Restore from time machine error 'not enough space'

I'm trying to restore my HD from Time Machine and in the Select A Destination' window the HD is listed but I cannot select it.  At the bottom there is an error message of "This disk does not have enough space to restore your system".   Let me say the backup came from this same computer.  I thinking I may have to reformat the HD and then restore.   Any helpful advice?

Hi Lostin24
I have got exactly the same problem so my Macbook is waiting since I found no solution for this strange issue.
I will be thankful for any help if its already solved with you
Best
Nedal

Similar Messages

  • Time Machine error: not enough space

    A little while ago I got an error from my Time Machine backup, stating, "The backup disk needs 349.72 GB for the backup but only 327.67 GB are available. Select a larger backup disk or make the backup smaller by excluding files." This was not a new backup, and I couldn't see any reason why Time Machine would deviate from the usual small incremental backups. I finally ended up formatting my Time Capsule and starting over. Things were going fine until today, when I got the same message. Any idea why this is happening and what I can do to fix it?
    The backup is for my iMac, running OS 10.10.3, the Time Capsule is 1 GB. I don't have any partitions, and the total backup for my computer should be only around 500 GB according to the Time Machine preferences. I do have an external hard drive connected, which holds videos and photos and is included in the backup.

    Thanks for the comment but I don't think I'm having any of those issues. Time Machine will work fine for a while, and then it suddenly decides it needs to back up almost 350 GB of "new" data even though there haven't been any changes that would justify that large a backup. This is what I see in the Time Machine Buddy widget:
    Starting manual backup
    Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Jeremy%20Weiss;AUTH=SRP@Jeremy's%20AirPort%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._ tcp.local./Jeremy%20Weiss's%20Time%20Capsule
    Mounted network destination at mount point: /Volumes/Jeremy Weiss's Time Capsule using URL: afp://Jeremy%20Weiss;AUTH=SRP@Jeremy's%20AirPort%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._ tcp.local./Jeremy%20Weiss's%20Time%20Capsule
    Disk image /Volumes/Jeremy Weiss's Time Capsule/Weiss's iMac.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
    Backing up to /dev/disk3s2: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Will copy (602.4 MB) from Macintosh HD
    Will copy (Zero KB) from My Book for Mac
    Found 157930 files (327.16 GB) needing backup
    350.45 GB required (including padding), 327.67 GB available
    Ejected Time Machine disk image: /Volumes/Jeremy Weiss's Time Capsule/Weiss's iMac.sparsebundle
    Compacting backup disk image to recover free space
    Completed backup disk image compaction
    Starting manual backup
    Network destination already mounted at: /Volumes/Jeremy Weiss's Time Capsule
    Disk image /Volumes/Jeremy Weiss's Time Capsule/Weiss's iMac.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
    Backing up to /dev/disk4s2: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Will copy (602.6 MB) from Macintosh HD
    Will copy (Zero KB) from My Book for Mac
    Found 158025 files (327.16 GB) needing backup
    350.45 GB required (including padding), 327.67 GB available
    Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Weiss's iMac/2015-05-02-084159.inProgress/2A826121-7477-4D3F-A86A-FE5FFEEC0B19 containing 4 KB; 327.67 GB now available, 350.45 GB required
    Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/Weiss's iMac/2015-05-02-084159.inProgress/5BF1ECEE-6819-4A94-A9A3-7DB133F7D617 containing 4 KB; 327.67 GB now available, 350.45 GB required
    Removed 2 expired backups so far, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    Deleted 2 backups containing 8 KB total; 327.67 GB now available, 350.45 GB required
    Backup date range was shortened: oldest backup is now May 2, 2015
    Backup failed with error 7: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
    Ejected Time Machine disk image: /Volumes/Jeremy Weiss's Time Capsule/Weiss's iMac.sparsebundle
    Ejected Time Machine network volume.

  • Restore from time machine does not list all my backups.  I know they exist but there dates are not present on the restore list.  Any help appreciated.

    Restore from time machine does not list all my backups.  I know they exist but their dates are not present on the restore list.  Any help appreciated.  If I must use one of these older dates to restore, how do I then get the more current data off time machine?

    Ok, so am i correct in saying that the steps to fix are as follows.
    That's one option, but not what I meant by restoring in the time-travel view. The latter is what you get when you enter Time Machine.
    is the fresh install not going to be able to "see" the time machine backups that I have at the moment.
    It should, but sometimes people report that it fails. I'm not sure why that happens.

