Time Capsule - Delete Backups

Hi - i want to erase the backups on my time capsule without deleting the extra data.
Is there a way to delete the backups alone so that I can start again?
The options page is pretty sparse.

I've been searching for the answer to this also (for weeks). I've tried to simply mount Time Machine and "delete" the sparse bundle but so far all I get is hours of Trash window saying "preparing to delete immediately".
I have 5 Macs and Time Machine has been backing up WAY too much. I'm wondering if I should use Apple's "Backup" software instead. Time Machine seems to have a lot of problems and be far more of a pain to use. Please straighten me out someone. Thanks!

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Time Capsule "Deleted backup image"

Hi!
As usual, the Time Machine went on, except that a message prompted for backup consolidation.
Since 1.4 TB out of the 2 TB of Time Capsule are used and a 75% disk usage is fine, I answered yes.
Problem is, Time Machine actually erased my whole year of backups!
Here's the log from Console:
com.apple.backupd:
Starting standard backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://user_(iMac)@TimeCapsule2._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Time%20Machine%202%20To
Mounted network destination at mountpoint: /Volumes/Time Machine 2 To using URL: afp://user_(iMac)@TimeCapsule2._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Time%20Machine%202%20To
Running backup verification
QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN
Starting standard backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://user_(iMac)@TimeCapsule2._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Time%20Machine%202%20To
Mounted network destination at mountpoint: /Volumes/Time Machine 2 To using URL: afp://user_(iMac)@TimeCapsule2._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Time%20Machine%202%20To
Running backup verification
QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN
Backup verification failed for image /Volumes/Time Machine 2 To/iMac.sparsebundle!
Recovery backup requested by user.
Deleted backup image: /Volumes/Time Machine 2 To/iMac.purgeable. 1860.7 GB available on host volume.
Creating disk image /Volumes/Time Machine 2 To/iMac.sparsebundle
Failed to hide extension on /Volumes/Time Machine 2 To/iMac.sparsebundle, error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4 "The file “iMac.sparsebundle” doesn’t exist." UserInfo=0x7fb5d6d027c0 {NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Time%20Machine%202%20To/iMac.sparsebundle/, NSFilePath=/Volumes/Time Machine 2 To/iMac.sparsebundle, NSUnderlyingError=0x7fb5d6d019d0 "The operation couldn’t be completed. No such file or directory"}.
QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN
Disk image /Volumes/Time Machine 2 To/iMac.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Copies de sauvegarde Time machine
Backing up to: /Volumes/Copies de sauvegarde Time machine/Backups.backupdb
Ownership is disabled on the backup destination volume. Enabling.
Backup content size: 496.4 GB excluded items size: 46.8 GB for volume Macintosh HD
539.51 GB required (including padding), 1.82 TB available
Any idea about what happened and about how to prevent it from starting again?
Thanks.

cicuz wrote:
Is there really no way to make Time Machine simply ignore old backups?
Not really.
First, each is identified to the Mac that made it, via a file in the sparse bundle that contains the Mac's hardware address. This is so you can back up 2 or more Macs to the same TC, since you can't partition the TC's disk (and also allows you to change the name of the Mac, or even have 2 with the same name, without causing havoc).
Second, if the Verify procedure finds a problem it can't fix, it marks the sparse bundle as damaged, and won't back up to it again. You may be able to restore selected files, or even a whole backup, as long as you don't hit the damaged spot(s), but as long as that sparse bundle exists, identified to your Mac, Time Machine won't create a new one.
In theory, you could alter the identification file, but then you'd find it impossible, or at least very difficult, to use the sparse bundle for anything.
What you could do is connect a USB drive to the TC and "archive" the disk, including the damaged sparse bundle, to it, per the green box in #Q6 of Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule, then delete the damaged original (or let Time Machine do that). You can view and restore selected items from it, via the Browse... option, per Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #17. But remember, those backups are damaged -- somewhere, something(s) aren't right, so results will be unpredictable.
Message was edited by: Pondini

My 2 TB Time Capsule's memory is full because it will not automatically delete old files as it is supposed to, so it is giving me zero backup of my two computers now. How can this be fixed so my Time Capsule deletes the old data and saves the new?

