Time Machine Error: The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly.

I keep getting the following message when I try to back up my MacBook using Time Machine: "The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly. Time Machine will try to make more space available by removing expired backups during the next scheduled backup."
However, I have deleted everything from the external harddrive, which holds 500 GB. I have only used 38.9 GB of space on my computer. The errors being recorded are as follows:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Iomega_HDD/Backups.backupdb
Error parsing SystemMigration.log to determine source volume of system migration.
Backup content size: 36.5 GB excluded items size: 5.0 GB for volume Macintosh HD
No pre-backup thinning needed: 38.19 GB requested (including padding), 437.50 GB available
Waiting for index to be ready (101)
Stopping backup.
Error: (-34) SrcErr:NO Copying /Applications/.DS_Store to /Volumes/Iomega_HDD/Backups.backupdb/Jennifer Kwapisz’s MacBook/2011-08-06-113458.inProgress/9273E0A6-8BD8-4282-ACEC-E1E410605A89/Macin tosh HD/Applications
Copied 0 files (36 KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Copy stage failed with error:28
Backup failed with error: 28
Any idea what's going on and what I need to do to fix it?

Please read this:
http://pondini.org/TM/C18.html
Ciao.

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Time Machine:The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly. .....

Hi,
I upgraded to Mountain Lion when it was released and yesterday I began getting this notice from Time Machine:
"The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly. Time Machine will try to make more space available by removing expired backups during the next scheduled backup."
I have a one terra external hard drive with exclusively Time Machine. It says it has 3.4 gigabytes available, but isn't deleting old backups and making room for new, like before. I tried the "encrypting" solution, but it still keeps on giving me this message. Should I erase and format? If so, what option should I chose to format?
My Hard Drive has 240 gigabytes, so 1Tb should be more than enough.
Thank you!
Gloria

SuperDuper and Time Machine are two completely different backup utilities. If you want something like what SuperDuper does then don't use Time Machine. You have many other options that won't use up all the space on your backup drive:
Backup Software Recommendations
Carbon Copy Cloner
Data Backup
Deja Vu
SuperDuper!
Synk Pro
Tri-Backup
Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
Do the following to erase your drive:
Erase a Drive
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 Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

HT3275 Time Machine Error: The backup disk image "Volumes/Data/My Macbook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use. (How do I correct this issue?)

Time Machine did not back up:
Time Machine Error; ("The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/My MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use.")
How do I correct this issue?
Thanks!

You need to be careful Bob.. people might take this literally.
Bob Timmons wrote:
How do I correct this issue?
Call the exterminator to get rid of the bugs in Lion and Mountain Lion.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5222487?tstart=0

I am running 10.7.5 and getting Time Machine error The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Kathy P's MacBook.sparsebundle" is already in use. what do i do now?

i am running 10.7.5 on an older MacBook and getting Time Machine error The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Kathy P’s MacBook.sparsebundle” is already in use. what do i do now?

See Pondini's TM FAQs, for starters.

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

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

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

HT3275 TIME MACHINE ERROR: The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Sean McGuire's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" could not be created (error 1).

I can select a disk (Time Capsule) and initiate the backup. It only "waits to back up" then "making backup disk available" and remains frozen there. I tried to update the software a while back and was unsuccessful, I think that may be the issue.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. This is the error message I receive.
TIME MACHINE ERROR: The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Sean McGuire’s MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” could not be created (error 1).
Thanks

See #C17 in Pondini's excellent support document Time Machine - Troubleshooting
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

The backup volume ran out of space unexpectedly!?!?

I have been backing up all my data to a 100GB HD for 9 months with absolutely no problem, until today it popped up and say
"The backup volume ran out of space unexpectedly. Time Machine will try to make more space available by removing expired backups during the next scheduled backup."
I still have 2.6 GB space available and the backup went on as usual, except after "preparing", the xxMB out of xxMB change together. I rebooted my macbook and same thing happened again.
Is there anything I can do? I thought TM would delete my old back ups in order to make some space for my latest ones.
Many thanks!

