RE: Where are Time Machine sparsebundle files on Time Capsule?

I recently bought a Time Capsule. After some odd issues trying to get it to work in place of my Airport Extreme, it looked like it was finally working correctly.
When I first turned it on (before the problems getting it to work wirelessly), I did a full backup with Time Machine on the Capsule via Ethernet. When I clicked on the Time Capsule, I could see the sparsebundle files with a number and a date.
Somewhere down the line, I knocked all of our computers offline while trying to get Time Capsule to replace the Airport Extreme station after I ran the first backup on it.
I finally had to call Apple Support to have them walk me through setting up Time Capsule correctly and get us back online. After several attempts, we finally got it all working, but in the process the original backup files disappeared from Time Capsule, so I ran Time Machine again. It said it completed the full backup (again), and it was doing incremental backups.
My problem is, I cannot see any files on the Time Capsule when I click on it. Is that the way Time Machine/Time Capsule are supposed to work? No folder called Backup, no files. When I enter Time Machine, I see that it's backing up, but it kind of worries me that I can't SEE the sparsebundle files anywhere.
Any idea of where those files are hiding? I guess I'm used to using Backup, where I could actually see a list of files.

Any idea of where those files are hiding? I guess I'm used to using Backup, where I could actually see a list of files.
Time Machine stores backups over the network in the form of a sparse bundle "file". This file should show up in Finder as "ComputerName_MACaddress.sparsebundle". However, the sparse bundle is not actually a file, but a container/folder with a number of files, called bands within it.
You can access the backup files within the sparse bundle, by using Finder, as follows:
o From within Finder, click on the Time Capsule (TC) that appears under the Shared category
o Double-click on the TC's disk name
o Double-click on the sparse bundle
It may take a while but eventually the disk image will open and you will see a folder named "Backups.backupd." This folder contains the Time machine backups.

Similar Messages

  • Slow copying a Time Machine sparsebundle

    Hi everyone,
    I stored old and no longer used Time Machine sparsebundle files on my networked Drobo drive. I bought a new DroboFS which is also networked. I have been moving files from the old unit to the new unit, and copying over the network is very fast.
    That is, until I tried to copy the sparsebundle files. For example, I tried to move one of the sparsebundle files. Finder says "Preparing to copy". It has been saying that now for 3 days. The sparsebundle files are large, in the 1 TB range. Is Finder unable to copy or move these files? If so, is there another way to move them?
    Cheers!
    Phil

    The Snow Leopard Finder (but not the Leopard version) can copy them, if they're undamaged. Try Repairing them, per #A5 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum). Use the procedure for a Time Capsule.
    But there are many thousands of "bands" in a sparse bundle, and they won't copy quickly under the best of circumstances.

  • Trying to repair a Time Machine sparsebundle

    I am trying to repair a Time Machine sparsebundle file. However I am getting errors at the first step of trying to attach the image.
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    Initializing…
    CBSDBackingStore::newProbe directory, not a valid image file.
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  0, score    -1000, CBSDBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  1, score    -1000, CBundleBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  2, score    -1000, CRAMBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  3, score    -1000, CCarbonBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  4, score    -1000, CDevBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  5, score    -1000, CCURLBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  6, score    -1000, CVectoredBackingStore
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    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  1, score    -1000, CBundleBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  2, score    -1000, CRAMBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  3, score    -1000, CCarbonBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  4, score    -1000, CDevBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  5, score    -1000, CCURLBackingStore
    DIBackingStoreInstantiatorProbe: interface  6, score    -1000, CVectoredBackingStore
    Attaching…
    Error 110 (image not recognized).
    Finishing…
    DIHLDiskImageAttach() returned 110
    hdiutil: attach failed - image not recognized
    Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.
    Regards
    Bob

    Backing up to a third-party NAS with Time Machine is risky, and unacceptably risky if it's your only backup. I know this isn't the answer you want, and I also know that the manufacturer says the device will work with Time Machine, and that it usually seems to work. Except when you try to restore, and find that you can't.
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  • My mac 10.8 does no have the file, com.apple.desktop. plist   I wentto lIbrary, preference and look  for it and it is not where in my mac.  I also launch time machine and file is no where on my Mac.  How do I get this file back?

    My mac 10.8 does no have the file, com.apple.desktop. plist   I wentto lIbrary, preference and look  for it and it is not where in my mac.  I also launch time machine and file is no where on my Mac.  How do I get this file back?
    thanks

    System files are hidden by default in Finder now, search for what you want then click the little + button on the top right of the bar that appears when you do a search. A new bar comes up and click the first box (that says "Kind"), change it to "System Files". Then change the box that says "aren't included" to "are included" and your file should show up.
    http://osxdaily.com/2009/02/25/show-hidden-files-in-os-x/

  • HT201250 Does Time Machine delete files in back-ups that are deleted on my Mac?

