Time Machine Creates New Sparse Bundle

I have a 1TB hard disk connected to a Mac Mini over USB. That disk is shared on the network. My laptop and my wife's laptop are both set up to use that shared disk for Time Machine backups. Generally, things have worked fine.
This morning, I discovered a message from Time Machine on my laptop stating that there wasn't enough space on the drive to complete the backup. That didn't make sense - too few files had changed. When I investigated, I discovered that Time Machine had, after a successful backup at 21:29 last night, started creating a new sparse bundle for its backups.
I restarted my laptop and ran Disk Utility's Repair function on the shared drive (using the Mac Mini to run the repair). I've toggled Time Machine off and back on in System Preferences. The behavior remains: even though there is an existing sparse bundle (machinename.sparsebundle) on that share, when I tell Time Machine to do a backup, it creates a new sparse image: machinename-1.sparsebundle and starts backup up all of my files to it.
Also, if I "Enter Time Machine," Time Machine informs me that it can't find the disk. But it does offer for me to "Use Previous Disk..." if I first mount the "old" disk image (machinename.sparsebundle). Having the old disk image mounted does not prevent Time Machine from making machinename-1.sparsebundle when I tell it to do a backup, however.
I'm at a loss. I've checked the console logs and there's nothing useful there. Is there some hidden setting something that "forces" Time Machine to write to a specific sparse bundle?
I'm rapidly reaching the conclusion that these "over the air backups" aren't worth the bother: a directly-attached disk seems much simpler and more reliable.
Thanks in advance for any helpful hints,
Tony

Pondini wrote:
When you do a +*Repair Disk+* on a directly-connected volume that contains a sparse bundle, the sparse bundle itself may not be repaired. Drag it into the Disk Utility sidebar via the Finder, then select it and try +*Repair Disk+* again.
Okay. I did this - but it told me that the disk appeared to be okay. Which jives with my intuition, since Time Machine is able to use that image +for recovering files+ if I manually mount it and inform Time Machine that it should use it.
Pondini wrote:
Try the widget in #A1 of [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
Does the widget source a different set of logs than the Console app? When I select "All Messages" in Console, I get the following when I attempt to do a backup:
11/12/10 2:35:23 PM com.apple.backupd[9404] Starting standard backup
11/12/10 2:35:23 PM com.apple.backupd[9404] Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://media@Media%20Center.afpovertcp.tcp.local/Terrabyte
11/12/10 2:35:25 PM com.apple.backupd[9404] Mounted network destination using URL: afp://media@Media%20Center.afpovertcp.tcp.local/Terrabyte
11/12/10 2:35:26 PM com.apple.backupd[9404] Creating disk image /Volumes/Terrabyte/transient 1.sparsebundle
11/12/10 2:35:26 PM kernel AFP_VFS afpfs_mount: /Volumes/Terrabyte, pid 9405
11/12/10 2:35:28 PM hdiejectd[9413] running
11/12/10 2:35:38 PM hdiejectd[9413] quitCheck: calling exit(0)
I read this as "Time Machine didn't even bother trying to use my 'transient.sparsebundle' that exists on that disk."
A couple of notes:
* My wife has no difficulty backing up to her image on that same AFP share.
* Between my initial post and this one, I updated to 10.6.5 - with no change in behavior.

Similar Messages

Time Machine and mounted sparse bundle disk image - file by file backup?

I think I had this system working in Leopard, but upon upgrade to Snow Leopard it seems to have broken. Does anyone have any idea how I can get Time Machine to back up the contents of a mounted sparse bundle disk image in real time - file by file within the disk image? For example, I have a 2GB sparse bundle disk image that i keep all of my bank statements/files/records in. It auto-mounts on boot and stays mounted. I use the disk image to keep it password-protected, so if I unmount it it is fairly safe. In Leopard, I would exclude the .sparseimage file from backup, but it would still backup the mounted image itself on a file-by-file basis, so I could enter Time Machine and explore the image folder by folder, file by file (say I deleted an old bank statement by mistake, I could go into time machine and recover as if it were a normal file/folder).
In Snow Leopard, after a clean install, and creating a new sparse bundle disk image and excluding the .sparsebundle file, I can't seem to get this to work even though the image is mounted. Is there any way to trick Time Machine into backing up the mounted image as it would any other folder? I know I can back up the .sparsebundle file incrementally but in order to recover a lost document I'd have to remount the old bundle and that seems rather roundabout.
Thanks,

