HT201250 Time Machine backup disk not found

I recently reconfigured my external disks, creating a 500GB oartition for Time Machine backup. thefirst time I set up Time machine to use that partition all went well. Seconed time it failed "cannot find backup disk." 
This is a 24 inch, mid 2007 iMac OS X 10.8.2.  I am using two external backup drives - 1T LaCie with 4 partitions and a BlackX removable adaptor with a WD 1T drive plugged in.  Both are formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)  In the view below the top "Time Machine" drive at the top is a duplicate of the last drive in the list.
If I select the top drive - I have the option to "Remove Disk" - NOT to "Use this Disk." So I have to select the bottom "Time Machine" drive.  The backup will then run once but on the second try I get "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Time Machine". Unable to complete backup. An error occured while creating backup folder."  Whether I remove the top listed disk or not doesn't seem to matter, sometimes it finds the drive, sometimes not!
The BlackX is a USB connected directly to the iMac.  The other partition on that drive contains movie clips and they run fine.
There is a backup folder on the Time Machine drive with six backups - however I have to "reset" the Time Machine each time to get it to backup.  It craps out on the second try every time.  Got me buffaloed!  Any ideas?

Assuming you have nothing on your Time Machine volume that you need, erase that volume and Verify it from Disk Utilities. Repair if necessary. Then, go into the Time Machine Preferences and Remove the selected drive to use. Now, reselect it and try a backup.

Similar Messages

  • Time Machine backup disk not found

    Hello,
    I have following set-up at home:
    * A BELKIN router in the laundry room
         > This router is connected to the internet via my cable modem
         > This router broadcasts a wireless network, let's call it wifi A, troughout the house 
         > This router is connected to 3 wired internet sockets troughout the house
         > This router is functioning perfectly
    * A TIME CAPSULE in the office
         > This time capsule is connected to one of the above mentioned internet sockets
         > This time capsule is used as a hub, router mode is OFF (Bridge mode)
         > This time capsule does not broadcast a wireless network
         > This time capsule connects a printer, a NAS network disk and a Mac Book Pro (via a thunderbolt screen) to the router
    * A Mac Book Pro
         > At home this MBP is always connected to the wired internet, via the tunderbolt screen and the macbook pro
         > Running mountain lion
         > Backups are done regularly via the time capsule, without problems
    * A Mac Book Air (and here is where the problem starts)
         > Running Mountain Lion (although the below problem was already present with Lion also)
         > Always connected to the wifi A network
         > This Mac Book Air is also set up to back up to the time capsule, but here is the problem.
    The problem is as follows: when the MBA want's to start the backup, it start's looking for the backup disk, but it can't find the disk. So it cancels the backup. It is very strange, because the Time Capsule itself can be found. If you chose "Select Disk" in the Time Machine Preferences, the time capsule shows up as an option. The time capsule also shows up in the airport utility and in the finder. In the finder, one can even browse to the previously created Sparse Disk Image of the backup on the time capsule.
    If I want to make a backup, I have to do one of the following:
    * Connect the MBA wired to the timecapsule via the thunderbolt screen.
    * Set Up a wireless network via the timecapsule, wifi B, and connect the MBA to this network. Extending the wifi A network does not solve the problem!
    Anybody has a solution for this problem?
    Jan
    PS Replacing my Belkin Router with the time capsule is not an option. The router is located in the laundry room (since this is where the cable connection is coming in) and I don't want to place a backup hard drive in this damp room. Also having the wifi broadcasted only by the time machine is not an option since it does not even cover half the living area.

    thought I had a solution, but had misread your post... sorry

  • Time Machine "Backup Disk Not Available" over WAN

    I have port forwarded port 46 (TCP and UDP) to port 548 a Mac mini server running Mac OS X 10.6.8, and I have Time Machine backup disk on it set as a share point with Time Machine support enabled. On my Mac Pro running OS X 10.8.5, I am able to connect via AFP to my server with the address "afp://my-ip-address:46" and can read and write on the backup disk share point. I tested that, and it works. When I am on the same LAN as the server, I can use that disk for Time Machine and have been doing so for years. However, I cannot do a Time Machine backup to that share point over the WAN. When I open Time Machine preferences, I can select the share point as my backup disk, but once I start the backup, it says "Backup disk not available" and fails to start. How could I fix this problem?
    In case you're wondering, I forward port 46 to port 548 instead of port 548 to port 548 to minimize hacking attempts. Last time I used a default port, a computer in Taiwan started spamming SSH authentication failures.

