I am having trouble with my Time Machine on Snow Leopard

I am using 10.6.8 and have a 500Gb internal hard drive. No partitions. No external drives back up to my 1.5Tb (no partitions, entirely dedicated to Time Machine backup) hard drive. The error message appears as:
Time Machine Error
"This backup is too large for the backup disk.
The backup requires 456.65 GB but only 34.73 GB are available."
I have been reading different threads and have gone to Pondini's website but have not found the answer. I installed Time Machine Buddy and here is what it says for yesterday:
"Starting standard backup
Error -35 while resolving alias to backup target
Backup failed with error: 19"
And for today:
"Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Backup content size: 456.9 GB excluded items size: 103.8 GB for volume Macintosh HD
Starting pre-backup thinning: 425.29 GB requested (including padding), 32.34 GB available
No expired backups exist - deleting oldest backups to make room
Error: backup disk is full - all 0 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed.
Backup Failed: unable to free 425.29 GB needed space
Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
Stopping backupd to allow ejection of backup destination disk!"
Those are the only 2 messages that it lists.
Any help to get me backing up again would be greatly appreciated!

First off, thank you so much to everyone who is trying to help! I really appreciate it!
I opened the "backups.backupdb" folder as you suggested "jeffreyfromtas" and found 2 folders:
dvlynn's iMac and
dvlynn's iMac 2.
The 1st folder seems to contain all the backups from the 1st time it backed up in Sept. 2010 until the last time it backed up without error in January of this year.
The 2nd folder contains one file titled "2014-01-03-175020.inProgress"
I purchased this time machine backup drive in 2010 after the origional drive on my iMac crashed and was replaced. When that happened my system was updated to Snow Leopard where it is now. The only major changes I have made are that I moved a lot of large video files off my main drive onto external hard drives to make more room on the iMac.
Other than that everything has stayed the same.
I'm asking it what size the 2 folders are but it's taking forever to answer and I venture to guess it will be 99.99% in the 1st folder and 0.01% in the second folder.
Let me know if that makes any sense.
And thanks again!

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Backing up an encrypted drive with Time Machine under Snow Leopard

In a nutshell, my question is “Can I back up an encrypted drive using Time Machine under Snow Leopard, and if so, how do I access its data from a previous day?”
I have a 1Tb USB drive connected to my MacBook, which runs Snow Leopard. The drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). This drive is included in the drives that Time Machine backs up. I used Disk Utility to create an encrypted drive on the USB drive (998Gb), also formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). The encrypted drive is not on TimeMachine’s list of excluded files/drives.
When I go into Time Machine, I can see the USB drive and the encrypted drive in the side bar. I can access the files on the encrypted drive as long as I’m looking at how it stands now. But if I move backward in time, the encrypted drive is grayed out and inaccessible. If I click on the USB drive, I get a window that tells me it is 75.9Gb in size, and nothing else is available to me.
When I open the back-up drive in Finder and navigate to Backups.backupdb > macbook name > some date and time, I see my MacBook’s hard drive and the USB drive. The encrypted drive is not shown. When I click on the USB drive, I see an entry for drivename.sparsebundle. When I click on that I’m prompted for the password for the encrypted drive. When I enter it, I get a warning telling me that the disk image could not be opened and that the encrypted drive has no mountable file systems.
Is my encrypted drive really be backed-up and if so, how do I access the backed-up data?

Having received a bunch of views but no replies over the last 5 days, I decided to venture into my local Apple store and ask this same question. The response I got from the geniuses was that you can't get a reliable back-up of an encrypted drive using Time Machine under Snow Leopard. So, my only alternative is to copy the encrypted drive's contents elsewhere, unencrypt the drive, and then copy the contents back. This is what I expected, but not what I wanted to hear.

Transfer time machine data (snow leopard) to new mb air (lion)

MB Pro died. How do I transfer external Time Machine backup (Snow Leopard) to new MB Air (Lion)?

Your best bet, by far, is to use Setup Assistant when your new Mac first starts up, to transfer your 3rd-party apps, user accounts, data, settings, etc. from the backups. See Using Setup Assistant on Lion for detailed instuctions.
If the backups are on a Time Capsule, get a USB-to-Ethernet connector, so you can do this via Ethernet -- it's 2-3 times faster, and much more reliable, than WIFIl.

HT1277 Mail has gone crazy. Header's and messages are mixed up. New Mac Book Pro. Migrated files from Time machine running snow leopard. Reinstall or new computer needed?

