Time Machine is making a full backup into another directory

Hi, ive been using Time Machine for a month then im stopped using it cause a travel outside the country. When im come back (4 days ago) I try to backup again and i see that is backing up the entire machine again... Looked in the Finder under backupdb folder and it has now 2 directorys one with the full backup since june and another with no backups because ive canceled the backup.
Anyone knows how to fix it?
Thanks.

Patrick Lafferty wrote:
Today though in proceeding with a new backup, it, (like with your experience), created a new directory with a whole backup of the entire machine....I see two directories now on the TM volume. Is there a way to combine the two directories?
No. TM keeps the backups for each Mac completely separate, using each Mac's unique Ethernet Address, contained in the hardware. The main purpose of this to allow you to back up 2 or more Macs to the same drive without conflicts.
There is no way to combine them.
My 1TB backup HDD just had a huge chunk taken out of it with this backup of what would seem to be redundant data.
Yes, most of it is. But the old Mac's version of OSX is somewhat different from your new one: not only is much of the hardware different, so are the processors.
Worse, the old backups are now "stranded:" since they're for a different Mac, TM on the new Mac won't delete the old ones when it needs to make room for new backups. Instead, it will delete the oldest backups from the new Mac.
So your best bet would be to simply erase the TM drive with Disk Utility, and let TM start fresh with your new Mac.
As an alternative, you can selectively delete the old backups via Time Machine (do not use the Finder). This is one-by-one, so rather tedious and time-consuming.
Since they're from a different Mac, you can view them via the instructions in item 17 of the Frequently Asked Questions post at the top of this forum, and use the procedure in item 12 to delete individual backups.

Similar Messages

Amount being backed up by Time Machine keeps growing during full backup

After some problems with Time Machine backup, I removed a bunch of stuff from my internal hard drive, reformatted my external HD used for backups, and started a new full backup. Time Machine has been running for about 24 hours and gives me a status of Backing up: xx GB of yy GB. Both xx and yy keep growing (apace) so that I don't believe xx will ever equal yy.
To cryptic? Here are real numbers. My internal disk being backed up contains 469.39 GB. Backup status now says Backing up: 685.78GB of 754.42 GB. Both numbers just keep growing. What's going on here? I'm happy to let Time Machine overnight (again) but, really, this can't be normal.

Start up in Recovery mode, launch Disk Utility, select the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name), and run Repair Disk (not Repair Permissions.) If any problems are found, repeat. Then restart as usual.
If you don't already have a current backup, you must back up your data before you take the above step. You may be able to back up, even if the system isn't fully functional. Ask if you need guidance.
Directory corruption in a MacOS journaled volume is always the result of a drive malfunction. It's not caused by power failures, system crashes, or anything else. You might choose to tolerate such a malfunction once in the life of a drive. If it's repeated, the drive must be replaced, or there is some other hardware fault that needs to be corrected. Ignoring repeated directory errors will result in data loss.

How do you get Time Machine to do a Full Backup?

I want to download Lion OS and I will call Apple for help, but I know they will ask if I've backed up everything. I'd like for Time Machine to completely back up my hard drive but I can't seem to find out how to make it do that. There must be an easy way. Any ideas? Thanks.

I know this is more information than you need but it is a fairly complete compilation of facts:
Disks you can use with Time Machine
Time Machine Server Requirements
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/TimeCapsule_SetupGuide.pdf
Pondini's Time Machine FAQ

Recover full backup into another database

Hello,
I have a particular need that does not seems to be done so often and I just cannot get it.
So here is the situation : I have a backup of a full database. That means that I have the init parameter file, the autobackuped controlfile (+pfile) and the autobackuped backupset.
The source database is release 10.2.0.5.0, RAC instance.
On another server, I have a simple instance, same release and I would like to recover the full backup in the second database.
I have already done that once before but I had both pfile and controlfile backuped manually and the two instances were simple ones.
Here I have tried the same way : shutdown my target database, changing my pfile backup parameters to match the target database. Startup the target database in nomount mode using the pfile. Create spfile from pfile. Then restore controlfile from the backuped controlfile with rman.
But here this step is a problem.
My question is simple : what is the best way / good practices to get this working?
Thanks in advance for your help. Ask if you need any further informations.
Max