    I did find this article via Google
    <http://www.macgurulounge.com/make-time-machine-remotely-back-up-to-your-time-cap sule/>
    Personally, I use CrashPlan (free option using my own disks) to backup over the internet.  It works very well when I'm away from home.  Everything is encrypted.

  • Time Machine Backups disk not automatically unmounting after backup completes in Lion

    I am using Time Machine over WiFi on a 3rd party USB drive shared as an AirDisk through an Airport Extreme router. Ever since switching to Lion (clean install), I have noticed that the Time Machine backup disk will not automatically unmount after a backup is completed. This creates a problem when my MacBook Pro comes back from sleep. Specifically, the WiFi notification icon in the Finder toolbar indicates that WiFi is connected, even though it's not connected to a network, and I am unable to connect to any networks for what seems like several minutes until the Time Machine backups disk disappears from the desktop and WiFi actually connects.
    Since the disk was not cleanly unmounted, Time Machine then keeps complaining that the sparse bundle file is locked and cannot be mounted every time it tries to do a backup. I have to either disconnect/reconnect the USB drive physically from the router, or restart the router every time this happens to resolve the issue. That is getting really annoying to have to do every time. I suppose I could manually unmount the Time Machine disk after every backup but it's ridiculous to have to do that every time I want to put the computer to sleep.
    Is anyone else experiencing this issue and is there a fix?

    For others who might be having this problem - I was able to resolve it by connecting my backup disk to my mac via USB, completely erasing it, and starting over from a new backup. Disk Utility was not reporting any errors when I verified the disk, but I went ahead and repartitioned it and started fresh. The disk now automatically unmounts after backups complete.

  • Time Machine: Backup Disk Not Available

    I realize there are a few topics floating around about this issue, but I'm still not finding a solution. Not sure if my situation is different than the others but figured I'd take a shot a describing my scenario in a new thread and seeing if it generates any new ideas.
    I have a 2TB Seagate external expansion drive connected to a MacMini on my home network. The drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and is not partitioned.
    I have mounted the drive on my MacBook Pro 2.66/i7 running 10.6.6. I then go to the TM Preference pane and select the drive, enter the username and password for my admin account on the Mini. It indicates that it's preparing and then comes back a minute later with a Time Machine error indicating that the backup drive is not available.
    I have an older MacBook Pro, my sons MacBook, and my wife's Macbook also on the network. Each of these Macs can mount the backup drive, select it in the TM Preference pane and successfully begin and maintain the TM backup.
    I have created a second "test" account on my MacBook Pro. I have followed the same steps and have had no problems with time machine preparing and successfully beginning the back up account.
    So - with those facts - I have had to conclude that there is something amiss with my main account.
    Other steps I have taken on my MBP with my main account include:
    * Deleting the com.timemachine.plist file from /Library/Preferences - restarting and trying again. No luck.
    * Restarting into applejack and performing an "applejack auto restart". No luck
    * Removing all timemachine related entries in the Keychain, running Keychain FirstAid. No luck.
    * Reformatting the external drive on the Mini, repairing permissions and running a disk repair and starting all over again. No luck.
    In each case above a restart was done before attempting to reinitiate the TM process.
    So - with out blabbering on with any more details, I think it's clear that I'm at a bit of a loss as to what else I should try. I'm WIDE open to suggestions.