I think you're trying to bypass the finder to mount the disk. Try this (I'll bold the key steps):
- *Turn off Time Machine* in the System Preferences.
- Option A: If you directly use a hard disk (not wireless) that has the sparsebundle you want to open, *connect the disk* but don't double click on the sparsebundle.
- Option B: If you are using wireless, this means use shift-command-k (or shift-apple-k), and if it says "Connect As..." in the upper right instead of disconnect, then use that button to *connect to that wireless drive*.
- Confirm the sparsebundle shows in that folder before proceeding...
- *Open Terminal* (Applications>Utilities>Terminal.app)
- Type: *hdiutil attach -noverify* (<-- notice a *space " "* must be included after typing this here but *DON'T hit return* yet.)
- *Drag the sparsebundle to the cursor in terminal*, and it should fill in something like /Volumes/HardDrive/COMPUTERNAME.sparsebundle for you. Now you can hit return, and the disk will mount.
- After you are done browsing sparsebundle's mounted image, *eject the mounted disk* like you would any other disk (not the sparsebundle image itself, just the disk icon that appeared if you successfully mounted it).
- Turn *Time Machine back on* in the System Preferences.
Hope this helps.

Time machine created new backup file

After migration, time machine created a new data file in time capsule. How do i instruct it to access the original? Thanks!

I ejected the USB drive and turned it off, erased the Timemachine.plist file from the shared directory and then turned back on the USB drive. I then went into Timemachine and turned the program back on. Timemachine then started a count down sequence and then automatically started the scheduled backups. The problem is fixed.

Time Machine creates new disk image when backing up but files not visible

When I back up my files (daily) to tan external drive TM creates a new disk image (named laptop) on my desktop (in addition to the image for the external drive named TIme Machine Backups). When I click on the new disk image while it's backing up I see a list of recent backups. However the disk image disappears after completing the back up and the files do not appear in the Star Wars screen - only old back-ups from 2009. How can I access the newest backups?

alanol wrote:
A disk image labeled Time Machine Backups resides permanently on the desktop
Right-click it, and select +Get Info.+ See what the path is (after +Disk image+ near the top of the General section).
Also the amounts for Capacity and Used.
as a consequence of the repair a sparse bundle (Zero KB) folder was created.
No. That may have been created by the new backup, though.
Also a new "lost +found" folder was created containing several ".emix" files.
Those are email files.
Net, net - same basic problem, can't see the newest backups in the Star Wars screen.
I suspect they're in the disk image.
Do you have any external HDs connected?
Try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

Best approach for Time Machine / Entourage / FileVault / sparse bundle disk

I am looking to set up Time Machine belatedly on my G5 to provide hassle-free backup for me and my family. I use Entourage. I also want to provide a small amount of encrypted storage. I’ve scoured the obvious places which have plenty of ideas, but nothing which pulls it all together.
My thoughts so far have been:
1. Time Machine doesn’t work well with Entourage as Entourage uses a monolithic single file (which in my case is several GB big) – backing this up every hour will bring my machine to its knees, fill up the backup disk and will possibly give a corrupt backup as the file could be accessed by Entourage or the MS daemon process during the backup.
2. I thought of turning FileVault on which would automatically contain the Entourage file. This would mean:
a) the sparse bundle format (8 MB bands) of FileVault would limit the volume of changed Entourage data which would be backed up each time by Time Machine and
b) the backup would only occur during logout (which is fine with me) when Entourage and the MS daemon are not running so that the backup won’t be corrupt.
3. However I am not hearing good things about the reliability of FileVault (comments?) and don’t want all the data in my Home folders lost – I don’t need that much encryption anyway.
4. So I thought about setting up a couple of encrypted disk images made of sparse bundles – one for the Entourage data (symbolically linked to the right place for Entourage to pick the folder up) and the other for the other small number of files I need encrypted. This could be auto-mounted at login.
5. However I think that using disk images rather than FileVault loses the automatic backup by Time Machine at logout. Maybe there is a way to get Time Machine to automatically backup these disk images during logout.
6. Perhaps there is another way to get the disk images backed up at logout other than using Time Machine.
So my questions are:
A. What is the best overall approach to providing a low-maintenance reliable backup which deals appropriately with Entourage and provides a small amount of encrypted space?
B. Can Time Machine be made to backup disk images other than FileVault disk images at logout? (for example is there a particular location / filename format for FileVault images which I could emulate with the other disk images to fool Time Machine into backing them up?)
C. When Time Machine runs at logout, have MS Entourage and the daemon process already been shut down and the disks unmounted, to prevent corruption?
D. Is there another way of backing up the sparse image disks at logout?
C. Is this all going to get magically fixed in Snow Leopard?
D. Will MS come up with a sensible storage format for Entourage?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

