I have a free agent desk 500GB external hard drive. Since updating my iMac OS to mountain lion recently, it will no longer backup, stating "an error occurred while creating the backup folder". Can anyone help me with this?
I have a free agent desk 500 GB external hard drive. Since updating my iMac OS to Mountain Lion it no longer backs up through Time Maching like it did in the past. Now, after completing its work it says, "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder." I cannot find any sites that help me fix this. Do I need to purchase a new external hard drive?
Hi Aaron,
Have you looked through Pondini's extensive TM help site?
http://Pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Can't imaging something not being covered there.
Similar Messages
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I am trying to use Time Machine to back-up to an external hard drive and I get the following message.Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder. Does anyone know what I should do?
Hello Drake, I suspect one or more of the Drives needs repairing, but...
Have you looked through Pondini's extensive TM help site?
http://Pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Can't imaging something not being covered there. -
Hello I bought a G-Raid GR4 4000 4 TB and used it for a backup with my new Imac27. Now this is all I get. "Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to “G-RAID”. to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder."
Any idea what I should 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. 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 all you see are messages that contain the word "Starting," you didn't clear the search box.
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 am a little perplexed. The Time Machine does seem to be backing up my data but I continually get the following message displayed on my screen 'Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.' I am using a WD My Passport for Mac portable hard disk drive.
Hi Peter,
http://pondini.org/TM/C10.html -
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?
MaxxReboot 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 have tried all the resets, the firmware is the latest version, the green light is on.
But I get this message "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder."
Any ideas?Do setup again.. but make sure both your wireless and your ethernet have ipv6 turned on to local link.
Done this OK, but no idea about IPv6 - something new to me and rather Appley I think?
Unplug the WAN for the moment.. Just LAN port TC to the MBPr ethernet via thunderbolt.. (thunderbird was the kids puppet series.. Thunderbirds are go!!). Done - New real people Thunderbirds movie coming out soon I believe!!!
Reset the TC again.. sorry.. !! You're welcome ... done.
Make sure the ethernet now has an IP address.. 10.0.1.2 - Yep - done that - on ethernet anyway ...
You need to open the network preferences to find out. Yep - that's good ...
****** I then reconnect the TC WAN to the router - is this right?
And then I think I start going round in circles ... boot, reboot, restart, reboot again ...
The final result is green light on TC, but error message when trying TM is "Backup disk is not available".
Then open the airport utility and you should be able to setup the TC.
Do as little setup as possible and then run the TM backup and see how it goes.
I have managed to get Thunderbird to LAN on TC to create a folder on TC and copy a file onto it.
So I guess the drive is working - it must be the software, settings or perhaps even the operator that isn't quite so clever ...
I named network RFG, named device RFGTC. RFG network shown as IP 192.168.0.72
Wireless router is BT Homehub 3 with IP of 192.168.0.254 - is this issuing new IP addresses when rebooting TC?
I have three wireless networks here - the BT Homehub3 wireless, the TC wireless, and also a D-link power socket ethernet thingy for an ethernet connection to the telly - DHP-W310AV which is also wireless link. All are effectively connected to the BT Homehub - is there a conflict there?
Have several times achieved in Airport Utility schematic with internet shown as green, RFGTC shown as green, light on TC green, but no TM backup run ... "backup disc not available."
And there are no tall building around here to hurl myself off ... at least you can go to Sydney Harbour bridge - not too far away ... it was my son in Sydney that persuaded me to scrap Windows and go Apple ... it's all his fault ... -
Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.
As usual, backups worked for a few days. Failed again on wakeup this morning...
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb
Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.ModelID path:/Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb/David’s Mac Mini size:10
Error: (-50) Creating directory 2012-02-25-074454.inProgress
Failed to make snapshot container.
Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.ModelID path:/Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb/David's Mac Mini size:10
Backup failed with error: 2
I've searched Discussions and have seen the exact same error messages with all kinds of Macs and ext HDs, both USB and FW. I can't believe it's a 'failing HD' since it works for a few days; and that it's been going on for months now. Seems like the ext HD would have actually failed by now if that was the case.
I wish I could figure out why three different errors are reported: (-50), (22), and :2 -
error: Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to Time Capsule - Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.
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. -
Time machine is having trouble. This is the error message... Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.
Ideas?Reboot the TC.. if that is not enough reboot the whole network.. from off, restart in order.. modem.. TC.. clients 2min gap.
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My time machine backup has stopped working. I received an error message that is not one listed on the support page: "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder." I am on a new MacBook pro running Mountain Lion and using a 1 TB Passport drive as a time machine backup. Running DiskUtility finds no problem on the Passport.
See #C10 in Pondini's excellent Time Machine Troubleshooting.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html -
Hi,
I'm using time machine to do my backups but now is not working.
I'm getting the following error:
Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.
Thanks for your helpSee #C10 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
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Hello, I've just bought a Mac compatible Passport Air external hard drive, which is supposed to be compatible with the OS I am using (Mountain Lion) but I keep getting an error message saying Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creting the backup folder. I've tried all the help suggestions, but nothing with this actual message comes up - it appears to be partititioned correctly etc, so don't know what I'm doing wrong - any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.
Were you not plugged in via USB to begin with?
I would recommend performing some resets just to be on the safe side. Unplug the external HD, and try these steps:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379 -
I am trying to back up my imac using an external storage: My passport Studio 1TB. Each time it trys to back up Time machine says: Unable to complete back up. An error occurred while creating the backup folder. Does anyone know how I can fix this problem? Thanks
Plowie,
Do a search in Discussions, "An error occurred while creating the backup folder."
Many of us are having this problem and no fix has been offered, that I could find.
Unless you call "eject the external HDD; turn off; turn back on" a fix. That's what I have to do every 2 or 3 days; I even have to "force eject", with the concomitant warning message that you could lose data, etc. -
TS1550 Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder.
Running OS X 10.8.5
Trying to backup to Passport Time machine. Has worked fine until a few days ago. Don't want to tinker too much as am not that savvy.
TIA for any help.
DiStart with C9 in the first linked article.
Time Machine Troubleshooting
Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems -
I've tried:
restarting
shutting down, starting up
running Disk First Aid
running Disk First Aid in Safe ModeAre you able to see the disk that Time Machine is backing up to in Disk Utility?
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