    I resolved this issue just this morning (see below). This may not (or may) apply to your situation because yours magically corrected itself, but hopefully it will help somebody.
    Environment Architecture: We appear to have a very similar system architecture to the one you describe. In my case, we have 4 macs all relying on Time Machine and a networked 1TB Time Capsule for backups. Each of 3 workstation macs share data from the 4th, which we use as a primary server. I ran into my problem when the Time Capsule filled up and stopped backing up our primary server due to lack of available space. All recommended solutions for freeing up space appeared time consuming, and because we do daily off-site backups through MOZY (we use Time Machine for simplicity of recovery for hourly backups) I could take the "easier" path of just reformatting the Time Capsule's data drive and start again fresh.
    Problem identified: Per instructions, I used Airport Utility to erase my Time Capsule data drive, but thought I'd check my existing settings while I was there. Seeing the password prompt, and not remembering for sure what my password was, I thought I'd just reset it to what I wanted. Seemed benign at the time. When I started my 1st system's backup, I was prompted for the Time Capsule's password, and entered the new password. It accepted it as it should have, but then rejected the backup with a message indicating that I had provided the incorrect network account and password. The odd part was that it had originally accepted it, and even flashed the available space on the Time Machine preferences window. After much searching through these topics, I discovered that the password is stored multiple times -- some correctly and some not. Correcting the passwords fixed the problems.
    Where to look:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2048
    Mac OS X 10.5.3 or later: Time Machine - "Backup volume could not be mounted" after changing network volume's password
    * Last Modified: October 14, 2008
    * Article: TS2048
    As it turns out, Apple stores that password in multiple places in your Keychain (don't ask me why!), even using the identical Keychain entry name. All I can presume is that one piece of the software looked in one Keychain entry, and another looked in a different Keychain entry. The passwords were different (one was my original password, and one was my new password). Once I changed them to the same thing on each of my satellite stations, they all worked again and Time Machine is happily chugging along on all workstations.

  • Cannot access time machine, backup disk not available error code.

    My time machine stopped backing up. It is a 2TB. I get error code -6584. and says backup disk not available. Coincidentally, I had to reset my time machine for a forgotten password about 6 days ago. Wi-fi works fine, but a few days later when trying to access old files throughout the time capsule I could not. Said my last back up was the day the time machine had to be reset. I have 1.79 of TB used..which is weird my computer is only 4 G and have only filled up 2.4 G of it.
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    We haven't seen report of problem with 6584 for a while. It generally means a corrupted backup. You need to do a verify of the back.
    See A5 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    This will take a very very long time if the backup has almost filled the TC.. so at least use ethernet connection.
    You do have a problem.. the formatted capacity of a 2TB disk is 1.8TB.. If you have used up 1.79TB then sorry but you really need to erase the TC and start over.
    The TM can fill up huge disks if you use parallels or dropbox or any dual boot system that has a virtual disk file.. TM will backup 20GB for every 1KB change. That file is hidden btw so you might not see it but I assure you it will chew up space.
    I don't know what you mean by computer having only 4GB. That would make it rather ancient.. Surely even smallest SSD must be 64 or 128GB.

  • Time Machine "Backup disk not available" error message since install Snow L

    Since installing Snow Leopard my back-ups have failed, generating the error message "The back-up disk is not available." Last successful back-up was immediately pre-install of Snow Leopard. TM looks like it is backing up but in the end I get the error message. The wireless aspect for internet connect works fine so I don't think connectivity is the issue.
    I am not real techie so insult me with basics. Thanks.

    I have four macs using time machine on a single 1TB drive connected to Airport Extreme through USB. This morning I got the dreaded error-109 on Mac#1. This occured right after I had added Mac#4 to the bunch. While adding the Mac#4, I mounted my airport disk and then used time machine to select it for backup. I forgot to eject it after it had done the initial backup. That was when the error occured on the Mac#1.
    Mac #1 C2D Mini 2009 SL 10.6.2
    Mac #2 G5 DP L 10.5.8
    Mac #3 MBP 2009 SL 10.6.2
    Mac #4 MB C2D2006 SL 10.6.2
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  • Time Machine backup disk not mounting after Snow Leopard upgrade

    i recently upgraded from latest version of Leopard to Snow Leopard via retail disk 10.6.3 & then updated combo 10.6.5. Now the TM backup disc will not mount.

    Exactly what happens? Do you get a message? If so, what?
    Try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
    If that doesn't help, the backups may be corrupted. Repair them, per #A5 in Troubleshooting.

  • Why is Time Machine backup disk not available?

    After being away for 6 week on vacation with the iMac turned off, but the Time Capsule left on, all backups have been "delayed" and a forced backup-now yields the following message:
    Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to “XXX-Time-Capsule”.
    OSX 10.8.4
    I've tried to re-select with password using the TiemCapsule utility
    Any suggesttions?

    Open Time Machine Preferences>click "Select Disk">click on the appropriate TM disk under the bottom window titled "Available Disks." Force a backup and see if it works. If this doesn't fix it reboot your iMac and/or Time Capsule and try forcing a backup again once the iMac and/or TC have fully booted up.

