Time Capsule says .sparsebundle disk image is already in use

I recently moved, which of course meant unplugging my Time Capsule and transporting it. Now that it's set up at the new place, I keep getting error messages telling me my MacBook Pro can't backup because the .sparsebundle disk image is already in use.
How can I clear this up and get back to my hourly backups?

I hope it wasn't backing up when you unplugged it.
The usual method is just a power cycle of the TC.. in your case that might not be enough.
Try power cycling the whole network. restart in correct order. modem.. TC.. client computers.
Otherwise check C12 here
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

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I get a message saying backup failed on my Time Machine because backup disk image is already in use. I am the only one using this machine.

My Time Capsule keeps telling me that backup failed because backup disk image is already in use. I'm the only one using this machine.

Pull the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule
Count to ten
Plug the power cord back into the back of the Time Capsule
Wait a few minutes, then try a backup

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.

HT3275 My time machine is sending me messages that the disk image is "already in use" as the reason it can't complete a backup. What gives?

My time machine is sending me messages that the disk image is "already in use" as the reason it can't complete a backup. What gives?

That is our most common error.. ever since Mountain Lion came along with its inability to remember beyond a few hours. where the devices are located.. and so forgets to dismount properly.
Look at the right hand.. More Like This.
A simple restart fixes it. ie pull out the power cord.. count to 10.. plug the power cord back into the TC.
More details C12 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Message from my time capsule"tHE BACKUP DISK IMAGE"/VOLUMES/DATA/BOB MERTIE'S IMAC SPARCE BUNDLE"CANNOT BE ACCESSED". ANY IDEAS? THANKYOU

Message from my time capsule"The backup disk image"/volumes/data/bob mertie's imacsparse bundle could not be accessed" Any help?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
There are different reasons for that error. Read > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

Time Machine / Time Capsule Error: Backup disk image could not be mounted

So I'm trying to back up to time machine, which used to be working fine, but I have this problem happening on two computers now (which probably means the error is in my Time Capsule.)
The Time Capsule shows up on my "shared" list in my finder windows.
I can connect to it, and open the folder inside, and SEE my two disk image files in there.
But Time Machine gives me a "The Backup Disk Image Could Not Be Mounted" error. No other information.
If I double-click on the disk image file directly, I get an error "The Following disk images failed to mount" and then it lists the file and says "Resource temporarily unavailable."
Help, please.

I'm caught in the same loop, with no end in sight. I've only been using Time Machine and Time Capsule for 2 months. This week it stopped working. First error message:
"Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume."
Checking the Time Machine preferences, "Last backup" would read "backup failed"
When I got this error, all the wireless functions went offline, even thought the TC light was still green.
I would shut down, shut down the Time Capsule, shut off my modem reboot everything in order.
Next error message:
"Disk repair. The disk 'Backup of [my computer]' was not repairable by this computer. It is being made available to you with limited functionality. You must backup your data and reformat the drive."
Then: "Time Machine Error: The backup volume is read only. To select a different volume ... Time Machine preferences ... "
I spoke to someone at Apple, who sent me the Time Machine Troubleshooting page:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3275?viewlocale=en_US
I went through:
1. updated my system software
2. updated the TC firmware to 7.4.1
3. dragged the sparsebundle to DiskUtility. It took a while (more than an hour?) but said the disk could not be repaired. When I tried again, the repair function wouldn't run.
4. tried to delete the sparsebundle, but it would choke at almost the end, sometimes it would just crash the finder, sometimes say "Sorry, an unexpected error occurred," sometimes "Operation cannot be completed because the item 'bands' is in use." I even tried to Stuff the bundle with 'delete original' checked, but the stuffing, after about 15 hours, jammed near the end (stuffed 20 gigs of 35 gigs).
5. tried to reselect the TC, and run backup anyways ... now it can't find the volume, back to the error messages and crashing Finder
6. checked password in Keychain, all ok.
Now what??
Do I use Airport Utility to erase it? At least TC is still showing up there. Or press the rest button on the back of the Time Capsule to reset to factory defaults?
I've resigned myself to losing my backups. Now I would just like to get it up and running again.
In hopes,
Linda

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

Backup failed because backup disk image is already in use

I am getting this errror message: The backup disk image "/Volumes/2TB Time Capsule/sparse bundle" is already in use.
What does this mean? How can I fix it?
TIA!

LaPastenague: Thanks for suggesting rebooting of the TimeCapsule.
Rebooting worked even in OS X 10.7.5, which produced the same sort of error ("The backup disk image '/Volumes/....sparsebundle' is already in use") that Beto3645had reported (Dec 13, 2012 4:59 AM [UTC +9]).
Apparently that problem isn't resticted to Mountain Lion:-(.

I have an error message:Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to Time Capsule. The backup disk image is already in use.

I'm a single user, no Airport, and the Time Machine has been backing up nicely for several months. Recently, I've been getting the above message. Any help is appreciated.

Restart the TC. If that doesn't work, do as follows.
If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left.
Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard." Note the timestamp of the last such message. Clear the text field and scroll back in the log to that time. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them (command-C) to the Clipboard. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — anonymize before posting.

Time capsule says sparse bundle busy

Time capsule says "sparsebundle busy" and cannot backup

Already in use.. is that what you mean.. it is well known error. the most common here since Mountain Lion came out in all its glory.
Pull out the power cord from the TC.
Count to 10 (allows the caps to discharge)
Plug the power cord into the TC.
98% of the time the problem goes away.
Tell us if you are part of the select 2%.

Time machine The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Freedom Book.sparsebundle" is already in use.

I am getting the following error message from Time Machine (backing up to my 3 TB Time Capsule):
The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Freedom Book.sparsebundle” is already in use.
I have no idea why this would be in use, because only one MBP has the name "Freedom Book". Any advice on how to resolve? Running Mountaiin Lion 10.8.1.

I had the same error. I unplugged my TimeCapsule for 5 min from power. Plugged it back in to power then waited 10 min for everything to comunicate again. Clicked on backup now and it worked. Must have froze up or something.

HT3275 time capsule error sparsebundle in use

my time capsule says sparsebundle in use how can i solve this

Restarting is restarting.
It will make no difference whether you do this using AirPort Utility or manually.
Open AirPort Utility 6.1
Click on the Time Capsule icon, then click Edit
Click the Base Station menu item at the very top of the screen....in the line as the Apple icon....
Click Restart

I have two Macs that won't back up to time capsule, says The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Douglas Chalmers's iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use.

I have two Macs that won't back up to time capsule, says The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Douglas Chalmers’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use.

Please look over to the right of this page for the heading of More Like This.
There are multiple answers and solutions there.

I'm getting the following message and need to know what to do about it: "The backup disk image "/Volumes/Joyce's Time Capsule/Macintosh.sparsebundle" is already in use."

What do I do to get backups to resume, when getting this message: "The backup disk image “/Volumes/Joyce's Time Capsule/Macintosh.sparsebundle” is already in use." ?

Make sure that no other Macs are backing up at the time
Pull the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule
Count to ten
Plug the power cord back into the back of the Time Capsule
Wait a few minutes, then try a backup again

Time Capsule says .sparsebundle disk image is already in use

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