HT3275 Time Machine Backup Issue

My most recent Time Machine backup is listed as delayed with the following error message:  "The backup disk image “/Volumes/... Capsu/iMac_.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error -1)."   Does anyone know about what this message is refering and/or how to fix the issue?

See Here  >  " . . . sparse bundle could not be accessed (error -1)"
From Here  >  http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Similar Messages

  • HT3275 Time Machine backup not completed  because "the backup disk image ....sparsebundle already in use"

    Time Machine backup not completed because the "backup disk image"/Volumes/Data/MacBookAir.sparsebundle" is already in use. ??

    Reboot the TC.. this is most common issue since Mountain Lion.
    Look at the More Like This just on the right column.

  • Wipe new Macbook Pro - Time Machine Backup Issue

    Hi,
    I recently purchased a 15" Macbook Pro, i'd previously been using a Mac Pro - through which everything was backed up through Time Machine onto a external HD.
    When i started using the Macbook Pro i by-passed the initial Migration request as i had'nt yet got the 6 pin to 4 pin firewire cable for my external HD (have one now).
    When i tried routing timeline on the MBP to the Time Machine backup on my external HD it ended up creating a separate user account on my MBP. This isn't what i wanted - i thought i could pick up where the Mac Pro left off but have'nt been able to figure out how. It's also slowed the MBP down alot, so i want to wipe it and start afresh - hopefully figuring out the Time Machine issue in the process.
    Thanks,
    brokenboy

    You can by doing this:
    Install or Reinstall Lion from Scratch
    If possible backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive.
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
    Erase the hard drive:
    Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
    After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area.  If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing.  SMART info will not be reported  on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
    Quit DU and return to the main menu.
    Reinstall Lion: Select Reinstall Lion and click on the Install button.
    Note: You can also re-download the Lion installer by opening the App Store application. Hold down the OPTION key and click on the Purchases icon in the toolbar. You should now see an active Install button to the right of your Lion purchase entry. There are situations in which this will not work. For example, if you are already booted into the Lion you originally purchased with your Apple ID or if an instance of the Lion installer is located anywhere on your computer.
    When the system restarts you will be in the Setup Assistant from which you can initiate a migration from a Time Machine backup. In this way you will not end up with multiple user accounts.

  • HT3275 Time Machine backup does nothing

    Question: Is there a magic fix I can apply? or do I need to format the backup disk and make a new backup from scratch? or do I need to replace the backup disk with a new one? Or am I asking the wrong questions?
    After a mysterious freeze yesterday, followed by a shutdown and restart, Time Machine claims it is "Preparing backup ... Finishing backup" and is done very quickly. It does not spend its usual long time looking through a couple of hundred megabytes of files, nor does it do the subsequent stage of actually transferring data to the backup disk. "Entering" Time Machine seems to show it's at least a little confused: a test file created on the desktop fails to show in backups, while old files that have been moved appear on some backups, vanish on others.
    I'm not much good with log files, but they show something like this:
    12-02-29 10:54:49.260 AM com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
    12-02-29 10:54:49.287 AM com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/Jim Clarke backup/Backups.backupdb
    12-02-29 10:54:50.247 AM com.apple.backupd: 3.11 GB required (including padding), 334.62 GB available
    12-02-29 10:54:50.726 AM com.apple.backupd: Copied 29 files (153 bytes) from volume Macintosh HD.
    12-02-29 10:54:51.329 AM com.apple.backupd: Starting post-backup thinning
    12-02-29 10:54:51.330 AM com.apple.backupd: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
    12-02-29 10:54:51.459 AM com.apple.backupd: Backup completed successfully.
    The "29 files(153 bytes)" part is always the same, except for once when it said "21 KB" instead of 153 bytes.
    I'll be very grateful for guidance. There's lots of advice on Time Machine out there, but I can't find anything relevant to this situation.
    Jim Clarke

