Time machine says back up is too large.

I am trying to back up my iMac with Time Machine and a connected G-Drive. I have deleted many old files and in Finder I have 320 GB available. Still, time machine says: "This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 210.66 GB but only 9.15 GB are available." What to do?

Try C4 in the 1st linked article.
Time Machine Troubleshooting
Time Machine Troubleshooting Problems

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Time machine says back up is too large but there is room in my HD

ok searched the forums but could not find the answer....time machine was working perfectly...then..suddenly stated that the back up was too big. TM says the back up is 255.5mb but when I do a get info on my HD here is what it says...capacity 232.76gb available 11.77gb....i thought TM overwrites older stuff...can anybody help. my external HD is 250 gb. the other odd thing is tm only shows two back ups now.
Message was edited by: Chris Harmount

Chris Harmount wrote:
my back up drive is supposed to be 250G total. It says it has 185G available.
My computer drive is also 250G total. It says that I have about 20G available.
Time machine says my current back up is 260G??? I thought that 1. time machine overwrites old backups as the hard drive fills up. 2. I no longer see the history of when I first started theTM back ups. I only see one back up now and I can no longer use TM due to the error message?
It sounds like you internal drive has about 230 GB of data and the entire TM drive is 250GB? that will never work. TM needs some head room to operate. I don't know how much exactly but I know that it does.
also, i suspect that 250Gb is the advertised decimal GB capacity. the actual binary capacity is smaller and is probably around 230GB or less.
You definitely need a bigger TM drive.

Time Machine says the backup is too large but it is not

Time Machine says the backup is too large but it is not.
While it is true my hard drive is very full (150 Gb used of the available 160Gb), this is way less than 42 Pb!!!!
I have tried numerous time to reset it and still the same issue.
Here is the reoccurring message:
Advice?

PB.. what the heck is a PB.. I kind of thought TB are still in fairly low digits.
Do a disk verify.. something is seriously stupidly wrong.. Otherwise ring Apple support and give them an earful about nonsense popups.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html A5

HT3275 my time machine says the backup is too large but it should only be incremental

I have time machine trying to back up my mac (OSX10.6) to a time capsule but it gives the error:
"This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 240.66 GB but only 8.25 GB are available."
This time capsule is used for backups on multiple macs in our house and has previously performed a successful full backup for this mac. I thought it would just delete old backups to create space for new ones, but it doesn't seem to want to do this.
How can I fix this?

TM often seems unable to fix the old backups if the disk is used by several computers.. so this is not unusual.
You either need to delete the sparsebundle for your computer and start a fresh backup.. 240GB is a lot of stuff btw.. is it restarting or corrupted an old backup and needs to restart.
The alternative is to use a USB drive connected to the TC and use that as the TM target. A local external disk would do the same thing of course.

Time Machine Error This backup is too large for the backup disk

Hi, I have a 1TB Time Capsule which backs up my Mac. I was having some issues with my mac so I decided to perform an erase and install and then use Migration Assistant to transfer everything back to my Mac.
After I reinstalled Snow Leopard and restored my Mac using Migration Assistant, Time Machine says that the backup has failed. It says " Time Machine Error This backup is too large for the backup disk. The Backup requires 663 GB but only 255 GB are available.
What do I do? Is my only option to erase my Time Capsule and have it back everything up from scratch?