My 2 TB Time Capsule’s memory is full because it will notautomatically delete old files as it is supposed to, so it is giving me zerobackup of my two computers now. How can this be fixed so my Time Capsule deletes the old data and savesthe new?
Neither my local computer consultant nor I have been ableto change any of the settings in Time Machine to correct this problem. Working with the choices in the TimeMachine, there does not appear that there is any way to change the frequency ofthe backups either, so, after a year has elapsed, the time capsule is full, andmy only choice appears to be to erase all the current data on the Time Capsuleand start over, something that I do not want to at all let alone repeat on anannual basis. My questions are:
What can be done to have my Time Capsule delete old filesas it is supposed to do, so it has memory available to allow my computers toback up?
Is this a software problem that can be fixed online or isdoes this require a mechanical fix of defective hardware?

How much data is being backed-up from each Mac? (see what's shown for Estimated size of full backup under the exclusions box in Time Machine Prefs > Options).
Is there any other data on your Time Capsule, besides the backups?
Most likely, there just isn't room. Time Machine may be trying to do a very large (or full) backup of one or both Macs, and can't. Since it won't ever delete the most recent backup, there has to be enough room for one full backup plus whatever it's trying to back up now, plus 20% (for workspace).
Also see #C4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting for more details.

Can I use the new Time Capsule to backup my mid 2010 Macbook Pro? Also can I want to free up my hard disk, can I save my photos and files on the time capsule and later access through wifi?

Can I use the new Time Capsule to backup my mid 2010 Macbook Pro? Also can I want to free up my hard disk, can I save my photos and files on the time capsule and later access through wifi?

Can I use the new Time Capsule to backup my mid 2010 Macbook Pro?
Yes, if you are asking about using Time Machine to backup the Mac.
Also can I want to free up my hard disk, can I save my photos and files on the time capsule and later access through wifi?
You are not thinking of deleting the photos and files on your Mac, are you? If you do this, you will have no backups for those files.
Another concern is that Time Machine backs up the changes on your Mac. At some point, Time Machine will automatically delete the photos and files from the Time Capsule.....you just don't know when this might occur.
In other words, only delete files from your Mac that you can afford to lose.

Can I use the time capsule as backup and hard disk at the same time?

Hi.
I want to buy a time capsule.
I wondered, if I can use the time capsule as backup (over time machine) and as a hard disk at the same time?
If I buy the 2TB time capsule, I wanted to use 1TB for the backup and 1TB for hard disk.
Is this possible?
Best wishes
Sophie

It is not recommended.. the problem being anything stored on the TC only is not backed up and cannot be backed up by the TC itself or Time Machine. So what are you going to do about back.. the TC can and do die suddenly.. and the cost of recovery can be huge.
See Q3 here for the semi-right way to do it if you must.
http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
You can plug a USB drive into the TC and use that for files.. but note, its speed is poor.. fine for wireless as wireless is even slower but you will really notice it if you expect the drive to be as fast as the internal.. it will be a fraction of the internal drive speed. 1/2 write and 1/3 read aprox.
See http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/airport-extreme-5th-gen-and-time-capsule-4th- gen-review-faster-wifi-/7

Time machine couldn't complete the backup to johns airport time capsule. the backup disk is not available

time machine couldn't complete the backup to johns airport time capsule. the backup disk is not available

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

Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to time capsule-the backup disk is not available

Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to time capsule-the backup disk is not available

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

Possible to simultaneously use time capsule for backup + another router for internet?

I will soon be moving into an apartment in which my landlord provides wireless internet through her own router.
I also have my own Time Capsule, which I'd like to continue to use to back up my Mac via Time Machine.
Is it possible to connect to both my Time Capsule (for backup only) and another router (for internet only) at the same time?
If not, can anyone suggest a good workaround?

