HT201250 my back up keeps giving me a message that "time machine could not complete the backup folder.  It just keeps popping up and I have to cancel it to continue using my computer.  Any thoughts on my problem would be appreciated.

My computer keeps getting a message that "Time Machine could not complete the backup.  It continues, "Unable to complete backup.  An error occurred creating the backup folder.  I have to clear the pop up from my screen to continue using the computer.  It is getting very tiresome.  Any thoughts?

Hi there dean93,
You may find the troubleshooting steps in the article below helpful.
Time Machine: Troubleshooting backup issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3275
-Griff W. 

Similar Messages

  • 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

  • I keep getting this error message "Time Machine could not complete the backup. 'The backup disk image "/Volumes/FreeAgent Drive/MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use."  What should I do to remedy this?

    I keep getting this error message: Time Machine could not complete the backup.  'The backup disk image "/Volumes/FreeAgent Drive/xxx MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use.
    How do I remedy this so it starts backing up again?

    Maybe this http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/C12.html can help you.
    Stefan

  • I get this error message when I try to back up my laptop:  Time machine could not complete the backup.  The backup disc image "/Volumes/Data/Lou Ann Buesing's Mac Book Pro. sparse bundle is already in use.  Anyone know how to fix it?

    I get this error message when I try to back up my laptop:
    ' Time machine could not complete the backup.  The backup disc image "/Volumes/Data/Lou Ann Buesing's Mac Book Pro. sparse bundle' is already in use. "
    Anyone know how to fix it?

    Reboot the TC.. Sometimes you need to reboot the whole network.
    This is what comes of Lion and then made worse in Mountain Lion of Apple not spending enough time to fix the bugs.
    Read C12 in pondini.
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    C17 can be related I think.

  • My time Machine keeps saying, "Time Machine could not complete the backup. This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 345.74 GB but only 289.80 are available." I have already excluded files. I have a 1tb external drive. HELP!!!

    For over two weeks now I have been frustated and not having my TIme Machine back up to my 1tb external drive. I dont understand why now its a problem.  It keeps saying
    "This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 345.74GB but only 289.80GB are avialable.  Time Machine needs work space on the bakup disk, in addition to the space required to store backups. Open Time Machine preferences to select a large backup disk or make the bakup smaller by excluding files." So I have already excluded almost all of my files, and even deleted the backup disk yet, that quote still keeps popping up. I am truly at a wall with this. I have a Mac OS X version 10.7.5. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE????

    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. If you don't see that menu, select
    View ▹ Show Log List
    from the menu bar.
    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 error message: Time Capsule could not complete the backup.  The backup disk image "/Volumes/Time Capsule/Karla Laura Smith's MacBook Pro. sparse bundle" could not be assessed (error -1).  Tried restarting etc.  Please help.

    I keep receiving this message.
    Time Machine could not complete the backup.
    The backup disk image "/Volumes/Time Capsule/Karla Laura Smith's MacBookPro.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1).
    Can anyone help me clear this annoying message up?  Thanks for advance....

    The unplugging was of power, if you were unplugging ethernet .. that will not do anything.
    The issue is explained here.
    C17 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    If a restart of the TC is not adequate you maybe in the 2% that has other issues.. please try a full network restart in correct order.. with everything off.. modem.. then TC.. then clients.. with 2min gap to allow modem and TC to finish boot process.

  • Time machine could not complete the back up

    I've been trying to solve this by myself since I got the message on the 7th February which is when it failed  & the last backup was made.
    Time Machine Could Not Complete the Backup - this backup is too large for the back up disk. The backup requires 19.31 GB but only 7.71 GB are available.
    Time Machine needs workspace on the back up disk, in addition to the space required to store backups. Open time Machine preferences to select a larger backup disk or make the backup smaller by excluding files.
    I thought I could find out how to do it but I'm not great with computers, I just get by. Any help would be very much appreciated as I'm starting to get really worried.
    Thanks

    Thanks for that sanjampet...
    sanjampet wrote:
    Check thru Pondini's guide on TM, he is the resident guru on it.
    You may find some help.
    http://pondini.org/TM/Home.htmll
    I've checked through Pondini's guide over the last few days & have done a number of things suggested to rectify the problem including repairing a corrupt HD in Disk Utility. The latest thing I have done is use "Disk Inventory X" to see what's taking up all the space on my comuter to find large files that I could exclude from back up. I decided to exclude my movies/films - but when I set TM up to exclude them, I thought it would give me the extra 11.6 GB that I apparently need to complete the back up. Not so.... after setting up exclusions, it still says the same figures on backup are needed... nothing has changed.
    Has any one got any ideas? still stumped.

