Time Machine cannot "see" its back up?

Running Time Machine with Time Capsule (actually a disk attached to TC) on updated Mountain Lion (13in MacBook Pro 2.3GHz Core i5 4GB) for about 6 months and have a 62GB sparsebundle that appears to be fine -- that is, when Time Machine runs an hourly update the file timestamp updates indicating that it was modified.  I have not received any error messages.  Yet, System Preferences indicates that there are no backup (see screenshot below) and when I run Time Machine as if to restore there's nothing older than a few days when I should see snapshots going back months.  I got bupkis from Support on this, only solutions to error messages.

WaterbedWilma wrote:
when Time Machine runs an hourly update the file timestamp updates indicating that it was modified. 
What "file" is that?  Where are you seeing a date?
It's possible the backup is crashing (not failing with a message).  Use the widget in #A1 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting to display the backup messages from your logs.  Locate the backup in question, then copy and post all the messages here.
Yet, System Preferences indicates that there are no backup (see screenshot below)
Another reason I suspect the backup is crashing.  Those dates are updated when a backup completes normally, not when it fails or crashes.

Similar Messages

  • My time machine cannot complete my back up saying the "sparse bundle could not be accessed" error -1  Help please

    My time machine cannot complete my back up.  The message I receive says the "sparse bundle cannot be accessed.  (error -1)  Help please.

    GG,
    Please read over Pondini's Time Machine Troubleshooting guide, specifically C17.

  • Mac OS 10.6/Time Machine cannot 'see' HD to re-install or restore

    Upgraded my Mac Mini to Snow Leopard a couple weeks ago and had no problems. Then yesterday the computer froze up (the mouse still moved and icons in the dock expanded with the mouse but NOTHING was acknowledged when clicking to tabbing to any commands; could not even click from screen to screen for various functions that were currently open ... yet the mouse moved fine). Tried to restart computer and all I get now is a gray screen with a flashing file folder with a question mark in it.
    Have tried all attempts listed here and in Support to (1) re-install Mac OS X 10.6 from the original disk, and (2) restore my computer from my Time Machine. Have tried many, many times now for both options and in ALL cases the computer cannot see or find my computer. The only disks it can find to re-install or re-store to are the 2 external hard drives I have. If I disconnect these, the computer can find NO disks to re-store to. (I've now let my system search for disks for over 3 hours this time around, and it still cannot find any disks to install to.)
    So what's happened to my Mac Mini and "where" has this disk gone to? Why can't my Time Machine or Mac OS X installation disk find (or see) my Mac Mini?
    (Really do need a new computer and was seriously thinking about just buying the new iMac this week, so maybe this is the sign. But would still like to get the last few files off my Mac Mini that I was working on when it crashed -- don't think Time Machine actually had time to back these up ...)
    Cheers, and thanks for any suggestions and help!

    Karl
    It sounds like you are having trouble with your internal Hard Drive.
    Whilst this is quite serious, sometimes you can fully recover from the situation, depending on what happened.
    One of the most useful and reliable rescue utilities is DiskWarrior:
    http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11707/diskwarrior
    If you are lucky it may be something as simple as a damaged HFS+ wrapper, which can be repaired and have you back up on your feet again in relatively short order.
    It pays to periodically check the *S.M.A.R.T. Status* of your drive, at the bottom of *Disk Utility.*
    This is a self diagnosis function that may indicate impending problems. However if the disk has sustained physical damage, such as caused by a hard knock, nothing will redeem it.
    Peter

  • Time machine cannot see external disks

    Hi,
    Time machine is not seeing my external hard disk (an iomega Storcenter network hard drive). However, I can see and access files from this external disk as usual on my network.
    I want to use Time machine to back up to this disk. Can anyone help me please?
    Greg

    gr3len wrote:
    Hi,
    Time machine is not seeing my external hard disk (an iomega Storcenter network hard drive). However, I can see and access files from this external disk as usual on my network.
    I want to use Time machine to back up to this disk. Can anyone help me please?
    No, sorry. Time Machine does not back up to network drives, except Time Capsules or a drive on another Mac on the network that's running Leopard. It will back-up to a USB drive connected to an Airport Extreme, but even that is, technically, unsupported, and requires a running a Terminal command to make it work.
    Here's the official word: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1733
    You may find some "hacks" that might make it work, in some cases, to a degree. But use them at your own risk.
    First, since this is *unsupported by Apple,* there's nowhere to go when there's trouble.
    Second, you're risking a future update preventing it from working, and perhaps rendering your backups useless.

