Time Machine doesn't backup my esata drive

Hi,
I have a MacBookPro with an esata express card and a HD attached. I have a USB drive that Time Machine uses to backup my HD and (I thought) my esata drive. The esata drive is not excluded in Time Machine. Despite this the esata drive is not backed up by Time Machine.
I have tried setting up Time MAchine "from scratch" but it still won't backup the esata drive.
I'm out of ideas, perhaps someone out there can help?
Regards
Jesper

JsPr wrote:
I have tried setting up Time MAchine "from scratch" but it still won't backup the esata drive.
I'm out of ideas, perhaps someone out there can help?
That's correct; Time Machine will only back-up USB or FireWire externals. See this Apple article: Disks that can be used with Time Machine.

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I'm making an assumption here... but your post doesn't have a ton of detail about your setup so...
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HT203177 Time machine doesn't recognize my hard drive archive

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Update:
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See > http://pondini.org/TM/E3.html

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That should say "Now none of the laptops (a MacBook and an iBook) will see either external drive..." I hate typos.
Anyway, after rereading my post, I'm starting to think I just need to reinstall OS X on the iMac, given the other issues it's experiencing. Any advice for doing that would be appreciated, if that's indeed the solution. Thanks.

Time machine doesn't recognize external hard drive

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nevermind! time machine suddenly recognized the disk after half an hour. sorry, I don't know how to delete this post!

Time Machine doesn't backup iPhoto Library (if iPhoto is open)

I just wanted to alert other people to the fact that Time Machine DOES NOT backup your iPhoto Library (that is, any of your photos), if iPhoto is open when Time Machine performs the backup (which in my case, is all of the time).
I've just posted this information to my blog: http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/2010/01/timemachine-is-not-backing-up-your.htm l
But the basics are that although Time Machine promises to perform automatic backups in the background, it will skip your photos if iPhoto is open. Unfortunately, it won't tell you it hasn't done the backup and you'll be lulled into a very false sense of security, broken only when you have a problem and there's no backup to be found.
So, be sure to close iPhoto when Time Machine is doing backups and check your backed up files to make sure all your photos are there.
Please spread the word. I hate to think people are losing their photos because of this.
best,
Liz
http://www.lizcastro.com/iphotobookthemes
http://www.elizabethcastro.com

OK, ran a test with iPhoto open and got this from Time Machine Buddy:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Node requires deep traversal:/Users/lizx/Pictures/Big iPhoto Library/iPhoto 7 Library current reason:kFSEDBEventFlagContainsChanges|kFSEDBEventFlagMustScanSubDirs|kFSEDBEven tFlagReasonFSEvent|kFSEDBEventFlagReasonMissedReservation|
No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.91 GB requested (including padding), 60.52 GB available
Copied 12483 files (50.9 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
No pre-backup thinning needed: 1.06 GB requested (including padding), 60.47 GB available
Copied 1088 files (16.6 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Starting post-backup thinning
Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/lizxp/2010-01-14-145941: 60.54 GB now available
Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/lizxp/2010-01-14-095812: 60.57 GB now available
Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/lizxp/2010-01-14-085710: 60.60 GB now available
Post-back up thinning complete: 3 expired backups removed
Backup completed successfully.
Also, when I look on my external drive, the latest backup says it was opened on January 14, but of course, I had iPhoto open when I ran the backup (that is, it was last opened TODAY).
Now, I closed iPhoto and ran Time Machine again. I got a pretty similar message from Time Machine Buddy:
-------Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Node requires deep traversal:/Users/lizx/Pictures/Big iPhoto Library/iPhoto 7 Library current reason:kFSEDBEventFlagContainsChanges|kFSEDBEventFlagMustScanSubDirs|kFSEDBEven tFlagReasonFSEvent|kFSEDBEventFlagReasonMissedReservation|
No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.90 GB requested (including padding), 60.60 GB available
Copied 10309 files (2.4 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
No pre-backup thinning needed: 1.06 GB requested (including padding), 58.19 GB available
Copied 2935 files (16.7 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Starting post-backup thinning
No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Backup completed successfully.
If there's a significant difference there, I can't see it.
On the other hand, when I go look at the backed up file, although it still won't tell me how big it is (or I'm too impatient to wait), it does say the (backed up) iPhoto Library was last opened today. Much better.
What do you think?
best,
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Time machine doesn't backup EHD

I have 2 EHD: one 500gb with two partitions (music and photos) and a 1TB with two other partitions one of which is my time machine. The issue is that time machine does not backup the Photos partition of the other EHD. It does the other one fine. I have verified the preferences panel and everything seems OK, meaning that that partition is not in the exclude list. What can I do?