  • My Time Machine keeps repeating the error message "Time Machine could not complete the back- The back-up disk image "/Volumes/Data/User's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1). How can I fix this?s/

    My Time Machine could not complete the back-up.  The error message says "The backup disk image "/Volumes/DataUser's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error-1).  How can I fix this problem?

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
    See > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

  • HT3275 Have OS 10.7.5. Computer off three days and now message comes that Time Machine could not complete backup because the "/volumes/PH's timecapsulPro.sparsebundle" is already in use. Whats that about?

    Have OS 10.7.5. Computer off three days and now message comes that Time Machine could not complete backup because the "/volumes/PH's timecapsulPro.sparsebundle" is already in use. Whats that about?

    Two Solutions for "sparse bundle already in use" Error
    Simple solution (from Bob Timmons):
    1. Make sure that no other Macs are backing up the Time Capsule at the time
    2. Pull the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule
    3. Count to ten
    4. Plug the power cord back into the back of the Time Capsule
    If Simple doesn't work:
    The Backup disk image ... sparsebundle ... is already in use.

  • HT3275 For the past several days, I have been getting this message during backups: Time Machine could not complete the back up.  The backup disk image "Volumes/Data/iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error-1).

    For the past several days, I have been getting this message during backups:
    Time Machine could not complete the back up.  The backup disk image "Volumes/Data/bhoppy2's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error-1).  When I click on the 'help' icon on the message, it reverts to a blank page, and I cannot find anything online regarding the term 'sparsebundle.'  In addition, I cannot access previous backups any longer. 
    Help?

    See C17 in Time Machine Troubleshooting by Time Machine guru Pondini:
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

  • HT3275 I recently bought a new Time Capsule and the following message is shown:- "Time Machine could not complete the back up. The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data-1/Brian's iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use." Can anyone help?

    I recently bought a new Time Capsule and the following message has started to show:-
    "Time Machine could not complete the back up. The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data-1/Brian’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use."
    Can anyone help?

    Pondini is the resident Time Machine expert on the forums, and he has all the answers.
    Check is excellent Time Machine - Troubleshooting support document
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    See # C17 in particular

  • HT3275 Help? Time Machine could not complete the back up due to iMacsparsebundle is already in use??? This is the error message I am getting now with my Time Capsule as the back up device. Any suggestions?

    Help? Time Machine could not complete the back up due to iMacsparsebundle is already in use??? This is the error message I am getting now with my Time Capsule as the back up device. Any suggestions?

    Pull the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule
    Wait a few minutes
    Push the power cord back into the back of the Time Capsule
    See if the Time Capsule will back up now
    If not, see #C12 in this document:
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

  • HT3275 How do I correct this problem - Time Machine could not complete back up. An error occurred while creating the backup folder? The problem started on 5th March but I had backed up to an iomega HD since I got my iMac in October.

    I have had a problem since 5th March with Time Machine on my iMac. I have had no problem since I got the computer in October backing up to an iomega HD but now I keep getting a message that "Time Machine could not complete the backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder". Anyone know how to correct this?

    I had the same "Error creating the backup folder" error - many times over.
    I went into the Disk Utility, selected the Backup Disk and ran Verify. It checked out OK. But if not, could have run Repair.
    Then did a complete shutdown and restart of the iMac and then tried "Backup Now" from the Time Machine icon's menu - it worked fine.

  • HT1218 ?My time machine could not complete back up.  Says backup disk image"/volumes/data/name's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed error 1??