  • Full restore from Time Machine has not restored my photos

    I was getting a triangle with an exclamation mark in it when I tried to click on my photos in iPhoto (photos uploaded from my camera only - iPhone pics are still there).  A backup from Time Machine didn't work, so I did a full restore from Time Machine to a date when I knew all was well with my photos but I still get the triangle/!. Where are my photos?

    The ! means that iPhoto has lost the link to the original file.
    Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
    A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
    A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.

  • HT4946 cannot find itunes backup on my PC (win xp). want to move over to external hard drive to restore from backup bc PC not enough space

    i just restored my ipad2 to iOS 6.1.3 yesterday. i have been trying to restore from backup, but i keep getting error messages from itunes (running latest version of itunes) that says there is not enough space to save the backup on the computer. i have tried clearing up as much space on my PC (windows xp), but there is still not enough room. and ive tried disk cleanup on my computer and resetting the ipad and running it through recovery mode (as some articles sugggested it would help with restoring after failed attempts). i read on another question in the apple support discussions that someone just moved his whole backup folder into his external harddrive and then he was able to restore from backup.
    the backup is definitely saved on my computer (itunes confirms that), and the backup folder is supposed to be here  \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\, but im still not finding it with that file path. i get as far as "username" and then i dont see "application data" and so on. but when i try searching that file path in google chrome, i find it and i see it, but its strange that i cant find it in the "docs and settings" folder in my C drive.
    please help! i just want to be able to move the backup folder to my external to restore from backup. thank you in advance!!

    Thank you! I was able to find it. Im sorry, i have a few follow up questions. Does the iTunes have to be running from my external as well to do the restore from backup? And if so, how do I move iTunes to external and run it from there? Also, I just copied over the "backup" folder (last part of that file path to my external, is that enough, or did I have to copy it starting from the beginning (docs and settings and so forth)? Lastly, when I select restore from backup in iTunes, would it automatically know that it's the copy on my external to restore backup from? Or do I have to delete or do something with the original file path in my computer?
    Thank you!

  • Can't restore from Time Machine "error occurred adding a recovery system"

    Here's the situation:
    MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard was upgraded to Mountain Lion 10.8.2.
    A Time Machine backup exists (on Time Capsule) from the day before the upgrade.
    I am trying to restore the Time Machine backup to a blank hard drive connected to the MacBook via FIrewire, but after rebooting with Command-R and selecting the backup source and HD destination I keep getting this (unhelpful) messages:
    "An error occured while adding a recovery system to the destination disk" and "the recovery system could not be added"
    Is what I am attempting impossible, or is there something else going on? What use is Time Machine if I can't restore?

    Hi FranzKafka
    I know it has been a while since your question, but the issue is possibly dependent on the blank HD, h=was it changed from the GUID partitioning?  If so change back and you will find the Time Machine will restore back... without having to reinstall OSX. As you say, all of the original settings are captuered within TM.

  • Time Machine error "not enough disk space"

    I just recently updated to Mavericks and Time Machine won't work.  Sounds like it's a common problem, but I've gone back a month in the forum and haven't found my exact issue yet.  In my case, I get an error message that claims I don't have enough disk space, that's the reason TM won't start. In the past, Time Machine would just delete the oldest back ups and create new back ups when I've filled up my back up hard drive.
    My hard drive is plugged in the back USB port, and it's a 500 GB Hitachi.  My Mac is also 500 GB, it says I need 354 GB to back up and I only have 96 available.
    I've tried the following:
    Turn TM on and off, disconnect it from Mac
    Added entire Mac HD to the Spotlight privacy list, then pull it off the list such that Spotlight would re-index my hard drive.
    Turned off the energy saving on hard drives in preferences
    I'm almost thinking I need to reformat my back up TM drive and start a fresh TM again.  I have no problem deleting what I have on there, but would hate to do it if it also wouldn't work.
    Any ideas?

    Please visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.

  • HT201250 Time machine error not enough disk space OS 10.5.8

    Time machine backups are failing, telling me I have 100 times more data than disk space. I do not have 100 TB of data to back up, and have plenty of free space on the designated drive. What gives?
    Pieter

    Please visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.