    Time Machine uses the modification times of folders to determine whether their contents need to be scanned for changes made since the time of the last snapshot. For some reason, that criterion occasionally fails, and TM doesn’t scan folders with contents that have changed. You may be able to get backups to resume by updating the modification times of all your folders.
    Important: This procedure will change the modification times of all folders on the startup volume. It won’t affect anything that’s not a folder, and it won’t change your existing backups at all. If you have a reason to want to keep the modification times of folders as they are, STOP.
    Before proceeding, you must have a current backup of all data. Since your existing Time Machine backups may not be current, you’ll have to back up in some other way; for example, by starting a new TM backup set on another external drive. It’s a good idea to do this anyway, as you need more than one backup.
    Launch the Terminal application by entering the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. If that doesn’t work, then in the Finder, press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens. Another way to launch Terminal (if you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later) is from LaunchPad: click the Utilities icon, then Terminal in the page that opens.
    Drag or copy – do not type – the following line into the Terminal window, then press return:
    sudo find / -xdev -type d -exec touch {} \;
    You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up.
    The command may take several minutes to run. When a line ending in a dollar sign ($) appears below what you entered, quit Terminal.
    The next snapshot will take longer than usual, because all folders will be scanned for changes. When it’s complete, check the results to see how much data has been backed up.
    This procedure will only affect the backups of your startup volume. If you back up other source volumes with Time Machine and are having the same problem with those, you’ll need to take additional steps.

  • Help - New iMac, Time Machine backup issue

    Hello everybody,
    I am a happy camper with my brand new 27" iMac, however... I have a problem with system migration. Here is the issue:
    - On my Time Machine, I have backups of my old iMac and my MacBook Air
    - When I tried Migration Assistant to reinstall my old iMac contents on my new iMac, no backups were found
    - Then, when I disbaled the Time Machine on my MacBook Air, I could see the MacBook Air backup in the Migration Assistant.
    So, my conclusion was: I need to disable the Time Machine on my old iMac too! However - that one is BROKEN.
    How do I proceed??? Migration Assitant keeps telling me that not all copies can be restored because some systems still seem to be mounted... or something similar.
    How do I make my Time Machine forget about the old iMac? Yes, I can see the Time Capsule in the finder, I can even see the contents of my old iMac backups, but Migration Assitant won't eat them...   
    Your tips are much appreciated.
    Maccer. 

    Thanks Toad, I did that. Unfortunately I could not find an anwer to my problem there. All I can do now is retrieve individual files, which is a hassle. I want full system restore, including all my files, email etc.
    The Time Machine keeps telling me that "another system is mounted"  and that "not all copies can be restored".
    Since I can SEE the full backup file, I cannot imagine it is hard to use that file for Migration Assistant.

  • HT3275 Time Machine backup error message: The backup disk image "/Volumes/Backup Files/Burke iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use.

    I'm getting the following error message from my Time Machine for two days now:
    "The backup disk image “/Volumes/Backup Files/Burke iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use."
    I haven't changed anyting lately and can't find the problem...

    Try just rebooting the TC.. or restart of the whole network, in correct order.. modem.. router/TC.. clients.
    Read C12 here.
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    Look at the more like this on the right. it is a very common problem.. especially since ML we have this question 5 times every day.

  • HT3275 Time machine backup problem

    When Time Capsule runs the regularly scheduled backup I get a message that reads "Time Machine could not complete the backup.
    The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/myusername's iMac (3).sparsebundle” is already in use." If I click on the Time Capsule app it runs for awhile but doesn't connect and shows the message "The operation can’t be completed. An unexpected error occurred (error code -6584)." Last successful backup is shown as 9/25/13.
    Any suggestions on how to restore the backup program so that it runs successfully?
    Thanks,

    You have two different errors there.
    The already in use is the most common.. that just means the TC connection to the computer has broken down.. a simple reboot of the TC is enough usually to get things going.. but see C12 for more details.
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    I would do a full network restart in correct order.. so with everything powered off.. turn on
    Modem.. wait 2min
    TC.. wait 2min (any other network clobber like switch or EOP adapters, in order they appear by connection)
    Computers etc.
    No luck you also have a possible backup corruption.. 6584 is a serious error.
    Do a disk verify.. see A5.
    If that passes but you still have problems the best solution is to wipe the TC via airport utility.. erase.. you only need a fast erase and do a fresh clean backup.