    Time Machine could not complete the backup.
    The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Name's iMacsparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1 )

    I checked the pondini fixes and ended up doing the following - in case this could help someone else with OSX Lion and Time Capsule... http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    First, I downloaded and used Airport Utility 5.6 instead of 6.1 - BTW, I had to attempt download and installation THREE times before the program actually installed.  Be persistant.
    Pondini #5: It's possible some names (of all things!) may be a problem.    See item C9.  I had to re-name my Mac, Time Capsule, network, etc... to remove all apostrophes and spaces.
    Pondini #7:  If you have WD SmartWare installed on Lion, it's not compatible, per RoaringApps, and there are reports it can cause this problem as well.   Use Western Digital's uninstaller, or delete the app from /Applications and the files com.wdc.WDDMservice.plist and com.wdc.WDSmartWareServer.plist from /Library/LaunchDaemons.   There may also be a file in Library/Application Support.
    I then had to shut down computer, unplug Time Capsule, unplug modem; plug everything in again, then reboot computer; then had to go to Apple- System Preferences- Network- and reselect my Time Capsule to connect to WiFi again.
    Then opened Time Machine preferences again and attempted back up - it worked!

  • Time Machine spends hours partially backing up and then fails with "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup due to a network problem."  Tried suggestions I've seen on the forum.

    Time Machine spends hours partially backing up and then fails with "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup due to a network problem."  I've tried various suggestions I've seen on the forum but nothing has worked.  TIme Machine worked fine for the last two years and just suddenly started having this problem every time.  The only thing that was a little different is that the computer was off for a week while on vacation and then I added a large amount (20 GB) of photos. Now the requested backup size is 82GB, which is large, and process proceeds very slowly for 2-3 hours before failing with the message mentioned.  I have more than enough available backup storage space for it.  Before failing, Time Machine has backed up no more than 12GB or so of the backup.  It fails during different files each time.
    I've turned off the computer sleep feature, and I've checked that the NAS is set to never automatically power down. I normally backup over Wi-Fi, but I've also tried connecting to Ethernet and it still has the same problem.  It's odd because I also have a MacBook Pro that is still backing up fine to the same NAS using the MacBook's Time Machine. 
    I am using an iMac with OS X 10.6.8 and an Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS.
    I have system logs that I can share if helpful.  The logged messages vary a bit from run to run, but here are some messages that I've been seeing:
    I always get this message near the beginning of the backup:
    Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Macintosh HD
    I've gotten this messsage a number of times:
    Bulk setting Spotlight attributes failed.
    One Day
    Stopping backupd to allow ejection of backup destination disk!
    Another day
    1/7/12 10:44:20 AM
    mDNSResponder[18]
    PenaltyTimeForServer: PenaltyTime negative -112916, (server penaltyTime -1132397006, timenow -1132284090) resetting the penalty
    1/7/12 10:46:37 AM
    kernel
    ASP_TCP Disconnect: triggering reconnect by bumping reconnTrigger from curr value 0 on so 0x1106be94
    1/7/12 10:46:37 AM
    kernel
    AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect started /Volumes/TimeMachine prevTrigger 0 currTrigger 1
    Another Day
    1/6/12 8:03:22 AM
    Google Chrome[164]
    Cannot find function pointer CMPluginInFactory for factory 3487BB5A-3E66-11D5-A64E-003065B300BC in CFBundle/CFPlugIn 0x16f99e20 </Users/smarmer/Library/Contextual Menu Items/Google Notifier Quick Add CM Plugin.plugin> (not loaded)
    1/6/12 8:04:02 AM
    com.apple.backupd[193]
    Copied 7.5 GB of 67.0 GB, 8866 of 8866 items
    1/6/12 8:06:58 AM
    /System/Library/CoreServices/CCacheServer.app/Contents/MacOS/CCacheServer[1013]
    No valid tickets, timing out
    1/6/12 8:29:44 AM
    mDNSResponder[19]
    PenaltyTimeForServer: PenaltyTime negative -148702, (server penaltyTime 2056822773, timenow 2056971475) resetting the penalty
    1/6/12 8:59:22 AM
    kernel
    ASP_TCP Disconnect: triggering reconnect by bumping reconnTrigger from curr value 0 on so 0xa5ac380
    1/6/12 8:59:22 AM
    kernel
    AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect started /Volumes/TimeMachine prevTrigger 0 currTrigger 1
    1/6/12 8:59:22 AM
    kernel
    AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect:  doing reconnect on /Volumes/TimeMachine
    1/6/12 8:59:22 AM
    kernel
    AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect:  soft mounted and hidden volume so do not notify KEA for /Volumes/TimeMachine
    1/6/12 8:59:22 AM
    kernel
    AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect:  Max reconnect time: 30 secs, Connect timeout: 15 secs for /Volumes/TimeMachine
    1/6/12 8:59:22 AM
    kernel
    AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect:  connect to the server /Volumes/TimeMachine
    1/6/12 8:59:22 AM
    kernel
    ASP_TCP asp_SetTCPQoS:  sock_settclassopt got error 57
    Another day
    1/5/12 3:48:55 PM
    mdworker[2128]
    CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.
    1/5/12 4:24:54 PM
    mDNSResponder[19]
    PenaltyTimeForServer: PenaltyTime negative -42698, (server penaltyTime 1148718961, timenow 1148761659) resetting the penalty
    1/5/12 4:29:58 PM
    com.apple.backupd[2074]
    Copied 586.4 MB of 67.0 GB, 9891 of 9891 items
    1/5/12 4:39:00 PM
    kernel
    ASP_TCP Disconnect: triggering reconnect by bumping reconnTrigger from curr value 0 on so 0xa1c0380

