Time capsule will not complete initial back up and freezes

My Time Machine says back up has completed say '342.43GB of 342.43GB a few seconds remaining' and just stay on that, which never completes the back up because it has no record of it being backed up. I have 2 Macbooks a 3 year old Black Macbook, and a 2011 Macbook Pro, I've never had a problem in the past backing both up
Please help?!
Regards
Clint

Give it a good long time to complete. But if it doesn't, cancel the backup (if it won't cancel after a few minues, see #D6 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting).
There may be a directory problem on the Mac. Verify it's internal HD, per #6 in Using Disk Utility.
Connect to the TC via Ethernet cable if at all possible. It's 2-3 times faster, and more reliable, than even a good WIFI connection.
If you've done this several times, delete the sparse bundle for that Mac, per #Q5 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule.
Then try the backup again.

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My time machine will not complete the back up. It say that my sparsebundle is already in use. What do I do and how do I fix it?

My time machine will not complete the back up. It tells me that my sparsebundle is alreay in use. I currently have imac ungraded my sofeware to the latest. What do I do to correct this?

Try here...
The Backup disk image ... sparsebundle ... is already in use.
From Pondini’s excellent Information Here...
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.htm

Time Machine will not complete a system backup and terminates with "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume. This follows a problem when Time machne terminated when the volume was almost full.

On 11/1/2011, Time Machine (TM) terminated with an error message I did not record. I noted that the drive was full and decided to do a separate complete bootable system backup using Carbon Copy Clone (CCC), before clearing the TM volume and trying to start it over clean. Part way through the full system backup CCC put up a message that there was a Physical Problem "Library/Application Support/Techtool Protection/McIntosh HD/Directory Backup 2011-11-01-16-28-16". That was about the time that TM malfunctioned, so I assumed they were related. After starting CCC over a couple of times, and getting the same error message, I let it go through to completion of the backup, which took three or four hours. I then ran tests using Disk Utility and verified that there was nothing physically wrong with both the internal hard drive and the TM volume. I also erased and reformatted the TM volume. However, every time I started Time Machine, it would record a few GB and terminate with "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume". I restarted the computer with no change in results. Note that prior to starting the CCC backup, I "Repaired Permissions", "zapped the PRAM" and "re-set the SMC", hoping to have a clean bootable system on the backup. I ran Techtool and no problems were found.
I'm running this on an Intel iMac under 10.5.8 and recording to a 500GB My Passport drive. My hard drive is only about half full at 246 GB. My assessment is that something happened at 16-28-16 on 11/1/2001 to screwup the Backup Directory in the file at "Library/Application Support/Techtool Protection/McIntosh HD/Directory Backup 2011-11-01-16-28-16". My question is, how do I fix it?
I had just completed writing everything above here, explaining the problems I had been encountering for the past 24 hours. I had the Time Machine window standing open on the desktop where I could see it, having recentlycleared it after the last termination. As I was proofing what I had written, I looked at the window and noted that the clock had started a new run for a full back up, since all prior efforts had failed and the TM volume was empty. As I watched and waited for it to fail again, as it had been doing at about 13 GB, it kept going and going until it just finished a complete backup, about 4.5 hours later, with my having done nothing. Now my question would have to be - what could possiibly have happened to make it perform this way? It will be interesting to see if it continue to operate normally, or if the problem will return, in a later backup run.

jcm21 wrote:
CCC put up a message that there was a Physical Problem "Library/Application Support/Techtool Protection/McIntosh HD/Directory Backup 2011-11-01-16-28-16"
You should not keep those files for long, and probably shouldn't back them up (if you need them at all -- since you do regular backups, I'm doubtful just how worthwhile that feature is).
"Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume".
One of Apple's maddeningly incomplete messages. Most likely, there's a problem with a file (quite possibly the one CCC didn't like). See #C3 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting for details and instructions on finding and fixing it.
If you continue running the Directory Protection app, be sure to exclude your Time Machine drive from it (as it will just take up lots of room, and won't help repair your backups if there's a problem); and exclude the folders it creates from being backed-up by Time Machine (as they'll create large backups, and you probably can't use the backed-up folders anyway), per #10 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.