Mail has gone crazy. Header's and messages are mixed up. New Mac Book Pro. Migrated files from Time machine running snow leopard. Reinstall or new computer needed?

Ok; I'm not sure what you're doing. 36 hours is rather long. Seems like a new migration. Not what I intended.
Here's what I intended: from the newly-migrated and apparently-corrupt environment, create a new user, not related to any existing user, nor any migration-created user, or any other user for that matter. That is, use  > System Preferences > Users and Groups, authenticate yourself by clicking on the padlock, and then click the + and create a wholly new user. Then log in under that user and establish the mail access.
36 hours? I'm wondering if there's an error or an exceedingly slow network here? Or a really, really slow disk? Or a sick backup? (WiFi isn't the path I'd usually choose, either.)
Failing the attempted second migration, I'd try a different tactic. Does your existing (old) system work? If so, I'd bypass the backup and connect an external (scratch) USB disk drive to the (old) sstem and then boot and use Disk Utility booted from the installer DVD disk or boot and use Disk Utility from the recovery partition or booted from a recovery partition created on some other external storage (details here vary by the OS X version and what hardware you have), and perform a full-disk backup of your original internal disk to (scratch) external storage. (Make sure you get the source and target disks chosen correctly here; copying the wrong way — from the scratch disk to your existing disk — will clobber your data!) In esssence, this will clone your existing boot disk. Then dismount the (formerly-scratch) external disk, transfer it over to the new system, and use it as the source of the migration, by performing a fresh OS X installation on the new system.
Target Disk Mode is also sometimes an option for accessing the disk for a migration, but that requires the right cable, and requires systems that have the same external connection; newer MacBook Pro systems use Thunderbolt for this, and older systems tend to use FireWire. And I'm guessing you don't have compatible hardware.
The details here can and do vary by your OS X versions and your particular Mac systems — if you'll identify the specific models and hardware, somebody might be able to better tailor the above (fairly generic) sequence to your particular configuration.

Having issues with my Time Machine backups...

my mid-2009 MacBook Pro seems to be having an issue with time machine.
I have an external, 1TB western digital harddrive that I used for my backups. it's about a year old. last weekend I took the harddrive with me on a trip - I kept it inside it's own neoprene case that was in my backpack for the entire weekend. the drive functioned without issue afterwards for almost a week.
then, last Friday, it wouldn't complete a backup. I wasn't sure what the issue was so I (foolishly) erased the drive and just began again as a new TM. now it's still having issues backing up.
I've tried repairing the disk permissions of my internal drive, and that actually seemed to help the TM complete a backup.
usually it will just stop backing up, and sit there for ages without doing anything. I choose "skip this backup" in order to end it, and then try to force another backup right after. the problem, then, is that it will start but won't do much after it reaches 4kb backed up or 23kb. that's not a typo - it really says kilobytes!!
not sure what the issue is at all, or how I can fix it. I have completed a backup since I erased the drive, but it's doesn't seem to want to carry on with regularly scheduled backups.
is it an issue with the time machine harddrive, or something deeper with my computer? are the backups that I have done safe? as I said, I was able to perform an initial backup after I erased the drive... if I end up replacing this computer, will I still be able to restore from the back up?

These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the 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.
The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select
SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages
from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
In the top right corner of the Console window, there's a search box labeled Filter. Initially the words "String Matching" are shown in that box. Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes.) You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard."
Each message in the log begins with the date and time when it was entered. Note the timestamp of the last "Starting" message that corresponds to the beginning of an 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 into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.
☞ 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.
☞ The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of which is irrelevant to solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.
☞ Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

TIme Machine and Snow Leopard

I'm getting a problem. I updated to SL last week, backed up before I updated just in case. The update went without a hitch.
I went to do a weekly backup using Time Machine (I had turned off automatic backup under 10.5.x as it was taking over the machine and stopping me working), but could not get it to go past 40Mb before it stalled. This has happenned constantly. When I look at Timemachine none of the previous back-up records are there, and my Finder now seems to crash too.
I am getting really fed up with Time Machine. It is nearly as bad as a Windows experience, and now with this new OS upgrade it will not work at all.
I'd appreciate some word from Apple admitting to a problem.

