Time Machine Airdisk Trouble! Help!

I have had my old 160GB macbook drive in an enclosure connected to my airport extreme for my wireless backups for about 3 months. About 2 weeks ago, the drive started indexing every time time machine tried to do a backup. It would take from 1-2 hrs to complete this task. After having this problem for about 1 week I decided to erase and format the drive and set it up once again as an airdisk. My problem is that now the drive will not appear in time machine setup where you choose the backup disk you want to use. I can see the drive in my sidebar connected to the airport extreme, but when I mount it, the icons don't appear in my desktop but I am able to transfer files to it wirelessly. I've tried resetting the AE an reformatted the drive 2 more times as Mac OSX Extended (Journaled) with no luck.
I tried another external that I have (WD Passport) and somehow this works fine. However this is a 320GB disk I use for my photo library.
Should the drive be formatted differently?
Any help?

Here's an Apple Knowledge Base Article that you might want to read that describes what to do when Time Machine stops backing up data: http://tinyurl.com/95e57o.

Similar Messages

I recently changed from a Mac Pro to an iMac. A large chunk of emails have disappeared. Time Machine is no help. Any ideas as to how I can get them back?

I recently changed from a Mac Pro to an iMac. Despite using Migration Assistant, a large chunk of my recent emails and nearly all of my wife's emails have disappeared in transit. Strangely, emails from my distant past are still there. Time Machine is no help; the messages may be on my backup disc but they're behind an invisible icon. Any ideas as to how I can get them back?

Quit Mail. Force quit if necessary.
Back up all data. That means you know you can restore the Mail database, no matter what happens.
Triple-click the text on the line below to select it:
~/Library/Mail/V2/MailData/Envelope Index
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C). In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder
from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return.
A Finder window will open with a file selected. Move the selected file to the Desktop, leaving the window open. Other files in the folder may have names that begin with "Envelope Index". Move those files, if any, to the Trash.
Log out and log back in. Relaunch Mail. It should prompt you to re-import your messages. You may get a warning that the index is corrupt and that Mail has to quit. Click OK.
Test. If Mail now works as expected, you can delete the file you moved to the Desktop. Otherwise, post your results.

Does anyone know why since upgrading to ML notes are not visible in Time Machine. They used to be part of mail and could be recovered from Time machine but since ML I don't seem to be able to access notes in Time Machine. Any help would be useful.

Does anyone know why since upgrading to ML notes are not visible in Time Machine. They used to be part of mail and could be recovered from Time machine but since ML I don't seem to be able to access notes in Time Machine. Any help would be useful.

Welcome to Apple Communities
Mail doesn't support notes. If you use iCloud, you have them in it because Notes is an application

I had to put my computer by together without migration or time machine I NEED help with order of the files?

I had to put my computer by together without migration or time machine I NEED help with order of the files?

Hi, where are these other files exactly?

Hello, my mail is gone and I can't find it anywhere. Its not in library and I have not configured Time Machine yet. Help please?!

Hello, my mail is gone and I can't find it anywhere. Its not in library and I have not configured Time Machine yet. Help please?!

Use Find Any File, if the old messages might have been in a specific mailbox, to look for a file by the name of the mailbox to see if there are any larger versions of that mailbox.
http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/
If your Mail is indeed gone, you may be able to recover it with one of the data recovery tools here:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1689
But act quickly. Every action while the computer is turned on weakens its chances of recovery. There is a slim chance also your email provider may have tape backup from before you checked your messages and after it arrived at their server for certain messages. You may want to ask them if that might have happened.

Time Machine Error - please help!

