Time Machine is super slow, or fails since 10.5.7 update

Ever since updating to 10.5.7, Time Machine has become virtually unusable. I'm backing up to a 1TB Time Capsule. All backups either fail or take hours and hours to copy a small amount of data. If I leave it on, TM also tends to run continuously... as soon as a backup finishes, it's starts a new one. It's very common for Spotlight to have a very difficult time indexing the backup, often taking hours to update the index.
I've erased the Time Capsule (via Airport Utility) and started over. I've tried deleting / rebuilding the Spotlight index via the terminal. Neither helped. I don't know what else to do. If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.
The current attempt to backup has been running for 14 hours. Here's the current log:
Starting standard backup
Mounted network destination using URL: afp://Paul%20Burd@Time%20Capsule.afpovertcp.tcp.local/Time%20Capsule
Backup destination mounted at path: /Volumes/Time Capsule
Disk image /Volumes/Time Capsule/Tardis_001b63916361.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Backup of Tardis
Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup of Tardis/Backups.backupdb
Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: Macintosh HD 500
Node requires deep traversal:/ reason:kFSEDBEventFlagMustScanSubDirs|kFSEDBEventFlagReasonEventDBUntrustable|
No pre-backup thinning needed: 4.34 GB requested (including padding), 460.73 GB available
Bulk setting Spotlight attributes failed.
Bulk setting Spotlight attributes failed.
Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Bulk setting Spotlight attributes failed.

I started over (again) by throwing away the sparse bundle and deleting the Time Machine preferences. It looks like the backup is working, but it is very slow, and the log is still showing errors. I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before it stops working again. Here's the most recent log:
Starting standard backup
Mounted network destination using URL: afp://Paul%20Burd@Time%20Capsule.afpovertcp.tcp.local/Time%20Capsule
Backup destination mounted at path: /Volumes/Time Capsule
Disk image /Volumes/Time Capsule/Tardis_001b63916361.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Backup of Tardis
Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup of Tardis/Backups.backupdb
No pre-backup thinning needed: 6.71 GB requested (including padding), 478.87 GB available
Bulk setting Spotlight attributes failed.
Copied 24137 files (5.0 GB) from volume Macintosh HD 500.
No pre-backup thinning needed: 1.57 GB requested (including padding), 475.64 GB available
Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Copied 3193 files (626.0 MB) from volume Macintosh HD 500.
Starting post-backup thinning
Deleted backup /Volumes/Backup of Tardis/Backups.backupdb/Tardis/2009-06-22-130748: 475.02 GB now available
Post-back up thinning complete: 1 expired backups removed
Backup completed successfully.
[SnapshotUtilities mountPointForVolumeRef] FSGetVolumeInfo returned: -35
Failed to eject volume (null) (FSVolumeRefNum: -113; status: -35; dissenting pid: 0)

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Just upgraded to ML, and Time Machine is super slow

Why is time machine backup so slow? Normally it took only about ten minutes...now it seems like it needs a whole day or more?!?!?!

Hello Harold,
Sorry to hear that Time Machine has not been backing up. I recommend following the steps in the article below for steps to isolate and troubleshoot this issue:
Time Machine: Troubleshooting backup issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3275
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

Why did backing up to Time Machine become super slow?

Trying to backup to my external HD. I'm using Snow Leopard, and this isn't the first back up. Had computer for 2 years, and this just started about a month ago. No new updates around that time that I can recall. Backups taking more than 24 hours! I used to be able to have a backup in less than an hour, so I had hourly backups. Any idea how to fix this? I don't want to neglect backing up and need them, because I've had to use them before in the past.

Candace127 wrote:
... Do you all think the next step is trying a new external hard drive? Thanks.
It may not be the next step, but it is the last:
http://pondini.org/TM/D2.html
If nothing helps, your drive may be failing (they all do, sooner or later).

Time machine backups have slowed considerably since my installation of Mavericks -- why?

Ever since installation of Mavericks, time machine backups have slowed to a crawl. The message preparing backup used to to take 10 seconds to a minute, now it takes 5 minutes. The status of the backup used to show 10mb's of 80 mb's backed up, and take under 1 minute, now it takes 5 minutes. Finally cleaning up notice, and the time to clean up has increased significantly. My backups go to an external HD (7200rpm) connected vis firewire 800, that has approx 180 gigabytes available of its 1 terrabybyte capacity.

