Mac (with Mountain Lion) will not back up to iCloud (nor even before ML)...all settings correct, just no backup taking place

Question

Even before the latest upgrade to Mountain Lion, I have never been able to get anything backed up to iCloud from my mac. Now, with the latest upgrade, I've gone back and checked all my settings via the System Prefs, enabled Icloud in mail, contacts, etc., etc., but still have no luck getting anything from my mac into the iCloud. All services are checked, but the full storage capacity is stil unused.
Additionally, I am unable to get Photostream enabled in Aperture. Everytime I click the "Turn on Photostream" button I get a "could not connect" message.
Thanks, in advance, for any help!

Answer 1

There aren't supposed to be any photos, bookmarks or documents at iCloud.com.
Do you actually have any email messages in your iCloud account within the mail application on your computer.
For contacts, first check that all your settings are correct, that contact syncing is checked on all devices (system preferences > iCloud on a mac and settings > iCloud on a iPhone, iPad or iPod).
Make sure the contacts you are adding are added to your 'iCloud' group and not an 'On My Mac', 'On My Phone' or other non iCloud group (you can do this by checking in groups), non iCloud contacts will not sync.
If you are sure that everything is set up correctly and your contacts are in the iCloud group, you might try unchecking contact syncing in the iCloud settings, restarting your device and then re-enabling contact syncing.
This user tip might help you understand how accounts work with Address Book.
For calendars, first check that all your settings are correct, that calendar syncing is checked on all devices (system preferences > iCloud on a mac and settings > iCloud on a iPhone, iPad or iPod).
Make sure the calendars you are using are in your 'iCloud' account and not an 'On My Mac', 'On My Phone' or other non iCloud account (you can do this by clicking/tapping the calendar button in the top left corner of the application ), non iCloud calendars will not sync.
If you are sure that everything is set up correctly and your calendars are in the iCloud account, you might try unchecking calendar syncing in the iCloud settings, restarting your device and then re-enabling calendar syncing settings.