My dad has been having trouble with his Time Machine backups. I'm trying to trouble shoot, but can't seem to solve the issue. Whenever we run a backup we get the message: "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume" It happens fairly quick after we run a TM backup. Here's what we've done:
1. Repaired permissions on the internal drive (several times)
2. Started a brand new TM set-up and back up.
3. Erased and reformatted the external TM drive
4. Tried an entirely different external drive as the TM drive
5. Trashed the/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file and restarted
6. Downloaded the Time Machine Buddy widget to see if that reveals anything. Here's the error message:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/BACKUP/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: 500GB
Backup content size: 122.8 GB excluded items size: 160 KB for volume 500GB
No pre-backup thinning needed: 147.39 GB requested (including padding), 465.31 GB available
Waiting for index to be ready (-911 < 0)
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying /Applications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS/Address Book to /Volumes/BACKUP/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-100535.inProgress/8B51B8C1-1E6D-4692-9AF3-D2BF169FDC29/500GB/Appl ications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS
Stopping backup.
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Applications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS/Address Book to /Volumes/BACKUP/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-100535.inProgress/8B51B8C1-1E6D-4692-9AF3-D2BF169FDC29/500GB/Appl ications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS
Copied 0 files (1.2 MB) from volume 500GB.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11
I then tried to exclude the entire Applications folder from the Time Machine options - but still got the same error message with this report:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/BACKUP2/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: 500GB
Backup content size: 120.2 GB excluded items size: 4.8 GB for volume 500GB
No pre-backup thinning needed: 138.47 GB requested (including padding), 372.21 GB available
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying /bin/bash to /Volumes/BACKUP2/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-111244.inProgress/DB7DB1B6-5B21-4349-B048-A91C190684F1/500GB/bin
Stopping backup.
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /bin/bash to /Volumes/BACKUP2/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-111244.inProgress/DB7DB1B6-5B21-4349-B048-A91C190684F1/500GB/bin
Copied 0 files (1.2 MB) from volume 500GB.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11
NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?
Please help......!!

Hi Pondini -
thanks for the reply. Your troubleshooting User Tips was what I was referring to all along. I've seemed to have resolve the issue, however, by means of a far simpler solution. I noticed just recently that although the external TM hard drive seemed to have no apparent issues when verified and repaired with Disk Utility, it did hang up and produce some Error messages when simply trying to copy large files manually over with the Finder (not using TM). This caused me to think that maybe it was not TM, but rather something wrong with the data being copied (corrupt files) or the actual drive enclosure. It wasn't the actual hard drive inside, as I had earlier swapped the original drive in the enclosure with a drive that I knew was OK and the problem still occurred. I then noticed that the drive enclosure was connected to the computer via a Firewire 800 to Firewire 400 adapter cable (the enclosure has only FW800 port and the older imac has only FW400 ports - my dad had purchased that specialty cable). When I had earlier swapped drives to check the actual drive, I kept the same cable connection. I now tried reconnecting the drive with a simple USB cable - and wallah! - all my Finder copying worked and Time Machine copying seems to be going fine. SO it seems that the actual FW cable connection was causing issues???? TM is still chugging away at the moment (first copy - large amount of data), but seems to be doing fine. Is there anyway I could have gotten a clue that the problem was something so simple as a bad cable. Is FW more buggy than USB. Maybe those that adapter cables are buggy. I've always preferred FW as I thought it was the faster more reliable method of external HD connection - but maybe USB is a better choice. Obviously here it is. Thanks for the help.

Problem restoring files from a Time Machine Backup! HELP!

Heya,
I have Snow Leopard and have been using Time Macine regularly since May.... I never needed to restore any file until now...
Deleted some must have stuff.. and emtird the trash (of course!).. so went to time machine to restore it...
Looked it up... nice interface.. have stuff since May 2011... nice.. found the 10+Gb of stuff I had deleted.. and restored... Pffffew!
Opend the file... Bzzzz! you loose... file is currupt,,, what?
load again.. still no go? files all look the right length m.. hmm very strance... can;t open then... lets try a simeple file...
restore a text file... size ok.. but... EMPTY!
use HexEdit to open the text file... All ZERO's!
check the otehr files I restores ALL ZERO's!
DOH! restore files I saved into safe old Time machine in May 2011... AL ZEROS!!
***! Everything is ZERO! my last 6 months worth of time machine backups is all gone! Directory structures say they are there.. file sizes are ok.. but NO DATA!!!
Can somone please HELP ME!
G./