Hello,
Here is the original init pfile content :
instdb1.__db_cache_size=1107296256
instdb2.__db_cache_size=1023410176
instdb2.__java_pool_size=16777216
instdb1.__java_pool_size=16777216
instdb2.__large_pool_size=16777216
instdb1.__large_pool_size=16777216
instdb1.__shared_pool_size=436207616
instdb2.__shared_pool_size=520093696
instdb2.__streams_pool_size=16777216
instdb1.__streams_pool_size=16777216
*.audit_trail='DB'
*.background_dump_dest='/u1/app/oracle/admin/instdb/bdump'
*.cluster_database_instances=2
*.cluster_database=TRUE
*.compatible='10.2.0.0.0'
*.control_file_record_keep_time=95
*.control_files='+DG_DATA/instdb/controlfile/backup.305.615208725','+DG_FLASH/instdb/controlfile/current.256.614223119'
*.core_dump_dest='/u1/app/oracle/admin/instdb/cdump'
*.db_block_size=8192
*.db_create_file_dest='+DG_DATA'
*.db_create_online_log_dest_1='+DG_FLASH'
*.db_domain='inst.xx'
*.db_file_multiblock_read_count=16
*.db_flashback_retention_target=1440
*.db_name='inst'
*.db_recovery_file_dest='+DG_DATA'
*.db_recovery_file_dest_size=53687091200
instdb1.instance_number=1
instdb2.instance_number=2
*.job_queue_processes=10
instdb1.local_listener='LISTENER_INST1.INST.XX'
instdb2.local_listener='LISTENER_INST2.INST.XX'
instdb1.log_archive_dest_1='LOCATION=/u1/app/oracle/admin/inst/arch_orainst1'
instdb2.log_archive_dest_1='LOCATION=/u1/app/oracle/admin/inst/arch_orainst2'
*.log_archive_dest_2='SERVICE=INSTB.INST.XX VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE) OPTIONAL LGWR ASYNC NOAFFIRM NET_TIMEOUT=10'
*.log_archive_dest_state_2='ENABLE'
*.log_archive_format='inst_%t_%s_%r.arc'
*.max_dump_file_size='200000'
*.open_cursors=300
*.parallel_max_servers=20
*.pga_aggregate_target=824180736
*.processes=550
instdb1.remote_listener='LISTENER_INST1.INST.XX'
instdb2.remote_listener='LISTENER_INST2.INST.XX'
*.remote_login_passwordfile='EXCLUSIVE'
*.resource_limit=TRUE
*.session_max_open_files=20
*.sessions=480
*.sga_target=1610612736
instdb1.thread=1
instdb2.thread=2
*.undo_management='AUTO'
instdb1.undo_tablespace='UNDOTBS1'
instdb2.undo_tablespace='UNDOTBS2'
*.user_dump_dest='/u1/app/oracle/admin/inst/udump'
And here is the test I have done :
*1. modified the init pfile to this :*
inst.__db_cache_size=1107296256
inst.__java_pool_size=16777216
inst.__large_pool_size=16777216
inst.__shared_pool_size=436207616
inst.__streams_pool_size=16777216
*.audit_trail='DB'
*.background_dump_dest='C:\Oracle\admin\inst\bdump'
*.compatible='10.2.0.5.0'
*.control_file_record_keep_time=95
*.control_files='C:\Oracle\oradata\inst\control01.ctl','C:\Oracle\oradata\inst\control02.ctl','C:\Oracle\oradata\inst\control03.ctl'
*.core_dump_dest='C:\Oracle\admin\inst\cdump'
*.db_block_size=8192
*.db_create_file_dest='C:\Oracle\oradata\inst'
*.db_create_online_log_dest_1='C:\Oracle\inst'
*.db_domain=''
*.db_file_multiblock_read_count=16
*.db_flashback_retention_target=1440
*.db_name='inst'
*.db_recovery_file_dest='C:\Oracle\oradata'
*.db_recovery_file_dest_size=53687091200
*.job_queue_processes=10
inst.log_archive_dest_1='LOCATION=C:\Oracle\oradata'
*.log_archive_dest_state_2='ENABLE'
*.log_archive_format='inst_%t_%s_%r.arc'
*.max_dump_file_size='200000'
*.open_cursors=300
*.parallel_max_servers=20
*.pga_aggregate_target=824180736
*.processes=550
*.remote_login_passwordfile='EXCLUSIVE'
*.resource_limit=TRUE
*.session_max_open_files=20
*.sessions=480
*.sga_target=1610612736
inst.thread=1
*.undo_management='AUTO'
inst.undo_tablespace='UNDOTBS1'
*.user_dump_dest='C:\Oracle\admin\inst\udump'
*2. shutdown the database, startup in nomount and restore controlfile (with the error when trying to restore controlfile) :*
RMAN> shutdown immediate;
Oracle instance shut down
RMAN> startup nomount pfile='C:\Oracle\init\initInst.ora';
connected to target database (not started)
Oracle instance started
Total System Global Area 1610612736 bytes
Fixed Size 1305856 bytes
Variable Size 369099520 bytes
Database Buffers 1233125376 bytes
Redo Buffers 7081984 bytes
RMAN> restore controlfile from 'C:\Oracle\ctl\inst_ctrl_c-2972284490-20120318-00';
Starting restore at 04-MAY-12
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: sid=596 devtype=DISK
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03002: failure of restore command at 05/04/2012 14:20:12
RMAN-06172: no autobackup found or specified handle is not a valid copy or piece
Thank you for your help.
Max