    bokon0n wrote:
    1/11/12 8:53:30 AM
    com.apple.backupd[1169]
    Warning: Destination /Volumes/TimeMachine does not support TM Lock Stealing
    1/11/12 8:53:30 AM
    com.apple.backupd[1169]
    Warning: Destination /Volumes/TimeMachine does not support Server Reply Cache
    Those indicate that your NAS is not fully compatible with Snow Leopard. 
    1/11/12 8:53:35 AM
    kernel
    jnl: disk2s2: replay_journal: from: 67182592 to: 78680064 (joffset 0xa7b8000)
    1/11/12 8:53:39 AM
    kernel
    jnl: disk2s2: examining extra transactions starting @ 78680064 / 0x4b09000
    1/11/12 8:53:39 AM
    kernel
    jnl: disk2s2: Extra txn replay stopped @ 79056896 / 0x4b65000
    1/11/12 8:53:49 AM
    kernel
    jnl: disk2s2: journal replay done.
    1/11/12 8:53:49 AM
    fseventsd[41]
    event logs in /Volumes/Time Machine/.fseventsd out of sync with volume.  destroying old logs. (253512 14 253512)
    1/11/12 8:53:50 AM
    kernel
    hfs: Removed 1 orphaned / unlinked files and 0 directories
    That looks like a problem was found with the file system (data) on the TM disk.  I don't know the details, but OSX tried to recover it from the journal, and found extra data on the drive.    Likely a result of the incompatibility mentioned above.
    1/11/12 9:47:40 AM
    com.apple.backupd[1169]
    Bulk setting Spotlight attributes failed.
    That's a problem writing to the NAS drive.
    But the backup continued after all this.
    1/11/12 1:25:07 PM
    kernel
    ASP_TCP Disconnect: triggering reconnect by bumping reconnTrigger from curr value 0 on so 0x9d00b44
    Something caused a disconnect.  Can't tell from the log what it was.
    I doubt it's a problem with something in OSX being damaged or corrupted, but reinstalling OSX isn't a major hassle, so might be worth a try.
    To be incompatible with Snow Leopard, this NAS must be at least a couple of years old.  It may be beginning to fail.
    Contact the maker.  See if there's an update to make it compatible with Snow Leopard.  If so, that might fix it.
    If not, or if that doesn't fix it, see if they have any diagnostics that will shed any light.

Maybe you are looking for