Open Disk Utility. Click once on the external drive left-most icon (not the indented volume name/icon); what does it indicate for Partition Map Scheme? Also, do you have an Intel Mac or a PPC Mac?
Now click "Verify Disk" and see if it finds errors or if it reports "ok."
What I am hoping (this is something of a long shot) is that there will be errors found on the disk that Disk Utility can repair and then your data will be properly associated with the file names and headers. "Verify" simply reports back on the state of the file system and can do no harm; only when you click on "Repair" will it actually try to repair anything. You might want to report back first on the results of "Verify" before trying to "repair."
By the way, this Verify (or Repair) procedure can take ~ hours for a large disk that is mostly full. I did this recently on an external Time Machine drive that was 1.5 TB in size and 2/3 full and it took ~ 3 hours.
If severe errors are found on that disk, something stronger than Apple's Disk Utility might be called for, such as Disk Warrior. Hence better to report back here before roceeding with any "repairs."
The type of error I am hoping you might have is in the file system that relates the filenames and their header (and file sizes) to the locations around the disk where the actual data inside the file are located. If that file system gets damaged, your computer will have trouble finding the actual data that goes with each file. Hence getting zeros when you should have gotten data. Sometimes this can be fixed, sometimes it cannot. Often it can. If the problem is caused by a physical problem with the disk, the likelihood of recovery is low. If the problem is with the file system/mapping to the data on the drive, it very well might be fixable.
Have you had any power failures, system freezes, improper or disorderly computer shutdowns, etc. or unexpected dismounting of the backup drive anytime since you have been using it? Have you ever gone into that external backup drive in the finder and changed any of the files on it yourself, or has it only been touched indirectly through Time Machine?

Clean install of Lion. Now I can;t see the partition on a USB external where I did a Time Machine backup. Help?

Howdy.
Ok, wanted to update my daughter's MacBookPro (late 2009 - 2.26ghz - 8GB RAM) I took a new external and partitioned into two GUID partitions. Installed Lion on one, and did a full (and verified) backup on the other. Booted off the external, erased the laptop drive and installed Lion. Works perfectly.
But when I try and access the Time Machine backup, I can't even see the partition. The icon is on the Desktop, the partition is in Finder. When I first instaled it even asked if I wanted to use that partition for Time Machine. But I can't do anything but a full restore, which I obviously do not want.
I tried going into Time Machine itself and when asked if I wanted to "Use Previous Disk" to do TM backups, I said yes. But I could not get the Mac to "inherit" the old backup.
Migration Assistant doesn't see the partition either.
Help?

First I formatted 2 partitions GUID on the external and installed Lion into one of them., and backed up the Macbook (via Time Machine) into the other. I then booted off the external Lion partition, erased the Macbook, installed a fresh Lion.
I then restarted using the new internal Macbook drive. Works perfectly. But now, when I try to use Migration Assistant I cant see the second partition, the one with the Time Machine backup.
I know I can do it manually but actually the computer is with my daughter at college in Arizona and I'm in Connecticut, so I'd rather get to the screen that allows you to restore users and settings only.
Thanks!

I attempted to import pics from iphoto to a folder on my desktop but somehow clicked desktop so 45,000 pics loaded, now computer freezes after trying to load everything. possible to reverse this? options? restore hd from time machine? pls help!!!

long story short...i attempted to import pics from iphoto to a folder on my desktop but somehow clicked desktop so 45,000 pics loaded to my desktop and now my computer freezes up after trying to load everything, and i'm not able to just drag the photos into the folder. is it possible to reverse this? what are my options? restore hd from time machine?
a further question to restoring my hd from a previous backup on time machine...it says it will erase the hd. does it actually erase everything or does it just erase anything that may have been added or downloaded since that backup? this is confusing to me.
another problem which is part of the original problem is it seems that when i connect my iphone to my computer and iphoto uploads my pics...it doesn't just upload new ones, it duplicates and uploads every picture again...which is why i have 45,000 pics...they are 40,000 duplicates! what's up with that?
I have a macbook pro, and recently updated the os to Yosemite. the iphoto app is out of date, but i'll worry about that once i can figure out how to get all those pics off the desktop. also, i recently purchased and installed 8g of new ram, but that hasn't seemed to help.
any advice would be appreciated!
thanks!!

thanks for replying.
the booting and walking away and then attempting to browse and clean method is what i've been trying to do. it won't let me drag and drop and just freezes up and goes to sleep after 2 minutes. it's a never ending battle with very few results. which is why i questioned the method of just restoring the hd from a time machine backup.
do you think restoring the hd from time machine will resolve the issue with all pics on the desktop? and everything will be as it was from the date i restore it from? sorry, as you can tell, i'm not overly computer savvy.
i have a really old desktop mac...i can try connecting the two...how does one boot a mac in 'target mode'?
as for the iphoto cleaning and organizing issue...that is what i was trying to accomplish with importing them to a folder. was going to browse and clean from there...but somehow imported to desktop which is what's complicating everything. once i get them off the desktop i can work on the iphoto issue...which as i mentioned...i didn't take 45,000 pics...i've just taken about 4,500 over the last few years, and they are being duplicated in iphoto. this was my attempt to clean it out entirely and start over. it will basically be a lot of deleting.
one problem, seems to lead me to more...which is just my luck. :-)
thanks again, for your help.

