Time Machine runs huge backups all the time. Any Idea Why & How to Fix It?

Right now System Preferences for TM says there is 881MB of available space on my Time Capsule with 998GB of storage. The TM system preferences has been stuck for hours saying it's backed up 31GB out of 68GB. No error messages. My wife and I only use the TC for TM backups.
Any idea why I'm not getting the much smaller incremental, hourly backups that I"m expecting? This is really slowing down my system.
Thanks,
Bob
Late 2008 MacBook, Mac OS 10.7.4

bobair1 wrote:
Thanks for the info. Yes, I am running Windows XP with VMware Fusion. I keep my data files segregated from the "dark side". So if I opt out of backing up VMware, will my data files still be backed up?
Yes. See #D4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting

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TS3243 The light on my Time Machine disk is on all the time. The back ups still occur OK and without any issues but I need to 'turn off' the light. Any ideas?

The light on my external Time Machine drive is on all the time. Up until about six onths ago it only came on when it was backing up. The drive is working perfectly and backing up regularly, but the light is driving me mad. I have tried to find an option to put it out but so far have not managed to do it. The drive is a Seagate 1TB Freeagent and has 913 GB free so cannot be anywhere near full. Can anyone offer any advice or guidance to turn the light off?

I suggest that you contact Seagate technical support.
Ciao.

Should Time Machine drive be connected all the time?

I have just bought a Western Digital hard drive, connected it to our imac via Firewire 800, and started the initial Time Machine backup. As the iMac only has one firewire port that I also use for connecting other devices such as my DV cancorder or my Edirol audio interface, I am wondering what happens with Time Machine when it's hard drive is not connected, which will be when ever I am using the firewire port for other things? Time machine is defaulted to back up every hour which it won't be able to do if it is not connected.
Will Time Machine just pick up and do a back up when it is reconnected?
Or, would it be better to use one of the USB ports, even though this is slower, and leave the hard drive connected all the time.

12frets56 wrote:
Or, would it be better to use one of the USB ports, even though this is slower, and leave the hard drive connected all the time.
This might be better, especially after your initial full backup, just so you don't have to be fooling with the plugs all the time, and perhaps forgetting to re-connect. If your incremental backups aren't large, the speed difference probably won't be significant.

Time Machine backs up everything all the time

Time Machine is backing up every file all the time. This is a recent development.
Don't know if this is related but I installed 10.6 on an external HD recently. I was told there wasn't room on the time machine disk so i turned off time machine. I used that boot disk for a week and then switched back to the 10.5.8 drive. After that but I can't be sure the exact date is correlated I noticed the Time Machine backup.

trinko wrote:
I figured out how much is being backed up by looking at the size of the files on the time machine disk in the finder and with omnidisksweeper.
Those won't show an accurate picture. Time Machine uses an unusual and complex structure, involving multiple hard links (sort of like aliases) at both the file and folder level. The files that were the same at the time of each backup will be counted +*in each backup,+* although they were only backed-up once; the total will exceed the total amount of space used on the disk.
For some reason on Mar 6 Time machine did a new full backup--650GB. Then it said it couldn't do any incremental backups because there wasn't enough free space--the drive had about 300GB free but Time Machine said it needed another 302GB which makes me think it wanted to do another full backup.
Yes, that's possible. Some of the common causes are listed in #D3 of the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.
When TM decided it needed to do a full backup, it likely deleted all but the last one, trying to make enough room. Unfortunately, your logs for March 6 are probably gone by now, so we can't figure out exactly what happened then, much less why.
I then excluded all but 100G of files. Time machine did a full backup of that 100G and then on the next days backup it also did a full backup. Files that hadn't been touched were copied based on looking in the Finder and omnidisksweeper said the files were taking the full amount of space as well.
Again, that's not necessarily so. Click here to download the TimeTracker app. It shows most of the files saved by TM for each backup (excluding some hidden/system files, etc.). Some prefer the BackupLoupe application.
Either one should clarify whether everything is really being backed-up each time. Take a look at the subsequent backups from after you excluded all but 100 GB, and post back with your findings.

I use Time Machine with an external hard disc which has worked perfectly for some years. Recently Time Machine has aborted backups if the screen saver starts when back-up is in progress. I use a Maxtor OneTouch4 back-up system. Any ideas?

I use Time Machine with an external hard disc which has worked perfectly for some years. Recently Time Machine has aborted backups if the screen saver starts when back-up is in progress. I use a Maxtor OneTouch4 back-up system. Any ideas?
Has Apple recently up-dated my OS (Lion) such that every time the screen saver starts it disables Time Machine. I have to switch-off the computer and re-start in order to undertake a back-up. I have now switched of all screen savers.