  • Time Machine claims not enough space, but there's plenty

    Hello --
    I'm having a problem with my Time Machine backup ever since upgrading to Yosemite. After the initial backup, I get these errors: "The backup disk needs 838.03 GB for the backup but only 712.05 GB are available. Select a larger backup disk or make the backup smaller by excluding files."
    However, there is plenty of space. The initial backup took up about 898 GB of my 1.61 TB machine. Subsequent incremental backups should only take up a fraction — and I'm confident that I haven't added hundreds of gigabytes of new data to my disk. However, each time Time Machine tries to run its backup, I get the same error.
    Time Machine is backing up both my small internal hard drive (128 GB) and the rest of the backup comes from an external drive. It worked fine under Mavericks, but under Yosemite it seems that Time Machine doesn't realize that the hundreds of gigabytes on the external drive has already been backed up before and doesn't all need to be backed up again.
    Any thoughts? I had a backup that was several months old earlier; once I started getting this error, I wiped that backup thinking that a fresh backup might sole the error. No such luck.
    I'm running Yosemite 10.10.0 on a mid-2011 MacBook Air, backing up to a Sinology NAS. (My wife who is still using Mavericks is continuing to successfully backup to the same drive.)
    Thanks everyone!
    - geoff

    I have the exact same problem with almost the same setup: MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012) running Yosemite 10.10, an external harddrive and a Time Capsule 2 TB (4th Generation, Version 7.6.4). I even took the same actions as geoff2 (deleting the complete set of backups from Mavericks and making a new complete backup on Yosemite). On my internal harddrive 270 GB are occupied, on my external harddrive around 980 GB are occupied and the MacBook of my girlfriend is also backed up to the Time Capsule. At the moment around 646 GB are available on the Time Capsule.
    Now I get the same error message saying, that 977 GB are needed for a backup but only 650 GB are available. Interestingly backups without the external drive connected will complete without any problems.
    The external drive has a "GUID Partition Table". So it seems both of Linc Davis suggestions don't apply to the problem (we both have either GUID Partition Table or Logical Volume Group and the issue appears both on a NAS-Storage and on a Time Capsule).
    Looking for additional information I looked into the console and found the following report: "Inheritance scan may be required for '/Volumes/Dolphin', associated with previous UUID: BA36E38E-71F9-39E1-BF72-36AF9D4BB45F". "Dolphin" is the name of the external drive. What does that mean? Is it of any relevance? For more information I will post all the reports concerning the backup below (it's mainly about trying to free more space on the TC by deleting old backups). "Yosemite" is my internal OS X Volume, "Hamster" is the name of the Volume on the TC, "Nifty" is a Nifty mini drive in the SD-Card-Slot.
    I already verified the backups using the Option-Click on the menu bar symbol and I deleted and rebuilt the Spotlight index but it changed nothing. We could of course delete the backup volume (NAS or TC) and start a new backup, but I have a feeling, that the issue will appear again afterwards. Any other suggestions?
    08.11.14 16:46:06,033 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Starting manual backup
    08.11.14 16:46:06,071 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Network destination already mounted at: /Volumes/Hamster
    08.11.14 16:46:11,000 kernel[0]: hfs: mounted Time Machine-Backups on device disk6s2
    08.11.14 16:46:13,146 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Disk image /Volumes/Hamster/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2).sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups
    08.11.14 16:46:14,908 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Backing up to /dev/disk6s2: /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups/Backups.backupdb
    08.11.14 16:46:19,914 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Inheritance scan may be required for '/Volumes/Dolphin', associated with previous UUID: BA36E38E-71F9-39E1-BF72-36AF9D4BB45F
    08.11.14 16:46:27,375 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Will copy (10 MB) from Yosemite
    08.11.14 16:46:32,745 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Will copy (0 KB) from Dolphin
    08.11.14 16:46:32,748 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Will copy (0 KB) from Nifty
    08.11.14 16:46:32,749 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Found 137158 files (954.27 GB) needing backup
    08.11.14 16:46:32,752 com.apple.backupd[4227]: 977.06 GB required (including padding), 646.65 GB available
    08.11.14 16:46:32,765 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups/Backups.backupdb/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2)/2014-11-08-164619.inProgress/B65EE357-083D-4E0B-900B-42910289B9C4 containing 4 KB; 646.65 GB now available, 977.06 GB required
    08.11.14 16:46:32,767 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Removed 1 expired backups so far, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    08.11.14 16:49:20,472 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups/Backups.backupdb/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2)/2014-11-07-111400 containing 627.9 MB; 647.28 GB now available, 977.06 GB required
    08.11.14 16:49:20,472 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Removed 2 expired backups so far, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    08.11.14 16:50:12,817 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups/Backups.backupdb/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2)/2014-11-07-171215 containing 59.4 MB; 647.34 GB now available, 977.06 GB required
    08.11.14 16:50:12,818 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Removed 3 expired backups so far, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    08.11.14 16:50:48,156 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups/Backups.backupdb/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2)/2014-11-07-183323 containing 42.4 MB; 647.38 GB now available, 977.06 GB required
    08.11.14 16:50:48,156 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Removed 4 expired backups so far, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    08.11.14 16:51:07,147 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups/Backups.backupdb/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2)/2014-11-08-112446 containing 25.3 MB; 647.41 GB now available, 977.06 GB required
    08.11.14 16:51:07,147 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Removed 5 expired backups so far, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    08.11.14 16:51:28,134 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine-Backups/Backups.backupdb/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2)/2014-11-08-132002 containing 11.5 MB; 647.42 GB now available, 977.06 GB required
    08.11.14 16:51:28,134 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Removed 6 expired backups so far, more space is needed - deleting oldest backups to make room
    08.11.14 16:51:28,135 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Deleted 6 backups containing 766.6 MB total; 647.42 GB now available, 977.06 GB required
    08.11.14 16:51:28,136 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Backup date range was shortened: oldest backup is now Nov 8, 2014
    08.11.14 16:51:29,353 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Backup failed with error 7: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
    08.11.14 16:51:36,000 kernel[0]: hfs: unmount initiated on Time Machine-Backups on device disk6s2
    08.11.14 16:51:37,508 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Ejected Time Machine disk image: /Volumes/Hamster/Nikos MacBook Pro 13" (2).sparsebundle
    08.11.14 16:51:38,227 com.apple.backupd[4227]: Ejected Time Machine network volume.
    08.11.14 16:53:43,804 SystemUIServer[431]: Attempt to use XPC with a MachService that has HideUntilCheckIn set. This will result in unpredictable behavior: com.apple.backupd.status.xpc
    08.11.14 16:53:43,806 com.apple.prefs.backup.remoteservice[529]: Attempt to use XPC with a MachService that has HideUntilCheckIn set. This will result in unpredictable behavior: com.apple.backupd.status.xpc