Concerns ALL Time Machine Users. HOW TO MOVE Time Machine backups. Help !

Concerns ALL Time Machine Users :
MOVE (or COPY) Time Machine backups from a "x"To Disk to an "y"To greater disk.
Hello and thank you all for reading me,
First, excuse me if I make language errors (I'm French).
Secundo, I don't know if you'll find something interesting for you
in what I write about Time Machine and my own problems,
but there's a possibility also that YOU could perhaps help me.
I'm talking about Time Machine and his **** Backups.backupdb folder,
containing "*Name of your Mac*" folder,
this folder containing Time Machine backups, format : YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS
Time Machine doesn't recognize the backups it made *IF YOU MOVE THEM*.
I have perhaps a solution in this message.
You'll see below what kind of problem I (and you could) have.
Since 12/01/10, an Apple Adviser Level Two (and me)
are trying to understand how to move backups from TM1To Disk to, let's say, a bigger one.
My case is TM1,5To.
*Purpose :* Move 19 backups from Time Machine X disk to Time Machine Y disk.
Delete TMX disk Time Machine backups after that.
Make TMY disk the current used Time Machine Disk.
I don't remember exactly what we did before
(we even created a "root" account with password (dangerous to do),
but it didn't solve the problem),
but we finally copied :
TM1To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* folder (containing 19 backups) into :
TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb folder.
The Copy application announced *16 hours !* (without antivirus, to remove absolutely).
So I said goodbye and thank you to my Apple Adviser. After *8 hours*, Copy failed.
BUT it had succeeded to copy *4 backups ONLY* (why ?) in TM1,5To.
I immediately verified and checked each of these with Get Info.
They had EXACTLY the same size (Byte to Byte) as in TM1To.
➔ BUT HERE IS MY OBSERVATION :
After designing TM1,5To as Time Machine Disk, I ordered it to Backup (now).
And what did Time Machine do in TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb ?
It created a *NEW folder*, named *MacBook Pro 2* !
➔ *I HAVE NO ACCESS* to TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* (4 backups copied from TM1To, remember) ;
➔ while I still *HAVE ACCESS* to TM1To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* (19 backups) ;
➔ *AND I HAVE ACCESS* to TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro 2*,
where Time Machine makes actually his backups.
*NOTE :* If you *change the name* of your computer,
Time Machine *changes automatically the name* of the folder who is in Backups.backupdb folder.
➔ ① I have *never seen* such protections (Sharing and Permissions).
You are not allowed to do anything. I've tried to change permissions,
first : "R+W", after that : "Make (Me) the owner", I can tell you : DON'T DO IT !
➔ ② It's impossible to install an OS on a Time Machine disk
(I thought it would allow better permissions).
OS Installer detects the existence of a Backups.backupdb folder
and refuses to install on this disk or partition.
I have now the bad intent to install minimal OS X
1) after deleting (how ?) this folder (but not its contents, how to move it ?)
and 2) declare *after that* the disk as Time Machine disk.
➔ ③ Time Machine doesn't backup OTHER Time Machine backups
(who are in an ancient-not-choosed-for-backups Time Machine disk) NOR backups this disk
(detects, once again, the existence of a Backups.backupdb folder).
AND you can't *absolutely not remove backups from the folder the're in*
(for me, *MacBook Pro* or *MacBook Pro 2*).
➔ ④ I didn't have time to do it, but I think there would perhaps be a solution
in restoring backups in partitions specially created to receive them (having the same name,
that sort of thing) and then re-backup these partitions (vicious and complicated).
There is a function on Mac OS X Install DVD : start with it, and then (do not install)
choose "*restore from Time Machine backup*" from the menu bar (it's called "Utilities", I believe).
➔ ⑤ I *absolutely don't understand* what follows :
— If I add (in my TM1To disk) the bytes of the 19 backups
in Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* folder, I obtain about *1,8 To*.
— It's impossible (and not french).
— When I check the size used with Disk Utility (NOT with Get Info),
I find a correct (?) size : *about 750 Go*.
— What are Time Machine backups made of ?
It can't be aliases (because of their size, and because *aliases suppose originals,
and where could they be ?*), or am I wrong and becoming crazy ?
➔ ⑥ If you refer to the numbers shown at the end of this text (*4 backups*),
you'll see I could *delete duplicate elements* inside these 4 backups,
to win space (but *what kind* of space *if I delete aliases* ?).
Back-In-Time (see below) says he does it.
BUT is it really the OLDEST items I have to destroy (see ⑤),
when I don't know with what kind of ARTEFACT I'm acting ?
What does Time Machine delete to create more backup space ?
Is it REALLY the OLDEST backups it treats, or duplicates, OR ?
*What you can do :*
Find and go to Tri-Edre.fr or Tri-Edre.com/fr site (it's a french company
that creates small Mac applications since fifteen years at least,
