Time Machine did not back up one of the user accounts

Hi All,
I just notice that time machine stops backing up one of my user accounts. So I created a new admin account to test it and that new account was backed up. I did turn on File Vault. I am using Lion 10.7.3. Thanks for any advice!!!

FanApple wrote:
Hi Pondini,
Thank you for your reply. I am not transfering from SL to Lion.
So you have File Vault 2 turned on, not File Vault1, correct?
Time Machine no longer back up one of my accounts. Time machine used to back up that account but not any more.
That sounds like either it's been excluded, or the preferences file (where the exclusions and other things are kept) is corrupted. Try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
I think I changed on/off local snapshot for time machine back up by running sudo tmutil disablelocal/enablelocal l don't think that would effect my time machine behavior.
No, that won't change what is or isn't backed-up.
So l launch Migration Assistant and Migration Assistant dosen't recognize my external TM backup. It shows my hard drive and a network drive (Time Capsule).
That display is misleading: if it shows a yellow or green icon and the name of your Mac and HD, instead of the name of the drive the backup are on, those are your backups.
If not, the backups may be damaged. Try to repair them, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
Or, if you excluded System files and Applications from backups, they won't show up there at all.
Now I am thinking of deleting my account and creating it again and try to back up with time machine and see whether it would work or not and roll back my TM backup .
Don't do that. You risk losing everything that way!

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The first time I connected my new My Passport portable hard drive to my Mac, the message asking if I want to use the drive to back up with Time Machine did not appear. What is the next step?

The first time I connected my new My Passport portable hard drive to my MacBook Pro, the message asking if I want to use the drive to back up with Time Machine did not appear. I would like to set it up to do this. What would my next step be?

Drive Partition and Format
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Open Time Machine preferences to select this drive for use as the backup drive. Turn on Time Machine.

Time Machine did not back up iTunes

I had a TM back up of an old iMac I had. Got a new hard drive on my MacBook Pro (the original one crashed). The original iMac is no longer available. I used the TM back up from the iMac to set up my MacBook Pro on first start up. I went to iTunes, but my entire music library is gone! It backed up podcasts, TV episodes and other movies, but did not back up ANY music. What may have happened here? I guess I have no choice but to go thru the tedious process of putting all my CD's back into iTunes. Also, how about all the music I've purchased? The whole TM thing is new to me, so not sure what I did wrong...

You've created an admin account on the new MBP using a different short/user name than on your Desktop, hence the permissions problem. Most likely you will have similar permissions problems with other data you've restored from your backup. Here's something you can try that may fix the problem for what you have, but if you restore other data from the backup you will continue to have permissions issues with it. The better solution is to create a new admin account using the same short/user name that you use for the admin account on your other computer. Then log into the account and delete the one you now have. Then restore your data once again from the TM backup. Or you can try this:
To fix Home folder permissions
Open the Terminal application in the Utilities folder. At the command line prompt enter or paste the following command line:
sudo chown -R `id -un`:`id -gn` ~
Press RETURN. You will be prompted to enter your admin password which will not be echoed.

Time machine did not back up photos

When I was preparing to upgrade from Mountain Lion to Mavericks, I heeded advice and purchased an external drive and backed up my iMac with Time Machine. I was very glad I did, because I encountered the 'There is a problem with your hard disc' message, so, I had to erase the hard drive and restore from Time Machine.
I felt very proud that I had been, for once, wise before the event, so I did not lose any of my important data.
That was a month ago.
Today, I decided to change my desktop picture and found no photographs available. When I opened iPhoto, it indicated that there were no libraries and prompted me to create a new one. No worries, I thought; the photos will all be on my external hard disc because of my prudence. But they were not there, as you, Dear Reader, will already have guessed.
I have looked at various Q & A discussions (here and elsewhere) and it seems at best that Time Machine is idisyncratic - and there are indications that it will not back up photos. This is despite the statement on the Apple website that says: 'Time Machine automatically backs up your entire Mac, including system files, applications, accounts, preferences, email messages, music, photos, movies, and documents.'
So, is there a solution to this? Am I missing something important? Or am I justified to feel outraged that I was fooled into thinking that a back-up would save my data for me to retrieve in the event of a crash, or the need to erase the hard disc? Is it simply a way of making people buy into iLife?
Please rescue me from my new-found cynicism