  • HT3275 time machine backup keeps increasing

    While Time Machine is backing up, the amount of date to be copied keeps increasing.  It gets most the way through the backup, then both figures (backing up / to be backed up) increase in tandem.  
    I'm using a WD My Cloud.

    Hello,
    The timer isn't all that accurate, but should count up as it finds more needing backup, bit how long has it been now?
    Have you looked through Pondini's extensive TM help site?
    http://Pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    Can't imagine something not being covered there.

  • Time Machine Backup Issue

    Acting on the advice of the folks at our local Genius Bar, I purchased an external Lacie drive at the Apple store a few weeks back.  I needed the space b/c the info. on my iMac exceeded the capacity of the Time Capsule/Time Machine.
    Things have been going well until today when I received an error message stating that "Time Machine can't complete the backup.  An error occurred while creating the backup folder."
    Any help is appreciated.

    Look at C10.
    Time Machine Troubleshooting
    Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems

  • I just restored my 13" MBP i5 at the apple store to the newest version of Lion after issues with a previous Time Machine backup from Snow Leopard- this time I created a new account and just ported files and folders, and now MS Office doesn't work. Help?

    I just restored my 13" MBP i5 at the apple store to the newest version of Lion after issues with a previous Time Machine backup from Snow Leopard- this time I created a new account and just ported files and folders, and now MS Office doesn't work.
    ^^ that's the main problem. Here's the full history.
    I bought a new 13" i5 MBP, early 2011 edition. I had an old white Macbook 2.14 ghz core2duo on Snow Leopard. I attempted to port over my time machine backup, but encountered problems in that my User was inaccessible from the new computer after the import finished, and I had to go in and change the root password, etc, and for some reason or another, I couldn't install any programs at all from that administrator's account. By "couldn't" I mean I could install them, but upon installation they would never boot. So, I took it to the apple store and did a clean install from the most up to date Lion OSX. Then, I created a brand new admin account, instead of trying to import the old one, and things seemed great. Then, I just imported my old files from the TM backup, but not any system settings, permissions, or user data. Just my Docs, pics, vids, apps, and itunes stuff.
    Here's where things get weird again. I imported this stuff under the name "old", but all of these folders have a red negative sign on them, marking them as restricted. So, from my main admin account, I cannot even peruse these folders. Since I didn't import user data, I can't sign in to the "old" account to change permissions. I already tried to change the permissions from system preferences, but that didn't change anything. And now, for whatever reason, of all the apps that were imported then, MS Office is the only set of apps that does not work. When I click on it, it just says there was a problem and asks if I'd like to send a report to apple. I tried reinstalling it to no avail. I'm an English student, so i really need access to Word. Can anyone help? The Apple store is a major detour for me and would like to fix this issue myself.

    Most likely you have Office 2004 which are PPC-only applications and will not work in Lion. Upgrade to Office 2011. Other alternatives are:
    Apple's iWork suite (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.)
    Open Office (Office 2007-like suite compatible with OS X.)
    NeoOffice (similar to Open Office.)
    LibreOffice (a new direction for the Open Office suite.)

  • Issue trying to use old Mac Time Machine backup on new Mac

    I've just got a new iMac 27" to replace my old 21" and am planning to restore files from the Time Machine backup I have. On the iMac 21" I used an external hard-drive connected to an Airport Extreme Base Station to back up using Time Machine. On the new Mac the external drive is connected directly to the USB port. The old machine is now about 10,000 miles away from me.
    The issue I have is I cannot read the back-up from the old machine on the new.
    During the first startup I tried to read from the Time Machine backup but the system told me I could not use it because it was from a different machine - it read all the back-up dates and let me chose, but did not allow to use it.
    After startup was completed, I run a software update to make sure everything had the same version and tried Migration Assistant (with the HD still connected to the USB port), but the wheel keeps spinning not finding any disk.
    I can read the .sparsebundle file on the external drive and I see it is intact. Disk Utility recognizes it and Status is Not mounted. When I try to open it with Disk Utility it says it is not mountable.
    Any of you know how I can resolve this? I am thinking of a way of opening the file and reading it.
    I really just need my music, my movies and my pictures, but I have 1.2T of that so it is not something I can download from the old Mac.
    Thanks a lot in advance.