I think I already bought them several programs in 1990) ;
Their program *Back-In-Time 1.4.4* is free (Trial) and complete to download (with PDF docs too).
It is *ENTIRELY DEDICATED* to Time Machine and *things you can't do* with.
Price is about 30 €, I think it's worth.
The TRIAL version you will obtain can only work on the LAST Time Machine backup,
but you will see what's featured *AND :*
You will ACCESS to ANY Time Machine backup you want
(It has to be the last of a serie of backups, but the serie you want.
I've bought the application and own an activation key, but you understand I can't give it to you
(it would not be ethic) and anyway you would be obliged to disconnect AirPort, Ethernet etc.
•➔ I have bought the application because I thought (it's said in PDF FAQs) I could IN THE END move Time Machine backup files, but it cannot, (I'm afraid).
*BUT ANY ACCESS PROBLEM IS SOLVED.*
•➔ Back-In-Time 1.4.4 can *delete :* duplicate backups, complete backups,
or duplicate items inside one or several Time Machine backups,
things that I believe impossible with Time Machine itself
(I've seen it offers to delete ALL occurences of an item) ;
•➔ The application can also restore anything you want, where you want
(but I think Time Machine does it too ?)
•➔ Believe it or not, but since I've bought it on 15/01,
I've only worked about 2 hours (no, much more) on it
and didn't make sufficient progresses (enhancements ?)
to talk of it with sufficient experience (I'm a bad guy, don't you think ?)
•➔ Tri-Edre offers on-line support, e-mail support (and so on),
and I EVEN didn't manage to join them, because I did many other things,
and also somewhat have been disgusted *not to be able to move* or copy
*(accessible by Time Machine after that)* backups,
and I also didn't succeed (*another Time Machine inconvenient*) to DESTROY an ".inProgress"
Time Machine (package) which doesn't work anymore (several interruptions while active),
date (and name) 2010-01-27-164345.inProgress, but is used (*with failure results*)
by Time Machine (it's turned off till I find how to destroy its **** ".inProgress" package.
•➔ I've asked my Apple Adviser Level 2 to wait for news from me
before working himself on the problem, and I think I will send him this message
to prove I haven't forgotten him.
•➔ I'll send it to Tri-Edre too, in the same move.
I hope those remarks to be useful for somebody, tell me if it has helped.
I will also publish this in any Time Machine topics I find here, and in MacRumors site too.
As you can see, I need help too … Does anybody have an idea ?
Perhaps if I used a specific Copy software, it could work ?
You'll see below an example of some time I've spent to study my problem
(you will think I'm crazy).
With my kind regards, and good luck if you have other Time Machine problems !
Olivier Herrbach
<Edited by Host>
Le but du jeu est de transférer toutes les sauvegardes Time Machine
d'un volume/partition que nous appelerons "1 To"
sur un volume/partition que nous appelerons "1,5 To".
*Je rappelle que les 4 sauvegardes effectuées par Time Machine sur le 1 To
n'ont pas été reconnues comme siennes par Time Machine sur le 1,5 To,
bien que strictement identiques en taille après leur copie.
J'ai remarqué dans Back-In-Time des fichiers invisibles (tels que "TimeMachine.log"
ou quelque chose de genre), et je soupçonne fort qu'ils n'ont pas été copiés et que Time Machine,
ne les trouvant pas dans le 1,5 To, a ignoré à cause de leur absence les 4 sauvegardes décrites ici.*
*Sauvegardes effectuées par Time Machine sur 1 To :*
Path : MacBook Pro > Volumes > 1 To > Backups.backupdb > MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro contient 19 items (dont un alias appelé "Latest") :
1°) 2010-01-02-045758 Size : 913.207 B for 41.888 items comprenant :
• Hitachi 1 To Size : 907.664 B for 41.887 items 7 folders
Différence avec 1°) = - 5.543 B - 1 item (1 folder)
2°) 2010-01-03-001957 Size : 982.211.325 B for 67.490 items comprenant :
• Hitachi 1 To Size : 901.516 B for 41.886 items 6 folders
Différence avec 1°) = - 6.148 B - 1 item - 1 folder
• Samsung 500 Go Size : 981.302.510 B for 25.602 items 4 folders
Total • + • = Size : 982.204.026 B for 67.488 items
Différence avec 2°) = -7.209 B - 2 items (2 folders)
— *Supprimer • Hitachi 1 To* dans 2010-01-03-001957. Comparer les dossiers.
3°) 2010-01-04-222709 Size : 5.241.032.819 B for 26.509 items comprenant :
• Samsung 500 Go Size : 5.187.330.874 B for 19.392 items 8 folders
Différence avec 2°) = + 4.206.028.364 B - 6.210 items + 4 folders
• StartUp Disk Size : 53.692.703 B for 7.115 items 4 folders
Total • + • = Size : 5.241.023.577 B for 26.507 items
Différence avec 3°) = - 9.242 B - 2 items (2 folders)
— *Supprimer Samsung 500 Go* dans 2010-01-03-001957. Comparer les dossiers.
4°) 2010-01-05-125449 Size : 9.428.705.396 B for 204.915 items comprenant :
• HD 250 Go Size : 9.374.308.265 B for 181.575 items 7 folders
• Samsung 500 Go Size : 692.898 B for 16.222 items 8 folders
Différence avec 3°) = - 5.186.637.976 B - 3.170 items
• StartUp Disk Size : 53.692.703 B for 7.115 items 4 folders
Total • + • + • = Size : 9.428.693.866 B 204.912 items
Différence avec 4°) = - 11.530 B - 3 items (3 folders)
— Supprimer • StartUp Disk dans 2010-01-04-222709. IDENTIQUE.