Time Machine will not complete initial backup

I reformatted my external LaCie USB 2.0 drive 2X now (even zeroing once and set partition map to GUID) and TM gets hung on the initial backup. I'm on my third try now, and it gets hung each time at exactly 62.3G. mdworker keeps running 98% CPU power also. This seems strange, because I have the backup drive selected in Spotlight's Privacy window not to index the drive, but it seems it keeps trying. Anyone have a clue to what's going on? I'm ready to go back to SuperDuper for backups.

Having EXACTLY the same problem with one macbook.. nothing special in any way about this one at all.. the 10.5 was a clean install and all updates are installed (10.5.2), no special characters, no disk errors, no permission errors, no volume errors, no fsck errors.. removed and rebuilt indexes, tried several different FW drives, reformatted FW drives, tried a USB drive, tried everything I could think of..
no deal.
I get an error on copying a single file right before the error 11.. but these are different random files and those specific files appear OK otherwise. (ive tried this about 30 times now)
I also (sometimes) get an kernel I/O error on the disk1s2 (the fw drive) but there is nothing wrong with it.. and since i've tried three different ones.. and I am able to run a bu from another machine to these drives.
come on apple engineers... give us an answer !

Time Capsule will not start

My Time Capsule will not complete the startup sequence as indicated by a solid amber light on. I have tried pushing the reset button for more than 5 seconds to no avail. I also tried holding the reset button while connedting the power source and that did not work either. Any ideas?

Let's clarify how the normal startup sequence occurs when you perform a Factory Default Reset
Power off the Time Capsule (TC) for 4-5 minutes
Hold in the reset button, and while you continue to hold it in, plug the power back in to the TC
Continue holding the reset button for 8-10 seconds after you plug the power back in and then release the reset button
The TC should display a solid amber light for approximately 25-30 seconds and then begin to slowly blink amber. The blinking amber is your signal that the TC has fully reset and is now ready to be re-configured.
If the amber light stays solid and does not change to blinking after 25-30 seconds, and you have tried the Factory Default Reset a few times, then I'm afraid that there is an internal electrical problem with the TC and you will need to get in touch with Apple to let them have a look.
Please post on your results.

Time Capsule will not Backup due to a sparcebundle in use...error code -6584 come just before.

I just recieved and error stating Alert from finder the operation could not be completed error code (-6584), then as my time capsule icon is spinning in my menu bar the Error arrives is... Time Capsule could not complete the back up because the backup disk image "/Volume/Data/Darren's MacBook Pro 1.sparsebundle" is already in use.
before i tried monkeying with it it said my oldest back up with Dec 11...and i can enter time machine and go back...but only to Aug 23rd 2012. 1 TB of information is sitting on my time capsule...so.......please help
Version 10.8.1
MBP Intel Core i7
2TB Time Capsule

Here is a lot of info for you, hope you can sort your issue out.
Disks you can use with Time Machine
Time Machine Server Requirements
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/TimeCapsule_SetupGuide.pdf
Pondini's Time Machine FAQ

HT201250 My time capsule is not allowing a back up indicating the 'time capsule is already in use'. The system is set to back up and remove the oldest back up so it is not 'in use' as far as can see. I believe something is in error. Thoughts?

I am new to this capability. My problem is that my time capsule is not allowing a back up and indicates, The Back up 'is already in use' yet I have made no changes since I set the system up and now I am seeing this failure. Thoughts?

Thoughts?
Bugs in Mavericks.
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

HT3275 Help? Time Machine could not complete the back up due to iMacsparsebundle is already in use??? This is the error message I am getting now with my Time Capsule as the back up device. Any suggestions?

Help? Time Machine could not complete the back up due to iMacsparsebundle is already in use??? This is the error message I am getting now with my Time Capsule as the back up device. Any suggestions?

Pull the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule
Wait a few minutes
Push the power cord back into the back of the Time Capsule
See if the Time Capsule will back up now
If not, see #C12 in this document:
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

HT3275 I recently bought a new Time Capsule and the following message is shown:- "Time Machine could not complete the back up. The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data-1/Brian's iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use." Can anyone help?

I recently bought a new Time Capsule and the following message has started to show:-
"Time Machine could not complete the back up. The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data-1/Brian’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use."
Can anyone help?

