Time Machine errow message- Help

Have never had problems with TM until the last few days.
Have done a full software update recently and now keep on getting error messages. Does the update to 10.5.8 have any thing to do with this?
Have rebooted, got rid of the TM file in the library, now stuck for what to do.
Any solutions please.

Marek Kaniewski wrote:
Have never had problems with TM until the last few days.
Have done a full software update recently and now keep on getting error messages. Does the update to 10.5.8 have any thing to do with this?
Have rebooted, got rid of the TM file in the library, now stuck for what to do.
Any solutions please.
Since you don't provide a clue as to what error messages you're getting, all we can do is have you start with 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.

Similar Messages

Time Machine Error Messages-HELP!!

I purchased a Time Machine a few months ago and it worked for a little while. Now I just receive error messages: "Time Machine Error The backup disk image could not be mounted" and "The storage location for Time Machine backups can't be found". I can't figure this out. I have restarted the Time Machine, I tried reconfiguring it several times and still it is not accessing the backups or creating backups. It is only allowing me to connect to the internet. Can I fix this problem?

I have exactly the same problem. I'm running the latest firmware from both Time Capsule as well as Time Machine.
Could you please tell me if your problem was resolved and if yes, how?
Thanks.

I recently changed from a Mac Pro to an iMac. A large chunk of emails have disappeared. Time Machine is no help. Any ideas as to how I can get them back?

I recently changed from a Mac Pro to an iMac. Despite using Migration Assistant, a large chunk of my recent emails and nearly all of my wife's emails have disappeared in transit. Strangely, emails from my distant past are still there. Time Machine is no help; the messages may be on my backup disc but they're behind an invisible icon. Any ideas as to how I can get them back?

Quit Mail. Force quit if necessary.
Back up all data. That means you know you can restore the Mail database, no matter what happens.
Triple-click the text on the line below to select it:
~/Library/Mail/V2/MailData/Envelope Index
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C). In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder
from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return.
A Finder window will open with a file selected. Move the selected file to the Desktop, leaving the window open. Other files in the folder may have names that begin with "Envelope Index". Move those files, if any, to the Trash.
Log out and log back in. Relaunch Mail. It should prompt you to re-import your messages. You may get a warning that the index is corrupt and that Mail has to quit. Click OK.
Test. If Mail now works as expected, you can delete the file you moved to the Desktop. Otherwise, post your results.

Hello, my mail is gone and I can't find it anywhere. Its not in library and I have not configured Time Machine yet. Help please?!

Hello, my mail is gone and I can't find it anywhere. Its not in library and I have not configured Time Machine yet. Help please?!

Use Find Any File, if the old messages might have been in a specific mailbox, to look for a file by the name of the mailbox to see if there are any larger versions of that mailbox.
http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/
If your Mail is indeed gone, you may be able to recover it with one of the data recovery tools here:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1689
But act quickly. Every action while the computer is turned on weakens its chances of recovery. There is a slim chance also your email provider may have tape backup from before you checked your messages and after it arrived at their server for certain messages. You may want to ask them if that might have happened.

I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David's MacBook Air.sparsebundle" is already in use.

I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David’s MacBook Air.sparsebundle” is already in use.
What now?
Macbook Air.
Was working fine for the past year until now.

See more like this on the right.. this is the most common error reported here since mountain lion came out..
Or read C12.. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Or just restart the whole network.. in right order from off.. modem.. router / TC.. clients 2min gap.

Does anyone know why since upgrading to ML notes are not visible in Time Machine. They used to be part of mail and could be recovered from Time machine but since ML I don't seem to be able to access notes in Time Machine. Any help would be useful.

Does anyone know why since upgrading to ML notes are not visible in Time Machine. They used to be part of mail and could be recovered from Time machine but since ML I don't seem to be able to access notes in Time Machine. Any help would be useful.