  • Restore from Time machine has not restored services

    Hi all,
    We recently did a Time Machine restore on one of our OS X servers. After the restore, none of the services such as Open Directory are running. As a result I couldn't log in with the normal Administrator account, and had to use the DVD to reset the root password. This is very frustrating since my machine is now basically useless. Does anyone know how to get these services running again, and why did Time Machine not restore the correct service configuration on to the server?
    Thanks,
    Todd

    Hi.
    TM is probably hardwired to do you the favor of not attempting to backup your OD databases.
    Please know that you cannot reliably backup a running database externally (barring other special cases, for example other OSes, different filesystems & specialized backup software). In some cases
    it might "appear" to work but the result will likely be in an inconsistent state and should not be trusted.
    You should do scripted backups (google for : automating Open Directory Backup)
    and see in particular, www.afp548.com/filemgmt/visit.php?lid=68
    Backup your OD appropriately to a location that is accessible to TM and then use it to backup your OD export/backup.

  • Snow Leopard & Leopard partitions from old Macbook 2007 (restored from Time machine) do not boot on new 13" MacBook Pro 2012

    Bought a new 13 " MB pro 2.5 core i5 (2012) (not the retina) because old faithful Blackbook 2007 (Lion was its limit) fell off a table onto  a hard floor. new MBP Came with 10.8.2 but I made 4 partitions to match what was on old blackbook. 
    One of the partitions with 10.6 on it was used to run my old Canon FB630U scanner so Snow Leopard was as far as I could go.
    Canon would have been nice had they made updates that didn't require or need  Rossetta or made the jump to lion. They have versions that work in Windows 7.
    After the restore, I could not boot up  10.6 on my new Macbook Pro. Got the famous  kernel panic (please restart). Using the SL install disk would not work even if I tried to boot from the CD and the install button showed the famous (Will not Work) sign when I booted up in ML in ML  and inserted the MAC os SL dvd.
    Other partition that I restored was Leopard. When I tried to boot it on the MBP, I did not get a kernel panic just a bright screen with no apple showing that something is happening.  Had 2 choices meaning 2 partitions  to run the scanner on the old  blackbook, L and SL. Again the installers did not work when I tried both ways to install on that old Leopard partition.
    Is there a work around that would permit me to run in either SL or Leopard on my new MBP? If this does not exist, then I'll have a giant Canon scanner paper weight.
    Thanks
    Ted