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of this exercise is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem(s)?
After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)

Time Machine does not backup all of my files

Hi,
If I compare my Dropbox folder to what Time Machine backups there are differences which means that Time Machine does not backup all files:
diff <(cd "/Users/phil/Dropbox" && ls -R | sort) <(cd "/Volumes/TimeMachineBackup/Backups.backupdb/Computername/Latest/Macintosh HD/Users/phil/Dropbox" && ls -R | sort)
There are also differences if I compare my user folder to the Time Machine Backup:
diff <(cd "/Users/phil/" && ls -R | sort) <(cd "/Volumes/TimeMachineBackup/Backups.backupdb/Computername/Latest/Macintosh HD/Users/phil/" && ls -R | sort)
I did not exclude the folders affected from the Time Machine backup.
I have verified this behaviour on other computers as well.
Does anybody else have this kind of problem?
Philipp

These commands solved the problem for now:
1) Stop the Dropbox desktop application (if needed)
- Click on the Dropbox icon.
- Choose Quit/Stop/Exit
2) Open your Terminal app (Located at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal)
3) Copy and paste the following lines into the Terminal, one at a time, and press RETURN after each one. PLEASE make sure you copy and paste these commands (don't type them by hand), as getting them wrong could cause some harm. You'll be prompted for your computer user's password (not your Dropbox password) after entering the first command. Keep in mind that the password field in the terminal will remain blank as you type your password. After you type it, just press ENTER.
sudo chflags -R nouchg ~/Dropbox ~/.dropbox ~/.dropbox-master
sudo chown "$USER" "$HOME"
sudo chown -R "$USER" ~/Dropbox ~/.dropbox ~/.dropbox-master
sudo chmod -RN ~/.dropbox ~/Dropbox ~/.dropbox-master
chmod -R u+rw ~/Dropbox ~/.dropbox ~/.dropbox-master

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew, will time Machine(external drive) and all the discs I got with my computer be enough to restart things. And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad. Here's the info on my IMac:
Model Name:          iMac
Model Identifier:          iMac6,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors:          1
Total Number Of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          4 MB
Memory:          3 GB
Bus Speed:          667 MHz
Boot ROM Version:          IM61.0093.B07
SMC Version (system):          1.10f2

I need to erase my hard drive and start anew
Why do you feel you need to do this? That is such a 'Windows thing' to do!
And secondly does RAM memory cards go bad
Very rarely, but nothing in life is guaranteed (except death and taxes)! If you purchased RAM from a reputable source like Crucial or OWC it will carry a lifetime warranty.

When my time machine tries to backup to my time capsule I get the following message"The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Kent's MacBook Pro.sparsebundle" is already in use. " What do I need to do to fix this?

When my time machine tries to backup to my time capsule I get the following message"The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Kent’s MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” is already in use. " What do I need to do to fix this?

Restart the Time Capsule.

I am getting this error message on my iMac. Time Machine unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the back up folder. Any ideas on how to fix???

i am getting this error message on my iMac. Time Machine unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the back up folder. Any ideas on how to fix???

See Pondini's TM FAQs

HT3275 Can i delete all my photos from iphoto to make space for more, and Time Machine will have saved all the old ones? i don't want to delete any because they may be lost forever.

any info much appreciated

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You can do it but you shouldn't. Time Machine deletes old backups when your Time Capsule gets full, so you will lose your iPhoto libraries and the pictures they have.
If you want, one thing you can do is to move the iPhoto library to another external disk, so you will get free space on the hard disk

HP xw8600 workstation fans run at max all the time after upgrading CPUs and memory

Hello, This is my 1st post on the forums here so I would like to thank everyone for the help ahead of time. I have an HP xw8600 workstation on which I have upgraded the CPUs and RAM recently - after the upgrade the fans seem to spin at full speed all the time (not just under load). Before the upgrading the fans were barely heard but afterwords the workstation has become very loud. This seems odd that the fans always run fast now and seems like this is not "normal" - what needs to be done to allow the fans to again be modulated by load/temp settings as designed? I looked in the temp and fan RPM settings in the BIOS and it looks like all sensors are working (including ambient temp sensor - was stating around 20 deg. C). Hardware changes:Before - CPU: 2x Intel Xeon X5460/ 3.16 GHz, 12MB L2, 1333 MHz, FSB,120WRAM: HP 32GB (16x2GB) DDR2-667 ECC FBD RAM - using RAM riser After -CPU: 2x Intel Xeon X5492/ 3.40 GHz, 12MB L2, 1600 MHz, FSB,150WRAM: HP 32GB (8x4GB) DDR2-800 ECC FBD RAM - using RAM riser NOTE: From the HP spec sheet it says that 32GB(8x4GB) is not supported by 5492... I am not sure why this is so and do not know if this has anything to do with my fans running very fast. HP 32GB(8x4GB)DDR2-800 ECC FBD RAM RISER Supported ONLY w/dual processors
5272, 5472, 5482 HP 64GB (16x4GB) DDR2-800 ECC FBD RAM Supported ONLY w/dual processors
5272, 5472, 5482 and 5492.
Acoustics waiver required. Other than the constantly loud fans the workstation works perfectly with the new setup. Please let me know if anyone has run into this issue with the fast fans and whether there is a fix for this (maybe flashing BIOS?). Any advice is greatly appreciated! [I originally posted this under Desktops section - http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware/HP-xw8600-workstation-fans-run-at-max-all-the-time-after/td-p/3929746]