Welcome to Apple Communities
Mail doesn't support notes. If you use iCloud, you have them in it because Notes is an application

Time Machine Error Message: "sparsbundle could not be accessed (error-1)

hi,
I am running snow leopard on my iMac and have a mac mini connected via ethernet running Mac Leopard Server version 10.6.
I backed up my iMac onto my Mac Leopard Server using Time Machine about a year ago and then I turned it off and haven't done it since. I turned it on today and was attempting to back it up, but I keep getting the following Time Machine Error Message: "sparsbundle could not be accessed (error-1) when i try backing it up.
Any thoughts on why and how to fix this? I can access my server via screen share, so i know its accessible and I can get online with it as well, so its connected to the Internet.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Josh

jnp1 wrote:
not backing up yet, but more progress than before...now its on an infinite loop of "preparing" and "scanning"...just keeps doing that over and over...but never actually backs anything up.
Anything in the log files on either the client or the server?
Usually, when Time Machine is being flaky, the easiest solution is just to delete the backup and start a new one. Since you have a server, you could just move that sparsebundle file elsewhere instead of deleting it. That is, of course, assuming you can still open it. If not, then it doesn't matter because that backup is toast.

TS1550 My time capsule will not back up. There is a time machine error message that states "The backup disk image "/volumes/Backup/Jane's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use. How do I correct this problem?

My time machine will not back up. I get a Time Machine Error message that reads: "The backup disk image "/Volumes/Backup/(myname)'sMacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use.
I have not been able to back up for two weeks, I think this occurred after an update to the operating system, but I am unsure.
How do I correct this problem?

Have you tried restarting the computer? Also, see Time Machine Error from this pages sidebar under More Like This.

I had to put my computer by together without migration or time machine I NEED help with order of the files?

I had to put my computer by together without migration or time machine I NEED help with order of the files?

Hi, where are these other files exactly?

Time Machine error message while restoring..."an error occurred while adding a recovery system to the destination disk

I had to change my hard drive in my MBP 15". I use Time Machine on a Time Capsule for backup. I am booting up my laptop with a bootable USB key. I have partitioned my new hard drive (bigger than the old one) and named it Macintosh HD (same as the old one). I select the option to restore from Time Machine Backup. I select one of my latest backup....select my destination drive...the restore process starts but stop within minutes with the following message. "An error occurred while adding a recovery system to the destination disk" It then prompts me to restart....
I need your help...what can it be.
Thanks

I've encountered this issue when the Time Machine was encrypted with FileVault.
Article: HT4718
Additional Information
Please note that OS X Recovery must be present on the computer's startup volume in order to use FileVault 2. Using RAID partitions or a non-standard Boot Camp partition on the startup disk may prevent OS X from installing a local Recovery system. See "OS X: Some features of Mac OS X are not supported for the disk (volume name)" for more information.
What seems to work, is reinstalling the OSX from the internet, and then using migration assistant to pull the user from the time machine backup external when logged into a temporary administrator user to move the original user back over.
Perhaps if you're stubborn, what would work is the following from the same article:
What to do if the installer warns that no Recovery System can be created
Some disk partition configurations may result in the OS X installer reporting that it could not create a Recovery System. In these situations, even if you are permitted to continue the install, you may want to quit the installation and create an external, bootable OS X hard drive with a Recovery System, first. You can continue your OS X upgrade on your computer's startup drive after creating an external Recovery System.
Your storage device must have at least 13 GB available (after formatting) to install OS X Lion or later and a Recovery partition.
These steps erase and reformat the storage device. This article instructs you on setting up a storage device to use the GUID partition scheme and the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, which are required to install OS X and a Recovery partition on your external storage device. You should back up any important files that are on the device to a different drive.
This procedure installs a version of OS X that is compatible with the Mac it was created with. Using this OS X system with a different Mac model may produce unpredictable results.
Your computer's serial number is sent to Apple as part of this process to help authenticate your request to download and install OS X Lion.
All of this information was collected by browsing through the public articles on the Apple Support website.

Concerns ALL Time Machine Users. HOW TO MOVE Time Machine backups. Help !