    I've just got a new iMac 27" to replace my old 21" and am planning to restore files from the Time Machine backup I have. On the iMac 21" I used an external hard-drive connected to an Airport Extreme Base Station to back up using Time Machine. On the new Mac the external drive is connected directly to the USB port. The old machine is now about 10,000 miles away from me.
    The issue I have is I cannot read the back-up from the old machine on the new.
    During the first startup I tried to read from the Time Machine backup but the system told me I could not use it because it was from a different machine - it read all the back-up dates and let me chose, but did not allow to use it.
    After startup was completed, I run a software update to make sure everything had the same version and tried Migration Assistant (with the HD still connected to the USB port), but the wheel keeps spinning not finding any disk.
    I can read the .sparsebundle file on the external drive and I see it is intact. Disk Utility recognizes it and Status is Not mounted. When I try to open it with Disk Utility it says it is not mountable.
    Any of you know how I can resolve this? I am thinking of a way of opening the file and reading it.
    I really just need my music, my movies and my pictures, but I have 1.2T of that so it is not something I can download from the old Mac.
    Thanks a lot in advance.

  • Issues with restoring a Time Machine backup onto new Macbook Pro Retina

    I recently got a new Macbook Pro Retina and I've been trying to restore a Time Machine backup made today from my old Macbook Pro laptop. I didn't restore from the first start up (foolishly, seemingly) simply because of the trivial reason of wanting to see the system all clean and new.
    I've tried the Migration Assistant but it gets stuck on "looking for source..", despite having the ex.HD plugged in and double checking the existance of the backup itself on the ex.HD.
    I've also tried booting the laptop up in the 'restore' mode (cmd R) and restoring from there but it sends me in a constant loop of 'this backup was from a previous model of laptop' or something to that affect. It also doesn't display the recent backups at all, only displaying those from the beginning of this year for some reason. All backups are in the same place on the ex.HD so its not an issue with locating the backups.
    Really stuck on this one! Would really appreciate some help!
    Thanks a lot, and merry Christmas

    Yes, you can restore to another machine if needs be.

  • Due to NAS issues, when I started a new time machine backup it did not have the old backups available. My question is do I need to delete them or will time machine automatically reclaim the space?  Only one Sparse Bundle, same name.

    Due to NAS issues, when I started a new time machine backup it did not have the old backups available. My question is do I need to delete them or will time machine automatically reclaim the space?  There is only one sparse bundle but when I enter time machine I don't see my historic backups.  I use a synology DS212 for my time machine.  Started a new backup which is 218gb but it says 618 gb is occupied  therefore it looks like 2 or 3 backups are still on the disk. Before my NAS issues the last backup was in 2014.  As you can see there is a second sparse bundle from 2012.  Not sure what that is.