I don't know if there is a complete solution, but here are some things you could consider.
1. TM does not run automatically at logout unless FileVault is enabled.
2. You can change the backup period using third-party utilities like TimeMachineEditor - VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
3. You can exclude the Microsoft User Data folder from the TM backup and back it up separately using third-party backup software.
4. You can use third-party backup software instead of TM, such as:
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial - not yet universal binary)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. Carbon Copy Cloner (Donationware)
6. SuperDuper! (Commercial)
7. Intego Personal Backup (Commercial)
8. Data Backup (Commercial)
9. SilverKeeper 2.0 (Freeware)
10. Tri-Backup (Commercial)
11. Apple Backup (requires a .Mac account with Apple both to get the software and to use it.)
Apple's Backup is a full backup tool capable of backing up across multiple media such as CD/DVD. However, it cannot create bootable backups. It is primarily an "archiving" utility.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
Third-party backup utilities can run backups on schedules you set up. Thus, you can schedule your backups to occur at a time when you do not use the machine such as early in the AM for example.

Time machine creates new machine

Hi just before christmas I moved to leopard and started using time machine. Everything was fine, however 2 weeks ago I sent my computer to an apple authorised repairer as it needed a new logicboard (3rd replacement in 15 months!!!).
The machine has come back and now when it boots up I can click the time machine icon and see and access all my backups since december but as soon as the system does its hourly backup it decides to create a new system profile in time machine and to do another 60gb backup.
Basically it can't see the existing backup when it goes to update but it can when you are checking. Whilst I highly suspect it has something to do with the logic board changing I am not 100% sure.
Any ideas?

Hi, thanks, yes they are the same name. The machine is called "Big Mac". If you let it create a backup it makes a new machine called "Big Mac (2)".
It was not the same fault, The first two could not boot external drives or boot camp, the third developed a sound problem (and they forgot to attach the ir sensor back). The latest one came back today with a fan sensor problem (all fans spinning at max all the time) and there were disk images in my trash of my itunes collection where they had burnt the directory using disk image. After a big complaint they came to my house and did it onsite. I am not surprised because it shows that they were A)stealing my music and B)not testing finished work.
But enough about that, anybody with any more ideas I would be greatful.

Time machine creating new backup for external hd every time it is connected.

Hi.
I have recently gotten a Time Capsule to back up my files.
I want to back up my internal harddrive as well as an external harddrive with master images from aperture.
Theoretically time machine should skip trying to back up the external drive when it is not connected, and make a backup when it is. (I only connect the disk when working with the images)
However, the problem is that every time I connect the external hd to back it up, time machine seems to create a total new backup of the whole drive and not just the changes. It seems to not recognise that it has already backed up the disk before. Does anyone know how to fix this?
I know it is possible, since I have used this system before, but can't quite figure out how to solve the problem.
Thanks!

However, the problem is that every time I connect the external hd to back it up, time machine seems to create a total new backup of the whole drive and not just the changes. It seems to not recognise that it has already backed up the disk before. Does anyone know how to fix this?
If the drive is not recognised.. you should see multiple external drives in the backup.. is that in fact what is happening.
What makes you think it is doing a whole new backup??
One factor you may not have considered is that Time Machine does need to do a deep scan of the disk when it has missed more than a few days. A deep scan can take ages over wireless as it will have to actually compare the backup with the files on the disk. Determine what has changed, make up a list of files that need backup and then start and actually do the backup.. this might even take longer than a straight clean backup.
Have you checked the TM log for what it is really doing?? Pondini widget will give you that info. See A1 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
I have a simple solution.. that will cost you around $40.. use Carbon Copy Cloner.. not Time Machine. It simply handles this kind of thing better.
There are a number of other solutions that you can buy.. 3rd party backup software.. you can even do it manually via rsync.. however.. a tool like CCC which is based on rsync is a heck of lot easier than writing your own backup scripts.