Concerns ALL Time Machine Users :
MOVE (or COPY) Time Machine backups from a "x"To Disk to an "y"To greater disk.
Hello and thank you all for reading me,
First, excuse me if I make language errors (I'm French).
Secundo, I don't know if you'll find something interesting for you
in what I write about Time Machine and my own problems,
but there's a possibility also that YOU could perhaps help me.
I'm talking about Time Machine and his **** Backups.backupdb folder,
containing "*Name of your Mac*" folder,
this folder containing Time Machine backups, format : YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS
Time Machine doesn't recognize the backups it made *IF YOU MOVE THEM*.
I have perhaps a solution in this message.
You'll see below what kind of problem I (and you could) have.
Since 12/01/10, an Apple Adviser Level Two (and me)
are trying to understand how to move backups from TM1To Disk to, let's say, a bigger one.
My case is TM1,5To.
*Purpose :* Move 19 backups from Time Machine X disk to Time Machine Y disk.
Delete TMX disk Time Machine backups after that.
Make TMY disk the current used Time Machine Disk.
I don't remember exactly what we did before
(we even created a "root" account with password (dangerous to do),
but it didn't solve the problem),
but we finally copied :
TM1To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* folder (containing 19 backups) into :
TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb folder.
The Copy application announced *16 hours !* (without antivirus, to remove absolutely).
So I said goodbye and thank you to my Apple Adviser. After *8 hours*, Copy failed.
BUT it had succeeded to copy *4 backups ONLY* (why ?) in TM1,5To.
I immediately verified and checked each of these with Get Info.
They had EXACTLY the same size (Byte to Byte) as in TM1To.
➔ BUT HERE IS MY OBSERVATION :
After designing TM1,5To as Time Machine Disk, I ordered it to Backup (now).
And what did Time Machine do in TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb ?
It created a *NEW folder*, named *MacBook Pro 2* !
➔ *I HAVE NO ACCESS* to TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* (4 backups copied from TM1To, remember) ;
➔ while I still *HAVE ACCESS* to TM1To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* (19 backups) ;
➔ *AND I HAVE ACCESS* to TM1,5To > Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro 2*,
where Time Machine makes actually his backups.
*NOTE :* If you *change the name* of your computer,
Time Machine *changes automatically the name* of the folder who is in Backups.backupdb folder.
➔ ① I have *never seen* such protections (Sharing and Permissions).
You are not allowed to do anything. I've tried to change permissions,
first : "R+W", after that : "Make (Me) the owner", I can tell you : DON'T DO IT !
➔ ② It's impossible to install an OS on a Time Machine disk
(I thought it would allow better permissions).
OS Installer detects the existence of a Backups.backupdb folder
and refuses to install on this disk or partition.
I have now the bad intent to install minimal OS X
1) after deleting (how ?) this folder (but not its contents, how to move it ?)
and 2) declare *after that* the disk as Time Machine disk.
➔ ③ Time Machine doesn't backup OTHER Time Machine backups
(who are in an ancient-not-choosed-for-backups Time Machine disk) NOR backups this disk
(detects, once again, the existence of a Backups.backupdb folder).
AND you can't *absolutely not remove backups from the folder the're in*
