Time Machine looses previous back up or does not recognize previous backup

I have been using time machine for about a month. Recently, the program stopped recognizing the backup, and has attempted to start a new back up on the same disk, resulting in an error "This backup is too large for the backup volume". The oldest backup shown is "yesterday" as opposed to "last month"...
Within the Time Machine volume, there is the "Backups.backupdb" folder, which was created on 11/18. The next level down is the folder of my computer name, also created on 11/18. The next is 2007-12-10-120733, which is only 161 GB of 232 GB. The internal hard drive has 231 GB on it.
It is a bit troubling that the backup could have been lost on its own. Any thoughts?
Thank you!

I found this thread via google. Same thing is happening to me. Out of the blue, I got an error to the effect that I hadn't backed up in ten days. Imagine my surprise. Upon investigation, Time Machine was complaining that it couldn't find its backup disk, despite the fact that I was able to browse the backed up data that was there without any special effort - just clicking the dock icon. I de- and then re-selected my BU disk, and it began backing up just fine.
What I didn't notice, however, was that it was starting from scratch with a new folder with a "-2" on the end, and eating through practically all of my remaining space. Now, I have to use the dock icon menu to browse through 'other' backups, which allows me to browse my old data just fine, and even restore from there. I just can't convince it to continue backing up to there. Also, I am completely unable to delete the "-2" folder by any means.
How very irritating. Guess I'll just leave it off until they fix this. I wonder if it's related to the problem where spotlight has to completely re-index from scratch every time I reboot? Are all these little daemons losing their disks?

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HT3275 Time Machine says my external hard drive does not have enough

Time Machine says my external hard drive does not have enough space for the current backup. It needs 34 G out of a 250G hard drive. All that is on the drive is earlier backups. I recently added memory, which may confuse Time Machine into thinking it is a new computer. How can I erase old backups and complete this one?

Walter Goodman wrote:
Time Machine says my external hard drive does not have enough space for the current backup. It needs 34 G out of a 250G hard drive. All that is on the drive is earlier backups.
See #C4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
If that doesn't clear it up, how much data is on your Mac? If TM is only trying to back-up 34 GB, it should be able to delete old backups to do that (assuming you're running Lion).
It sounds like your backups may be corrupted. Try to repair them, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
I recently added memory, which may confuse Time Machine into thinking it is a new computer.
If that's all you did, no.
How can I erase old backups and complete this one?
Just erase the drive per #1 or #2 of Using Disk Utility.

How can I copy programs (iWorks) and files from Time Capsule to my HD manually? The problem is that the migration assistant does not recognize my backup file and the user on the TC. (If I open the TC on finder, it it there though)

How can I copy programs (iWorks) and files from Time Capsule to my HD manually? The problem is that the migration assistant does not recognize my backup file and the user on the TC. (If I open the TC on finder, it it there though)

How can I copy programs (iWorks) and files from Time Capsule to my HD manually? The problem is that the migration assistant does not recognize my backup file and the user on the TC. (If I open the TC on finder, it it there though)

Time Machine does not recognize previous backups in TC and starts new BUps

Time Machine (TM) seem not recognize previous back ups made in Time Capsule (TC) and begins a new copy of the back up every time, taking a lot of time.
The Time Capsule has an initial backup copy that I made several weeks ago. Subsequent backups seem to have disappear and the initial back up process is started over every time I make a backup, lasting several hours.
In the Control Panel of Time Machine, the Time Capsule disk has been selected as the place where the backup should be made.
The Time Capsule is not mounted in the desktop but can be seen as a Share resource.
Do you know why this is happening?
Is there any way that I can use the already existing initial backup in TC as a starting point for subsequent backups?
Your help will be much appreciated.

I resolved the problem of getting the computer to recognize that I had the authorization to change file names by myself. For anyone with a similar issue (insufficient authorization), the following are the steps I took to resolve the issue.
First, click on the external HD icon used for TM and chose "get info". In the info window goto the "Sharing & Permission" section where the +, - , action menu and lock are. Unlock the lock if it is locked. Verify that the Name used for the computer, user or administrator has "read & write" permission. Then go to the Action menu (the icon or design that looks like a sprocket) and choose "apply to enclosed items". In my case the HD went on noisily for a few hours before I decided to Force Quit. I then went back to the file name and changed it back to the way it was prior to my ill fated attempt to back up my other computer on the same HD.
I hope this will help anyone who has come across a similar issue.

