Time Machine - "backup disk image could not be created"

I have been successfully using the Time Machine to backup my Macbook Pro to an HP Network Server for about six months. A month ago the the Time Machine setup became corrupted and no backups were conducted until yesterday when I found a solution to Time Machine setup problem. Once I set the Time Machine up again, a backup was unsuccessfully attempted with an error message: "backup disk image could not be created" being generated. I followed several other posts on this issue and confirmed my computer is correctly named in the file sharing setup. Since I am not using a Time Capsule - that other suggestions in that post possibly may not apply. The file image showing all of the previous Time Machine backups is present and accessible on my desktop. The NAS is functioning properly. Any help is appreciated.

gonecoastal wrote:
Once I set the Time Machine up again, a backup was unsuccessfully attempted with an error message: "backup disk image could not be created" being generated.
That sounds like it's trying to create a new sparse bundle for a new set of backups, but can't for some reason.
It's possible that your backups are corrupted; see if you can repair them, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
If that doesn't help, try re-selecting them in Time Machine Preferences. If still no help, try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 in the same link.
If still no help, you may need to reset the NAS, or use it's instructions again to "reconnect" to the backups. Unfortunately, that's different for each NAS, so you may have to work with the maker on that.

Similar Messages

Time Capsule - "Backup disk image could not be created"

Trying to set up time machine and consistently getting this error message. I can login in to the device and see the drive and space quantity with the airport utility. Airport wireless network is working fine - just can't get past this error message when I initiate the time machine backup process. Ideas? mike

Mike,
"The Backup Disk Image Could Not Be Created"
Here are a couple possible reasons for the error message, “The Backup Disk Image Could Not Be Created”:
*Missing Computer Name*
First you might be missing a computer name in the Sharing Preference pane. Go into System Prefs. Then Sharing. In the box labeled “Computer Name” is it empty? If it is blank, you need to put in a name for your computer. Otherwise Time Machine won’t be able to link this Mac with the previous backups.
*Reselect Time Machine Backup*
Next, the link to the network drive “Backup” has been lost. Go into System Preferences --> Time Machine --> “Change Disk…” and select the the backup drive again from the list of available volumes. Do this:
Go to System Preferences --> Time Machine.
Click the "Change Disk..." button.
Select "None" and click "Stop Backing Up".
Now click "Choose Backup Disk" and reselect your drive again.
Close System Preferences and try backing-up again.
Let us know if any of the above resolved your issue.
Cheers!
Message was edited by: Glenn Carter

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

Time Machine error "The backup disk image could not be created"

I'm trying to back up to an external hard drive on a home network (not Time Capsule). Time Machine appears to recognize the drive, and the correct amount of free space on it, but fails with the error "The backup disk image could not be created" after a lengthy "Preparing" wait. What's going on? Other applications are able to access this drive with no problems.

I know Apple won't support other makes of NAS, but this post I found from Pondini worked for me.
Hi, and welcome to the forums.
Check your Computer Name at the top of the System Preferences > Sharing panel.
It must not be blank; it should not be more than 25 characters long; and you should avoid punctuation, spaces, and special characters.
After changing it, click the Edit button and make the corresponding change to the Local Hostname.
If that doesn't help, apply the same rules to the name of your Time Capsule and Network, via Airport Utility.
It was really as simple as that (after I had done such things as delete the sparsebundle file, created a new one, zeroed-out the new one, nightmare!)
Problem seems to be with OS X's naming of Macs when you first set it up, as it creates a hostname "<yourName>'s Mac Book." When the NAS software (mine anyway) creates the sparsebundle image it replaces the spaces of the hostname with hyphens and strips out the apostrophe, which is never gonna work.

Time Machine Error: "The backup disk image could not be created." Help.

I have two Macbook Pro's. One is able to backup to the Time Capsule with no problems. The other connects just fine to Airport Utility, but I get the following error after I attempt to backup: Time Machine Error: "The backup disk image could not be created."
I have reset the Time Capsule several times, so that is not the fix.
The first thing I see when attempting to open Time Machine is the following message: :The storage location for Time Machine Backups can't be found." It gives me the option to setup the Time Capsule, which I select. The next thing I select is to Change Disk. The window that opens has the Icon with Three people on it. The name of that Icon is The Moreman Time Capsule. I select it, and enter the password I created. I then choose to Backup. Then I choose to backup now. That is when I get the error: Time Machine Error: "The backup disk image could not be created."
Any ideas? Has anyone encountered this problem?