  • Time machine cannot see time capsule event though I have a green light

    I have a green light on my time capsule but time machine on my macbook pro cannot no longer see the time capsule. i have gone through the procedures to find it and reset the time capsule, only again to get to the solid green light stage but time machine still cannot see it.
    can anyone tell me what i am doing wrong? Thanks

    I had the same problem this morning. Anyone have any ideas?

  • Time Machine cannot see original backup

    I had to change my router and with it all network settings. As a result I could not "see" my time capsule in airport. So I reset it.
    Airport could then see it. I re-set it up again with new network details etc.
    So now if I look at the time machine backup it can see all my previous backups. BUT when I enter the utility to continue with backups, it refuses to let me use my "previous drive" (original backups) and asks me to use a "new drive" that it has set up - which says no existing backups on it.
    So how do I make it see both drives as being the same thing? Or must I start backups all over again?

    Did you reset Time Machine?
    A4 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    Are you seeing double instance of the TC in finder? You need to delete the older and now no longer existant TC so only the TC with the new name is available.
    Pondini has lots more info if you keep running into trouble..
    You should not need to start over.. TM should be able to pickup the old backups once you connect to the TC.. but you do sometimes need to force it to do that.

  • Time Machine cannot see networked USB drive

    I'm trying to set up time machine with my USB drive attatched to an Airport Extreme but the "choose backup disk" box is empty when selecting a backup drive.
    I read something that said "Time Machine will not work on any network-attached storage unless it's HFS+ on Leopard being shared via AFP (not SMB)", but I'm new to Macs and don't understand what this means.
    I've noticed that browsing the info of the USB disk (which incidently IS mounted on my desktop) it says the server location is at 'smb://airportextreme' etc etc. I'm assuming the 'smb' is where the problem may lie?

    Hello FizzyFizz
    I had been wondering the same thing, and in my research I found this, rather long discussion:
    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=4402934
    It gives a few different things to try, I have not tried any myself but they might help you.
    ~A

  • I have just installed a 2TB time capsule on my iMac i7, it see my second 1TB hard drive but the 256 SSD doesn't come up in the list of hard drives I can back up. How can I enable the time machine to see my first SSD 256gb hard drive?

    I have just installed a 2TB time capsule on my iMac i7, it see my second 1TB hard drive but the 256 SSD doesn't come up in the list of hard drives I can back up. How can I enable the time machine to see my first SSD 256gb hard drive?

    iLife is preinstalled on all the Macs. If you purchased iLife in the App Store or your computer came without DVDs, open App Store > Purchases and download the applications. If your Mac came with discs, insert the Applications DVD and install iLife applications

  • HT203177 I had to get a new hard drive in my 27 in IMac. I used time machine to get everything back on my computer. I just turn on time machine and its says it's preparing over 800,000 items to back-up, it never back-up, it stop and starts the process ove

    I had to get a new hard drive in my 27 in IMac. I used time machine to get everything back on my computer. I just turn on time machine and its says it's preparing over 800,000 items to back-up, it never back-up, it stop and starts the process over again.

    Could be many things, we should start with this...
    "Try Disk Utility
    1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
    2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
    *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
    3. Click the First Aid tab.
    4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
    5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
    Then repair the backup/TM drive.

  • HT201250 Time Machine cannot find my external back-up drive when I click on the "select disk" button.  No drive is found. I have run a Time Machine back-up to this external drive in the past.  I'm on the latest version of Snow Leopard.  Thank you!

    Time Machine cannot find my external back-up drive when I click on the "select disk" button.  No drive is listed. I have run a Time Machine back-up to this external drive in the past.    Any suggestions

    Does the disk appear in Disk Utility?

  • When I try to set up Time Machine, there are no back up disks displayed.  Therefore, I cannot turn on Time Machine.  How can I fix this?

    When I try to set up Time Machine, there are no back up disks displayed.  Therefore, I cannot turn on Time Machine.  How can I fix this?