Yes, usually it does. The "unexpected" part is not usual.
First, is there other data on the TM disk? If so, is it in the same partition?
Second, it sounds like TM may be trying to do a full backup (everything on your system). Have you had any of the following: Hardware repairs (if so, what?); done a full restore; gone more than a few days without a successful backup?
Third, how old is your oldest backup?
And there may be better messages in your logs. Download the +Time Machine Buddy+ widget. It shows the messages from your logs for one TM backup run at a time, in a small window. If you see something there that seems suspicious, copy and post the messages here (be sure to get them all, as sometimes they overflow the small window).

I am getting a Time Machine error "The backup disk image could not mount"

Time Machine message "The backup disk image could not be mounted"

Go to Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for assistance.

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

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

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

Time machine error: The backup disk image could not be mounted

Time Machine worked OK for several months. Now I get this error every 10 minutes or so.
I unplugged Time Machine capsule and "Change Disk" in Time Machine options.
Nothing helps, I continue to get this error.
I cannot Enter Time Machine either. "Connecting to Server, Connecting to backup" does not work.
Help please because I will probably have to archive and reinstall Leopard. I need the backups,
Christine

Christ1ne,
Before you reformat the disk, consider these causes of this error.
*_"The Backup Disk Image Could Not Be Mounted" (Console - “Failed to mount disk image”)_*
First, it is important to distinguish this error message from another, similar Time Machine error that states “The backup volume could not be mounted”. This is important as the causes and cures for these two errors can be very different.
Consider each topic below separately. When one option does not resolve your issue, then move on the next one.
*Unmount the Backup Disk Image* (TC)
If, for some reason, you have manually mounted the Time Machine backup disk image (sparsebundle), or Time Machine failed to eject it after the previous backup, subsequent backups may fail. (Console - “Failed to mount disk image”… “Backup failed with error: 21”)
Eject the backup disk image (white drive icon) by either clicking the little Eject icon to the right of the disk image in the Finders’ Sidebar, or Ctrl-Click the drive icon on the desktop and select “Eject” from the contextual menu. Now try backing up again or launching Time Machine to view previous backups.
*“Disconnect All Users…”:*
If your Time Machine backup drive (“Backup of Users Computer”) is mounted on your desktop or in the Sidebar of the Finder window. then Time Machine may think the drive is already in use. Alternatively, if the Time Capsule hard disk has been recently accessed by a Windows machine, it may not have fully relinquished control. Do the following:
Open Airport Utility and select the Time Capsule on the left.
Click “Manual Setup”.
Select “Disks” at top of window.
Click “Disconnect All Users…” at bottom of window.
Close the Airport Utility.
Now try Backing up again.
One poster reported: “I got it resolved. Apparently it had to do with one of the files being open on the disk from the drive. I had browsed the disk with one of my windows boxes here and it must have left one of the folders "open". Anyway, I rebooted the TC and we are good to go now.”
*Proper Computer Name* #
Make sure your computer has a proper name. Go to System Preferences --> Sharing. Time Machine needs to differentiate your computer from others on your network (i.e. "Bills MacBook" or "Office iMac"). If the "Computer Name" field is blank, create a name. Realize that if this step is necessary, you will likely have to start the Time Machine backup process over again and do another full initial backup.
According to this article, [http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1760], Time Machine may experience problems if your computer name includes certain characters. Make sure the computer name only includes ASCII characters from the following set.
(0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ)
Once a change in the computer name occurs, you should stop and restart Sharing on the affected computer. Uncheck and then recheck Sharing in the Services list on the left.
# Try removing the apostrophe from the disk images name (sparsebundle).
*A Stalled .inProgress Files:* #
It may be that the previous backup attempt was ungracefully interrupted leaving remains that Time Machine can’t deal with.
Stop any current backup attempt. Choose “Stop Backing Up” from the Time Machine menu.
Open the Time Machine Preferences and turn “OFF” Time Machine.
Open your Time Machine drive.
Open the folder labeled “Backups,backupdb”.
Now open the folder containing backups of the computer in question.
Are there any “.inProgress” files there. Delete them by dragging the file to the Trash. Or Ctrl-Click the file and select "Move to Trash" from the contextual menu. (Give this time as deleting a large file on an external disk can take a while.)
Turn Time Machine back “ON”. Now try backing up again.
NOTE: If the above procedure becomes impossible to perform, try accessing the disk image from another Mac. Some have discovered that attempting a repair from another computer succeeds where the original computer failed.
Let us know if any of the suggestions above helped to resolve your issue.
Cheers!

