Time capsule error "Unable to create disk image"

Apart from all the various issues on the discussions I noticed the following with the latest releases on the TC 7.4.1.
My time capsule stopped backing up and started asking for a password; also the capsule was unable to mount on the desktop in the finder. If I gave the TC an I.P could mount it but it still refused to back up, one of the other things I noticed the TC started to ask for a password, which it never asked for before the software update.
My solution given two weeks of late nights going out of my mind were to delete my prefs including my keychain prefs and repair my permissions using disk utility, which found several problems, my TC now backs up after several weeks without it going backwards and forwards through previous updates etc.
It's drastic but it worked for me.
Hope this helps

I am still experimenting. To narrow the problem, I decided to create individual disk images of the folders in the User folder. The first one I tried was 7 GB and worked fine. Overnight, I tried one that is 13 GB. It failed with an out of room message on the startup disk! The startup disk has 17 GB free. Nothing should have been written to the startup disk!
This time, I configured Disk Utility to read from the startup disk and write to an external disk. The destination disk had more than enough space. But, I ran out of space on the source. It appears that Disk Utility is writing all or a portion of the compressed file to either the startup or the source disk and running out of room.
Previously, when I created the image of my user folder (instead of my wife's), the source was my user folder on the startup disk and the destinaion for the image was on an external disk. The difference I see is that my startup disk has enough free space for the entire compressed image file.
In my first attempt that gave me the -39, both the source and the destination disks were external. So maybe Disk Utility is creating the image on the source and at the end copying it to the destination. This would explain the difference in the error messages.
I'll try to confirm all of this in the next few days and report my findings.

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Time Machine could not complete the backup "Time Capsule". Unable to access disk image backup "/ Volumes / Time Capsule / iMac.sparsebundle" (error 112). How can I repair it?

Time Machine could not complete the backup "Time Capsule". Unable to access disk image backup "/ Volumes / Time Capsule / iMac.sparsebundle" (error 112).
How can I fix it?

You might want to take a look at Pondini's excellent support document......Time Machine Troubleshooting
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
See # C17

I am getting a time capsule error that the backup disk image can be accessed (error -1) - what does this mean?

When my time capsule tries to perform a back-up - i get the following error message.
The backup disk image "/volumes/data/myname's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be acccessed (error-1).
Is this something that can be resolved or is time capsule dead?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
That error is caused by different reasons. Have a look at this Pondini's page > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

HT3275 time machine error says: The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Apple 's iMac G5.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1).

While backing up to Time Machine, I receive this message: time machine error says: The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Apple ’s iMac G5.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error -1).

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
That message is caused by several reasons. Read the Pondini's site to fix the problem > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

Time Machine error message: The backup disk image could not be created

I got a new MacBook the other weekend and Time Capsule. I have set up the time capsule, its light is green, it shows up as a device in my finder window and the printer it shares is accessible.
The problem is when I try to run time machine I get the error message "the backup disk image could not be created" I have the time capsule selected as the drive I want to back up to. I have read through all 150 help topics on the Mac Support page regarding time machine and am now turning to you the community to help!

I found an answer in another place on this forum...http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1422065&tstart=330
Just have to give my computer a name under system preferences/sharing

Disk Utility error - can't create disk image

Hi all...I'm trying to back up my Mac OS X install dvd (10.5.2) via DU and creating a disk image to burn on my MacBook Pro. I've done this before, such as for the Panther disc that came with my G4. I attempted it three different times and I keep getting the following error:
'Unable to create "Mac OS X Install Disc 1." (input/output error)'
Furthermore, it keeps referring to it as the actual dvd's name, and not the one I renamed it as (don't know if this is important to mention or not, but just in case.)
So I took the job to my G4 and no problem, the disk image was created, and it's ready to burn.
So my question is, does anyone know what the problem might be in regards to DU not being able to create the disk image on my MacBook and cause this error? Because my G4 was able to do it, I know it's not the DVD giving me problems.
(Yes, I repaired permissions.)
Any help would be much appreciated!