I upgraded to Mountain Lion a few weeks ago. Everything was fine with Time Machine until a few of days ago.
Same problem others described: extremely slow, taking hours to back up just a few MB.
I verified the Time Capsule drive and my Mac hard drive - no problems found.
I then erased the Time Capsule and started Time Machine. It did the full backup in a fairly reasonable amount of time (several hours, but not unexpectedly long).
When it started its first incremental backup, it reverted to the same problem: extremely slow, but it did finish eventually.
I then shut down the Mac and restarted (power cycled) the Time Capsule. Then I started up the Mac and told Time Machine to back up now. It backed up 30+ MB in just a few minutes, so it seems back to normal. We'll see how it goes when the next scheduled backup starts up.
But you might try rebooting the Time Capsule (and your Mac).
By the way, when it was in the middle of the extremely slow backup, I disabled Norton Anti-virus and it didn't seem to speed it up any. But I left it disabled after I rebooted the Time Capsule and had a successful incremental backup, so I'm not sure yet if Norton is a factor.

Time machine back up slow

Time machine backup very slow since Maverick install.
Anyone else having an issue with backups?

Hey aarthur2060,
Thanks for the question. I understand you are experiencing issues with Time Machine. The following resources may help to resolve your issue:
OS X Mountain Lion: If Time Machine is slow
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11172
Time Machine: Troubleshooting backup issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3275
Thanks,
Matt M.

Configuring Time machine to Restore after a failer

Hi
how to Configurr Time machine to Restore after a failer ? should i just set the time machine to backup to the external hard disk that have the backup and it will automatically detect it and can use it ? what if there is another backups for another Mac's ?

PureHeartKnight wrote:
Hi
how to Configurr Time machine to Restore after a failer ?
Do you mean you want to recover your entire system from your TM backups? If so, see item 14 in +Frequently Asked Questions+ at the top of this forum for details.
Or do you mean, once your Mac is recovered, how to start new TM backups?
When you first boot after restoring, you may want to immediately turn Time Machine off, as it's next backup will probably be a full one -- everything it just restored will be backed-up again. You cannot prevent this, only delay it. It will of course take quite a while, and a lot of space on your TM disk, so you may wish to wait until you're sure your system is the way you want it, or even erase your TM disk with Disk Utility and let your backups start anew.
what if there is another backups for another Mac's ?
That may become a problem. TM knows which backups are for which Mac, and will not mix them. But if there's not room for the first backup of the restored Mac (see above), you have two bad choices: erase the disk, and start both Macs over again with TM; or delete all the backups for the failed Mac via the TM interface (see item 12 of the same article).
If you decide to erase the disk completely, you may want to partition it before beginning backups, so each Mac's backups have their own, exclusive partition, to prevent this hassle in the future. See item 5 for instructions if you want to do this.

Time machine is very slow....

After upgrading to ML, time machine seems very slow. I usually make back up once a week. First back up took nearly a day, but completed successfully.

After upgrading to ML, time machine seems very slow. I usually make back up once a week. First back up took nearly a day, but completed successfully.

HT1175 I have OSX Lion 10.7.5 and the backup in time machine is extremely slow

I have OSX 10.7.5 installed on my MacBook Pro and the backup to time machine is extemely slow. Time Machine indicates 4 days or more. Why?

Did you happen to update early in the piece.. there is a supplement.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1599
Test regime for software patches is now left to end users it seems.

Suddenly, time machine is very slow. Used to take up a minute and now more than half an hour. Does anybody know how this can happen? Indexing the back-up disk is off, but Timde Machine keeps on indexing!

Suddenly, time machine is very slow. Used to take up a minute and now more than half an hour. Does anybody know how this can happen? Indexing the back-up disk is off, but Timde Machine keeps on indexing!

same issue here...

I used time machine, now my drive has failed and all my files are lost.

i used time machine, now my drive has failed and all my files are lost. any one know how to get the max osx to see the drive again so i can retrive my files

kabb30 wrote:
i used time machine,
Ok, check
now my drive has failed
Which one, the TM drive or the internal boot drive?
all my files are lost.
Where? on both drives or just TM or the internal drive?
any one know how to get the max osx
yea, if we knew more details of your machine and what you had before and later
to see the drive again so i can retrive my files
I don't know what drive failed.
I'm thinking here your internal drive failed? Was it replaced?
You have a blank internal drive and a TimeMachine drive and your asking how to reinstall OS X so you can restore from the TimeMachine drive?
How are you getting here? Another machine or device and what is it?
We need more details of your situation please.