  • Time machine fails backing up with a "backup disk not found" error after upgrade to Lion 10.7.2

    Time machine fails backing up with a "backup disk not found" error after upgrade to Lion 10.7.2. I've erased and reformatted the drive; reconnected Time Machine(it saw it) and began a new backup. The backup starts again but fails before completing with backup drive not found error. I used the 10.7.2 combo update. Any help on how to fix this problem would be appreciated.

    Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
    After waiting since October for a fix, I have now upgraded the firmware on the Time Capsule and installed the new Airport Utility, released yesterday, and the situation is even worse.
    Up until now, the Airport Utility had an option to disconnect all drives manually and the Time Capsule would then work until the next reboot – a temporary (?) work-around.
    Now that option does not exist in the new-look Airport Utility. And the Airport Utility installation can’t be rolled back and the old utility won’t restore.
    The sparesbundle is still not accessible. Anyone worked out a work-around in the new environment yet?
    I have another Time Machine backup working fine to a trusty old Lacie Drive so erased the one on my Time Capsule to see if that works. I have renamed the Capsule and the Time Capsule Drive.  But to build another full backup will take at least two days and I shall be away from tomorrow and am reluctant to leave the Capsule and computer up and running for a week. And I’ll bet the sparsbundle will still be nowhere to be found.
    How can Apple screw up so badly when they are to become the richest company in the entire world and – soon – will have more cash in the bank than the entire United States? Can’t they afford someone who really can sort this out? Especially when a Firewire connected hard drive – my trusty and simple LaCie – works fine.
    Words, almost, fail me.

  • Error Dialogue: "Time Machine Backup Disk Can't be Found"

    Hello -
    I am trying to "Enter Time Machine" (which is on a Time Capsule); but when I try this, I am met by the error message "Your Time Machine Backup Disk Can't be Found" with the option given to "Set up My Time Machine".
    Needless to say, my Time Machine has been set up for months. When I look in the preferences, it clearly shows the disk I'm connected to (here's a screenshot of the error dialogue alongside my Time Machine preferences: http://cl.ly/1HGk).
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    ADDITIONAL NOTE: notice from the screenshot that Time Machine thinks the earliest backup is only 1 day prior. This is also strange as I have said I've had Time Machine working on this Time Capsule for months. I called Apple about this and was told that a software update had gone out yesterday that reformatted the drives and started the backups all over again. While completely fishy - I don't remember agreeing to any software update dialogue about erasing my Time Capsule - I took them at their word. Not sure if this is related, but thought I should mention it.
    Thanks Crew!

    MattLat wrote:
    Hello -
    I am trying to "Enter Time Machine" (which is on a Time Capsule); but when I try this, I am met by the error message "Your Time Machine Backup Disk Can't be Found" with the option given to "Set up My Time Machine".
    Needless to say, my Time Machine has been set up for months. When I look in the preferences, it clearly shows the disk I'm connected to (here's a screenshot of the error dialogue alongside my Time Machine preferences: http://cl.ly/1HGk).
    Any idea what the best course of action is here.
    The +sparse bundle+ containing your backups may be corrupted. Repair it, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum).
    If that doesn't help, try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 there.
    ADDITIONAL NOTE: notice from the screenshot that Time Machine thinks the earliest backup is only 1 day prior. This is also strange as I have said I've had Time Machine working on this Time Capsule for months. I called Apple about this and was told that a software update had gone out yesterday that reformatted the drives and started the backups all over again.
    That's the first I've heard of that. They may have been referring to the +Time Capsule Backup Update 1.0+ update several weeks ago, that some folks got but others didn't. If it finds a problem, it sends the message in this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4076 The existing sparse bundle is renamed and locked, and a new one made.

  • HT3275 message: "Your Time Machine backup disk can't be found." Mountain Lion. Western Digital "MY Book" "Home edition"

    Intalled Mountain Lion. Now get message: "Time machine backup disk can't be found. Using Western Digital "My Book" "Home Edition"

    Wow, I feel really stupid. I spent a couple of days trying to troubleshoot this problem.
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  • Time Machine Backup Disk Cannot be found

    While my iMac was in sleep mode, I disconnected the power to my external, firewire time machine backup disk. The backup is a Western Digital hard drive.
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    Dan Mackey1 wrote:
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  • HT4500 Support Apple advice does not work; I followed the instructions; Time Machine backups cannot be found, possibly in use.  Right after an installation of OS.

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    Have you repaired your permissions? This can be a very frustrating situation which I encountred after a logic board replacement.
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