Pondini is the resident Time Machine expert on the forums, and he has all the answers.
Check is excellent Time Machine - Troubleshooting support document
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
See # C17 in particular

Time Capsule will not back up address book

Fior some reason Time Capsule will not back up my address book. When I delete an address and start up Time Machine, it will show my address book screen. However all my "older" address book screens in time machine are blank. I have searched various forums but have not been able to find other topics on this issue. Is here anybody who has a clue (the address book is not exempted for back up)?

I just checked to see if TM was backing up my address book, and at first I saw the same thing you're describing, but after a minute or so, old backups appeared. Have you waited a minute to see what happens?

Time capsule will not back up any more

My Time Capsule will not back up anymore. I have a message stating there is not enough storage room. I have the setting to delete the oldest backup to make room for the newest backup. Any suggestions?

When you upgrade the OS, it produces massive backups. Mavericks in particular has produced all kinds of issues for people.
You have several choices..
1. If nothing in the backup is important to you.. erase the TC and start over. That is the easiest.
2. If you want to keep the old backups then archive the existing sparsebundle to USB drive plugged into the TC.
Then erase the disk and start over. That is good way as once TM has established its routine.. and you are certain nothing in the old backups is needed you can wipe the USB.. after 6months or 1year or whatever.
3. Plug the USB into the TC and use that as the target and start a new TM backup.
4. Plug the USB into the computer and use that as the target for TM.
5. Delete older backups in the sparsebundle yourself. I place this last, as it is the worst option IMHO.
http://pondini.org/TM/12.html

Time capsule will not back up/sparse bundle is already in use?

Time capsule will not back up/sparse bundle is already in use?

Thank you. After reading more, I turned off time capsule in system preferences, shut down computer, unpluged and pluged back in time capsule. Turned computer back on and the problem went away and time capsule successfully backed up.
There is an old rule in boht PC and MAC world, try reboot first, ask later. I often forget it.
Thanks again.
Quarto

New Time Capsule will not back up my 2009 MacBook Pro. I can see and find my last back before Mavericks but cannot backup.

New Time Capsule will not back up my 2009 MacBook Pro. I can see and find my last back before Mavericks but cannot backup. The TC will not allow me to delete or start a new backup disk. My 2024 MacBook Air did the same yesterday but today it backs up.

Seems to be working now. I left the MacBook on all morning trying to back up and now works.

Time machine will not complete backup.

Time Machine will not complete back-up - 3TB back-up is full and time machine will not automatically delete oldest back-up.

This happens from time to time. You will need to step in and decide what to do.. Delete manually.. a very slow and fraught process.. or you have to take more severe action.. eg archive off the old backups and start again. You will need a 3TB USB drive to do it.. but IMHO is well worth it. Assuming you need all that history. You can then simply do a quick erase from Airport Utility which takes a minute or two and do a fresh backup.
Try to eliminate files that are not necessary to backup.. eg the worst is any virtual disk for parallels or bootcamp.. where the slightest change to the smallest file will result in a full backup of the whole virtual disk. You must backup windows etc from inside the OS and not from TM in Mac OS.
Have you upgraded the computer btw?? I get the feeling that when you upgrade a computer.. say Snow Leopard to Lion to Mountain Lion.. TM has real issues handling the old backups. It is much better to start over.
Read up from our most productive expert.. Pondini..
http://pondini.org/TM/C4.html

Time Capsule will not reset

I'm trying to delete old user devices from my access control list, but after I remove them, the Time Capsule will not reset properly. After I delete one of the devices, click on Update, the time capsule gets stuck during the update and never fully resets. If I pull the plug and restart the time capsule, it reverts back to it's previous state with the devices still in the access list. Is anyone having this trouble?

Dear Stephen,
I have the same problem and I found this thread describing the same thing on another forum. Each time I try to change any setting this happens (i.e., TC won't reset and I have to unplug it before I can use it again).
When the postings in the mentioned thread are any indication no reset (hard or soft) will have any lasting effect. But of course, I will try to reconfigure and see what happens.
Any solution or localization of where the source of the problem (firm-/soft-/ or hardware) would be highly appreciated:)
Best
Rene

Time capsule will not complete initial back up and freezes

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