    Guess this solves the issue. Boo Hiss. Thanks
    Hard to think of Leopard being associated with the Wright Brothers and Mountain Lion as a F35 but you're really referring to the hardware changes not the software.
    Doubt that the roaring apps has the answer. One reason to boycott Canon products for not updating drivers of a perfectly good scanner meant to run in a Mac non intel world. Ironically intel is OK in the WONDOZE world.
    Thanks
    Ted

  • Can't restore from Time Machine backup error message

    My hard drive on my Macbook failed a few days ago. Just makes a clanking noise and won't boot up etc... I installed a new drive, formatted it, and selected restore from Time Machine backup from the installer screen. It started restoring from my backup I had on an external drive and everything was fine untill it got about 6% done then get a message that says "An error occured when restoring from the backup" It is pretty non descriptive. It also says please restart your system and try again or something to that effect. I tried again, same problem.  When I try to copy files over manually I eventually gets some error that says there is a problem with a file and it will quit. Any ideas on how to get my data? I can see all my files on there, but can't get them. My backup disc is just used for backup on this one machine nothing else, so it shouldn't have a problem. Help!

    Good to hear MA is doing something!
    >I have never had much luck with Time Machine...
    Same here, not one good backup or restore, can't tell which.
    You can set any of these to Clone/Update as often as you wish...
    Carbon copy cloner...
    http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
    Or SuperDuper...
    http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/
    Or the most expensive one & my favorite, Tri-Backup...
    http://www.tri-edre.com/english/products/tribackup.html

  • Leopard.  Did a full restore from Time Machine.  Now I can't access my other internal and external drives.  I get the following error: The folder "Capture Video" can't be opened because you don't have permission to see its contents.

    Leopard.  Did a full restore from Time Machine.  Now I can't access my other internal and external drives.  I get the following error: The folder “Capture Video” can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents.  I have repaired permissions pn the main harddrive.  When I try too click on a disk I get the previously stated error.  I can't even open up information to see what permission/access there is.  It simply will not let me see the content.  It shows the content of my main hard drive when I have clicked the other harddrive's name.

    Solved:
    sudo chflags 0 /Volumes/"FCP Time Machine BU"
    sudo chown 0:80 /Volumes/"FCP Time Machine BU"
    sudo chmod 775 /Volumes/"FCP Time Machine BU"
    sudo chmod -N /Volumes/"FCP Time Machine BU"

  • Restore from Time Machine & OS X install not working

    Mid 2009 Macbook Pro
    Installed new hard drive, reformatted to GUID, hard drive is verified.
    Booted from USB Recovery HD
    Selected Restore from TIme Machine
    Plugged in external, it shows up, click on it, back up from this morning is there, pick new formatted hard drive
    Get error "An error occurred while adding a recovery system to the destination disk. Restart your computer, and then try restoring again."
    Do exactly that 3 times
    Then try installing OS X
    Get this error "An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again."
    Try that 3 times
    Reset PRAM
    Tried both again same errors

    Hi, and welcome to the forums.
    First, are you running Leopard or Snow Leopard? Your settings at the bottom of your post say Snow Leopard, but this is the +Leopard > Time Machine+ forum, so I'm not sure which is right.
    Did you do the full system restore, starting by booting from your OSX disc? If not, what exactly did you do?
    Exactly what is wrong with Software Update? What happens, or doesn't happen?

  • Will a system restore from Time Machine erase any of the data that is currently on the Mac and not in the Time Machine?

    We had a lot of data on our Mac (i.e. photos, iTunes libraries etc) which we backed up via Time Machine. The hard disk corrupted so we had to get it wiped. When we got it back, my parents started using the mac as per usual but they didn't do a full System Restore from Time Machine. So, if I do a full restore now, will it erase any of the new photos, musc etc that is currently on the mac?

    The Time Machine restore will only restore what is on Time Machine.  Making a clone is probably a better means of ensuring whatever data you want recovered gets recovered together with Time Machine.
    Generally speaking, applications that are newer than the operating system from Apple that are included with the operating system are not supported.  So in your data recovery process from your clone, you'll have to be careful what data you choose to copy back.

Maybe you are looking for