docdowney wrote:
I have 2 EHD: one 500gb with two partitions (music and photos) and a 1TB with two other partitions one of which is my time machine. The issue is that time machine does not backup the Photos partition of the other EHD. It does the other one fine. I have verified the preferences panel and everything seems OK, meaning that that partition is not in the exclude list. What can I do?
How is the Photos partition formatted? If it's any variant of +Mac OS Extended,+ it should be backed-up. If it's anything else, it should be listed in the exclusions box, in gray, meaning Time Machine cannot back it up.
There is an occasional problem with iPhoto: if iPhoto is open, Time Machine may not be able to back the iPhoto library up: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4116 But unless iPhoto is open all the time, sooner or later, it should be backed-up.
Note, however, that you won't see much of the iPhoto Library via the "Star Wars" display via the Finder; just the library, not the contents. Try the procedure in the pink box in #15 of [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
If you're still sure it's not getting backed-up, put a small test file on that partition, outside of the iPhoto library, then run a backup and see if the test file gets backed-up.

Time Machine doesn't backup Virtual Machines files

I've 90 GB of disk space to backup included 2 Vmware virtuale machines files in a 250 GB external drive. The first file is a Linux Server of 2 GB. The second file is a Win XP installation of about 13 GB.
I've started Time Machine on 21 november and both files have been backuped correctly for 2 days.
After this, none other backups of these files have been made despite their size changes almost every day.
I've checked a little adn it seems those are the only files excluded in Time machine backups and I'm sure that they are not excluded.
Can someone says to me why it happens and how to solve it?
Thanks

I have some additional suggestions for you -- mainly trying to find a workaround for you.
First, if you haven't done so already, make sure your virtual environments are shut off while you do a Back Up Now just in case there's some issue with access to those files while the virtual environments are running.
Next, create a small file (e.g., a Text Edit file) in the folder containing a virtual environment. Do a Back Up Now. Does Time Machine back up that new file? If not then the problem must be at the level of that folder or higher in the file structure (i.e., it's not the virtual environment file itself that's got the problem).
You can work your way up the file hierarchy to find out which folder finally will cause an added file to be backed up.
Next, try this:
Open the Console (all messages) and leave it on screen so you can see if any error messages get thrown.
Open System Preferences / Time Machine. Click on the lock and authenticate if necessary. Click on Options. Drag your virtual environment file into the Do Not Back Up list. If you find an enclosing folder also seems to have this problem drag it in as well (shouldn't hurt to have them both in there).
Now click OK and then exit System Preferences. That should be enough to make this take effect but just to be certain, quit the Console (presuming no useful messages) and Restart the machine.
Once you have logged in again, re-open the Console and then go back into System Preferences / Time Machine / Options. Click on each line you have added to the Do Not Back Up list, in turn, and then click on the "-" at the bottom of the list to remove it from the list.
Click OK to accept these changes. This may trigger an immediate back up but if not exit System Preferences. Now open Time Machine preferences again to watch what happens and do a Back Up Now. Again, keep an eye on the Console for errors.
If this gets your virtual environment files backed up, then try making a change to one of them and do another Back Up Now to see if it is picked up again.
Failing all that, if you have enough disk space on your main drive, try making a copy of a virtual environment file and see if Time Machine will back up the copy. If it does, you might try switching to using the copy. It is possible there is some sort of permissions error in your original that may get corrected when you make the copy.
The last suggestion is even more drastic, but AppleCare will probably ask you to try it:
Create a new user account. Create a new virtual environment from scratch in that user account (do NOT just copy your existing file over). Does Time Machine back that up?
If so, try copying over your original environment file (you can do this through the public "drop box" for example -- make sure the little "+" symbol is showing before you release the file so that a copy is made as opposed to just moving the file (hold Option during the drag and drop to make this happen if it doesn't happen automatically). Does Time Machine back up the copy of your original environment file now in the new user account?
This will isolate whether the problem is system-wide or specific to your current user account.
--Bob

Time Machine doesn't backup

I get this message "Time Machine has not backed up for x days." It doesn't give any error message or anything else. I don't know how to trouble shoot this. I would greatly appreciate help. I don't see another message like this. I look in Time Machine preferences and it says a backup will occur when the disk is connected. So I guess Time Machine is not recognizing my backup disk. It was working just fine. What do I do?
Thanks
Carl