Time Machine won't use existing backup folder

Time machine gave me the can't find back up drive error. I did what the support site says, went into the preferences, and reselected the appropriate drive, but now it won't use the existing backup folder. It keeps making a new one called 'user's MacBook Pro 2'. How do I force it to use the old folder, so that I can access my old back-ups?

gilesrulz,
First, you need to determine WHY it's not choosing to continue using the previous backups.
Has your computer changed in some way? Logic board replaced by Apple?
You reinstalled the Mac OS X system software?
*_Time Machine Always Performs a Full Backup After a Full Restore_*
Actually, this is normal. Anytime your hardware has changed, or you have reinstalled the operating system again, Time Machine will perform a new full backup. Consider the following according to the KB article below:
*Full Backup After Restore*
Bear in mind that in all cases Time Machine will perform a full backup after a full restore. This is normal. Time Machine will resume incremental backups after the full backup has completed. To view previous backups, Control-click or right-click the Time Machine icon in your Dock or Option-click the Time Machine menu extra and Choose "Browse Other Time Machine Disks," then select your previous backup volume. You will enter Time Machine and be able to browse your previous back ups and restore files. [http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1338]
So even on unchanged hardware, if you reinstall your system software and restore your user data, Time Machine starts anew, and you will not be able to resume backing up with the same history as the previous backups.
While there may be ways to fool/hack Time Machine into recognizing previous backups without performing another full backup, they are likely rather elaborate.
Ultimately, though, in a couple of months, all the effort to preserve old backups may seem pointless. After all, Time Machine will eventually purge away that data anyways as it replaces it with new files.
It may simply be easier to begin a fresh series of backups while saving the previous backups until your satisfied that you have enough history built up. Then delete the old backups.
Hope this clarifies some things.
Cheers!

My Time Capsule is full of backups from Time Machine. Time Machine will not complete its backup. Any ideas?

My Time Machine does not complete its backup. It is using my 500 gig Time Capsule, which is full. Does anyone have a suggestion?

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard." Note the timestamp of the last such message that corresponds to an abnormal backup. Now
CLEAR THE WORD "Starting" FROM THE TEXT FIELD
so that all messages are showning, and scroll back in the log to the time you noted. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If all you see are messages that contain the word "Starting," you didn't clear the text field.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — anonymize before posting.

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.

Backing up to a thumb drive - time machine doesn't delete older backups when it's full. I will have to erase and re-do the drive. Why?

Backing up to a thumb drive - time machine doesn't delete older backups when it's full. I will have to erase and re-do the drive. Why?

You are both right.
Time Machine can backup FROM:
It cannot back up a USB thumb drive.
Time Machine can backup TO:
•A USB thumb drive (but most aren't large enough, and are very, very slow)