Time machine has created a new sparse bundle

I have booted my new Macbook from my time machine back up. Time machine has created a new sparse bundle and I cannot access the previous backups. Is there any way to make time machine to use the previous sparse bundle? Thanks, Karl

Use the old backups to continue backups or use them for migration etc..
If you have a new Mac then continuing to use the same backup is not recommended..
Info you can see here..
B5 and B6 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
I do not think it is good idea.. however you can access the old backup to get files if you need them.
See Q17 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

Time Machine creates two sparsebundle backups on network drive, then questions their validity

Time Machine first creates a sparse-bundle backup on the network-drive, called xxxxxx MacBk.sparsebundle, which appears to be at or near the full qunatity of data being backed up (about 65Gb).
Then a message appears saying something like the Identity of the backup disk cannot be confirmed, has it been changed (don't have the exact wording before me), and asks me to confirm whether I want to continue using that disk.
When I look a this disk, I see the first sparsebundle that was created, xxxxxx MacBk.sparsebundle, at about 65Gb, and then a second one, called
xxxxxx MacBk.sparsebundle1, which has just started to be created, and is perhaps a few hundred Mb.
The TM message asks me to confirm whether I want to continue using the disk, which it regards as suspect ( I am not asked to confirm the sparsebundle itself, there is no option for that).
If I click yes, the TM then reports that there isn't enough room on the disk to create a backup, so presumably it is still ignoring the first sparsebundle and trying to create yet another.
I have tried deleting the smaller sparsebundle, and trying backing up again the same, with the same effect (not enough space reported)
I have also tried deleting all sparsebundles and starting again with the backup, and then the problems of two sparsebundles reappears, so back to square one.
I am backing up a 13" white macbook, using OS 10.6.8. and a hard-drive connected to an imac, which is connected to a brand new Airport Express base-station router . The macbook is connected to the router via Mains Internet , not wi-fi.
This system has worked very well for me for several years, first with a Time Capule, then an old Netgear router after the TC broke, and never had problems. A couple of weeks ago I switched to the new Airport Express base-station, due to unrelated problems with the old router, and now have this problem.

Denis77 wrote:
One evening about 8 I came to the the computer to find a dialog box indicating that it was backing up something over 800,000 files, about 60 GB and counting; Time Machine indicated a Latest Backup at 3:30 that afternoon. No unusual events that afternoon to set things off track, as far as I know. It was creating a new sparsebundle as Pete A indicated, same name with a <space> "1" added. Unlike his experience, however, deleting the newer sparsebundle does not provide access to the older one.
Any ideas how to redesignate the older sparsebundle as the real backup? The Mac is not seeing it now, which is why it keeps starting a new one. Since this is apparently a baseline snapshot, I would like to get my backup history back.
Most likely, the old sparse bundle is corrupted, and Time Machine can't use it. Try repairing it, per #A5 in the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.
If it can be repaired successfully, Time Machine may continue using it.
If it can't be repaired, or TM won't continue using it, there's not much you can do. Keep the old sparse bundle for a while (you may be able to browse and restore from it, per #E2 in the Troubleshooting Tip. Once you're sure you don't need the old set (or Time Machine runs out of room and has to start deleting backups from the new set), delete the old sparse bundle via the Finder.

Even via time machine the new osx lion has deleted all my latest files in iPhoto and will only revert back to an old 2009 backup?

even via time machine the new osx lion has deleted all my latest files in iPhoto and will only revert back to an old 2009 backup?... Help?!

Have you verified that the original files are missing from the Originals/Masters folder? There are time when the library might appear empty due to a damaged database file but still has the files. If you can open the library package via the Finder to see if the files are really missing or just can't be seen by iPhoto there are fixes you can try.
If the files are there make a temporary, backup copy of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Does the TM create a sparse bundle on a Raid 5 device with a local thunderbolt connection

I know that TM creates a sparse bundle when used over a network connection. I would like to know if also creates a sparse bundle on a raid device ( Lacie 5 big thunderbolt 2) which is connected locally, and formatted in HFS+. The reason I'm asking is that the sparse bundle will not be rebuilt after a disk failure in a stripped raid setup. In my case a raid 5 device.

To the contrary, my experience is that the "G" standard on WiFi provided MUCH faster speeds than the "N" standard on Wi-Fi. It makes no sense, I know, but it is true.
I was having horribly slow Wi-Fi speeds on my iPad2, despite a fast cable modem connection and a "N" generation Linksys wireless router (maybe 2-3 yrs old). Was achieving speeds of only 1.3Mbs -- slow enough that you couldn't watch YouTube videos. From hunting around on the web, I came across the suggestion to manually set the Wi-Fi router to the "G" standard (ie downgrade it from the faster "N" standard). Remarkably, I did it and it worked like a charm. I now get Wi-Fi speeds of about 12 or 13 Mbs, or 10x what I was getting before. It is an easy fix. And also I think the "G" standard is capable of 50Mbs so even though it is a slower and older standard, it is still way faster than anything you are likely to achieve as a home user. I think there is some glitch or oddity in the iPad and iPad2 which can cause it to perform very poorly with older "N" standard WiFi routers. New ones don't seem to have a problem.