Carl Sutherland wrote:
Pondini,
Thank you for your suggestions. I certainly don't understand what's going on. I have my music on one partition on my external drive and it works just fine. I'm listening to it now. However I don't see the disk in disk utilities.
Are you saying that neither the disk itself or either of the two partitions even appear in the Disk Utility sidebar? Even while you're playing music that's on the external disk?
You should see one line for the disk itself, with the make and size; then, indented under that, one additional line for each partition. For comparison, your internal HD should be shown similarly: one line for the hardware, one for the partition (usually named +Macintosh HD+ .)
This is a directly-attached disk, right? Not via a hub or some networked "hack"?
I had Time Machine set up on the other partition. If I click on Time Machine in the dock by control clicking it shows that I'm supposed to select a disk. When I click on that the only option I get is a set up for time capsule.
You're talking about the screen that has three buttons at the bottom: +Setup Time Capsule, Cancel,+ and +Use for Backup+ ?
The panel above those buttons should show each properly formatted-partition on each external disk, and the space available on each, plus a "none" selection. What, exactly, do you see there?
I just don't see why one partition works just fine and the other doesn't.
It sounds like your external drive and/or partitions aren't properly formatted.
Use Disk Utility to verify the setup:
Select the top line, with the make and size. Towards the bottom, the *Partition Map Scheme* should be GUID (preferred) or +Apple Partition Map+ for an Intel Mac; +Apple Partition Map+ for a PPC Mac. If this is wrong, you must completely erase and reformat the drive, per item 5 of the Frequently Asked Questions post at the top of this forum. In your case, that means you must copy your music elsewhere first if you're going to use this drive for TM backups. There is no alternative.
Select the line for the TM partition (with the name). Towards the bottom, the Format should be +Mac OS Extended (Journaled).+ If this is wrong, you must erase the partition (not necessarily the whole drive) and change it, via Disk Utility.
While you're at it, select the line for the partition with the music.
Post back with exactly what you do see for each of these items.
I guess I'm also worried about transfer. I'm getting ready to buy a new computer. Will I be able to transfer my music OK?
If your music is on the external disk, and your new Mac has the proper port, you don't need to transfer it at all.
You still haven't posted the messages from Time Machine Buddy.
We still don't know which of your computers is having this problem, the Powerbook G4 or the iMac G5.

New Macbook hard drive can't locate Time Machine files of backup on external drive

I just got my hard drive replaced as it was failing. Just before I took it to the apple store I backed up my hard drive using time machine, on a separate hard drive: phew! I checked that time machine was operating fine before I took it in to get the new hard drive - it was fine, I was able to "go back in time" and access my files.
I tried to reload from time machine as soon as it started up, but it wasn't working, so I figured I'd just work on transferring the files after I booted up. Now I have a new hard drive and then plugged my external hard drive with the back up stored on it into my computer, but it cannot get the backup on my fixed macbook! It says it can't find it, and when I've looked at the disk in Finder (in backups.backupdb) it shows as a folder of my computer's name, and the only file inside is It is called: 2013-11-22-133614.inProgress (not even the correct date of the back up!).
Now time machine won't go back in time any further than the age of the new hard drive.
I can't understand that it seemed to be there, but now it is incomplete - this is ridiculous!
What has happened?
Has Time Machine failed me?
Are the files there somewhere hidden away?

Check here, Pondini has extensive info on TM:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

Reset Time Machine Password to Backup Using External Drive

I have been using Time Machine to backup my files regularly on an External drive. I usually backup my files (using Backup Now option) and then turn off Time Machine. I have been doing this successfully for a month on my new MacBookPro (late 2013 version, purchased 5 March 2014). I used this same procedure successfully since 2010 on a previous Macbook Pro I owned.
I just tried to backup my files, all of a sudden Time Machine now asks me for a password which I don't remember setting. Time Machine Preferences looks like this.
When I try to set Time Machine On I cannot do it (I used to be able to do it). When I click unlock and try to input my MacbookPro login username and password, but this login/password is not accepted.
Frankly, I have no idea what happened. I must have pushed the wrong button at some point. I don't mind losing my old backus and resetting the password on Time Machine software, provided I can and backup my files right away.
How can I reset the Time Machine password? Any help will be much appreciated.
Francisco

Dear Eric,
I am using a Western Digital Ultra external drive that I myself formatted Journaled. It is not encrypted.
I went to the keychain and I could not find the password for Time Machine. (Frankly, I am not sure where to look).
I also ran Keychain first aid and no problem was found. I also ran Keychain first aid repair and everything seems fine.
Tomorrow Monday I will call the repair shop, as I suspect they introduced a different password.
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Francisco

Time Machine won't backup my external drive

I have my iTunes library stored on an external drive and I want Time Machine to back it up.
I have a brand new TM drive. I've been using it without problems to backup my 250Gb iMac. As soon as I add the external drive to the TM backup, it fails. I have other data on this drive that I don't need backed up, so I've only included the sub directory iTunes (by excluding all the others).
I followed a couple of similar threads, but the situations don't seem to apply. I did install Time Machine buddy so I could see the error messages.
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb
Node requires deep traversal:/Volumes/Music:DVDs reason:must scan subdirs|
No pre-backup thinning needed: 151.31 GB requested (including padding), 1.56 TB available
Error: (2) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.SnapshotVolumeUUID path:/Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/Tori's iMac/2009-11-25-182722.inProgress/3B5DD274-5AB6-44D1-9F1B-561934FB44AD/Music/DV Ds size:37
Stopping backup.
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Copy stage failed with error:11
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Drives are all formatted OS Extended Journaled
I've run Disk Util on all the drives - no errors.
Any ideas or other things I should try?
If I remove the external drive from the backup, it starts to work again.