After Migration Assistant, Time Machine refuses to use old backups

I've got to say I'm pretty disappointed with Time Machine.
I just dropped $2,000 on my second-ever Mac, a 15" MBP (Core i7 2GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB 5200rpm hard drive, the stock low-end 15" config). From what I'd heard about Migration Assistant, I believed it would easily move my stuff over to my new Mac. For the most part it did, but a few things didn't transfer. Other posts on the topic detail them accurately - Desktop icon layouts, some settings, Growl, etc.
I told Migration Assistant to use my Time Machine backups, which have been happening without incident for a long time. My oldest backup is December 2010.
Now that my new MBP is about 99% set up like my old MBP, I am having a problem with Time Machine.
I get the error "Time Machine could not complete the backup. This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 355.61 GB but only 176.44 GB are available."
Looking at the Time Machine drive in Finder, I found that Time Machine is trying to create a new folder for backups and do a full backup. Where there was once one folder, "[My Name]'s MacBook Pro," there is now an additional folder, "[My Name]'s MacBook Pro 2." Time Machine is trying to back up into that second directory.
Now, I get it that this is a different computer. But really, if I use Migration Assistant to restore my Time Machine backup, I think it would be safe for OSX to assume that I want to continue using those backups. What is especially disappointing for me is, there were things that Migration Assistant did not restore properly. I probably haven't found them all. That makes it CRUCIAL that I have my Time Machine backups, but it seems that Apple thinks it's perfectly normal for me to want to FORMAT my Time Machine drive after Migration Assistant did a half-*** job of migrating my data. I need those backups now more than ever.
I do also have an online backup, but I still don't feel very comfortable destroying six months of local backups just to make Time Machine work again. Both MBPs were running the same (latest) version of Snow Leopard, so it stands to reason all that needs to happen is a very small incremental backup.
I have been Googling for hours. All I've found is a procedure for 10.5 that doesn't work in 10.6 where I get down into the Terminal and change a MAC address in a file on the Time Machine volume. But that's it. In fact it seems like there's no answer.
Come on Apple, you do everything else better than the competition. Why do I have to nuke six months of backups or buy a new 2TB external drive to make Time Machine work again? I assure you I want to continue making incremental backups against my old Time Machine backups, and promise to hold you not responsible should I screw something up by grabbing an old system file or something from February.
Would appreciate any help anyone could offer.

Did you use Setup Assistant when your new Mac first started up, or skip that, create a user account, then use the Migration Assistant app in your Applications/Utilties folder?
If you used Setup Assistant, when you started your first backup you should have gotten the message in #B5 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting. It sounds like you didn't (or chose Start New Backup). And no, the Leopard procedure doesn't work on Snow Leopard. That's what #B5 is for.
Usually, if you use Setup Assistant, Time Machine will still say it's going to do a full backup, and make room for it, but actually do an incremental backup (very, very slowly).
Either way, it usually deletes a lot of old backups. We're hoping that will be fixed in Lion.
Once it's decide to make a new backup, there's no known way to prevent it.

Time machine not adding to existing backups.

I have a Late 2013 MBP. i7,16GB RAM and 500GB HD.My Time Machine is a WD My Passport 2GB partitioned into to two 1GB partitions. Time Machine had 472GB used of 1GB in backups.
I was having issues with apps (Ableton Live 9, Serato, MS Word, and several others) NOT opening and freezing. And I had to force close them. And at times I would have to reboot. I finally decided to wipe the SDD, reinstall the OS. These are the steps I did.
Backed up on Time Machine
CMD+R on reboot to launch OS X Utilities
Used Disk Utilities to erase SDD
Reinstall OSX
Once fresh OS was installed. I selected to use Time Machine when prompted by Migration Assistant to recover ALL files (Applications, 2 Users, and computer/network settings)
Everything was loaded and transferred from Time Machine as I had expected. Launchpad apps had to be reorganized (grouped back together), but everything seemed to be ok. Then I waited until the next day to back up to Time Machine again, in case something didn't work right.
So here is the crux of my problem and question. Since everything is exactly the same (computer name, user names, locations of files, apps, SDD name, etc),
Why did Time Machine start making a new 472GB image, thus now using 954GB out of 1GB available? Instead of just continuing to make an additional snapshot and adding to the original "set / group" of backups already there? To further my point, I had 14 separate backups (Jan 4th - Feb 22nd) all totaling 472GB. Then on Feb 23rd Time Machine backed the same EXACT files as the previous backup I had restored from in the SAME Time Machine folder (right underneath the Feb 22nd), yet the newest backup is ANOTHER 472GB.
Does Time Machine know that it is a restored "version" of the same MBP? And Time Machine is making a completely new backup of the same files to be "safe" since there is room on the HD? Im assuming that as time goes on and more backups are made the older ones will be deleted. Thus the original 472GB of backups will be freed up?
My apologies if I am not using the correct terminology and verbiage. Any thoughts or answers would be appreciated.

Hello there, Kip057.
The following Knowledge Base article provides some great information on how to troubleshoot your issue:
Time Machine: Troubleshooting backup issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3275
Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Pedro.