Using the same external drive with Time Machine on new mac?

I recently got a new mac because my old one broke. Thankfully, I had a fresh backup on Time Machine ready to restore onto my new computer. But when I try to use Time Machine with my new computer, it keeps wanting to do a whole new backup. It won't recognize the latest backup to only add new or changed files.
Here's a breakdown of my events:
new computer
restore Time Machine on new computer at install
want to continue using the external drive with Time Machine from where I left off (only adding new files since the last backup) on my new computer
Time Machine wants to do a whole new backup
Question: How can I continue to use my existing external hard drive with Time Machine on my new computer, picking up where I left off (not a new, complete backup)?
My old computer was Snow Lepoard, my new one is Lion.

Bergers wrote:
new computer
restore Time Machine on new computer at install
That should have left a "trail" in your SystemMigration log, so Time Machine can figure out what happened and automatically "inherit" the old backups. But sometimes, obviously, that doesn't work.
Since it didn't, there's a chance you can do it manually. See #B6 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

How do I import my video files from old iPhoto - in time machine - to new iPhoto? Photoes came across, video said incompatible.

how do I import my video files from old iPhoto - in time machine - to new iPhoto? Photoes came across, video said incompatible.
i have moved from a mac pro to a mac mini,
Mini now has mavericks and latest iLife stuff, I clicked import, was all good, then at end, no videos came across.
Is Mavericks,/iPhoto having a compatibiltiy issue with some video formats....???
Your help is appreciated gang.: )

Please describe exactly what you did. In moving to a new machine no importing is involved. The best way is to simply connect the two computers together and drag the iPhoto library from the old one to the pictures folder go the new one and launch iPhoto
LN

Restore using Time Machine to new hard drive, but last "full" backup was 2012. how do I restore the rest of the Time Machine backups, particularily IPHOTO libraries for each user?

Restore using Time Machine to new hard drive, but last "full" backup was in 2012. How do I restore the rest of the Time Machine backups, particularily IPHOTO libraries for each user?
I entered Iphoto for my user and only photo up until 2012 were in the library. I thought the restore would do the incremental Time Machine backups too.....
Running 10.8.2

It usually means you are running Mavericks but have an earlier version of iPhoto. Open the App Store and upgrade your version of iPhoto to the Mavericks version.
The iWork apps are free with a new iOS device since 1 SEP 2013. They are free with a new Mac since 1 OCT 2013. They are also free with the upgrade to OS X Mavericks 10.9 if you had the previous version installed when you upgraded.The iWork apps are free with a new iOS device since 1 SEP 2013. They are free with a new Mac since 1 OCT 2013. They are also free with the upgrade to OS X Mavericks 10.9 if you had the previous version installed when you upgraded.
iWork and iLife for Mac come free with every new Mac purchase. Existing users running Mavericks can update their apps for free from the Mac App Store℠. iWork and iLife for iOS are available for free from the App Store℠ for any new device running iOS 7, and are also available as free updates for existing users. GarageBand for Mac and iOS are free for all OS X Mavericks and iOS 7 users. Additional GarageBand instruments and sounds are available for a one-time in-app purchase of $4.99 for each platform.

Imported old computer via time machine into new 2012 macbook pro, but its still running ilife 09 instead of 11?

imported old computer via time machine into new 2012 macbook pro, but its still running ilife 09 instead of 11?

I am assuming you had iLife 09 on the old computer - when you moved everything over, that came along with it.
I also have older versions of iLife (on install disks) and just recently got a new 2012 Macbook Pro. I noticed that iMovie 11, iPhoto and Garageband (I think) are listed in my Mac App Store Purchases with a notation to "accept". So you might want to check MAS to see if the apps are sitting there.
Now, I have chosen not to accept them for now for two reasons: I have iLife 11 on a disk and prefer that rather than having it tied to MAS/Apple ID and as long as I have my disk version installed, I also still have iDVD which I use a lot. I'm not sure if "accepting" those three from MAS would wipe out my iLife 11 installs including iDVD (which would be unacceptable for me). So, since I already have the latest version, I've opted to ignore the "accept" and, in fact, will leave it like that - if I ever sell this machine, the buyer can then accept them if they want with their own Apple ID. So before accepting the apps (if they are listed in MAS), you might want to check to make sure that your iLife install isn't wiped out - that is, if you have iDVD and want to keep it.

Time Machine Creates New Sparse Bundle

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for