If it's true that the iPhoto library wasn't backed up, then it must have been excluded from your backups for some reason. Check the exclusion settings in the Time Machine preference pane. Even if you find nothing there, it's still possible for files to be excluded for other reasons, but that won't help you recover the lost data.
You can use Spotlight to search your backups:
Recover items using Time Machine and Spotlight

Time Machine did not back up desktop folders?

Hello, I've been backing up my mid-2010 iMac 21.5" for over a year and a half every 24 hours to my external hard drive via Time Machine.
Recently, I just got back from a very lengthy and important trip where I was commissioned to take photos and videos. I made sure to do another time machine backup every day for a week until I needed to send the photos and videos in. I keep all of my photos and videos in separate folders on my desktop.
In that week time period, I sold my iMac in order to buy a Macbook Pro (needed the portability). No problem, just boot the Macbook while holding CMND+R to enter rocovery, and restore from my time machine backup on my external drive.
After booting up my Macbook, I noticed there were no folders or files on my desktop that I had originally on my iMac. Actually, there was virtually nothing the same that I had from my previous machine. There are now missing documents, applications, and many other VERY important files that I need to have.
My question is, where are these files? These backups took ages to perform, but what exactly was it even backing up? I desperately need these photos and videos for my job's sake. And they are nowhere to be found. I've tried entering Time Capsule and dating back weeks and months prior, none of which have any traces of files or folders being on my desktop. If anybody could help me out, or fill me in on a missing step perhaps, it would be much appreciated. Thank you.

I'm going to come accross sounding like a bitter old man . . .
Mac user since 1990. At the time, the whole cornerstone of the OS was "People don't want to learn how to use a computer. They just want to do their work." I bought it. Every piece of software (and operating system) I used was intuitive. You'd say "how do I . . ." and within moments, you could figure it out. No manual. No help.
To my dismay I've discovered (just bought 2 new Mac Minis for my business) that this is a thing of the past.
Case in point is Time Machine. I've just discovered, as did RoganLigby, that folders on the desktop are NOT backed up. Fortunately I discovered this (quite by accident) before a drive failure occurred.
My question: Why?
Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?
What possible purpose is there to not backup items on the desktop? Perhaps more importantly, wouldn't it be a good idea to tell users that this is the case? Near as I can tell, there is no option to specifically add desktop folders to the backup.
Does anyone at Apple actually use their own creations?

Time Machine did not back up any Apps.

Time Machine shows my application folder to be empty on every backup. Where are my approx 200 Apps. The original backup size does not seen large enough to include them?
Also getting Error Code: -8008 Whilst trying to recover anything from Time Machine.

The Time Machine folder you can see by just looking with the Finder will show the files that changed since the previous backup. It will be empty.
By design, Applications code is invariant, and only the original FULL Backup will have anything in that folder, unless you installed a new Application. Anything you changed will be shown in a Preference file in your User_name folder.
If you want to see what is available for Restore, open the Applications Folder and then invoke the Time Machine APPLICATION, which will show you the current contents in the frontmost window, and all previous contents (as of whatever date and time) in windows receding up the screen into the distant past
DO NOT Modify Time Machine Items using the Finder. It is a complex database, and removing things with the Finder can cause it to lose track of your backed up files.
The late James Pond produced a wonderful site of Time Machine illustrated guides:
Apple OSX and Time Machine Tips
The site includes descriptions of how Time Machine does its "magic".