It may be the the disc after all...
I'm still having the same problem, but I also discovered that I cannot get the install disc to get past the "spinning gear" stage when trying to start up with it, so yes, it's most definitely useless! My MacBook is still under warranty so I phoned Apple, and explained the problem and everything I did to ensure it wasn't hardware related. So they're sending me new install discs. I'm not 100% convinced yet that the problem is the install disc, but we'll see...my only doubt remains from the fact that I was able to make a disc image of it on my G4. That said...
I did a hardware test (long version, and everything is reportedly fine), played dvd movies, burned cd's, installed software from discs, etc, and it seems the drive is working fine, however, it could possibly be sensitive to even the slightest smudge or scratch (the install disc has a few very slight marks on it that shouldn't be a problem, and I cleaned it thoroughly). The only other time I had a problem was when I went to rip a song from a cd to iTunes where it hung and and then failed to complete the task. (The cd itself played without issue though.) I checked it for dirt/scratches: it had a couple of barely imperceptible smudges and one shallow scratch. I cleaned it, tried it again and iTunes was able to import from it after that. This remains the only time (so far) I've had a problem with a disc besides my install disc.
I want to be able to repair disk before I install 10.5.3, and back up everything, including the install discs. My Macbook came with 10.5.2 and except for this problem, everything's been working fine.
When I get my new install discs, I'll post how that went. They should arrive within a week or so.
DrHouseTF: I checked out your thread. I've never tried to make copies of game disks via DU, but maybe it's due to copy protection measures on the disc itself?
Message was edited by: iMsP
Message was edited by: iMsP

Time Capsule Error: Unable to complete backup...

For the past two days I've been getting the following Time Capsule Error message whenever it attempts to back up my system, "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup directory." I can't get any more information about the error than that. If I reset my TC, will it lose all of my previous backups? Restarting my Mac didn't help. All other functions are fine, i.e. WiFi is good and I can still print to my printer hooked up to it. Any ideas?

I'm having the exact same problem. If a b/u does kick off, it shuts down the Mac. I get the darkened screen with the window that says a reset is required.
Anyone know how to fix this?

Time Machine error message: The backup disk image is already in use.

Hi,
Everytime my Time Machine tries to perform a backup I get the following error message: The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Celine Gauld’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use.
I'm not very tech-savvy and certainly don't know my way around the Mac that well. Any suggestions as to how I go about solving this?
Thanks.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Restart your iMac and Time Capsule. In most of cases, this should solve the problem. If it doesn't work > http://pondini.org/TM/C12.html

Time Machine Error Message: "The backup disk image could not be mounted"

I just installed Time Capsule and the initial back up was going smoothly. Now
all I get is a and the Error message "The backup disk image could not be mounted". Can anyone help me troubleshoot this problem? Thanks.

This works, if there is no corruption in the sparse image. But after weeks of backups, my sparse image on a USB disk attached to an Airport Extreme was corrupted.
I am right now repairing it by connecting the USB disk directly and using disk utility. It recovered the file system and is not rebuilding the B-Tree. I hope that works, otherwise it will have to be disk warrior...
On Time Capsule, I have heard folks having success with attaching the image, and then repairing it:
hdiutil attach -nomount -readwrite /path/to/sparse/image
Your mileage may vary, but you do not have a lot to lose in this circumstance...
This functionality should really be in the Airport or Time Capsule, or at least Disk Utility or Airport Utility.

I'm having trouble backing up my second macbook to a new time capsule. continue to get an error message -- "Time Machine Error. The backup disk image could not be created." Is there something I need to change in my time capsule or time machine?

I just set up a new time capsule. it worked fine on my first macbook. But now I cannot backup my second macbook. Getting "Time Machine Error" "The backup disk image could not be created." Do I need to change settings on my time capsule to allow the second computer, or do I need to change something on the computer to allow time machine to work right?