    Does Time Machine delete files in back-ups that are deleted on my Mac?  IOW....if I need to restore a whole back-up, I don't want to restore previously deleted files.

    Does Time Machine delete files in back-ups that are deleted on my Mac?
    Not immediately. When space starts to get tight, Time Machine will start to delete the oldest file(s) to make more room, but this won't occur for some time.
    if I need to restore a whole back-up, I don't want to restore previously deleted files.
    You won't if you choose to restore from a backup that occurred after the date that you deleted the file.
    If you absolutely do not want to keep the file in your Time Machine backups at all, you do have the option to go into Time Machine, find the file, and manually delete all versions of the file from past dates.

  • Using external HDD for Time Machine and files in one single partition ?

    Hello everybody.
    I've been searching for some time now and have encountered some contradictory answers, so I turn to you.
    I would like to know if it's possible (one) and safe (two) to use a single partition for both Time Machine and file storage. I've read that this should be ok, since TM is actually only a single folder, which means the rest can easily be used as a standard Finder drive. Some people say however that this is not good to do so, because TM will run out of space quicker. But if the -let's say- 30Gb used for files where used by TM after a month, that would be the same, wouldn't it ? It would simply erase older backups. But is it safe to do so ? Will Time Machine not makes errors when accessing files or doing an entire system backup ? I don't won't to make a new partition really, that's why I'm asking you here, to let me know some arguments about it.
    Thank you very much for your answers.

    Marekova wrote:
    Yet, overlooking that, you say "safe: mostly", why is that ? where's the "danger" or, what where you thinking when you said that ? Aren't these simple folder's ? Do you mean that, because during a full backup, these "stranger" files could be a problem ? It would be great if that was clarified, since I've found no indication about it elsewhere, has anyone tryed it ?
    Oh, yes folks have tried it. That's why I (and many others) recommended against it.
    Here's a similar thread from just the other day: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1926893 Note the responses from the top 2 "gurus" on this forum.
    I probably should have asked you what you mean by "safe." If you mean, will TM delete other files on it's partition, no, it won't. If you mean, can there be problems, then yes, there can be conflicts and difficulties, as mentioned.
    As to whether TM backups are simple folders, no, they aren't. They look like normal files and folders, but they actually contain what are variously called "hard links," "multi-links," and (my own personal favorite term) "ghost clones." Think of them as very fancy aliases. So they're not to be fooled with directly, by us mere mortals.
    If you want more on this: http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2007/10/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/14
    and/or: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/12/roadto_mac_os_x_leopard_timemachine.html
    and, if you haven't seen it yet: http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#tutorial=leopardtimemachine
    You should also know that, for some reason, TM stores it's backups differently when it does them wirelessly. In that case, they're in a "SparseBundle," very different from the structure used for directly-attached backups.
    All the more reason to put each Mac's backups in a separate partition, and if you want to store other data there also, a 3rd partition for that.
    I've been using Mac since many years now, but I have no idea about backups, so excuse me if the statements appear a little childish.
    Nope. Even those of us who are "older than dirt" and have used many flavors and varieties of backup systems for decades are in a whole new world with Time Machine.
    And most of the folks on this forum who found themselves in deep trouble got there because they assumed things or didn't ask.

  • Deleting time machine backup files manually didn't free up disk space ?

    I wanted to delete some certain files from my time machine backup as i dont need them anymore. I opened up time machine and selected the drive i used for the backup job and deleted them by selecting "delete this files from backup". this should be the proper way to delete backup files manually i assume from what i've read so far.
    but,
    i had 30gb free space before deleting files and even after deleting around 80gb from the backup, my drive still shows that there is only 30gb free space. i checked the trash can but nothing's in there.
    how on earth will i delete these files to save up some space?
    * i am not going to take any backups anymore to this folder but i want some certain files to stay while some others must go