Time Machine error "The backup disk could not be found"

I use Time Capsule with Time Machine, Lion OS and manage to setup successfully. However after I on it for few hours, there is backup error. Time Machine error message "The backup disk could not be found." But the internet wifi is working normally.
To solve this issue I have to power off and on it again, then the disk can be detected. But after few hours same thing happen again.
Is it a hardware faulty or sometime that cause the Time Capusle harddisk to sleep after sometime?

I have this exact same problem. When I restart the Time Capsule I can then start backups normally, but it requires manual intervention. That's dissapointing because Time Machine and Time Capsule are supposed to be an automatic, worry free backup. I have to restart the Time Capsule frequently. Annoyed.

Time Machine problem: backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly

Hi all,
I'm having trouble with Time Machine. Each time it tries to do a backup, it errors out.
Here is the most recent log from TM Buddy:
Starting manual backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb
Using file event preflight for Macintosh HD
Will copy (740.5 MB) from Macintosh HD
Found 1702 files (741 MB) needing backup
2.43 GB required (including padding), 57.43 GB available
Stopping backup.
Error: (-34) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/Alan/Pictures/iPhoto Library (original)/Masters/2013/02/25/20130225-174952/IMG_1601.MOV to /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb/Alan’s iMac/2013-07-27-024450.inProgress/FE0FAB85-8482-43AF-B2D2-CB4804D0B0E9/Macintos h HD/Users/Alan/Pictures/iPhoto Library (original)/Masters/2013/02/25/20130225-174952
Copied 111323 files (57.29 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Copy stage failed with error:28
Backup failed with error: 28
It usually errors out in the middle of trying to backup the very large "iPhoto Library (original)" file, so I went digging into this file back in time. About a month ago, I emptied the trash in iPhoto for the first time, and the size of the iPhoto Library file shrank from 87 GB down to just 1 GB. That seems rather extreme, and according to iPhoto, I still should have approximately 62 GB of photos remaining. The last completed backup that Time Machine was able to make had the library file at 800 MB. Even more strange, the current iPhoto Library file on my iMac is 83 GB. So I think this is the reason why TM is trying to make another complete backup of this file.
I'm guessing that if TM is able to completely backup the iPhoto Library file, the errors will go away. Does this seem like a reasonable hypothesis?
If so, then I'll need to delete files on the TM volume to make more room. At one point last year, I had tried splitting my monolithic iPhoto Library into 3 smaller libraries, and later merged them again under the current name "iPhoto Library (original)". These changes/instances of the libraries were all captured on TM. If I delete the original monolithic iPhoto Library file (named "iPhoto Library") on the TM volume, will I also lose my current iPhoto library (named "iPhoto Library (original)"? In other words, how does TM distinguish one file from another? By the file name? Or some other more permanent identifier?

The backup volume was full. That shouldn't happen, because TM is supposed to manage disk space by deleting snapshots as needed to make room for a new one, up to the last complete snapshot, which is never removed automatically. Normally, a snapshot won't be started if there isn't enough space for it.
First, I strongly suggest that you make a new backup (not necessarily with Time Machine) on another external drive. A single backup isn't enough to be safe.
One possibility is that you were writing other data to the volume during the backup. Apple recommends that no other data be stored on a backup volume.
If you've moved any files to the Trash on the backup volume, empty the Trash.
Sometimes a reboot will clear the error.
Otherwise, turn Time Machine OFF temporarily in its preference pane. Launch Disk Utility, select the backup volume, and run Repair Disk. That operation may take a few hours. If the volume is repaired successfully, or if no problems are found, try another backup.
If TM still isn't working right, boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) and repair the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Reboot as usual and try TM again.
As a last resort, put the backup drive aside and don't use it until you're sure you'll no longer need the data. Then erase it and start over. Do this only if you have at least one other backup device.

Time Machine error: The backup disk image "/Volumes/----/----MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use and resource unavailable?