(for me, *MacBook Pro* or *MacBook Pro 2*).
➔ ④ I didn't have time to do it, but I think there would perhaps be a solution
in restoring backups in partitions specially created to receive them (having the same name,
that sort of thing) and then re-backup these partitions (vicious and complicated).
There is a function on Mac OS X Install DVD : start with it, and then (do not install)
choose "*restore from Time Machine backup*" from the menu bar (it's called "Utilities", I believe).
➔ ⑤ I *absolutely don't understand* what follows :
— If I add (in my TM1To disk) the bytes of the 19 backups
in Backups.backupdb > *MacBook Pro* folder, I obtain about *1,8 To*.
— It's impossible (and not french).
— When I check the size used with Disk Utility (NOT with Get Info),
I find a correct (?) size : *about 750 Go*.
— What are Time Machine backups made of ?
It can't be aliases (because of their size, and because *aliases suppose originals,
and where could they be ?*), or am I wrong and becoming crazy ?
➔ ⑥ If you refer to the numbers shown at the end of this text (*4 backups*),
you'll see I could *delete duplicate elements* inside these 4 backups,
to win space (but *what kind* of space *if I delete aliases* ?).
Back-In-Time (see below) says he does it.
BUT is it really the OLDEST items I have to destroy (see ⑤),
when I don't know with what kind of ARTEFACT I'm acting ?
What does Time Machine delete to create more backup space ?
Is it REALLY the OLDEST backups it treats, or duplicates, OR ?
*What you can do :*
Find and go to Tri-Edre.fr or Tri-Edre.com/fr site (it's a french company
that creates small Mac applications since fifteen years at least,
I think I already bought them several programs in 1990) ;
Their program *Back-In-Time 1.4.4* is free (Trial) and complete to download (with PDF docs too).
It is *ENTIRELY DEDICATED* to Time Machine and *things you can't do* with.
Price is about 30 €, I think it's worth.
The TRIAL version you will obtain can only work on the LAST Time Machine backup,
but you will see what's featured *AND :*
You will ACCESS to ANY Time Machine backup you want
(It has to be the last of a serie of backups, but the serie you want.
I've bought the application and own an activation key, but you understand I can't give it to you
(it would not be ethic) and anyway you would be obliged to disconnect AirPort, Ethernet etc.
•➔ I have bought the application because I thought (it's said in PDF FAQs) I could IN THE END move Time Machine backup files, but it cannot, (I'm afraid).
*BUT ANY ACCESS PROBLEM IS SOLVED.*
•➔ Back-In-Time 1.4.4 can *delete :* duplicate backups, complete backups,
or duplicate items inside one or several Time Machine backups,
things that I believe impossible with Time Machine itself
(I've seen it offers to delete ALL occurences of an item) ;
•➔ The application can also restore anything you want, where you want
(but I think Time Machine does it too ?)
•➔ Believe it or not, but since I've bought it on 15/01,
I've only worked about 2 hours (no, much more) on it
and didn't make sufficient progresses (enhancements ?)
to talk of it with sufficient experience (I'm a bad guy, don't you think ?)
•➔ Tri-Edre offers on-line support, e-mail support (and so on),
and I EVEN didn't manage to join them, because I did many other things,
and also somewhat have been disgusted *not to be able to move* or copy
*(accessible by Time Machine after that)* backups,