The mystery deepens . . .
I tried to replicate the problem. Renamed an empty partition from Misc2 to Misc2/test and copied some docs into it and ran a backup.
Sure enough, the message refers to it as Misc2:test and the deep traversal took almost a minute and a half (one folder, 3 sub-folders, total of about 30 items!), but it ran successfully.
So renamed it again, to Music/DVDs exactly like yours. No deep traversal, and it does call it Music:DVDs in the messages, but it backed-up properly.
Perhaps it was fixed in Snow Leopard? Or just another of TM's many little quirks? Perhaps the phase of the moon?
Edit: Some of your posts say you're on 10.5.3, others 10.6.2. Which is correct?
Message was edited by: Pondini

Time Machine doing full backup of external drive again

I have a Time Capsule, as well as an external data drive connected to my Mac. The external drive (named Yoda) is NOT excluded from backups. Yoda has about 703 GB of data on it.
I recently replaced the hard drive inside my time capsule. Consequently, a full backup was made, which was to be expected.
When the new full first backup was done, I disconnected the Yoda drive. A day later, I reconnected it, and now Time Machine is saying it's doing a 703 GB backup. Since the size TM indicates its backing up is ever so slightly larger than the total amount of data on Yoda, I'm assuming it's doing a full backup of the Yoda drive for some reason (the only other drive, the system drive, only has about 200 GB on it).
The files on Yoda weren't changed, certainly not all 703 GB of them. No hardware changes were made, no updates, tinkering, modifications, or anything. The Mac itself has not even been shut down or logged out. The ONLY thing that's happened was the Yoda drive was unmounted and disconnected, then several hours later it was reconnected.
Why is Time Machine repeating a full backup of this external drive? Is this going to happen every time I disconnect and reconnect the drive? Is there any way to make this not happen, short of excluding the drive (which I don't want to do)?

After posting this thread, I did find a similar thread (in the "More Like This" section) and saw your responses in it. You had suggested the same thing, as well as doing #A5 if that didn't work.
I tried #A4 and although that seemed to work in the other thread, unfortunately it didn't work for me. So I moved on to #A5, but I could not get my Time Capsule drive to show up in the Disk Utility. I didn't see a "data folder", but I did try directly dragging the sparsebundle to the left pane of the Disk Utility, but that seemed to hang Disk Utility.
At this point I'm probably going to try deleting the plist file as per #A4, erasing (reformatting) the drive, rebooting, and starting a whole new backup from scratch. It's not going to take much longer than backing up the entire external drive by itself would have, and I still have older backups (up to a few days ago) on the original Time Capsule drive in case of massive disaster.
So we'll see how that goes...

Time machine doesn't recognize my hard drive

I have a MBP (early 2011) 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 with 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3.
I have been running Lion and backing up using time machine to an external HD. Took machine to Apple to check on a problem which I presumed to be a RAM issue. They ran diagnostics and determined that one of my RAM chips needed to be replace. Also suggested that I upgrade to Mavericks. I agreed to let them do the install, making sure to do a time machine backup just before leaving the machine. They wiped the HD and did a clean install of Mavericks v 10.9.4.
The migration from TM did not work. On phone for hours with Apple while they walked me through manually reinstalling everything from TM to reformatted HD. (what a pain!). Now, I want to back up the HD using the same external HD (plenty of space still available). Plugged in external HD via USB, as always. Went to system preferences - turned on TM. My internal HD is not there. Only finds the external drive.
How do I resolve this problem?

John Galt wrote:
... Are you unable to select the external HD as a backup device?
pres92 wrote:
that's the problem -- my hard drive ("startup disk) is not listed, so I can't select it.
The reason is that the startup volume is not a valid selection for its own Time Machine backup.
The only drive listed is the Time Machine external drive. Obviously, I don't want to back up the time machine drive.
By default, a Time Machine backup volume is excluded from being backed up.
The appearance you describe is correct, otherwise I'm completely misunderstanding your problem.

Time Machine doesn't backup my esata drive

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