Time machine is not backing up photos in iphoto9 /Originals folder

Just figure out the reason to cause lost of my photos after restore from Time Machine Backup:
time machine is not backing up photos in iphoto/Originals folder from month ago;
Here was how I tested the problem, I don't know why TM stop doing backup folder
1) Import some new pictures from camera to iphoto library --> FINE , I can view the new imports in iphoto and also I can find the copies of imported files under iphoto Library/Originals (by Show package content)
2) I closed iphoto and I manually ask TM to backup.
3) After TM is done, I go to backup in TM, all newly imported photos are missing in the
TM backup which I just created 5 min ago.!!
No matter what, Apple need to fix this bug!!! How many people lost their precious data
because iphoto & TM???? I will go back to 3rd party software to manually import photos
and manage photos. You never know what's next bug and the result is very serious.
I knew someone lost the whole year photos. !!! Be cautious!!!!!!
AND I think somehow it is bug in the iphoto............
PLease reply if you have similar problem!

I just lost 6 months of photos! Same problem. Not sure why Time Machine did not back them up. I couldnt even get my iphoto '09 disk to install. Had to buy the new version because the system crashed.
Any thoughts on how to find the 6 months of photos that are missing? Only thing I can think of is that iphoto started saving the new photos in a new library. Is that possible? If so where would I find it in my TM back ups?
I really dislike Apple right now... I thought they never crashed.

After clean install of Snow Leopard, Time Machine did not restore all files. When I try to restore these files I get "Not enough disk space" error. What do I need to do to get these important files back onto my Mac from my external hard drive??

After clean install of Snow Leopard, Time Machine did not restore all files. When I try to restore these files I get "Not enough disk space" error. What do I need to do to get these important files back onto my Mac from my external hard drive??

Janet.b wrote:
About 3 years old...pretty dated now I guess. Am thinking I may just need to have it upgraded by a Mac tech.
For what the Apple Store's charge you can buy almost buy a new computer.
Just for giggles I brought my old laptop in for a drive upgrade and asked, they wanted $600 for a drive that only cost $120 at the time and it was a slow 5,400 RPM drive. The new Mac's of a similar make were going for $1000.
I did the drive replacement myself, got a faster drive of better quality for $300 instead.
Then another time I asked for a RAM upgrade from 4GB to 8GB, they wanted to charge $400 + $35 for the labor.
The same RAM is on Crucial.com for $90 and all I need is a 00 micro phillips screwdriver.
So you see what's going on here.
I think what you should do, if your out of warranty/AppleCare, is to call up the local PC tech guy who also does Mac's and have them fix you right up.
They can offer more personalized care which you need. Clone your old drive to the new and everything.
With Apple they are overworked at the Genius Bar and just place roadblocks so you buy a new machine instead.
For instance, all new iMac's now have proprietary drive software installed on the hard drives for heat monitoring. So now the only choice a user has is to bring their iMac into a Apple Store for a very expensive drive upgrade, which a person then decides the money is better spent buying a new machine.

MAC OSX 10.5.8 and 2TB Time Machine would not back up. Saw discussion that suggested you change name without apostrophes etc. Went into Time Machine and did a manula backup without a name and it appears to be backing up now. Does this remove delete the o

MAC OSX 10.5.8 and 2TB Time Machine would not back up. Saw discussion that suggested you change name without apostrophes etc. Went into Time Machine and did a manula backup without a name and it appears to be backing up now. Does this remove delete the old backup's ?

Does this remove delete the old backup's ?
No, they are all just fine.

Time Machine will not back up external photo drive

Time Machine will not back up external photo drive, slightly different format, one case sensitive the other not. How do I resolve. Bought new external drive same format as TM in the hope that I could copy the files from photo drive but that will not copy all files as it is saying file already there. Again the case sensitive issue...
Paranoid about losing 1Tb of photos all cataloged in LR5
Possible solutions I have looked at but not yet tried.
Use the new 2Tb drive to make a new TM backup then reformat the old 4Tb drive the same as Photo drive.
Then do a complete backup of all files and photodrive to TM.
A lot of work, USB 2, so if any one has a simpler answer I would love to hear.
Roger

crash888 wrote:
I reinstalled Snow Leopard on my Mac Mini after having some issues. After reinstallation, Time Machine would no longer backup to my External HD because it will not allow me to change permissions.
What message did you get? You should never change permissions (or anything else) on a Time Machine drive -- TM does that for you.
Start with #C2 in 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 is not backing up...