and I also didn't succeed (*another Time Machine inconvenient*) to DESTROY an ".inProgress"
Time Machine (package) which doesn't work anymore (several interruptions while active),
date (and name) 2010-01-27-164345.inProgress, but is used (*with failure results*)
by Time Machine (it's turned off till I find how to destroy its **** ".inProgress" package.
•➔ I've asked my Apple Adviser Level 2 to wait for news from me
before working himself on the problem, and I think I will send him this message
to prove I haven't forgotten him.
•➔ I'll send it to Tri-Edre too, in the same move.
I hope those remarks to be useful for somebody, tell me if it has helped.
I will also publish this in any Time Machine topics I find here, and in MacRumors site too.
As you can see, I need help too … Does anybody have an idea ?
Perhaps if I used a specific Copy software, it could work ?
You'll see below an example of some time I've spent to study my problem
(you will think I'm crazy).
With my kind regards, and good luck if you have other Time Machine problems !
Olivier Herrbach
<Edited by Host>
Le but du jeu est de transférer toutes les sauvegardes Time Machine
d'un volume/partition que nous appelerons "1 To"
sur un volume/partition que nous appelerons "1,5 To".
*Je rappelle que les 4 sauvegardes effectuées par Time Machine sur le 1 To
n'ont pas été reconnues comme siennes par Time Machine sur le 1,5 To,
bien que strictement identiques en taille après leur copie.
J'ai remarqué dans Back-In-Time des fichiers invisibles (tels que "TimeMachine.log"
ou quelque chose de genre), et je soupçonne fort qu'ils n'ont pas été copiés et que Time Machine,
ne les trouvant pas dans le 1,5 To, a ignoré à cause de leur absence les 4 sauvegardes décrites ici.*
*Sauvegardes effectuées par Time Machine sur 1 To :*
Path : MacBook Pro > Volumes > 1 To > Backups.backupdb > MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro contient 19 items (dont un alias appelé "Latest") :
1°) 2010-01-02-045758 Size : 913.207 B for 41.888 items comprenant :
• Hitachi 1 To Size : 907.664 B for 41.887 items 7 folders
Différence avec 1°) = - 5.543 B - 1 item (1 folder)
2°) 2010-01-03-001957 Size : 982.211.325 B for 67.490 items comprenant :
• Hitachi 1 To Size : 901.516 B for 41.886 items 6 folders
Différence avec 1°) = - 6.148 B - 1 item - 1 folder
• Samsung 500 Go Size : 981.302.510 B for 25.602 items 4 folders
Total • + • = Size : 982.204.026 B for 67.488 items
Différence avec 2°) = -7.209 B - 2 items (2 folders)
— *Supprimer • Hitachi 1 To* dans 2010-01-03-001957. Comparer les dossiers.
3°) 2010-01-04-222709 Size : 5.241.032.819 B for 26.509 items comprenant :
• Samsung 500 Go Size : 5.187.330.874 B for 19.392 items 8 folders
Différence avec 2°) = + 4.206.028.364 B - 6.210 items + 4 folders
• StartUp Disk Size : 53.692.703 B for 7.115 items 4 folders
Total • + • = Size : 5.241.023.577 B for 26.507 items
Différence avec 3°) = - 9.242 B - 2 items (2 folders)
— *Supprimer Samsung 500 Go* dans 2010-01-03-001957. Comparer les dossiers.
4°) 2010-01-05-125449 Size : 9.428.705.396 B for 204.915 items comprenant :
• HD 250 Go Size : 9.374.308.265 B for 181.575 items 7 folders
• Samsung 500 Go Size : 692.898 B for 16.222 items 8 folders
Différence avec 3°) = - 5.186.637.976 B - 3.170 items
• StartUp Disk Size : 53.692.703 B for 7.115 items 4 folders
Total • + • + • = Size : 9.428.693.866 B 204.912 items
Différence avec 4°) = - 11.530 B - 3 items (3 folders)
— Supprimer • StartUp Disk dans 2010-01-04-222709. IDENTIQUE.