Time Machine in Mavericks does not recognize previous backups

Hi!
I've just installed Mavericks and Time Machine does not recognize my previously existing backups. Tried reconnecting to my backups and nothing changed (I have used this successfully in the past with Lion). Decided to do a full new backup in another drive, which worked fine, and after deselecting that drive in TM preferences and selecting it again it also does not recognize the new backup and indicates it is going to do a full new backup... Any suggestions?
Besides the problem of not recognizing previous backups, this is problematic for me because I am used to do 2 different TM backups in 2 different locations and it was very easy just to select the corresponding disk in each location and TM would recognize the existing backups and just follow on the incremental backup. Now this seems to be impossible in Mavericks...
Any help will be much appreciated.

FireWire or thunderbolt?
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There is no resolution to this yet, techs are working on it
Its happening on 80% WD Raid My Book on this board and others, and happening entirely on Firewire and Thunderbolt drives and apparently all WD Mybooks
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Time MAchine won't back up due to not enough space, but there is

TIme Machine won't back up. Displays this:
Actual capacity of the external backup drive is 999.68 GB and available is 135 gb .
The imac internal HD capacity is 999.01GB and used space is 636.321 GB.
This problem has occured periodically in the last 12 months or so, so prior to OS version10.8 install in Jul 2012.
I previously called AppleCare, as I have a contract, and tech said I just need to reformat the external drive and start over.
I did that the last time this happened a few months ago, but I don't like that option, as it eliminates all the prior backups,
What if I needed to try to recover something I deleted 3 weeks ago, for example. I couldn't do so as all backups would have been deleted, of course, by me having refomatted the drive and basically starting over. Also, I noted in another post about a person having a problem due to using a partitioned drive. Mine is not partition, as far as I can tell. See this:
Any ideas? Thanks

The solution is essentially "simple." You need a larger hard drive for these backups or you need to use a different backup solution. By this I mean using backup software that does not preserve an archive of old copies of a file, but simply erases old copies in order to replace them with the new copies. By replacing your backup drive can always accommodate the drive it backs up if it is large enough - say the same size. I can suggest:
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.
All of the above are capable of being scheduled. Synk Pro makes immediate backups of any changed file on the hard drive. You may configure it to archive changes (like Time Machine) or to delete prior copies.

IPhoto does not recognize old backup of library

I have a iPhoto library backup disk (dvd) that dates back to 2006. Iphoto does not recognize the photos and they will not open. How do I get to see the photo's?
Iphoto 11
iMac 2.4 ghz intel core duo
OS 10.6.8

The only thing I can think of is that the Library is corrupted in some way. Unusual that the main computer can access it - though it rebuilds the thumbs each time, whiile the other two cannot. I suspect that the permissions warnings are bogus.
Neither of the other machines would be able to read that library without updating it, and in fact, once the 9.5.1 version updates it, the 9.4.3 version wouldn't be able to read it either.
But either way, each library should ask to upgrade it upon opening, that the don't suggests that the Library is damaged.
You need to decide what version you want to want to view this library with - as you can't view it with either of the other two once you upgrade it. Then from that machine rebuild the Library with iPhoto Library Manager.
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
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I am using Lenovo onlinebackup. ThinkVantage carries a red X in the tray and tells me I haven't been backed up for 85 days even thought it is backed up 5 times a day. Apparently it does not recognize this form of backup. How to get rid of that X?
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Hi,
in general I don't test this tool, as the way on how it is reading the system configuration is from half part unknown to me.
It might sound strange, but I would just ignore it, or deactivate this check.
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Cheers

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My time machine quit backing up 2 weeks ago. How can I fix it?

Did you try the simple stuff?? Reboot the TC.. next.. reboot the whole network restarting in correct order?? ie modem.. TC.. client computers.. with 2min gap.
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What TC.. what firmware.. how is it connected?
What OS on the computer?

