are working fine! Please can you help

    My Mac wont connect to my WiFi.  It can see the network but has an "!" over the WiFi signal. My iPhone and Surface connect fine.  My Mac was working fine yesterday.  I've restarted the rooter, the Mac and still not luck.  I've changed the WiFi channel, removed and re-added the WiFi network, but I still can't connect. Please can someone help.... thank you !

    Power Cycle
    Power off the router. Unplug it from the wall. Wait a while.
    Plug it back to the wall. Power the router on. Wait until all the lights are lit properly. It will take a while.
    Restart the computer.
    Start up in Safe Mode.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14204?viewlocale=en_US

  • HT201250 trying to set up time machine, it will not connect to airport utility, inspite the wi-fi is very strong.

    I have tried repeatedly to connect time machine to my air port utility, and keep getting the message that it was undetected. I have a strong wi-fi connection in my house and I just don't understand that it will not connect. Can anyone help me with this?

    Power off both your Mac and the Time Capsule and wait a few minutes
    Power up the Time Capsule first, and let it run 2-3 minutes by itself
    Power up the Mac next and let it run a full minute.
    Go into Time Machine Preferences again and see if you can select the Time Capsule as a destination for Time Machine backups. Do this by first removing any existing disks for Time Machine. Click Add/Remove Disk and remove the existing disk that is set up. Then repeat to select and add the disk again.
    If still no luck, open Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences
    Locate the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file and move it to the desktop
    Then repeat the complete the entire procedure above to see starting at the top, to see if you can select the Time Capsule for Time Machine backups.

  • HT201250 How can I reinstall Time Machine on my Mac? I just put it on my back up and all its content has disappeared.

    Could someone tell me if I can reinstall Time Machine on my mac? My back up has all my photos on it and time machine has deleted them all.

    Go to the Time Machine Preferences window and turn the big slider to OFF.  You might also select the "None" disk as a destination.
    Then erase or reformat the disk.  See Using Disk Utility if you're not sure how.

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