Dear James Pond,
Thank you once again, and, don't be afraid, I will be as short as possible,
but I need to use your last reply (I've cut all what was already said).
JP ➔ You can copy an entire set of backups, but you cannot copy part of it successfully. See #18 etc.
JP ➔ Read this from the first paragraph: "you cannot copy only selected backups,
or merge two (or more) sets of backups." The structure of the backups simply will not allow it.
I've read it, and found it regrettable. And I've also read, after that, what were the solutions under Leopard and Snow Leopard, and my conclusion is that it's a *dead end* for me. In short,
— I can't move (by drag and drop) the 1To's Backups.backupdb folder (containing MacBook Pro, 19 backups, access) to 1,5To, because there exists already the Backups.backupdb folder created by copy on 12/01 with Apple Assistance (containing [MacBook Pro, 4 backups of 19, no access] and [MacBook Pro 2, 15 backups, access]). I don't even know if it could be deleted by the copy (and I don't wanna do that anyway) ;
— I can't rename (and what for, I already forgot it) any Backups.backupdb folder nor delete it ;
— I can't copy any Computer'sName folder (entire set containing backups), being in a Backups.backup.db folder, into another Backups.backupdb folder ;
— I can't copy any (or all of an entire set) YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS backup(s), being in a Computer'sName folder, into another Computer'sName folder (even if it would be empty).
— Saying NONE in Time Machine Preferences and putting it to OFF is simply no use.
All is said. What I can try to do is :
— Delete (not with Finder, but with Back-In-Time) all duplicate things I find in all backups and also entire duplicate backups (I have full access to all with the software) ;
— Restore each of the reduced-to-minimum backups obtained in specially right-sized partitions wearing the YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS name of each restored backup. Time Machine doesn't backup his backups, but will backup these partitions.
I'm afraid to be actually completely running out of the target, when I read what I write … It's time to go to bed !
Reminder (OH) : Where did you find these amazing informations ?
JP➔ Some of it is detailed here: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/12/roadto_maco[]sx_leopard_timemachine.html
➤ Thank you ;
JP➔ and here:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2007/10/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/14
➤ Thank you too ;
JP➔ You have to understand the structure. When TM does the first backup, yes, it copies everything.
On subsequent backups, it copies what's new or changed, but also makes "hard links" (sort of like aliases) to the copies of the things that didn't change. That's how it can only back up a few things each time, but show you a complete "snapshot" of the way your entire system looked at the time of every backup.
➤ I'll do my best to understand.
JP➔ Time Machine deletes backups under two conditions. See the first part of #12 in the Frequently Asked Questions User Tip, also at the top of this forum.
Under normal circumstances, you should not have to delete any backups. See the rest of #12.
➤ I understood why Time Machine didn't delete oldest backups : they were not weeklies ones.
Reminder (OH) : How can I destroy the (corrupted ?) not working "2010-01-27-164345.inProgress" in 1,5 To, which causes Time Machine to abort any backup of any size I ask ?
JP➔ Why do you think it's corrupted? TM is designed to "recover" a partial backup.
➤ I'll verify that with the little Tools/Apps I discovered in your FAQ User Tip document and downloaded immediately.
Why didn't Apple tell me anything ? It's my fault, I'm perhaps not clear and not demanding enough more from them.
JP➔ You cannot install OSX on a disk containing TM backups. That's because they need to be on separate disks.
Technically, you could put them on separate partitions of the same disk, but that would not be a good idea.
➤ I never told you that (there would be no interest at all). I talked about the same location, to see if it would allow me more permissions, but if all works without doing it, it's really no use.
JP➔ Sorry, I don't know what that means.
➤ I'm sorry, I didn't explain : "but if all works" meant : Copy Backups.backupdb, "without doing it" meant : Install OSX.
➤ If I install an OSX BEFORE, Time Machine will REFUSE completely to backup on it, it's understood.
JP➔ Correct. The partition you're running from will not be an option in TM Preferences > Select Disk. That prevents TM from backing-up it's own backups!
➤ Would it be so absurd ? Maybe it could resolve my actual problem ?
I think you are right, but I don't know why. I trust you.
Reminder (OH) : "I will not bore you again except if I don't find a specific answer to an unknown-never-seen-incredible malfuction."
JP➔ Don't worry about that -- thats what this forum is for, especially if you're still having problems.
➤ It's seems in fact that there is no possible solution, except what I said above and is certainly crazy/out of subject.
Just try to be as clear and concise as you can.
And please don't post the same things repeatedly -- it wastes your time and ours, and can confuse other folks.
➤ You're absolutely right and I tried to do so this time, and I'm sorry because I see it's still (far) not enough (short).
Thank you once more. I wish you a good evening and week-end. Here it's 01:40 AM.
With my kind regards
Olivier Herrbach
[email protected]