    Thanks - let it finish, but zero out data is unnecessary. That option is intended to thoroughly erase previously recorded data so that it cannot be recovered without sophisticated data recovery techniques.
    Case sensitive is OK but I suggest you simply select Mac OS X Extended since "case sensitive" may complicate things for you in the future, should it be necessary to restore files to a case-ignorant volume.
    Once it finishes, make sure it appears as a selectable option in Time Machine. If it does your problems are solved, but consider using Disk Utility and reformatting it. This time don't worry about zeroing unused space, and select Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). It will only take a few seconds this time.
    For a more thorough description read Apple Support Communites contributor Pondini's FAQ: http://pondini.org/TM/5.html Read the pink box regarding the subject of case sensitivity.
    Also: Mac Basics: Time Machine

  • I cannot get time machine (with airport) to back up my mac. It worked previously but not now. It is working on my macbook. the message i get is "Time Machine couldn't back up to '(airport network name)'"

    I cannot get time machine (with airport) to back up my mac. It worked previously but not now. It is working on my macbook. the message i get is "Time Machine couldn't back up to '(airport network name)'" Any help is appreciated.

    OS is important.. What OS is on Mac and what is on the working macbook?
    Was the Airport setup from the Macbook? That might be why it works from there..
    Does the AE show up in Mac airport utility?
    Can you mount the disk in finder and copy files to it/from it??
    Did you try a TM reset after mounting in Finder.. so you know it is available?
    What about a network reboot.. does it work post a restart for a few minutes/hours/days???

  • I have a wd mybook for mac.time machine cannot back up

    i have a wd mybook for mac.time machine cannot back up

    Hi..
    Try the troubleshooting help here >  Mac Basics: Time Machine

  • Time Machine cannot back up to WD MyBookLive on network with ML

    Having upgraded to ML from SL 10.6.8 TimeMachine no longer recognises the network back up disk - a WD Mybooklive on a local ethernet connection as a back up option - reports ' network back up disk does not support the required AFP' What has changed as this worked fine with SL - what needs to be done to allow  Time machine to see this disk in the right format

    Hi,
    I have the WD 3G MyBookLive.  I can see the drive and use it as a public share.  The Time Machine software sees the drive.  However, it hangs connecting to it.
    I am not sure if I was supposed to create or delete any shares?  Then the twonky is still enabled?
    Am  using Mavericks.  Brand new Mac Pro.  The WD has the firmware updated to what the WD site says will work.
    Any thoughts.
    I have a Time Capsule.. However, the disk is full all the time.  So since I had the WD I thought I would try doing backups to this.

  • Time Machine Cannot Back up My Applications

    Dear Friends. My time machine cannot back up my applications and library although I do not put them in the lists of excluded files. I have macbook pro with retina display and I use Western Digital for my time machine. Please, help!

    Triple-click the line below to select it:
    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
    Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select
    Services ▹ Reveal
    from the contextual menu. A Finder window should open with a file selected. Move the selected file to the Trash. You'll be prompted for your administrator password. Reboot, recreate your Time Machine settings, and test.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Cfadminapi

    Using cfadminapi, we have been able to automate the creation of sandboxes, and the creation of datasources so that our customers can do this themselves without the need for access to the cfadmin, or having to wait for support staff to do this for the

  • Speed up query with analytic function

    Hi how can I speed up the query below ? All time is in analytic function (WINDOW SORT) Thanks for your help 11.2.0.1 Rows     Row Source Operation   28987  HASH UNIQUE (cr=12677 pr=155778 pw=109730 time=25010 us cost=5502 size=3972960 card=14880) 166

  • Starting a new doc in Pages

    I have just downloaded iWork 8 onto my new MacBook Pro and have opened Pages but can't get it to type into a blank word processing template ie no cursor   

  • Firmware for 6233 RM-145 CODE:0539282

    Hello Is there any new firmware for 6233 RM-145 CODE:0539282 ? I have V3.70 and V3.70 language pack. There is no new update on Nokia Software Updater. Please help. Filip

  • AE CS4 and the OpenGL error

    I am experiencing thesame issues Martins92 had with my AE CS4, An openGL error - [a texture in your file is too small to render] keeps poppin up anytime I try scrubbing on the timeline. I've tried disabling OpenGL in the edit>preference>preview dialo