Time Machine Error Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while ...

Hi,
I've looked all around the forums for the answer to this one and I'm still unable to get it. So I'm getting this error "Time Machine Error Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while linking files on the backup volume". This started happening after I turned off and on FileVault. I was having a problem with it and turning it on an off got rid of that problem, but created this one. I've noticed that when I shut down the computer and filevault accesses the TM hard drive, it can back up.....but then when I'm logged on, or I want it to back up I get the error. I've tried fixing the drive, removing the in progress file and resetting the PRAM (i think that's what it was called). I'm starting to run out of options and have no other drive to back all this info on to reformat it.
I really don't want to loose all my stuff.
Please help!
Daria

nautical_stars wrote:
Hi,
I've looked all around the forums for the answer to this one and I'm still unable to get it. So I'm getting this error "Time Machine Error Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while linking files on the backup volume". This started happening after I turned off and on FileVault.
Usually this message happens when you replace an external disk that was being backed-up by Time Machine with another one of the same name.
Since File Vault works by making a sparse image of your home folder, and it's treated as a volume just as a HD is, that's probably what's happening here: the new sparse image has the same name as the old one, but isn't the old one.
First, consider whether you really need File Vault. It doesn't work well with Time Machine: you can't see or restore individual items in your home folder, and it only gets backed-up when you log out.
If you have a lot of other things, say photos, videos, and/or music that don't need to be encrypted, perhaps there's an easier way to secure our sensitive data. You can create an encrypted disk image via Disk Utility (in your Applications/Utilities folder), then copy the sensitive documents into it. Then the rest of your home folder is backed-up normally, and individual items can be viewed and restored in the usual fashion.
But if you do continue using FileVault, you may have to use TM to delete all backups of it, via the instructions in item #12 of the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of this forum. That should then allow the new version of your encrypted home folder to be backed-up by TM.

Time Machine stops due to computer going into Sleep/Hibernation Mode

Time Machine stops due to computer going into Sleep/Hibernation Mode then restarts to try to start the Back up process again and again vicious cycle. I have made sure all settings are turned off. I have done one or two backups since the initial first backup. My HDD is almost full and I want it backed up before I try to clone/mirror the drive to upgrade it to a 1TB HDD. Thank you in advance.

Set the Energy Saver (in System Preferences) to Never. Then reset the NVRAM, as follows:
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the third time.
Release the keys.

Time machine couldn't complete the backup...

Hi,
My TC backs up three Macs. All of them run 10.8 and are up-to-date. My MBA is unable to perform scheduled backups. A minute or so after Time Machine starts a new backup it pops-up a dialog 'Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Mike's Time Capsule". The backup disk could not be found.'
My Time Capsule is visible in Finder. If I click Open Time Machine Preferences... the window shows the Time Capsule disk and that it has 89GB of 998GB available.
If I then click Select Disk... a new window opens. In the Backup Disks section my Time Capsule is listed as Data on "Mike's Time Capsule". Below that in the Available Disks section there is Data on "Mike's Time Capsule" and Other Time Capsule Set up a Time Capsule that is not listed here.
If I click Data on "Mike's Time Capsule" in the Available Disks section and then Use Disk, the same error dialog reappears immediately.
I've tried removing the disk from the Backup Disks section, turning off Time Machine and then adding the disk again, the error pops up again.
Turning on Time Machine without selecting a disk automatically selects the Time Capsule as a backup, I am asked for the Time Capsule's password and the countdown to the backup starts. After a long period preparing the backup, the first backup will complete normally as will any manual backups, but timed backups all fail with the error that the disk can't be found.
I've turned off Time Machine, deleted the two plist files from Library and tried again. Same problem recurs.
I've even tried turning off Time Machine, removing the whole backup file from the Time Capsule and restarting with no luck.
My other two machines work just fine.
There have been no significant changes to any of my machines or networks recently.
Time Machine Buddy says:
Starting manual backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://Mike%20Richards;[email protected]/Data
NAConnectToServerSync failed with error: 64 for url: afp://Mike%20Richards;[email protected]/Data
Backup failed with error: 18
The Time Capsule is acting as a router for my wireless network which is used by the MBA and my phone and tablet - no problems connecting to the Internet. Airport Setup shows no problems with the Time Capsule as a router and it is up to date.
So any ideas appreciated - thanks!
Mike.