Hi, I have a 27" iMac (mid-2011) and now Time Machine is not backing up. Actually I had turned it off, then forgot about it...so it was off for about 2 months. I read on some of these forums, when you do that...TIme Machine can be stuck in the "Preparing to Back up" phase for quite some time. To just let it go and it would be fine. But after several days, I have given up. It has not backed up in over a week now. Just spinning "Preparing to Back Up" only. Any suggestions what I should do? I have OS X Lion (10.7.3) and using a external HDD connected via USB (NOT Time Capsule).

Hi again Linc Davis,
I tried the "backupd" in the ALL MESSAGES under system log queries, and did manage to see:
18/3/12 8:48:31.277 PM mdworker: (Normal) Import: Using too many resources after 66432 files (wired: 0 resident: 19957 swapped: 2 regions: 2037), hit usage threshold importing /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Xxxx Xxxxxxの iMac/2012-01-15-141532/Macintosh HD/Users/xxxxxxxxxx/Library/Mail/V2/[email protected]/[Gmail].mbox/All Mail.mbox/84784BFD-487D-40BC-AC16-A441D3A8F331/Data/6/1/Messages/16497.4.emlxpa rt, exiting to clean up now.
18/3/12 8:53:20.761 PM mdworker: (Normal) Import: Using too many resources after 40576 files (wired: 0 resident: 20389 swapped: 2 regions: 2011), hit usage threshold importing /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Xxxx Xxxxxx の iMac/2011-12-29-001513/Macintosh HD/Users/xxxxxxxxxx/Library/Mail/V2/[email protected]/Japan.mbox/84784BFD-487D-40BC-AC16-A441D3A8F331/Data/1/1/1/Messages/111994.emlx , exiting to clean up now.
18/3/12 9:05:36.840 PM mdworker: (Normal) Import: Using too many resources after 36480 files (wired: 0 resident: 19529 swapped: 2 regions: 2019), hit usage threshold importing /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Xxxx Xxxxxx の iMac/2012-01-13-001459/Macintosh HD/Users/xxxxxxxxxx/Library/Mail/V2/[email protected]/Sayang.mbox/84784BFD-487D-40BC-AC16-A441D3A8F331/Data/1/3/1/Messages/131667.par tial.emlx, exiting to clean up now.
Does this help? Thanks again!

Time Machine/Capsule not backing up

Time Machine is not backing up to my Time Capsule and I can't figure out what is wrong. The error message just states that it did not back up and has not since April 26. I looked through all of Pondini's troubleshooting site and have not found anything applicable. I installed the Time Machine Buddy Widget and this is the error message that I am getting:
Starting standard backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Margaret%[email protected]/WellsTimeCapsule
Mounted network destination at mountpoint: /Volumes/WellsTimeCapsule using URL: afp://Margaret%[email protected]/WellsTimeCapsule
Renaming /Volumes/WellsTimeCapsule/Margaret Wells’s iMac.sparsebundle to /Volumes/WellsTimeCapsule/MargaretWellsiMac.sparsebundle
QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN
Disk image /Volumes/WellsTimeCapsule/MargaretWellsiMac.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Backup of Margaret Wells’s iMac
Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup of Margaret Wells’s iMac/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Macintosh HD
Error: (-36) Applying backup protections to /Volumes/Backup of Margaret Wells‚Äôs iMac/Backups.backupdb/MargaretWellsiMac/2012-04-26-200756.inProgress/C02B2E8C-5 BDB-4D58-886F-5B848020F531
Error: (5) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.SnapshotStartDate path:/Volumes/Backup of Margaret Wells‚Äôs iMac/Backups.backupdb/MargaretWellsiMac/2012-04-26-200756.inProgress/C02B2E8C-5 BDB-4D58-886F-5B848020F531 size:17
Error: (5) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.SnapshotState path:/Volumes/Backup of Margaret Wells‚Äôs iMac/Backups.backupdb/MargaretWellsiMac/2012-04-26-200756.inProgress/C02B2E8C-5 BDB-4D58-886F-5B848020F531 size:2
Deep event scan at path:/ reason:must scan subdirs|new event db|
Finished scan
26.77 GB required (including padding), 173.89 GB available
Copied 0 files (0 bytes) from volume Macintosh HD.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11
Ejected Time Machine disk image.
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
When I looked at the AirPort Utility I noticed that the latest update occurred right after the most recent successful backup. The version is 6.0. My operating system is 10.7.3. Any advice would be appreciated!