Philip Grifffiths wrote:
I'm getting a problem. I updated to SL last week, backed up before I updated just in case. The update went without a hitch.
I went to do a weekly backup using Time Machine (I had turned off automatic backup under 10.5.x as it was taking over the machine and stopping me working), but could not get it to go past 40Mb before it stalled. This has happenned constantly. When I look at Timemachine none of the previous back-up records are there, and my Finder now seems to crash too.
Start with the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip.*
It will show you how to locate the message(s) that describe the problem, then help you fix it.
If that doesn't help, post back with details, including all the messages, your setup (especially the destination for the backups), what you've done, and the results.
It sounds like you were having problems on Leopard, too, so it's unclear just what started when.
I am getting really fed up with Time Machine. It is nearly as bad as a Windows experience, and now with this new OS upgrade it will not work at all.
I'd appreciate some word from Apple admitting to a problem.
Then you need to talk to Apple, not us: this is a user-to-user forum. Call AppleCare, and be sure to tell them what you've done to diagnose and solve your problem, since it doesn't appear to be widespread.

HT201250 Can I back up multiple volumes using Time Machine on Snow Leopard?

I have a fault with my time machine software where it is no longer able to perform incremental back ups of the volumes (partitions) I have created on my internal hard drive - every attempt results in a full back up. However incremental back up of the Mac HD is working. I have had it working perfectly in the past. I'm backing up to a dedicated external hard drive.
I have just been told by an apple support manager that Time machine on OS 10.6.8 is not designed to back up multiple volumes (partitions) on my internal hard drive, only the current Mac HD drive - is this correct? He said it shouldn't be backing up the other volumes and the reason it is doing so and has done so in the past is because of bug!
Surely this is not the case?

I would read and try this. Pondini is very knowledgeable about Time Machine:
http://pondini.org/TM/32.html
Ciao.

Having trouble setting up time machine.

I'm trying to set up time machine and I go to the program, click it on, and then I click "choose backup disk", but there is nothing there. Is there anything I am supposed to do beforehand to give Time Machine a backup disk to save in?
My next question isn't about time machine but it might be related. I have to reinstall windows on my mac. I had it before and somehow it caught a virus, so I had to erase and it went to ****....long story short, It broke, I fixed it. Now i have to repartition my drive though. I assume that I have to split it three ways, one for Mac, Windows, and Time Machine. My question is....I want to leave Mac with the most space of all 3, obviously....whats the minimum I can split it to to install Windows xp and get Time Machine working (unless I'm way off and time machine setup is a different way)?

So one can't back up to a partition on the main disk with Time Machine?
The iMac comes from the factory with a single partition. If you want TM to backup to a second partition on the iMac internal drive, you will need to Partition the drive using OSX disk that came with the iMac (this erases every thing on the hard drive) and reinstall the OS from the DVD.
But, I do not recommend that approach. Backups are generally needed if your hard disk crashes. If you are backing up to a partition on the internal disk, you will lose your backup if/when the drive crashes.
The only reason to use TM on a partition on the internal drive is if you are doing a LOT of version sensitive work (meaning you made need to look at yesterday's work on the same project). But most applications can be set to do incremental change backups of individual projects making TM a ppor choice anyway.
Buy an external drive for the TM backup.
(jk)

Trouble with my time machine and macbook pro

I had my macbook pro's screen repaired because the it kept going black. It was not the video card, but a faulty screen. I just got it home and plugged my time machine into the computer. Now I can't browse any of my old backups on the time machine. It acts as if they were never there. Nothing except for what was just added to the time machine today is there. I live 2 hours away from the closest Apple store and my Apple care plan ended. I work as staff for a business and they need me to be able to browse the backups. The time machine was working perfectly before I had the computer repaired. Is it possible that they changed something on my computer so it doesn't reconize my files? Is there a way that I can change it back or fix this problem myself?
I just called Apple store and they told me that there is basically no way that I will be able to get access to my old files because they changed out something in my computer when they repaired the screen. If you know of any other way that I can still have access to these files let me know! On a PC you can plug an external into any computer and access files. My files are still on my Time Machine. I just can't access them. Please help me.

wrong forum, and not sure what anyone can offer.
You want to find MacBook Pro support and repair services?
The place to start along with google is
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro
Before you send equipment in rescue the hard drive data or even the hard drive, replace if necessary (put in USB case).

Having trouble restoring from Time Machine

I replaced my HD, on my iMac 2007 Intel 20"' model A1441. After formatting I tried to restore from Time Machine, but continue to receive error messages saying it can't restore the drive. I went over to disk utilities & restored from there, but it renames my hard drive to "time Machine Backup" so I have two backup disks. Is there a way to rename it? Because all the data transfers over. The whole thing is very frustrating! My system was running on OS 10.8.5.