Dear James Pond,
Thank you once again, and, don't be afraid, I will be as short as possible,
but I need to use your last reply (I've cut all what was already said).
JP ➔ You can copy an entire set of backups, but you cannot copy part of it successfully. See #18 etc.
JP ➔ Read this from the first paragraph: "you cannot copy only selected backups,
or merge two (or more) sets of backups." The structure of the backups simply will not allow it.
I've read it, and found it regrettable. And I've also read, after that, what were the solutions under Leopard and Snow Leopard, and my conclusion is that it's a *dead end* for me. In short,
— I can't move (by drag and drop) the 1To's Backups.backupdb folder (containing MacBook Pro, 19 backups, access) to 1,5To, because there exists already the Backups.backupdb folder created by copy on 12/01 with Apple Assistance (containing [MacBook Pro, 4 backups of 19, no access] and [MacBook Pro 2, 15 backups, access]). I don't even know if it could be deleted by the copy (and I don't wanna do that anyway) ;
— I can't rename (and what for, I already forgot it) any Backups.backupdb folder nor delete it ;
— I can't copy any Computer'sName folder (entire set containing backups), being in a Backups.backup.db folder, into another Backups.backupdb folder ;
— I can't copy any (or all of an entire set) YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS backup(s), being in a Computer'sName folder, into another Computer'sName folder (even if it would be empty).
— Saying NONE in Time Machine Preferences and putting it to OFF is simply no use.
All is said. What I can try to do is :
— Delete (not with Finder, but with Back-In-Time) all duplicate things I find in all backups and also entire duplicate backups (I have full access to all with the software) ;
— Restore each of the reduced-to-minimum backups obtained in specially right-sized partitions wearing the YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS name of each restored backup. Time Machine doesn't backup his backups, but will backup these partitions.
I'm afraid to be actually completely running out of the target, when I read what I write … It's time to go to bed !
Reminder (OH) : Where did you find these amazing informations ?
JP➔ Some of it is detailed here: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/12/roadto_maco[]sx_leopard_timemachine.html
➤ Thank you ;
JP➔ and here:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2007/10/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/14
➤ Thank you too ;
JP➔ You have to understand the structure. When TM does the first backup, yes, it copies everything.
On subsequent backups, it copies what's new or changed, but also makes "hard links" (sort of like aliases) to the copies of the things that didn't change. That's how it can only back up a few things each time, but show you a complete "snapshot" of the way your entire system looked at the time of every backup.
➤ I'll do my best to understand.
JP➔ Time Machine deletes backups under two conditions. See the first part of #12 in the Frequently Asked Questions User Tip, also at the top of this forum.
Under normal circumstances, you should not have to delete any backups. See the rest of #12.
➤ I understood why Time Machine didn't delete oldest backups : they were not weeklies ones.
Reminder (OH) : How can I destroy the (corrupted ?) not working "2010-01-27-164345.inProgress" in 1,5 To, which causes Time Machine to abort any backup of any size I ask ?
JP➔ Why do you think it's corrupted? TM is designed to "recover" a partial backup.
➤ I'll verify that with the little Tools/Apps I discovered in your FAQ User Tip document and downloaded immediately.
Why didn't Apple tell me anything ? It's my fault, I'm perhaps not clear and not demanding enough more from them.
JP➔ You cannot install OSX on a disk containing TM backups. That's because they need to be on separate disks.
Technically, you could put them on separate partitions of the same disk, but that would not be a good idea.
➤ I never told you that (there would be no interest at all). I talked about the same location, to see if it would allow me more permissions, but if all works without doing it, it's really no use.
JP➔ Sorry, I don't know what that means.
➤ I'm sorry, I didn't explain : "but if all works" meant : Copy Backups.backupdb, "without doing it" meant : Install OSX.
➤ If I install an OSX BEFORE, Time Machine will REFUSE completely to backup on it, it's understood.
JP➔ Correct. The partition you're running from will not be an option in TM Preferences > Select Disk. That prevents TM from backing-up it's own backups!
➤ Would it be so absurd ? Maybe it could resolve my actual problem ?
I think you are right, but I don't know why. I trust you.
Reminder (OH) : "I will not bore you again except if I don't find a specific answer to an unknown-never-seen-incredible malfuction."
JP➔ Don't worry about that -- thats what this forum is for, especially if you're still having problems.
➤ It's seems in fact that there is no possible solution, except what I said above and is certainly crazy/out of subject.
Just try to be as clear and concise as you can.
And please don't post the same things repeatedly -- it wastes your time and ours, and can confuse other folks.
➤ You're absolutely right and I tried to do so this time, and I'm sorry because I see it's still (far) not enough (short).
Thank you once more. I wish you a good evening and week-end. Here it's 01:40 AM.
With my kind regards
Olivier Herrbach
[email protected]