Using Migration Assistant with Time Machine or Super Duper data

Can I use Migration Assistant with a Time Machine or Super Duper backup on an external drive instead of the original computer? I'm thinking of upgrading my Mini to a new one but only have one monitor. Not in the mood to hunt down an old monitor & buy adapters, etc. If I can, are there any tradeoffs using a backup instead of the original Mini? And is TM or SD preferable for this purpose? The current Mini runs 10.6 SL.

KevinD wrote:
Can I use Migration Assistant with a Time Machine or Super Duper backup on an external drive instead of the original computer?
yes to both.
I'm thinking of upgrading my Mini to a new one but only have one monitor. Not in the mood to hunt down an old monitor & buy adapters, etc. If I can, are there any tradeoffs using a backup instead of the original Mini?
none.
And is TM or SD preferable for this purpose?
makes no difference.
The current Mini runs 10.6 SL.

HT3275 Since Installing a new hard drive on my 2008 macbook and reconnecting to to time capsule through time machine, I can only get backups since the install.

Since Installing a new hard drive on my 2008 macbook and reconnecting to to time capsule through time machine, I can only get backups since the install.
I receive a message saying identity of backup dis has changed and offers me the choice of either Don't back up or Use this disc.

Time Machine treats any new drive like a new computer. It starts a completely new Time Machine backup. So you now have two backups - a new one and all your old ones.
Visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with managing your Time Machine backups.

Once I upgraded to ML, I'm now finding that my Seagate Free Agent external hard drive is no longer being backed up by Time machine. Do I have to wait for Seagate to update their drivers for this hard drive?

Once I upgraded to ML, I'm now finding that my Seagate Free Agent external hard drive is no longer being backed up by Time machine. Do I have to wait for Seagate to update their drivers for this hard drive?

I tried your suggestion, and it's been giving me the message "Preparing for Backup" for the past 8 hours. Does this mean TM is backing up my hard drive? I'll give it a few more hours, but if nothing else happens, I'm not sure what else to do. I'm not sure if there are any new external hard drives that are compatible with ML yet.

Just got a new MacMini. Migrated files using Time Machine. However, now, on Launchpad, I see several Firmware updates that were relevant for the old machine, but not for the new one. How do I get rid of these updates? They won't delete!

Just got a new MacMini. Migrated files using Time Machine. However, now, on Launchpad, I see several Firmware updates that were relevant for the old machine, but not for the new one. How do I get rid of these updates? They won't delete!

Only thing I can think of is trying this Lion trick...
http://www.cultofmac.com/106030/how-to-nuke-lions-launchpad-and-start-over/10603 0/

Time Machine or Super Duper??

I have been using Super Duper successfully under Tiger with an external Seagate USB Drive. Now that I have Snow Leopard... I was wondering about Time Machine. I only want to use it if it does something substantially better than Super Duper- outperforms in some way shape or form- why mess with a good thing?
Message was edited by: Micah Eavenson