The xw8600 has a motherboard firmware setting that if it detects high powered processors in place it wants to see the "double tall" performance heatsink/double fans per heatsink in place. I have posted about that and how I rewired a double tall to use side by side in my xw8400 next to a single tall heatsink/fan to see how cooling was affected in that workstation. The xw8400 did not ever come with double tall performance heatsinks, to my knowledge, so its motherboard's firmware is different. In those posts I also explained how to do a simple jumper wire modification on a single tall heatsink to spoof the xw8600 into thinking it had a double tall/two fans in place over each processor. Simple and quick. So, you might want to get a couple of double talls off eBay, or try the jumper wire trick. I'd personally advise to get the double tall heatsinks given that you're running 150W max TDP processors. If I remember correctly HP wanted you to use the double talls for 120W max TDP and above. I'd feel comfortable using that trick on a set of 120 watt processors if I was not hammering them frequently, but it sounds like you're a high level power user. The all-fans-on-high can be due to a failed thermisitor in the front power cable reading ambient air temps too high, but you can check that in BIOS to see the temp and it sounds like yours is not elevated incorrectly. You can search for my experience with that in a xw6600, and it is an easy $8.00-$12.00 fix with a new cable off eBay. You'd want the longer version for the xw8600, versus the shorter one for the xw6600. Finally, maybe you've just gone too high in your total wattage use? Those risers can run hot and draw lots of power. Could you live with less ram and get rid of the risers using 4GB sticks? Sometimes those prior prohibitions regarding what is and is not supported go away with later BIOS updates. Is your BIOS the latest? Welcome, and let us know what turns out to be the problem so others can benefit too. Scott

My Ipod is stuck on a white screen with the wrong time and a lock. computer doesn't recognized my Ipod..also gets hot when connected to charge..any ideas on how to fix this? Thank You

Hi
My Ipod nana...has frozen up and working. It shows a white screen with the wrong time and a lock symbol. When I connected it to my computer, it didn't show up. Back of Ipod gets really warm..Any ideas on how to fix it? Than You

If it happens again and the reset (home + power buttons) doesn't work, just let the battery drain; you'll know when the screen shuts off. Charge it back up and it should be fine. Frankly, I'm surprised this worked for you. Usually I hear people with this problem say that holding both buttons doesn't work, and they have to do the battery drain.
If the issue is incurable next time, you have a one-year warranty from the date of purchase.

When i sync my ipad and imac on ical the times are different yet the time zones are the same, any ideas why?

when i sync my ipad and imac on ical the times are different yet the time zones are the same, any ideas why?

Under the summary tab in iTunes make sure you have Automatically Back Up This computer. If you have iCloud selected it won't back up when syncing.

I cannot edit pictures in my iphotos. I am able to start new projects but my calenders and books that I was working on are frozen. Any ideas on how to fix? I spent a lot of time working on these. Thanks

I cannot edit pictures in my iphotos. I am able to start new projects but my calenders and books that I was working on are frozen. Any ideas on how to fix? I spent a lot of time working on these. Thanks

Any work you do in Lightroom is in the catalog. It is impossible to use Lightroom without a catalog.
In addition, your photos are filed in a specific location, which is determined when you import the photos (this may be a location you have specified or it may be the default location chosen by Lightroom).
So ... unless you specifically choose to delete your photos, your photos have not been deleted. To find them, open Lightroom and select File->Open Recent and select each catalog shown there until you find the one with your 170 photos.
And now ... a word to the wise: as gvb279 and Keith said, you absolutely need to stop doing whatever it is you are doing and learn the basics of Lightroom. You are clearly in need of such basic understanding. In addition to the links given above, there are many valuable instructional tutorials here: Getting Started with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 | Adobe TV
Please do yourself a favor and start learning

HT201335 My iphone (ios 7.1) is not showing the apple tv icon from my pull up center control? They are both running on the same wifi network... Any ideas on how to fix this problem?

My iphone (ios 7.1) is not showing the apple tv icon from my pull up control center? They are both running on the same wifi network... Any ideas on how to fix this problem?

Was it working before? Is your Apple TV enabled for airplay?
See
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4215?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Time Machine runs huge backups all the time. Any Idea Why & How to Fix It?

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