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.

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Time Machine warning: An error occured while creating a backup folder. What to do???

Time Machine warning: An error occured while creating a backup folder. What to do???

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 that corresponds to an abnormal backup. Now
CLEAR THE WORD "Starting" FROM THE TEXT FIELD
so that all messages are showing, and scroll back in the log to the time you noted. 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 to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If all you see are messages that contain the word "Starting," you didn't clear the text field.
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.

TS1550 Mac 10.6.8: Time Machine could not complet the backup.

For my iMac, running v 10.6.8, I have been getting this message: "Time Machine could not complet the backup. The backup disk image 'volumes/xxx.sparsebundle' could not be accessed (error -1)." This has been happening for a few months. I think I occasionally have a successful backup, but this used to all happend automatically, behind the scenes.
Now going through a manual backup process, but slow.

There are different reasons for this problem. See > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

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

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.

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 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

The message I get is: Time Machine could not complete the backup. This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 111.27 GB but only 42.1 GB are available.

I have a problem with my Time Capsule. The message I get is: Time Machine could not complete the backup. This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 111.27 GB but only 42.1 GB are available. As a result, my backups are no longer running. My umderstanding was that the Time Capsule would automatically delete old backups to make space. Can anyone help me figure out how to get my backups to run again?

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.

HT3275 I get the following message - "Time Machine could not complete the backup." "Unable to complete backup." "An error occurred while creating the backup folder.""

I get the following message - "Time Machine could not complete the backup." "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.""
This MAC is partioned with Windows 7 with only 50 gig devoted to Windows so my son can play Flight Simulator X on the machine.
I have a WD Passport External Hard Drive for the Back Up
I have spoken with WD Tech Support and they have been fantastic but I still keep getting this message. Any thought?
Maxx

Reboot the TC.. it sometimes gets lost on the network.. are you still actually using 10.6.8 as the problem is more prevalent on Lion and ML it seems is no better.
You might find reset of the TC is needed. change the names to short, no spaces pure alphanumeric.
Reset the TM to the new name.. use the A4 in Pondini's great KB.
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

HT3275 Time Machine could not complete backup

Time Machine could not complete the backup. The backup disk image “/Volumes/Gary Curtis's Time Capsule/Mac Pro (2).sparsebundle” is already in use.
What does that mean?

Aloha again LaPastenague:
I too continue to have problems with my TC. I can always get it back on line, using your receip. In fact it's pasted on to my monitor. The problem is it only lasts for awhile, 3 or 4 days, and I have to do it all over again.
Do you know if Apple is working this problem?
Dan Page

HT201250 My Time Machine is not backing up and gives me this error report, 'The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Valarie'siMac.sparsbundle" is already in use. Time machine could not complete backup. Can anyone help me?

My Time Machine is not backing up and gives me this error report:
The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Valarie'siMac.sparsbundle" is already in use
Time Machine could not complete backup
Can anyone help me?

Look at the discussion on the following forum:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3882138?start=0&tstart=0
The responses given there may help.

HT3275 time machine could not complete backup because it says a (filename).sparsebundle is already in use. Anyone know what that is?? and who could be already using my file?

Do you understand this error message? Time machine could not complete backup because it says a (filename).sparesbundle is already is in use.
What is the sparsebundle extension?

See here...
The Backup disk image ... sparsebundle ... is already in use.
From Pondini’s excellent Information Here...
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.htm

Time Machine could not complete the backup "Time Capsule". Unable to access disk image backup "/ Volumes / Time Capsule / iMac.sparsebundle" (error 112). How can I repair it?

Time Machine could not complete the backup "Time Capsule". Unable to access disk image backup "/ Volumes / Time Capsule / iMac.sparsebundle" (error 112).
How can I fix it?

You might want to take a look at Pondini's excellent support document......Time Machine Troubleshooting
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
See # C17

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.

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.

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