Ditto what Mr. Boyd says, adding "every hour."
Time Machine gives you a *much, much* better chance of recovering something you changed or deleted in error (Save instead of Save As, for example), or somehow got corrupted.
Plus the ability to put your entire system back the way it was at the time of any prior backup.
It's no doubt more than you want, but here's a comparison:
There are three basic types of backup applications: Bootable Clone, Archive, and Time Machine.
This is a general explanation and comparison. Many variations exist, of course, and some combine features of others.
|
_*BOOTABLE "CLONE"*_
These make a complete, "bootable" copy of your entire system on an external disk/partition, a second internal disk/partition, or a partition of your internal disk.
Advantages
When your internal HD fails, you can boot and run from the clone immediately. Your Mac may run a bit slower, but it will run, and contain everything that was on your internal HD at the time the clone was made or last updated.
You can test whether it will run, just by booting-up from it (but of course you can't be positive that everything is ok without actually running everything).
If it's on an external drive, you can easily take it off-site.
Disadvantages
Making an entire clone takes quite a while. Most of the cloning apps have an update feature, but even that takes quite a while, as they must examine everything on your system to see what's changed and needs to be backed-up. Since this takes lots of time and CPU, it's usually not practical to do this more than once or twice a day.
Normally, it only contains a copy of what was on your internal HD when the clone was made or last updated.
Some do have a feature that allows it to retain the previous copy of items that have been changed or deleted, in the fashion of an archive, but of course that has the same disadvantages as an archive.
|
_*TRADITIONAL "ARCHIVE" BACKUPS*_
These copy specific files and folders, or your entire system. With many, the first backup is a full copy of everything; subsequently, they're "incremental," copying only what's changed.
Most of these will copy to an external disk or network locations; some to CDs/DVDs, or even tape.
Advantages
They're usually fairly simple and reliable. If the increments are on separate media, they can be taken off-site easily.
Disadvantages
Most have to examine everything to determine what's changed and needs to be backed-up. This takes considerable time and lots of CPU. If an entire system is being backed-up, it's usually not practical to do this more than once, or perhaps twice, a day.
Restoring an individual item means you have to find the media and/or file it's on. You may have to dig through many incremental backups to find what you're looking for.
Restoring an entire system (or large folder) usually means you have to restore the most recent Full backup, then each of the increments, in the proper order. This can get very tedious and error-prone.
You have to manage the backups yourself. If they're on an external disk, sooner or later it will get full, and you have to do something, like figure out what to delete. If they're on removable media, you have to store them somewhere appropriate and keep track of them.
|
_*TIME MACHINE*_
Advantages
Similar to an archive, TM keeps copies of everything currently on your system, plus changed/deleted items, on an external disk or Time Capsule.
Like many Archive apps, it first copies everything on your system, then does incremental backups of additions and changes. But TM's magic is, each backup appears to be a full one: a complete copy of everything on your system at the time of the backup.
It uses an internal OSX log of what's changed to quickly determine what to copy, so most users can let it do it's hourly incremental backups without much effect on system performance. This means you have a much better chance to recover an item that was changed or deleted in error, or corrupted.
Recovery of individual items is quite easy, via the TM interface. You don't have to find and mount media, or dig through many files to find what you're looking for.
You can also recover your entire system to the exact state it was in at the time of any backup, even it that's a previous version of OSX.
TM manages it's space for you, automatically. When your backup disk gets near full, TM will delete your oldest backup(s) to make room for new ones. But it will never delete it's copy of anything that's still on your internal HD, or was there at the time of any remaining backup. So all that's actually deleted are copies of items that were changed or deleted long ago.
Disadvantages
It's not bootable. If your internal HD fails, you can't boot directly from your TM backups. You must restore them, either to your repaired/replaced internal HD or an external disk. This is a fairly simple, but of course lengthy, procedure.
TM doesn't keep it's copies of changed/deleted items forever, and you're usually not notified when it deletes them.
It is fairly complex, and somewhat new, so may be a bit less reliable than some others.
|
RECOMMENDATION
For most non-professional users, TM is simple, workable, and maintenance-free. But it does have it's disadvantages.
That's why many folks use both Time Machine and a bootable clone, to have two, independent backups, with the advantages of both. If one fails, the other remains. If there's room, these can be in separate partitions of the same external drive, but it's a bit safer to have them on separate drives.
|
_*OFF-SITE BACKUPS*_
As great as external drives are, they may not protect you from fire, flood, theft, or direct lightning strike on your power lines. So it's an excellent idea to get something off-site, to your safe deposit box, workplace, relative's house, etc.
There are many ways to do that, depending on how much data you have, how often it changes, how valuable it is, and your level of paranoia.
One of the the best strategies is to follow the above recommendation, but with a pair of portable externals, each 4 or more times the size of your data. Each has one partition the same size as your internal HD for a "bootable clone" and another with the remainder for TM.
Use one drive for a week or so, then take it off-site and swap with the other. You do have to tell TM when you swap drives, via TM Preferences > Change Disk; and you shouldn't go more than about 10 days between swaps.
There are other options, instead of the dual drives, or in addition to them. Your off-site backups don't necessarily have to be full backups, but can be just copies of critical information.
If you have a MobileMe account, you can use Apple's Backup app to get relatively-small amounts of data (such as Address book, preferences, settings, etc.) off to iDisk daily. If not, you can use a 3rd-party service such as Mozy.
You can also copy data to CDs or DVDs and take them off-site. Re-copy them every year or two, as their longevity is questionable.
Backup strategies are not a "One Size Fits All" sort of thing. What's best varies by situation and preference.
Just as an example, I use TM plus a CarbonCopyCloner clone (updated daily, while I'm snoozing) locally, plus small daily Backups to iDisk, plus some other things to DVD/RWs in my safe deposit box. Probably overkill, but as many of us have learned over the years, backups are one area where +Paranoia is Prudent!+

Time Machine is super slow, or fails since 10.5.7 update

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