I have a MacBook Pro 13" 2010 model running Mountain Lion. I have always been able to use Time Machine with my Time Capsule. Just today I have been receiving the same error message whenever I would back up my computer:
I removed my name before "MacBook Pro". It takes a long time "Looking for backup disk..." first. The disk I put with the time capsule is called Huge Backup, and in Huge Backup there is my sparsebundle file called "----- MacBook Pro." When I open Finder, open my time capsule, and then open my sparse folder, it should mount a drive where I can see my computer's backups. That doesn't work. Then I get this message:
I once again removed my name before "MacBook Pro" but I can open my sister's sparsebundle who is running Mountain Lion on the same network and her backups work fine. I have researched this topic and have tried to repair the disk in Disk Utility, remount all the drives, remove the drive and restart the backups, and even restart my computer and the Time Capsule. Nothing worked. It just was working yesterday, but now I get this in the settings along with a caution symbol in my menubar:
Is there anything I could do to fix this? Reconnecting it in AirPort Utility (5 or 6) didn't work. Also, for some reason, the error renamed Huge Backup to Huge Backup-1 as you can see above and below in the messages. I downloaded the Time Machine Buddy widget and this is the error report I got. I replaced my names or private info with [-----]. By the way, the network is called NDR Network, and the Time Capsule is alled NDR Time Capsule. Here's the error I keep getting:
Starting manual backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://[-----];AUTH=SRP@NDR%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Huge%20Backu p
Mounted network destination at mount point: /Volumes/Huge Backup using URL: afp://[-----];AUTH=SRP@NDR%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Huge%20Backu p
Disk image already attached: /Volumes/Huge Backup/[-----]'s MacBook Pro.sparsebundle, DIHLDiskImageAttach returned: 35
Failed to mount disk image: Error Domain=com.apple.backupd.ErrorDomain Code=31 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.backupd.ErrorDomain error 31.)" UserInfo=0x7ff0a483e6c0 {MessageParameters=(
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
Waiting 60 seconds and trying again.
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://[-----];AUTH=SRP@NDR%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Huge%20Backu p
Mounted network destination at mount point: /Volumes/Huge Backup using URL: afp://Rohan;AUTH=SRP@NDR%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Huge%20Backup
Disk image already attached: /Volumes/Huge Backup/Rohan's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle, DIHLDiskImageAttach returned: 35
Failed to mount disk image: Error Domain=com.apple.backupd.ErrorDomain Code=31 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.backupd.ErrorDomain error 31.)" UserInfo=0x7ff0a343d430 {MessageParameters=(
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
Waiting 60 seconds and trying again.
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Rohan;AUTH=SRP@NDR%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Huge%20Backup
Mounted network destination at mount point: /Volumes/Huge Backup-1 using URL: afp://Rohan;AUTH=SRP@NDR%20Time%20Capsule._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Huge%20Backup
Disk image already attached: /Volumes/Huge Backup-1/Rohan's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle, DIHLDiskImageAttach returned: 35
Failed to mount disk image: Error Domain=com.apple.backupd.ErrorDomain Code=31 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.backupd.ErrorDomain error 31.)" UserInfo=0x7ff0a34410c0 {MessageParameters=(
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
Giving up after 3 retries.
Backup failed with error: 31
[SnapshotUtilities mountPointForVolumeRef] FSGetVolumeInfo returned: -35
Failed to eject volume (null) (FSVolumeRefNum: 0; status: -35; dissenting pid: -1)
Failed to eject Time Machine disk image: /Volumes/Huge Backup-1/Rohan's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle
Please help!

I didn't remove all of my names, so just ignore that...

HT3275 Time Capsule error message: "Time machine error-The backup disk image /Volumes/Data/Zeb's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle could not be accessed (error -1)".

Please help! Got myself a timecapsule a few months back. I just use it to back up my mac, and also have a wireless printer connected. I have a Macbook Pro (Mac OS X 10.7.3). When I first got my Time Capsule it backed up flawlessly, but in the last few months has started showing the message above. So now it wont back up at all.
Have done probably 2 system updates during this time, and even a firmware update a few days ago for the timecapsule. This recent firmware update seem to fix it for a day, but now the problem is back!!! Even Mac support wasnt able to help last time I called.
HELP HELP HELP!!!
Cheers

See #C17 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting

I keep getting this error when trying to backup time capsule with time machine. The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data-1/Dan's iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use.

I keep getting this error when trying to backup time capsule with time machine. The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data-1/Dan’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use.

Make sure that no other Macs are backing up at the time.
Pull the power cable from the back of the Time Capsule
Count to ten
Plug the power cable back into the back of the Tme Capsule
Wait a few minutes, then try a backup again.

Time Machine Error: The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly.

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