HT201250 How do you let time machine know that a restored drive does not need a brand new backup set and just append to the old one?

I had an external drive failure and had to buy a brand new drive. I was able to restore my info onto a new drive, about 1.5 TB of data. When I go to launch time machine now with the new drive connected and my backup connected, it treats the new drive as if it had different data and wants to create a whole new backup set when it should just append. How do I get around this?
I could just reformat the backup drive and start fresh again but would rather not do that if I can avoid it, just in case there were errors in copying etc.

Hi
I should have been more clear, sorry. I work from a laptop. I have 2 external drives - one for my projects which failed but has since been replaced and restored from a backup. My 2nd external drive is the time machine backup drive.
When my project drive crashed, I bought a brand new drive and restored it using my time machine backup drive.
Now the data exists on 2 drives - the time machine backup drive, and the new drive. When I connect the backup drive now, it thinks my new drive has new data, probably since it is a new device/drive, and wants to do a brand new backup, when in fact the data already exists on that very drive. It shouldn't have to back up all 1.5 TB when nothing has changed!
Unless there is a way to tell time machine to simply append to the old backup, I think it will try and do a new backup (1.5 TB). I'm thinking maybe I should just initialize my time machine backup drive now and start over so it is only one backup set of 1.5 TB instead of (2) sets of 1.5 TB!

Time Machine does not recognize my backup

I just did a clean install of Lion on my 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo iMac. Before I did that, I made sure that everything was backed up on an external drive through Time Machine. Now I want to restore everything and when I enter Time Machine, all that is visible for back ups are those that were done after the clean install of Lion.
Thankfully, when I open the files on the external back up drive through Finder, I can still see all of the back ups that were completed, including the most recent that I want to use to restore my iMac.
I am considering another clean install to start the process again.
I am not sure what to do next. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Dean

I don't think that you can just "copy" a TimeMachine Backup. You certainly can't drag them to the trash and then expext to empty it. You need to use the TimeMachine Application to work with the file.
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
Pondini has the best info on TimeMachine

"Time Machine completed successfully", restart. Problem - Does not boot?

Time machine is on an external HD - works fine. Installed a new 1TB HD into a Dual PPC G5 MAC. Used Leopard disk to go to UTILITIES - PARTITION - ERASE on the new HD. Everything looked good. I then RESTORED FROM BACKUP under UTILITIES. I did not reinstall the Leopard OS from the disc, since it was on time machine. Proceeded to restore and after two hours, I got a message that stated "RESTORE COMPLETE SUCCESSFULLY", restart computer. Took out the Leopard disc, restarted computer and that is where I experienced the following. PROBLEM: On booting, I hear the music; then get the gray apple; then get the gear going around for a few minutes; then black screen; then the process starts over again. It will just keep up this loop until pressing the power off. Got out the leopard disc. Went to UTILITIES - REPAIR DISC - "appears ok". Then REPAIRED PERMISSIONS - Warning - came back with four SUID files that were modified but not repaired. It stated that permissions were repaired. I look at the new HD in UTILITIES and it looks like 204GB of data is on it, which is from the restore from TIME MACHINE. Do not see anything that appears wrong. Any help would sure be appreciated as I am not sure what to do next.

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Time Machine does not recognize older backups after restore

Leopard Server OSX.5.8, Mac Mini Intel
After a severe failure I had to restore the server (I used a fresh, spare Mini to restore to) from a Time Machine backup.
Everything went fine so far.
I tried to continue the backup on the same external harddrive, but the backup history is no more recognized by Time Machine, it want to backup the whole drive from the beginning.
The disk is full which is normally not a problem, as Time Machine deletes the oldest backups to deallocate space.
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Hi Pondini,
I got it fixed today, thank you everyone for your help. The thing that ended up fixing it was deleting the hidden files ".com.apple.timemachine.supported" and ".002332b4a7fc" on the root directory of the time machine disk. Now my months worth of backups are viewable again!
I didn't find this on your website (maybe I didn't look hard enough). If it's not there, perhaps it would be a good thing to add to your site? Hopefully it will save a few people some frustration! Thanks for making the site - it looks like a great resource.
--Hayden

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Time Machine looses previous back up or does not recognize previous backup

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