Find photos in TIME MACHINE...Help...PLEASE....

Hello all.
I have been using time machine to back up my Imac for a little over a year. I just looked in Time Machine and can't seem to find any of the photo files in there. All my Itunes music files are there. Everything thing on the desktop is in there but I can't find the photo files anywhere....
Luckily, I still have them all on my actual hard drive but need to install a new OS which require me to erase all the contents of the current hard drive. BEFORE I do this, I want to be 100% sure the photos are on the "My Book" external harddrive that Time Machine is supposed to back everything up to.
Any help finding the in finding the files would be greatly appreciatted...
Thanks,
JB

Although you can't make any changes to the files or you'll risk corrupting your library, you can hold down the control key and then click on your 'iPhoto Library' file where a popup menu will appear. Select 'Show package contents' and a finder window will open showing the contents of your iPhoto Library. There will usually be lots of folders that open containing your master files, modified files, thumbnails, etc. Open up the folder labeled 'Masters' and you should be able to see your files. It will at least provide you with reassurance that your library is intact.
Another option is to hold down the option key when launching iPhoto. This will allow you to select a different iPhoto library to open, or to create a new one.

How to merge two iTunes libraries, one from a Time Machine backup. Help!

Hey there,
Here´s the backstory, my laptop was stolen (along with my older iPod which had ALL of my music on it) in February. I am from Minnesota, and I now live in New York, but my backup from December was in Minnesota at that time. On me at the time my laptop got stolen was my 32 gig iPod Touch, which had ~80% of my music on it, but not all of it due to capacity issues. I bought a new Macbook and loaded all of my music that I HAD onto my new laptop, and of course have downloaded a bunch of stuff since then. I really like my new Macbook so I want to just pull and merge my old iTunes library onto my new computer, without duplicates and without having to manually go and delete things. Since my iPod Touch was loaded randomly, I have a lot of albums that have something like 11 out of the 12 songs or whathaveyou. I tried restoring from my old Time Machine backup, but I have realized that I really liked the cleanness and functionality of my new computer without three years of detrius in it, so I am going to restore from my NEW Time Machine backup, and would like to get my old music back onto my new computer. If this is confusing at all please let me know and I will try to clarify. Please help me with this, there has to be a program or something!!!