My Time Capsule is visible in Finder. If I click Open Time Machine Preferences... the window shows the Time Capsule disk and that it has 89GB of 998GB available.
You have done most of what we normally suggest people do..
89GB is the backup size. that is very large for an incremental or is this backup of the full disk again, having been deleted by you on the TC?
Did you happen to upgrade install Mountain Lion onto the Air or is it a clean install?
I would suggest wireless is part of the problem. As a route around the problem, go and buy the USB to ethernet dongle (cheap) or the Thunderbolt to ethernet (fast but expensive), so you can plug the computer into the TC.
Redo the setup of the TC.. even from a full factory reset.
If you are on 7.6.3 firmware be a bit dubious about it.. especially if issues started recently after the upgrade. I would even suggest go back to 7.6.1 before you factory reset.. although that loses the info on which is the cause.
Use naming convention of short, no spaces pure alphanumeric for everything. TCname Wireless name and hard disk share name (already correct with data).
See C9 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
This might be one of the more obscure ones, but I think it isn't helping using names that have spaces and special characters.

Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Time Capsule. The backup disk image /Volumes/Data/MacBook Pro.sparsebundle could not be created (error 60)"

We are Mountain Lion using Time Machine to backup to Time Capsule. When the backup tries to run, an error appears after a couple of minutes saying "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer." Then an error shows up saying "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Time Capsule.The backup disk image /Volumes/Data/MacBook Pro.sparsebundle could not be created (error 60)"
I low level reformatted the Time Capsule and that didn't fix it. I then tried using Time Machine on another computer to back up to that same Time Capsule and it worked- so I'm doubting it's the Time Capsule.
I've noticed that when Time Machine runs, that a folder called Data at /Volumes/ appears while Time Machine is trying to back up. I think it's making the sparsebundle to transfer to the Time Capsule.
However, after a couple of minutes- it comes back saying that the disk is unreadable.
I think it's something wrong with either creating the sparsebundle or opening the disk image that seems to be a part of the Time Machine backup process on the local drive.
I am able to create a disk image with Disk Utilitiy without any problem on that system. I've repaired the disk and disk permissions with Disk Utility and replaced the directory with Disk Warrior. I've trashed what preference files I could find and restarted. I've completely removed the backup destination from the computer and added it back again.
Help!
Thanks,
Neil

neillhowell wrote:
I've noticed that when Time Machine runs, that a folder called Data at /Volumes/ appears while Time Machine is trying to back up. I think it's making the sparsebundle to transfer to the Time Capsule.
Yes, exactly. It makes one sparse bundle per Mac.
It's possible the TC's disk is too full for a new sparse bundle, or there may be some other problem.
Via the Finder, locate the existing sparse bundle (see the pink box in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #17 if you're not sure how to do that). See how large it is (plus how large anything else that may be there). If the total is very near the size of the TC, that may be the problem.
If not, a clue may be lurking in your logs. Use the widget in #A1 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting to display the backup messages from your logs. Locate the backup in question (probably the first one displayed), then copy and post all the messages here.

My Time Capsule/Time Machine has been showing Preparing Backup for past 48 hours continuously!

My Time Capsule reported Full the other day. I now have only 26.8MB of 497.96 GB available. Since then it seems to backing up continuously. The Time machine preferences window shows "Preparing Backup" andnothing else, and it has been doing so for at least past 48 hours. Any ideas as to the problem?
Stuartyboy

Yes, the problem is the drive is full.
If you have other files or TM back from other computers, TM on your computer having issues will not be able to delete enough to get sufficient space to backup.
Read how to clean up and delete parts of backups.. http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
Not a good idea though.
Solution.
1. Buy a new bigger TC.. cheaper (Than the original 500GB at least), faster and now the smallest is 2TB.
2. Plug in a USB drive.. archive the TC.. then erase it and start a fresh set of backups.. April 1st great day to do it.
3. Open up your old TC.. remove the 500GB drive and install a 2TB (if Gen1 a 3TB might even work). Google for how to do a hard disk upgrade.
Problem.. old power supply could die the day after and then the total cost would approach 1. Better to backup, wipe the 500GB and sell it on ebay and buy a new TC with 2 or even 3TB (2TB is better value IMHO).
4. Plug in a USB drive .. formatted to HFS+ and use that as the target.
Very slow. much slower than the same drive plugged into your computer.

Time Machine is making a full backup into another directory

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