Time Machine Error Message: Errors while copying to this drive

PLEASE someone help me! I've used Time Machine since it's inception, and suddenly I'm getting these error messages that are not helpful. I'm not a computer expert, I don't know much about file extensions (re: discussions about removing certain files), and really am lost about what to do. I've rebooted, I've purchased TWO new external drives (sitting here with nothing on them) -- I haven't backed up in a month -- and I'm very concerned about this. Do I need to use an online backup system? I really would like help with this. Again -- I'm attempting to backup using Time Machine and keep getting the error message: Unable to complete backup. Errors while copying files to the drive. I've been on the phone with Apple Support -- and I get started on a new backup (it will actually begin to backup) and in a few minutes I get the error message. Are there certain files to delete? I'm certainly willing to do that -- but I need specific instructions about where to find them and how to delete them. Many thanks.

I have been having the same problem. I haven't backed up since June 4 and I tried yesterday and I got the message about errors while copying the files to the drive. I tried it again and again, but no dice. I have been using Time Machine without incident since I bought my White Macbook (late 2007).

Time Machine Problem, Please Help.

Hi, I have a new MacBook Air and TM just doesn't work. I keep getting the "backup volume cannot be found" error message. I've trashed the preference file in Library, quit TM, restart again, and repaired permission to no avail. I have also reinstalled the OS and the same problem persists. I've tried on 3 external drives (Time Capsule wirelessly, WD MyBook connected via USB and a Lacie portable drive connected via USB) and TM fails to backup every time. I've searched this board and other Mac fora and found no solution to my specific problem. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

HiDef Jules wrote:
Hi there,
Today I installed a little program to convert flac audio files to mp3. When I ran the program the computer froze, so I rebooted but then I could move the cursor but not click on any menus or icons on the desktop, they just wouldnt respond - so basically I couldnt use the computer. After re-booting a few times with the same result I decided to reinstall the system using time machine from an external hard drive. I reinstalled OSX, then reinstalled Snow Leopard, then reinstalled the system from a previous save from Time Machine.
how exactly did you reinstall the system from TM? please give details. the correct way to do it is to boot from the snow leopard DVD and use the "restore system from backup" utility in the Utilities menu. there is no need to reinstall anything prior to using that utility. the restore utility wipes your hard drive and restores it to the state it was in at the backup time.
It said the installation was successful, but when the computer restarted a message comes up saying "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button until it turns off, then press the Power button again". Ive done this about 5 times now but it always just says the same message without starting properly. WHAT DO I DO???? I really need to use my computer tomorrow so any help is hugely appreciated!!! TIA
PS. i have done a hardware test in "loop mode" and it says everything is fine

Time Machine and Airport HELP!!

Please help me...
I am trying to setup my Airport Extreme and USB connected external 1TB hard drive to be my Time Machine backup drive.
Its not working.
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
So, I tried to connect the hard drive directly to my computer and back it up directly, and that didn't work either.
What am I doing wrong?

Jolly Giant wrote:
in your initial post you said
adammabry wrote:
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
what's that error message ?
download and install the Time Machine Buddy. switch to dashboard and copy & paste the report in your next post.
Jolly Giant wrote:
in your initial post you said
adammabry wrote:
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
what's that error message ?
download and install the Time Machine Buddy. switch to dashboard and copy & paste the report in your next post.
Jolly Giant wrote:
in your initial post you said
adammabry wrote:
I tried setting it up, got it to mount just fine over the network, and it starts to backup just fine, and then it stops with an error message.
what's that error message ?
download and install the Time Machine Buddy. switch to dashboard and copy & paste the report in your next post.
Just tried to back up using a USB connection. Here was the message...
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Family/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Adam Mabrys Disk
No pre-backup thinning needed: 105.01 GB requested (including padding), 915.00 GB available
Error: (-36) SrcErr:YES Copying /Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf/data to (null)
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying /Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf/data to /Volumes/Family/Backups.backupdb/Adam Mabry’s MacBook Pro 15" (2)/2009-12-11-002355.inProgress/A2D60FFD-B551-4B1C-B28B-50883FE1B69F/Adam Mabrys Disk/Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf
Stopping backup.
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf/data to /Volumes/Family/Backups.backupdb/Adam Mabry’s MacBook Pro 15" (2)/2009-12-11-002355.inProgress/A2D60FFD-B551-4B1C-B28B-50883FE1B69F/Adam Mabrys Disk/Library/Application Support/LiveType/LiveFonts/Pro Series/Bar.ltlf
Copied 90 files (382.1 MB) from volume Adam Mabrys Disk.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11

Time Machine Error - please help!