You have to delete the .dmg file and start over. This happened to me 3 times already, I finally switched to Déjà Vu, works perfect and only once a day instead of 24 times a day.
http://propagandaprod.com/

Time Machine error: backup disk image could not be created

Iet up my new time capsule day and it's working great. Now that I've got everything sorted out, I'm ready to do the initial time machine back up on it. I went into preferences, changed the backup location to my TC and clicked 'back up now'. Very quickly I get a message that the backup failed: "Time Machine Error - The backup disk image could not be created".
I've searched the apple support area but haven't been able to figure this one out. Can anyone help, please? This is an initial backup. (FYI, it worked great on my old external drive.)
Many thanks

I had the same problem. I installed my Time Capsule, fired up Time Machine and got an error that said "The backup is too large for the backup volume. The backup requires 436.8 GB but only 182.2GB are available."
Coincidently, these are the same sizes as the space used and the space available on my iMac's drive.
I looked in /Volumes and saw that the sparsebundle was being created on the local disk and not on the main disk. Trying to backup again gave me the "Time Machine error: backup disk image could not be created." message.
I poked around the forums, and found a post about the machine name setting in sharing. I decided to give it a look, and lo and behold, I did not have a machine name. So I gave my box a name, kicked off Time Machine again, and it worked.

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

I am having issues with Time Machine. Error message "The backup disk image could not be created.

Error message "The backup disk image could not be created." I have tried everything I have found online in the community from TM full reset to changing my computers name. Anything else I can try? I am using a Seagate external HD with a connection through my router. I spent an hour on the phone with seagate and everything is ok on the HD end.
TM sees it and it is mounted but cannot go any further. HELP?!!!!
Thanks
-A

How should it be connected? It has a usb port and ethernet. The USB on the ExHD looks like the port on the back of my computer, so I would need one wth the same ends? Do they make those?
I can usually fix most my comp problems myself, but this new ExHD has stumped me.
Thanks for your help.
-A

"Backup disk image could not be created" error

When Time Machine begins its first scheduled a backup (I've not been able to back up yet) or when I choose "Backup now" in Time Machine (to my new Time Capsule), I get the error message, "Backup disk image could not be created." I get this even though the Airport is turned on, and my Time Capsule is connected and selected as the backup disk.
Any ideas of what the problem might be?

The trick is... you need to have given your computer a name in the System Preferences. Without a name, the computer cannot be backed up by Time Capsule

Backup disk image could not be created

Hi All-
I need suggests on how to deal with a "shy" file.
The story begins when Time Machine stopped backing up from my MacBook to a disk attached to my AirPort Extreme. It had worked successfully for a month then stopped. Time Machine spends a long time "preparing" then exits with a window bearing the error "backup disk image could not be created".
This led me to the Console, where I found error messages like
9/29/08 12:33:42 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[31071] Error moving disk image from /Volumes/Backup/Zinc_0019e34844e2.tmp.sparsebundle to /Volumes/Backup/Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle - Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=512 UserInfo=0x529e50 "“Zinc_0019e34844e2.tmp.sparsebundle” could not be moved to “Backup”."
Ah-ha I thought, there's some permission problem with Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle, preventing it from being copied over. If I mount the Backup disk manually, the Finder lists 2 files and one folder in /Volumes/Backup/
Backups.backupdb
Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle
Zinc_0019e34844e2.tmp.sparsebundle
However, when I click on Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle it quickly disappears from the Finder window before I can do anything to it. When I try to attack the problem through the terminal, I get another surprise.
Zinc:/Volumes/Backup raph% ls -l
ls: Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle: No such file or directory
total 0
drwxrwxrwx@ 4 raph staff 264 Aug 25 20:21 Backups.backupdb
drwxrwxrwx@ 6 raph staff 264 Sep 29 12:30 Zinc_0019e34844e2.tmp.sparsebundle
but plain ls gives
Zinc:/Volumes/Backup raph% ls
Backups.backupdb Zinc_0019e34844e2.tmp.sparsebundle
Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle
I've never seen a file which disappears when you try to access any of its properties. Any ideas on how to get rid of it? It disappears too fast in the Finder and the command line doesn't work either.
Zinc:/Volumes/Backup raph% rm Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle
rm: Zinc_0019e34844e2.sparsebundle: No such file or directory
Can I cp Zinc_0019e34844e2.tmp.sparsebundle to a new backup directory and rename it without the .tmp?
Raph

William,
Here are a couple possible reasons for the error message, “The Backup Disk Image Could Not Be Created”:
*Missing Computer Name*
First you might be missing a computer name in the Sharing Preference pane. Go into System Prefs. Then Sharing. In the box labeled “Computer Name” is it still “Zinc”? If it is blank, you need to put “Zinc” back in. Otherwise Time Machine won’t be able to link this Mac with the previous backups.
*Reselect Time Machine Backup*
Next, the link to the network drive “Backup” has been lost. Go into System Preferences --> Time Machine --> “Change Disk…” and select the the backup drive again from the list of available volumes. Do this:
Go to System Preferences --> Time Machine.
Click the "Change Disk..." button.
Select "None" and click "Stop Backing Up".
Now click "Choose Backup Disk" and reselect your drive again.
Close System Preferences and try backing-up again.
Let us know if this helps.
Cheers!

Time Machine error: Disk image could not be mounted

I had two macs 1 and 2.
1 was stolen. I bought a new one (New 1) and it took the place of mac 2.
Mac 2 was reformated and restored from the TimeCapsule with the backup from the old 1.
The new 1 succeeded in continuing the back-up from 2.
But the mac 2 can't get used to backing up on another sparseimage on the Time Capsule. The result is, that both of the computers now makes back-up to the same sparseimage as if they were two users on the same computer. But the TimeCapsule doesn't accept that they can be using the sparseimage at the same time and claims that the backup is used by another.

