Multiple "Backup of ..." Entries In Finder / Related to Time Machine

I currently have 17 items under "Devices" in the Finder which are labeled "Backup of System". It seems like each time Time Machine performed a backup (or perhaps failed?), another entry was added. The list has grown over time, although I can't seem to figure out when it occurs.
Anyhow, when a Time Machine backup begins, near the top of the "Devices" list, an entry called "Backup of System" appears with the appropriate spinning animation showing that the backup is in progress. The 17 other entries will each have an eject/unmount button next to them, but nothing happens when the buttons are clicked. As soon as the backup is complete, the eject buttons go away. Clicking on the just flashes the contents of the finder, and doesn't change to any particular folder.
Why is this happening? I'd love to send along a screenshot. It looks like I'm going to have to reboot to get rid of these, since there seems to be no way to remove them manually.
I run PathFinder on this system, and for some reason, these entries do not appear under PathFinder ... only in Finder.
Any suggestions?

Nimiety wrote:
I have the same issue. It is directly related to time machine.
If you notice carefully, each time time machine goes to do it's routine backup, it creates a temporary filesystem under devices. What seems to happen is these filesystems don't get properly cleaned out after TM is done. I suspect it may have something to do with capacity on the receiving device (I have a 1TB time capsule that is nearly full).
It is annoying, and I'd love to see it addressed.
Contact Apple's Canada technical support: (800) 263-3394
Have all your particulars handy, including the serial numbers of both your Mac and Time Capsule, the version of OSX and Airport, etc.
When you get an answer, be sure to post it here so others can benefit.

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Since I deleted some files from my old computer after early backups, I presume they wouldn't be on my new computer because I backed up from the "Latest Backup", correct?
Is there any way that I can find out which files I have backed up someplace on my harddrive that are not on my computer now? That way I would be able to locate and transfer them all into a temporary folder on my computer, erase my external harddrive, do a fresh backup of everything on my computer, then I could delete that temporary folder once everything is done. That way I still won't have those files on my computer, but I will have them backed up.
Does this make sense?
Thanks a lot

Bergers wrote:
I restored my new Mac with the "Latest Backup" of Time Machine. I now understand that I will have to erase the whole backup harddrive in order to continue using Time Machine (I cannot get it to do incremental backups with my new computer from where I left off on the old one).
You may be able to get the new Mac to "inherit" the old one's backups manually. See #B6 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
But the practice of deleting originals, assuming Time Machine will keep the backups indefinitely, is a major mistake. See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #20.
Linc is correct about multiple backups -- it's always prudent. See #27 in the FAQ link for some suggestions.

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Fernand,
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You need to give me more info..
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What did they do to it?
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Are you using a Time Capsule? Did you ever backup the time capsule??
Please do a backup of your Time Machine backup right now.. in TC plug in a suitable sized USB drive and do an archive.. you can do nothing else while this is happening but it is crucial for you to have another copy of whatever you have.
Archive is a bit slow.. and the backup is slightly less useful.
The fastest method is plug the USB into your computer and copy and paste the backups.backupdb directly to the USB drive. It should copy at around 60GB/hr so calculate how long that will take. See instructions here. http://pondini.org/TM/18.html Assuming you are using a TC then you use method 4.. copying from a Network backup to local drive.
Never work directly from the original backup .. work just from this copy so anything you do can be reversed or recovered.
Read very carefully the methods of restoring files from TM.. it is a bit out of date but Pondini has the best details.
So Q14-17 here. http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
You can do a full recovery of the backup to a USB drive.. and then search for your file in more normal way.
Get professional help.. and this is where you need data recovery people who are familiar with apple TM backup format. Check local apple store or perhaps better local Apple independent repair business that are used to handling this kind of event.
Also talk to the company that makes the software as they must have to deal with people who manage to lose, corrupt or in some other way ruin their data and need to recover.. see what hints they can give you.
Surely at some point you pass your info to your accountant in the form of a computer backup file from your accounting package.
I have to admit I am surprised if you never backed up your business data file to a USB stick and put it in a filing cabinet at home or a hard disk at a friends place.. Cloud storage for your business files.. Did you depend totally on TM for backups? You never planned for a fire or theft of your computer and TC?? Or what has happened.. loss of computer files and failure of the backup? No greater teacher than the burnt hand that touching hot stuff isn't a good idea. Sorry .. it is a very hard lesson.. but electronic data storage on magnetic media is ever one byte away from being gone forever.. !!

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Restart in order.. modem.. router.. if different to TC.. or TC.. client devices.. wait 2min between each startup.
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Do a full factory reset of the TC.. and see if it now shows up.
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eg..
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http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
Strongly recommend his whole section.. 14-17 and read it carefully to understand the ways you can make TM work for you.

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When you have a Write window open press F9 to turn on the Contact Sidebar. Select the contact or contacts to send to. Hold the control key while clicking contacts to select more than one. Then use one of the Add To buttons at the bottom.
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Multiple "Backup of ..." Entries In Finder / Related to Time Machine

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