Is Time Machine or Time Capsule the problem?

I have spent more time troubleshooting Time Machine than any other part of my iMac (and I have switched from PC, so it is kinda frustrating). I wonder if anyone relates to this:
1. From the beginning, Time Capsule backs up incredibly slowly (about 1MB per hour), then falters halfway and gives up.
2. After serious troubleshooting I return the hardware (ie the Time Capsule itself) to the Apple Store in London - they give me a new one.
3. IT WORKS PERFECTLY Which suggests to me, given what I've seen on these posts, that there may be a hardware problem on a batch of Time Capsules which no amount of troubleshooting will sort.
But, 4. After three months of perfect working it gives me an error message: "Time Machine Error. Unable to complete backup. An error occured while copying files to the backup volume." This I now get every single backup. I try the most popular fix (trashing the last, "hollow" backup file from the volume) but that doesn't work. Nor does the classic switch on/off, restart, etc. I simply refuse to reformat the hard drive, because I would lose all my backups.
5. So now I go about life with Time Machine switched off and hope I never need it. That seems to me to be the best fix but if there's any other I'd love to hear.

Based on my experience with TM drives connected directly to a computer, TC, and drives connected to a base station, the issue isn't TM alone. It is when you add networking to the equation when trouble starts. I gave up entirely on using an air drive with TM and now use ChronoSync to back up my data via WiFi daily and connect the drive directly to my notebook once a month to use SuperDuper! My wife is using a TC at work and has experienced the same problems you talk about. At this time she is persevering but she's excluded all directories but her home directory and like me now backs up to a dedicated drive monthly. She's had to format the TC twice but since limiting the backup to a small subset and making sure she doesn't interrupt an update she's not reported any problems.
I wish I had some answers for you and I hope Apple has some answers in 10.6 if not sooner.

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You may find answers at Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things related to Time Machine.

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Reboot the network in correct order.. modem.. router/TC.. clients.. 2min gap.
This is just standard windows.. woops, Mac OS networking now.

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As noted in the link I posted, that's fine if you're the only user logged-on to the only Mac using the TC's disks (internal and/or USB externals). If not, that may corrupt other data being written, especially other backups.

HT3275 I received this message and I'm unsure how to fix it "Time Machine couldn't complete backup to Time Capsule the backup disk image"/Volumes/The Vision Board/Alex Parry.sparsebundle" is already in use

I received this message and I'm unsure how to fix it "Time Machine couldn't complete backup to Time Capsule the backup disk image“/Volumes/The Vision Board/Alex Parry.sparsebundle” is already in use

Look at the more like this on the right column of the web page.
This is the most common error here.. we answer it 5-10times every day.
Simple method.. pull out the TC power cord .. count to 10.. plug in the TC power cord.
Look at the other references for more info.

Time Capsule Backup Problem (frist time)

Hi,
Background information,
I am using a 32 day old 2TB Time Capsule, The Computer I am using is a white Macbook early 2009 - 120 gb HD and i have USED 80 out of 120 - , it is connected via wifi to a ADSL +2. The Time Capsule I am running is connected directly via the modern to the TC using a ethernet cable. I have the latest version if OS X Lion and the latest update and firmware of TC. I am backing up directly to the TC’s drive.
The Problem,
A couple of days ago i started to do my first backup of my Macbook, I started at 8 am in the mourning in which it took till 10pm at night using wifi, i am un-bale to use ethernet cable... However this backup did not fully complete and at around 4pm that same day when I was trying to backup It said it had only "5 seconds left" until it started to increase the amount of data that the TC had to backup. It got to 10pm and fail the first backup with an error message, which I do no have, I think it is something to do with the disk being disconnected. So I tried again the next day, when it started the gage said it only had to backup initially 250mb, which i would assume this means it's completed it's first backup, as the day progressed it still was backing up, and was presenting the same issues as before, that is it said it "only had 5 seconds left", however once again it began showing that it had to backup more data, at the end of the day it had to back up 6.5 gb which it did but hadn't fully finished.
A quick side note: I have been able to successfully make a backup on a early 2010 iMac.

The first Time Machine backup of a Mac will always involve transferring a lot of data. Over Wi-Fi that means it will take a long time. I'm not sure why you say you're unable to use an Ethernet cable, but I recommend that you use one for that first backup. Connect it just before you go to bed, turn off Wi-Fi to assure that it's really using the Ethernet connection, and start the backup. It should be complete by the time you get up. At that point you can disconnect the Ethernet cable, turn Wi-Fi back on, and do all future Time Machine backups over Wi-Fi.

Is Time Capsule the only way to wirelessly back up my mac?

I was hoping I could use an existing external hard drive and hook it up to an Airport Express to wirelessly back up my system. Unfortunately, the USB port on the airport does not recognize external hard drives (from what I know). Thus, is Time Capsule the only method of doing this? Thanks.

Johnny Bagger wrote:
I was hoping I could use an existing external hard drive and hook it up to an Airport Express to wirelessly back up my system. Unfortunately, the USB port on the airport does not recognize external hard drives (from what I know). Thus, is Time Capsule the only method of doing this? Thanks.
If you are limiting yourself to TM, probably, but you can copy files and backup you system to any HD you can see on a network, wireless or not.
CarbonCopyCloner will backup to any network machine - they do not specify wireless or not. I don't know about SuperDuper.
Of course the time to make a backup on a WiFi connection is prohibitive for most users. Backing up 70 GB over even a 100 MB/s link is quite tedious. A Gb Wireless connection might be useful but not many have such a link.

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Report it here:
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Try pulling all the cables for a few moments and trying again.

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Try the following user tip:
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Have a 802.11n time capsule, the range of the wireless network has shrunk down to nothing over last few days. Used to be able to use wireless network anywhere in house, but now can only use in my office. Will not connect to iphones, ipad, itouch, or noteb

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It is very possible that you may have some form of Wi-Fi interference that has appeared recently that is preventing your Time Capsule (TC) from providing a clean RF signal.
I suggest you perform a simple site survey, using utilities like iStumbler, or AirRadar to determine potential areas of interference, and then, try to either eliminate or significantly reduce them where possible. Look for other Wi-Fis that may be operating nearby. Note those with the strongest signals and which channels they are operating on ... then change the channel used by the TC to be at least 3-5 channels away.

HT201412 After upgrading my iPhone 4S to IOS 8, Opendoor App doesn't run. I have deleted and downloaded the app several time, but the problem still exists

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All your preferences and settings are reset. Information (such as contacts and calendars) and media (such as songs and videos) aren’t affected.
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Welcome to Apple Support Communities
There are different reasons for that error. Read > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

Is time capsule the right thing for me?

I am looking for extra storage to go along with the new macbook air I just purchased. Is time capsule the right product for me? I basically want to keep movies and other videos but not use up the hard drive space on my laptop. I want to be able to backup my computer and also access the files when necessary.

time capsule does back ups of ALL your data on a periodic basis. If you are just storing vids and music etc, you probably don't want to look at using time capsule. time capsule is there if you have an issues with your mac, and you need to restore all your data.
i suggest just getting a normal external hard drive about 1terrabyte and don't sync it with time capsule.

Is Time Machine or Time Capsule the problem?

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