I was encountering the same problem. I would navigate to my external drive and I would see the folder for the sparceimage and it would have a circled minus sign icon on the folder and it was not possible to mount it using DiskImageMounter. I would get a window stating the "operation not supported on socket". When I looked at the Time Machine preferences, the disk image was not available so I could confirm that it was chosen as the backup disk. However, when it became the scheduled time for Time Machine to do its scheduled backup according to the information in the Time Machine preferences pane, the disk image mounted and the backup seemed to commence. Similarly, when I went to Time Machine and asked it to "Backup Now", the disk image mounted, and the backup proceeded. However, the disk image then dismounted and again it was no longer available to Time Machine. When I ran Time Machine, I could not choose the disk image and restore files from it because it was no longer mounted.

TS1337 Time machine backup disk image can not be accessed

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping someone can help me as I'm constantly getting the following message:
Time Machine could not complete the backup.
The backup disk image "/Volumes/My name Time Capsu/My name's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1)
Does anyone know what this means as I can't find anything regarding this message in troubleshooting? My time machine has been running perfectly for well over a year until a couple of days ago.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

I had this same problem. Unplugged the power for a minute and plugged back in after reading this https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4984048
Working for me now.

Backup Disk Image could not be created-- Answer-2 Fixes to the problem

Sorry I posted this twice but I wanted it posted as an answer and not a question, because this problem was really frustrating for me and I was so relieved when I finally figured it out. So here are my answers and I hope they Help...
In order for TC to backup your entire HD it needs to create a Disk Image on your Mac. For example you would have seen your computer do this operation if you ever installed programs on your Mac computer.
I actually had this same problem and I searched the forum for answers. One fix that I found was that your computer might actually not be named. To fix this click on the apple in the upper left hand corner and then go to >System Preferences. Then click on >Sharing, after you do that you will see Computer name at the top. Type in whatever name you like for that part and then also turn on file sharing by clicking the box next to it below.
The other fix to this problem...which was actually the solution to mine, was that during setup 2 files for a Disk Image mount were created onto the Time Capsule itself. It is only supposed to have one. *In order to fix this problem-->If your Time Capsule is setup so it allows file sharing you should be able to see it as a connectable disk drive in your Finder window under sharing. Click on Time Capsule from there and enter in you password. You should now be able to search though the files on it. Since this is your first time setting it up there should only be one file visible on the Drive and that one file is what creates the mounted Disk Drive...(What I found on my Time Capsule drive was a file labeled with a bunch of numbers and then a Shared folder and then another file with a bunch of numbers in that). For me it actually turned out that the first file was not working properly but the one in the shared folder was. So I deleted the first file and dragged the second file that was working out of the shared folder and into the main part of the Time capsule Disk and then deleted the shared folder.
The way you can tell which file is the correct one is by double clicking it, if you get an error message right away, delete it. If it starts to load, then that is the file you should keep. After I did this mine worked fine and backed up my disk last night. I hope this helps

This solves my problems!!! My computer was not named and it was causing initial backups to fail. Thank you, thank you!!! I've been working with tech support for over 2 days! They were stumped and were transferring me to "The Wireless Multimedia Group" which has a wait time of 60 minutes or grater.

The backup disk image could not be created.

What does this mean?????

In order for TC to backup your entire HD it needs to create a Disk Image on your Mac. For example you would have seen your computer do this operation if you ever installed programs on your Mac computer.
I actually had this same problem and I searched the forum for answers. One fix that I found was that your computer might actually not be named. To fix this click on the apple in the upper left hand corner and then go to >System Preferences. Then click on >Sharing, after you do that you will see Computer name at the top. Type in whatever name you like for that part and then also turn on file sharing by clicking the box next to it below.
The other fix to this problem...which was actually the solution to mine, was that during setup 2 files for a Disk Image mount were created onto the Time Capsule itself. It is only supposed to have one. *In order to fix this problem-->If your Time Capsule is setup so it allows file sharing you should be able to see it as a connectable disk drive in your Finder window under sharing. Click on Time Capsule from there and enter in you password. You should now be able to search though the files on it. Since this is your first time setting it up there should only be one file visible on the Drive and that one file is what creates the mounted Disk Drive...(What I found on my Time Capsule drive was a file labeled with a bunch of numbers and then a Shared folder and then another file with a bunch of numbers in that). For me it actually turned out that the first file was not working properly but the one in the shared folder was. So I deleted the first file and dragged the second file that was working out of the shared folder and into the main part of the Time capsule Disk and then deleted the shared folder.
The way you can tell which file is the correct one is by double clicking it, if you get an error message right away, delete it. If it starts to load, then that is the file you should keep.

HT3275 the back up disk image could not be created (error 30) what does that mean?

I have a error message poping up stating time machine couldnt complete backup to GOFLEXHOME. The backup disk image could not be created (error 30)

For all things Time Machine see Pondini’s excellent Information Here...
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.htm

Time Machine - "backup disk image could not be created"

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