My dad has been having trouble with his Time Machine backups. I'm trying to trouble shoot, but can't seem to solve the issue. Whenever we run a backup we get the message: "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume" It happens fairly quick after we run a TM backup. Here's what we've done:
1. Repaired permissions on the internal drive (several times)
2. Started a brand new TM set-up and back up.
3. Erased and reformatted the external TM drive
4. Tried an entirely different external drive as the TM drive
5. Trashed the/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file and restarted
6. Downloaded the Time Machine Buddy widget to see if that reveals anything. Here's the error message:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/BACKUP/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: 500GB
Backup content size: 122.8 GB excluded items size: 160 KB for volume 500GB
No pre-backup thinning needed: 147.39 GB requested (including padding), 465.31 GB available
Waiting for index to be ready (-911 < 0)
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying /Applications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS/Address Book to /Volumes/BACKUP/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-100535.inProgress/8B51B8C1-1E6D-4692-9AF3-D2BF169FDC29/500GB/Appl ications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS
Stopping backup.
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Applications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS/Address Book to /Volumes/BACKUP/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-100535.inProgress/8B51B8C1-1E6D-4692-9AF3-D2BF169FDC29/500GB/Appl ications/Address Book.app/Contents/MacOS
Copied 0 files (1.2 MB) from volume 500GB.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11
I then tried to exclude the entire Applications folder from the Time Machine options - but still got the same error message with this report:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/BACKUP2/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: 500GB
Backup content size: 120.2 GB excluded items size: 4.8 GB for volume 500GB
No pre-backup thinning needed: 138.47 GB requested (including padding), 372.21 GB available
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying /bin/bash to /Volumes/BACKUP2/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-111244.inProgress/DB7DB1B6-5B21-4349-B048-A91C190684F1/500GB/bin
Stopping backup.
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /bin/bash to /Volumes/BACKUP2/Backups.backupdb/Orest Wesely’s iMac G5/2010-05-10-111244.inProgress/DB7DB1B6-5B21-4349-B048-A91C190684F1/500GB/bin
Copied 0 files (1.2 MB) from volume 500GB.
Copy stage failed with error:11
Backup failed with error: 11
NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?
Please help......!!

Hi Pondini -
thanks for the reply. Your troubleshooting User Tips was what I was referring to all along. I've seemed to have resolve the issue, however, by means of a far simpler solution. I noticed just recently that although the external TM hard drive seemed to have no apparent issues when verified and repaired with Disk Utility, it did hang up and produce some Error messages when simply trying to copy large files manually over with the Finder (not using TM). This caused me to think that maybe it was not TM, but rather something wrong with the data being copied (corrupt files) or the actual drive enclosure. It wasn't the actual hard drive inside, as I had earlier swapped the original drive in the enclosure with a drive that I knew was OK and the problem still occurred. I then noticed that the drive enclosure was connected to the computer via a Firewire 800 to Firewire 400 adapter cable (the enclosure has only FW800 port and the older imac has only FW400 ports - my dad had purchased that specialty cable). When I had earlier swapped drives to check the actual drive, I kept the same cable connection. I now tried reconnecting the drive with a simple USB cable - and wallah! - all my Finder copying worked and Time Machine copying seems to be going fine. SO it seems that the actual FW cable connection was causing issues???? TM is still chugging away at the moment (first copy - large amount of data), but seems to be doing fine. Is there anyway I could have gotten a clue that the problem was something so simple as a bad cable. Is FW more buggy than USB. Maybe those that adapter cables are buggy. I've always preferred FW as I thought it was the faster more reliable method of external HD connection - but maybe USB is a better choice. Obviously here it is. Thanks for the help.

Time Machine errow message- Help

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for