    This is an old message now, but what happened to me similarly was:
    I had a major computer crash and through complicated pathways ended up reinstalling (Mavericks) as a new user (long story).
    At least I had good Time Machine backups on an NAS drive (Synology DS212j), or so I thought - when I started Time Machine up again, the old backup file was gone, replaced by a new one using my "new computer" name. The old file was gone both by directly mounting the NAS drive and by clicking "Enter Time Machine".
    It's like I had {OldShareName}.sparsebundle and then it was replaced by {NewShareName}.sparsebundle, all of the old info vanished.
    (I have spent a week finding old files elsewhere and have completed a satisfactory self-restore. It pays to "archive" [my own variation of] as well as "back-up".)
    My belief is that if this were a wired-netword-drive, e.g. plugged right into my iMac with a USB cable, then the old file would have remained.
    But this is an NAS drive, connected directly to my Airport wireless router, and I don't know the significance of the fact that it stores its Time Machine backups as "sparsebundle" files rather than simply as plain(er) files.
    As usual when things get complicated with computers (not just Apple computers) there was never a warning message. Something like "YOU'RE ABOUT TO DELETE A TIME MACHINE BACK-UP FILE!!!" would have made my life a lot simpler.
    BTW, I did try a "restore from Time Machine" option the first thing I had my "new computer" (old hardware, 2009 iMac) up and running, using Migration Assistant, and it ran for many hours and then failed in the wee hours - what that has to do with anything I'm not sure.
    I'm not sure that I have a question about this other than "why do these things happen to me?", but it's a warning. Apart from that I've been very happy with the stability and reliability (but not the cost or set-up complexity) of NAS vs. directly-cabled external drives.
    Charles

  • Time machine backup fails; error creating folder. Western Digital drive requires password which is perhaps/likely the issue. I can't eliminate the password/encryption.

    Time Machine backup fails on new WD external drive (My Passport Studio); error creating folder (after several hours of Time Machine apparently working).
    Background: I purchased a Western Digital drive from an Apple Store to use for Time Machine backup.  I followed the Western Digital instructions that came with the drive for Mac. I didn't get the Time Machine prompt which the instructions indicated I would receive--namely to select whether I want to encrypt my Time Macine backups. (I already have a Time Machine backup I use at another location, which is perhaps why I didn't receive a prompt.)
    I decided to install the Western Digital utilities and security software that comes on the disk--with a view to potentially encrypting the disk (since I still wanted to have an encrypted backup since I was mobile). I forgot that (from experience 2-years previous) that I shouldn't install Western Digital software because it just makes life really complicated.
    I tried several times to do a Time Machine backup with failures each time (error creating the backup folder). I tried to get help from WD but I don't think the technicians were following what my issue was. Potentially I was not helpful in explaining it. I deleted the WD applications from my system after the first contact with WD. However the problem persisted--I still had an encrypted hard drive. After three phone sessions with three different WD techs I still could not get a solution. (By the second call I was not at all interested in having an encrypted drive--I just wanted to format and restore the drive to an unencrypted state so that I could have SOME kind of Time Machine backup.)
    I still don't have a solution--either to get Time Machine working with the WD encryption/password on the drive, or to remove the encryption so I can backup. Right now my options are to return the drive to the Apple Store -- or get a return authorization from WD. Seems crazy since the drive is fine and I have the working password.

    Never install "helpful software" provided by WD and Seagate (or any HD mfg.)
    All such stuff is fluff and nonsense that interferes with normal HD operation.
    Always when you buy a new HD, format it for Mac and then use it to TM backup or clone a HD, or archive data.
    Less is more on HD new out of box.  A "blank brick", no fluff and cotton candy software

  • Reinstall system to solve beachball issue, then get files from time machine backup.. will the bring beachball back

    Hi,
    My iMac has a beachball issue to the extent that now it not even starts up anymore, I don't even get to the desktop screen. I plan to reinstall the system from with the CD I got when I purchased the iMac 2 years ago, then update the operating system to the latest version, and then get my files and programs back from my latest time machine backup, which was completed c. 2 weeks ago.
    1) Will this process generally work? I am running Mavericks 10.9, so the CD I want to install from will be an older version, but I then plan to upgrade to 10.9 before accessing the time machine files.
    2) Post upgrading the op system to the latest version, when I then get the programs and files back from time machine, will that bring also back the beach ball issue, or given that everything will be saved and installed 'cleanly' it will be alright?
    I am not a mac pro, so still learning, please forgive if I am not posting required info. Let me know what you need.
    Thanks

    1. Yes.
    2. Depending on what is causing the beachball, restoring may or may not bring the problem back.
    Spinning Beach Ball
    Spinning Beach ball (2)
    Spinning Beach ball (3)
    Spinning Beach ball (4)

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