You have some choices. Obvioiusly the easiest thing to do will be to restore the entire library from the Time Machine backup. You can also use the new iTunes in the Cloud feature built into the latest iTunes to download any music and TV shows you might have purchased from the iTunes Store.
So what you could do is first, download your purchases from the iTunes Store, then restore everything else from the TM backup.

Time Machine errow message- Help

Have never had problems with TM until the last few days.
Have done a full software update recently and now keep on getting error messages. Does the update to 10.5.8 have any thing to do with this?
Have rebooted, got rid of the TM file in the library, now stuck for what to do.
Any solutions please.

Marek Kaniewski wrote:
Have never had problems with TM until the last few days.
Have done a full software update recently and now keep on getting error messages. Does the update to 10.5.8 have any thing to do with this?
Have rebooted, got rid of the TM file in the library, now stuck for what to do.
Any solutions please.
Since you don't provide a clue as to what error messages you're getting, all we can do is have you start with the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
It will show you how to locate the message(s) that describe the problem, then help you fix it.
If that doesn't help, post back with details, including all the messages, your setup (especially the destination for the backups), what you've done, and the results.

Time Machine Problem, Please Help.

Hi, I have a new MacBook Air and TM just doesn't work. I keep getting the "backup volume cannot be found" error message. I've trashed the preference file in Library, quit TM, restart again, and repaired permission to no avail. I have also reinstalled the OS and the same problem persists. I've tried on 3 external drives (Time Capsule wirelessly, WD MyBook connected via USB and a Lacie portable drive connected via USB) and TM fails to backup every time. I've searched this board and other Mac fora and found no solution to my specific problem. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

HiDef Jules wrote:
Hi there,
Today I installed a little program to convert flac audio files to mp3. When I ran the program the computer froze, so I rebooted but then I could move the cursor but not click on any menus or icons on the desktop, they just wouldnt respond - so basically I couldnt use the computer. After re-booting a few times with the same result I decided to reinstall the system using time machine from an external hard drive. I reinstalled OSX, then reinstalled Snow Leopard, then reinstalled the system from a previous save from Time Machine.
how exactly did you reinstall the system from TM? please give details. the correct way to do it is to boot from the snow leopard DVD and use the "restore system from backup" utility in the Utilities menu. there is no need to reinstall anything prior to using that utility. the restore utility wipes your hard drive and restores it to the state it was in at the backup time.
It said the installation was successful, but when the computer restarted a message comes up saying "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button until it turns off, then press the Power button again". Ive done this about 5 times now but it always just says the same message without starting properly. WHAT DO I DO???? I really need to use my computer tomorrow so any help is hugely appreciated!!! TIA
PS. i have done a hardware test in "loop mode" and it says everything is fine

Time Machine and Airport HELP!!

Please help me...
I am trying to setup my Airport Extreme and USB connected external 1TB hard drive to be my Time Machine backup drive.
Its not working.
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
So, I tried to connect the hard drive directly to my computer and back it up directly, and that didn't work either.
What am I doing wrong?

Jolly Giant wrote:
in your initial post you said
adammabry wrote:
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
what's that error message ?
download and install the Time Machine Buddy. switch to dashboard and copy & paste the report in your next post.
Jolly Giant wrote:
in your initial post you said
adammabry wrote:
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
what's that error message ?
download and install the Time Machine Buddy. switch to dashboard and copy & paste the report in your next post.
Jolly Giant wrote:
in your initial post you said
adammabry wrote:
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
what's that error message ?
download and install the Time Machine Buddy. switch to dashboard and copy & paste the report in your next post.
Just tried to back up using a USB connection. Here was the message...
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Family/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Adam Mabrys Disk
No pre-backup thinning needed: 105.01 GB requested (including padding), 915.00 GB available
Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf/data to (null)
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying /Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf/data to /Volumes/Family/Backups.backupdb/Adam Mabry’s MacBook Pro 15" (2)/2009-12-11-002355.inProgress/A2D60FFD-B551-4B1C-B28B-50883FE1B69F/Adam Mabrys Disk/Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf
Stopping backup.
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf/data to /Volumes/Family/Backups.backupdb/Adam Mabry’s MacBook Pro 15" (2)/2009-12-11-002355.inProgress/A2D60FFD-B551-4B1C-B28B-50883FE1B69F/Adam Mabrys Disk/Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf
Copied 90 files (382.1 MB) from volume Adam Mabrys Disk.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11

Time Machine Airdisk Trouble! Help!

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