Try #C9 in Pondini's Time Machine Troublshooting
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Disk Utility "Unable to create" Disk Image "error -39"

I am trying to create a disk image using Disk Utility of my wife's user area for backup. Everytime I try, I get the same result. Disk Utility spends several hours creating the archive, then at the very end it generates an error message and terminates the process. The error message is always "unable to create "user" - error -39".
The problem follows her data and not her computer. I backed up her user to an external drive and did the image creation on another computer. Same result.
When I do the same on my computer, the process completes fine.
What problem is Disk Utility having? Where can I find the meaning of Disk Utilitility's -39 error?
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

I am still experimenting. To narrow the problem, I decided to create individual disk images of the folders in the User folder. The first one I tried was 7 GB and worked fine. Overnight, I tried one that is 13 GB. It failed with an out of room message on the startup disk! The startup disk has 17 GB free. Nothing should have been written to the startup disk!
This time, I configured Disk Utility to read from the startup disk and write to an external disk. The destination disk had more than enough space. But, I ran out of space on the source. It appears that Disk Utility is writing all or a portion of the compressed file to either the startup or the source disk and running out of room.
Previously, when I created the image of my user folder (instead of my wife's), the source was my user folder on the startup disk and the destinaion for the image was on an external disk. The difference I see is that my startup disk has enough free space for the entire compressed image file.
In my first attempt that gave me the -39, both the source and the destination disks were external. So maybe Disk Utility is creating the image on the source and at the end copying it to the destination. This would explain the difference in the error messages.
I'll try to confirm all of this in the next few days and report my findings.

HT3275 I am received an error on my Time Capsule which states the backup disk image "Volumes/Data/MacBook Pro. sparse bundle? is already in use. so time machine couldn't complete the backup to time capsule - any suggestion

I've received an error message Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to Time Capsule, the backup disk image /Volumes/Date/....MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use. Any suggestions as to what I can do to fix it?

I've got mine working again by deleting a partial backup that was on the Time Capsule.
I mounted the backup sparsebundle, and then browsed the content and found a filestucture named <timstamp>.inProgress. I removed that and the followed the tip to disconnect described above. That did the trick for me.

Time machine error says: The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Apple 's iMac G5.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1).

I've been having the same problem that my Time Machine can't be back up to my iMac for last few months. It said," The backup disk image... sparsebundle" cannot be acessed -(error 1) . When i looked into my TC, it does connected to my iMac; but not in devices and when i clicked into imac.sparsebundle and it is no mounted file system.
I tried several changes such as new password, new device names, checked Keychain Acess, repaired the disk, got a latest air utilily... But it still couldn't help alot. my iMac software now is OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.4. However, it having the problem since i update the software... I'm not sure if it related but i'm clueless now!!!
I need help for this annoying issue!!

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
That message is caused by several reasons. Read the Pondini's site to fix the problem > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

How does Time Capsule treat data other than disk images?

Hi there
I have a 3TB TC to use primarily as a wireless backup, as intended by Apple.
However, I wish to temporarily transfer a couple of GBs of data to it for transferring across to another machine.
I seem able to do the above, but my question is: how does the TC treat the two different types of data?
- Is it a better idea to partition the drive first?
- Is the TC likely to automatically delete the original data, like it does with old disk images, when the disk gets full?
- Can the TC handle the disk images and the original data side-by-side?
Just need some help understanding the 'Apple Magic' with this one!
I do realise that having the original data on the TC won't help me if it fails, but like I said, this is a temporary measure. Please don't post about this, as you won't win yourself any points - you'll just look like a smart-*** and annoy everyone.
Thanks in advance!

1. The Time Capsule will not automatically delete data that wasn't originally put on it as part of a Time Machine backup.
2. It isn't possible to partition the Time Capsule. Network drives can only be partitioned by software specifically designed to work with that drive.
(67818)

My time machine error message "The backup disk image "/Volumes/Richard Searson's Time Caps/Richard's iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use." Any suggestions please?

The backup disk image “/Volumes/Richard Searson's Time Caps/Richard’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use. It hasnt backed up for over 24 hours now and I am concerned as only in May my whole system crashed and the time machine was not able to recover any data. I do not want this to happen again. Thanks

This is our most common problem.. and you are number 2 today.
Look on the right..
More Like This
Your problem is repeated with the solution ad nauseam.
But the solution is simple.. pull out the power cord from the TC.. count to 10.. Plug in the power cord again.
This is just poor networking from Apple.
Whenever you have TM issues.. this is the place to check.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Your issue is C12.

Time capsule error "Unable to create disk image"

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