That's not how you restore from Time Machine. If you followed the instructions linked below and it didn't work, erase the volume and install OS X. When you restart, follow the prompts to transfer your data from a snapshot.
OS X Yosemite: Recover your entire system

I am having trouble with my time capsule.

We have two MacBook Airs. They have both been backing up to the time capsule. One of them stopped backing up and giving a notification of:
"Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "My Time Capsule". "The backup disk image /volumes/Data/myname's MacBook Air.sparsebundle" is already in use.
The other MacBook Air still seems to be backing up properly. Not sure how to handle this. Any ideas?

C12 and C17
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

After changing my wifi password I am having trouble finding my time machine on my network, any help please?

I have just changed my wifi password for added security but cannot find my time machine on my network. In the status bar it says that the time machine is not configured (although it has been) and every time I try to find it using airport utlity it remains hidden. Any help would be appreciated as I have a recent back up on there.

First off, thank you so much to everyone who is trying to help! I really appreciate it!
I opened the "backups.backupdb" folder as you suggested "jeffreyfromtas" and found 2 folders:
dvlynn's iMac and
dvlynn's iMac 2.
The 1st folder seems to contain all the backups from the 1st time it backed up in Sept. 2010 until the last time it backed up without error in January of this year.
The 2nd folder contains one file titled "2014-01-03-175020.inProgress"
I purchased this time machine backup drive in 2010 after the origional drive on my iMac crashed and was replaced. When that happened my system was updated to Snow Leopard where it is now. The only major changes I have made are that I moved a lot of large video files off my main drive onto external hard drives to make more room on the iMac.
Other than that everything has stayed the same.
I'm asking it what size the 2 folders are but it's taking forever to answer and I venture to guess it will be 99.99% in the 1st folder and 0.01% in the second folder.
Let me know if that makes any sense.
And thanks again!

Problem with Time Machine, running Snow Leopard

Hi all,
Last week I had a new hard drive fitted into my iMac 8,1, after which Snow Leopard was reloaded (10.6.3 from the disc, updated to 10.6.8), followed by the restoration of data via Time Machine from my external hard drive. Whilst my Mac is now running beautifully, I am having problems backing up with Time Machine.
When I run a backup, it prepares about 100,000 items, then starts to backup, usually about 650mb. It crawls along in kb until it gets to about 1mb, then jumps quickly to the end, but then it adds extra mb on the end. Then it suddenly starts again "preparing x items....." and off it goes again.
I have tried repairing the backup disc, and it appears to be ok. I even erased it and started again. Time Machine did a full backup (139gb) in about 2 hours, then immediately added another 640mb at the end - strange, but I do at least have a full backup from yesterday. But now, everytime I run backup, it looks for the same sort of figure (650-700mb) and then goes round in circles.
Any help would be very much appreciated!
Thanks, David

Hi Eric
Thank you for your reply. Here are the screenshots for each change:
Having prepared about 95,000 items, the backup of 612mb begins
14 minutes later a message appears
Another 3 minutes and another message. You will see from this screenshot that the backup figure has changed to 613.1mb
Another 30 seconds and it all begins again....
And finally, 7 more minutes pass, another 96,000 items are prepared, and another 604.8mb backup begins.
I might add, that between posting this morning, and your reply, I also went into disk utility, chose the top leve of the external drive, clicked on the partition tab, charged current to 1 partition, renamed the drive, erased it, and did a full back up of 139GB. After 137GB it started again, looked for 602mb, backed them up and finished the backup, which is why TM states that the last back up was at 18:16 today.
Thanks again
David

Problem with Time Machine backup (Snow Leopard)

Hello everyone.
So today I was doing a backup and my external hard drive fell off the tabel and disconnected itself mid-back up. Now I am getting this error when I attempt to do the backup again,
"This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 349.79GB but only 319.30GB are available."
This is understandable, except for the fact that my HD on my MPB is only 320BG.
I tried look online and I read that I should try to reset Time machine by deleting the File, com.apple.TimeMachine.plist. I tried to look, but this file does not exist on my computer.
Does anyone have any ideas as how to fix this?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

BDAqua wrote:
The great Pondini seems to be the resident TM master... I don't use it & consider it the worst Backup outside of no backup at all, but check this out...
http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html
Hi,
Just for future reference, I've moved my site to http://pondini.org, since Apple is dropping web hosting in June.
Both sites are active now; after a few days, I'll put redirect notices on the old one, then leave it there until it goes "poof."

I am having trouble with my Time Machine on Snow Leopard

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