I, too, am having trouble backing up, with two different computers. I had a successful backup first thing this morning:
Jun 5 07:57:21 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[10698]: Backup completed successfully.
Jun 5 07:57:24 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[10698]: Ejected Time Machine disk image.
Jun 5 07:57:24 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[10698]: Ejected Time Machine network volume.
Then a few minutes later...
Jun 5 08:14:46 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro [0x0-0x44a44a].backupd-helper[10777]: Not starting Time Machine backup after wake - less than 60 minutes since last backup completed.
Jun 5 08:15:44 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[10787]: Starting standard backup
Jun 5 08:15:44 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[10787]: Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Jun 5 08:16:41 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[10787]: NAConnectToServerSync failed with error: 89 for url: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Throughout the day the error has changed to...
Jun 5 14:47:01 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11356]: Starting standard backup
Jun 5 14:47:05 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11356]: Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Jun 5 14:47:35 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11356]: NAConnectToServerSync failed with error: 64 for url: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Jun 5 14:48:35 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11356]: Failed to resolve network service using name = Time Capsule type = _afpovertcp._tcp domain = local.
Jun 5 14:48:45 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11356]: Backup failed with error: 18
Jun 5 19:57:53 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11396]: Starting standard backup
Jun 5 19:57:57 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11396]: Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Jun 5 19:58:53 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11396]: NAConnectToServerSync failed with error: 89 for url: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Jun 5 19:58:53 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11396]: Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Jun 5 19:59:49 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11396]: NAConnectToServerSync failed with error: 89 for url: afp://Dwight%20DuBois@Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Data
Jun 5 19:59:59 Dwight-DuBoiss-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[11396]: Backup failed with error: 19
Help?
(My other computer hasn't backed up for two days.)

My time machine will not back up and i get this message: /Volumes/Data/Kathy P's MacBook.sparsebundle" is already in use

my time machine will not back up and i get this message: /Volumes/Data/Kathy P’s MacBook.sparsebundle” is already in use....i have tried multiple fixes but still unable to back up

If you have tried the fixes in Pondini's Time Machine Troublshooting, specifically #C12 and nothing helps, then it is time to let one of the genius types at an Apple Store take a look.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
If you cannot take the Time Capsule to an Apple Store, contact Apple Support directly.
http://www.apple.com/support/contact/

Time Machine did not restore a lot of my old mail??

Hi,
Time machine did not restore all of my mail? I have two mailboxes in mail- comcast and cana.
I got all my messages from comcast but not cana. Does anybody know why it did not restore the messages in cana?
Thanks

When you open the mail app in an account you can work with Time Machine in the mailboxes for that account. To deal with the mailboxes for another account you need to go out of Time Machine, make the other account active and go back in.

My time machine will not back up. It says backup failed each time i try to back up. I tried switching it off but still nothing. It says "already in use" Please help!

My time machine will not back up. It says backup failed each time i try to back up. I tried switching it off but still nothing. It says "already in use" Please help!

The late James Pond left us these wonderful illustrated guides, including this one:
Time Machine - Troubleshooting
C12. "The Backup disk image ... sparsebundle ... is already in use."

Time Machine did not back up one of the user accounts

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