    Ok, I appologize for my criticism ( I am trying to help and maybe this bunch of giberish I am laying out has some useful infomation) but that is not a good idea at all in my opinion. And here is why, (I am going to assume you are using the Time Capsule from Apple (hardware) along with the program in the system preferences called Time Machine (software)). But even if you are using lets say an external hard drive and using Time Machine, then it is still not a good idea,.... and my reasoning is this... you should not have a back up on the same hard drive as stuff you store stuff on. In case if the hard drive goes bad, you dont loose both the backup and the items on the hard drive.  (sorry I am going to try to answer your question, but first I just want to say how I have my system set up.) I ocassionally do use my Time Capsule also as an external hard drive but mostly I use my Time Capsule (strictly for backing up) and I also have an external hard drive where I keep my Movies, and Music (inside my Music folder I have the folder "iTunes" folder). Now you could go to system preferences, and shut off Time Machine, and then your Time Capsule would be fully available to you as an external hard drive. If you open up your finder, and look to the left hand side column, under "shared" location you will see your Time Capsule or if you have an external hard drive connected directly to the computer, then under "devices" you will see that external hard drive. Ok, assuming you are using Time Capsule (even though you are using it as an external hard drive) there will be a folder, (most likely called: first name last name's Time Capsule) and inside that folder you will see all the computers that back up to that one Time Capsule (most likely called: computer name.sparsebundle). just select the file and and "command" + "delete" the file or drag it to the trash, and your entire backup will be deleted, then turn off backing up in your system preferences. Now as I was saying before, that defeats the purpose of the backing up. I would get an external hard drive, in addition to the Time Capsule and putting your Movies, and Music on that external hard drive, and not touching your Time Machine backups.  But then your left with figuring out how to back up your external hard drive. Do you use some sort of program other than TM or is there a way to use TM for that external HD. (that I do not know). I have Time Machine for my computer, and I have an external hard drive, that i manually (once in a blue moon) make a copy of that external hard drive to another hardrive. So at any given time I have three hard drives - one Time Capsule, and two external hd's. But I would never put both backups and data in the same location.

  • Time Machine backup file corrupted and locked

    This morning when I switch on my Mac there was a dialogue box telling me that my Time Machine backup file was corrupted and that Time Machine would have to create a new backup file.
    I am backing up my Macs to a disk connected to my Airport Extreme. It's been working for months without any problems. Other than this morning. Time Machine buddy had the following message:
    +Starting standard backup+
    +Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
    +Mounted network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
    +QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM DIRTY+
    +Runtime corruption detected on /Volumes/MyBookHome/iMac27.sparsebundle (fsck_hfs -q termination status: 3)+
    +Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
    +Mounted network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/MyBookHome+
    +Backup verification failed for image /Volumes/MyBookHome-2/iMac27.sparsebundle!+
    +Moved previous backup image to /Volumes/MyBookHome-2/iMac27_2010-11-01-032949.sparsebundle+
    +Recovery backup declined by user.+
    +Backup canceled.+
    +Ejected Time Machine network volume.+
    Has anybody seen something like this before?
    I now have a locked and renamed sparsebundle on my disk and backups are not working anymore.

    aschmid wrote:
    Yes you are right, I know it isn't supported - as so many other things but they work!
    This one is notorious for working for a while, then . . . not.
    In addition to the problems above I got a pop-up from Time Machine saying the backup file is broken and it needs to create a new one. I told it to go ahead and what happened is that it actually proceeded to DELETE the old backup file before creating a new one - there goes my several months of backup history!
    Yes, just as it says in the message. See #C13 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
    All I can say do now is connect my drive directly to my iMac and figure out a way how I can backup my other iMac and the MacBook I have. On the AE this just worked remotely.
    Yeah. Until it didn't.
    Really not much options here to backup a home with 3 Macs!?!
    Sure there is. Back the others up to the same drive, over your network, via sharing. See #22 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum), for details and setup instructions.

  • Strange error trying to restore from time machine sparsebundle

    I had my iMac hard drive go bad, so I replaced it, powered the unit back up and booted into the Snow Leopard install disk.
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  • Time Machine Copied Files

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    Hi, and welcome to the forums.
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  • I have a time machine backup file on a USB hard drive.  I bought a time capsule / airport extreme, flat 3TB.  I wish to transfer the backup file from the usb hard drive to the time capsule hard drive.  10.6.8

    I have a time machine backup file on a USB hard drive.  I bought a time capsule / airport extreme, flat 3TB.  I wish to transfer the backup file from the usb hard drive to the time capsule hard drive.  10.6.8

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  • Determining the Size of a Time Machine Backup File

    When I highlight a Time Machine backup file and then click on Get Info under File to determine the size of the backup file, the disk drive works its heart out, but the Get Info window never arrives at a determination of the file size being seemingly stuck in the "calculating size" state.
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    JohnnyS wrote:
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    Time Machine 101
    How to back up and restore your files
    Time Machine Features
    Apple - Support - Mac OSX v10.5 Leopard Time Machine
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  • Can anyone access time machine backup files by connecting to time capsule by ethernet cable?

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    Here is a screen shot of the other options:

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