moskovit wrote:
I've done a little research, and it looks like I might be able to wirelessly daisy chain the two routers, using WDS (wireless distribution system), assuming my landlord's router supports it, but that this would drop the speed of the internet significantly: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2623802?start=0&tstart=0
It works extremely poorly and the landlord would need to agree to it.. plus it would require use of WEP security which is hackable by children with internet hack kits in about 2min flat. Don't go there. Apple have made their products incompatible with most other routers. So any suggestion of a workaround will involve spending some money on your part.
You could buy a airport express and plug that into the main router by ethernet.. again if allowed. Your TC can do wireless bridge to another apple product very well. Messy but could work. It is not that expensive to get a second hand AEBS and use that. You don't need the latest products but wireless range would be better in the AEBS than AE.
So I'm still wondering: Is there another workaround? Is there a way to get my mac to connect to my time capsule (for backup) and another router (for internet) simultaneously, or is that just technologically impossible? If it's impossible, is there another solution?
You cannot wirelessly connect to two different wireless devices at once on one client. You need to either have a second wireless client in the laptop.. for instance a USB stick which can be fairly tiny nowadays. It is just you need to find one with Mac drivers. Or the TC must have internet connectivity. You could get that by buying a wireless bridge, and using that in your room, with the TC plugged into it. Universal wireless bridge devices are fairly cheap, but can be a pain to setup. Look for products that work with the main router and use as fast a speed as possible. It can be a tricky setup as you need the wireless bridge working on one channel and the TC working on another. What I am suggesting is the WDS solution you found but using two different boxes to do it. And not using WDS at all, unless the main router is suitable, but rather universal bridge.
The hassle of all that suggests to me,, I would go for the wireless stick, so your Mac laptop has two wireless clients.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/iMAC-MAC-Apple-Airport-G3-G4-G5-OS-X-USB-WIRELESS-CAR D-/290538112833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a56bc741
I have no idea if this works just to show you what I mean. Please do research it yourself.
An ethernet connection to the TC is far superior solution albeit would require you to plug and unplug it.

Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Time Capsule".The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data-1/Macintosh.sparsebundle" is already in use.

When I back up my macbook pro to time capsule 3TB, this appears:
"Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to “Time Capsule”.The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data-1/Macintosh.sparsebundle” is already in use."
and I'm not able to back up. What do I do?

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.

How to monitor Time Capsules that backup multiple laptops?

Hello,
I have two 3Tb Time Capsules that backup 3 laptops each. Those laptops travel and are not always plugged into our network. I'd like to have a way to know if a laptop hasn't been backuped since n days.
Is there a way to do that?
Can Remote Desktop be of any help for that?
Thanks for your help!

You could write a script that looks at the directory in Time Capsule and see what the last updated file for each Mac's folder is.
If this is a business setup and you start to run out of Time Capsule space you may want to look at a NAS and moving Time Machine backups to that instead of Time Capsule.
You could then easily see the access logins for the backups as well as get encrypted backups, ability to recover if the backup drive fails, etc.

Time Machine deleting backups from several months ago (but not the oldest)?

During its "Cleanup" phase, Time Machine has recently been deleting backups from several months ago—even though these aren't the oldest backups, and my backup drive isn't full.
My backups go back to January 2012, yet just today, Time Machine deleted backups from May 21, June 11, July 2, and July 23 (all in 2012). And plus, my Time Machine drive still has 200 GB free.
Why's it doing this? Shouldn't it just either delete my backups from January 2012 first (if it needs the space), or just delete the expired backups in the past 24 hours or 30 days (based on its normal rules)?

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

Use time capsule for backup for HP Windows computer?

How can I use Time Capsule for backup on a HP Windwos computer?

Apple does not offer Windows backup software.
A popular PC application used to backup a PC on the Time Capsule is Genie Timeline Pro. You might want to take a look:
Genie Timeline Pro | Overview | Time Machine Backup Software for ...

I want to install a new Time Capsule for backups. I also have a B box2 from Belgacom for the digital TV, so how do I install?

Hi,
I want to install a new Time Capsule for backups. I also have a B box2 from Belgacom for the digital TV, so how do I install?

Just setup the TC in bridge.
Assuming you are using Lion.. download the airport utility that has some utility.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Then manual setup, internet tab, connection sharing.. off bridge mode.
Then plug the TC into the Bbox and just use it as wireless target for your air.
You can use wireless on Bbox if that works as well, and you might need to juggle wireless channels to get everything working. Having both set to auto is not a good idea.. set and lock channels on one or the other but best is both.. On the TC go to the airport wireless page. change it to manual.. lock the channel. You can use 1, 6, 11 or 13 in ETSI..

Can time capsule keep backup files that are removed from my computer

Can time capsule keep backup files that are removed from my computer? I am a photographer and have a ton of files that take too much space on my computer. I'd like to have a backup of them but keep them off of my computer. Does time capsul allow this?

files you remove from your computer will be removed from your time machine backups sooner or later.
better store important files on an external HD which, if connected directly to your computer and given enough space on your TC, can be backed up using time machine.

Time Capsule - Delete Backups

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