Hi, thanks for the help. I erased everything off of the Time Capsule and it's backing up my Mac from scratch. It's almost finished backing up my whole mac. It's now at 641.86gb of 646.54gb but it's now backing up very slowly. It's backing up .1 every few minutes. Is this normal?
Here's the log from Time Machine Buddy:
Starting standard backup
Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://Stuart%[email protected]/Time%20Capsule
Mounted network destination using URL: afp://Stuart%[email protected]/Time%20Capsule
Creating disk image /Volumes/Time Capsule/StuartsMacPro.sparsebundle
QUICKCHECK ONLY; FILESYSTEM CLEAN
Disk image /Volumes/Time Capsule/StuartsMacPro.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Ownership is disabled on the backup destination volume. Enabling.
Detected system migration from: /Volumes/My Book
Backup content size: 850.0 GB excluded items size: 606.5 GB for volume Stuart's Drive
Backup content size: 425.9 GB excluded items size: 67.3 GB for volume Macintosh HD
No pre-backup thinning needed: 722.56 GB requested (including padding), 928.68 GB available
Waiting for index to be ready (101)
Copied 28.3 GB of 602.1 GB, 29340 of 1478089 items
Copied 55.0 GB of 602.1 GB, 41596 of 1478089 items
Copied 82.9 GB of 602.1 GB, 55899 of 1478089 items
Copied 110.7 GB of 602.1 GB, 63347 of 1478089 items
Copied 138.8 GB of 602.1 GB, 83831 of 1478089 items
Copied 166.8 GB of 602.1 GB, 94574 of 1478089 items
Copied 194.7 GB of 602.1 GB, 102854 of 1478089 items
Copied 222.8 GB of 602.1 GB, 114388 of 1478089 items
Copied 129159 files (242.5 GB) from volume Stuart's Drive.
Copied 248.4 GB of 602.1 GB, 130414 of 1478089 items
Copied 265.5 GB of 602.1 GB, 355699 of 1478089 items
Copied 293.6 GB of 602.1 GB, 382912 of 1478089 items
Copied 322.1 GB of 602.1 GB, 387974 of 1478089 items
Copied 349.8 GB of 602.1 GB, 399204 of 1478089 items
Copied 378.3 GB of 602.1 GB, 399358 of 1478089 items
Copied 406.9 GB of 602.1 GB, 399441 of 1478089 items
Copied 434.5 GB of 602.1 GB, 415817 of 1478089 items
Copied 461.5 GB of 602.1 GB, 471528 of 1478089 items
Copied 488.2 GB of 602.1 GB, 537277 of 1478089 items
Copied 515.1 GB of 602.1 GB, 580446 of 1478089 items
Copied 541.3 GB of 602.1 GB, 590386 of 1478089 items
Copied 566.8 GB of 602.1 GB, 602496 of 1478089 items
Copied 593.3 GB of 602.1 GB, 649575 of 1
Message was edited by: Stuart Lawrence
Message was edited by: Stuart Lawrence

Time Machine Error. Backup is too large for the backup disk. Backup requires 289.28 GB but only 177.01 GB are available.

My Mac has not been backing up for some time. Tried Apple Support, but couldn't figure out problem.
Receive the following error...
Time Machine Error
This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 289.28 GB but only 177.03 GB are available.

See #C4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
If that doesn't clarify the situation, post back with:
How much data is on your internal HD (and any others being backed-up)?
How large is your Time Capsule?
Is there anything else on the TC besides these backups? If so, what and how large?

Time Machine Error - this backup is too large....;

My time capsule no longer backs-up. I get an error Time Machine Error....This back up is too large for the back up disk. I havent much to the HD to have it all of a sudden do this. I did install a new HD about a year ago and some posts seem to indicate that perhaps it keeps backup all files and therefore duplicating. Not sure.

See Pondini's TM FAQs, for starters.

Time Machine Error - The backup is too large for the backup disk

I have been using Lion (currently 10.7.1) on my MacBook Pro (13" - early 2011) since it was released. I haven't had any serious problems with it.
All of a sudden, I am getting an error in Time Machine. When it tries to run a backup, the error "This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 7.51 GB but only 630.1 GB are available." What gives? That's plenty of room. I have installed Logic Studio and a few plug-ins, so the 7.51 GB is probably right. The free space is correct as well. I can't understand what the problem is.
The backup disk is an external USB 2.0 drive with no other Time Machine backups on it or any other files. The folder "Backups.backupdb" is the only thing on the root of the disk.
I am reluctant to reset the Time Machine and lose all of the backups, but I will if anyone recommends it.

Hi Linc,
It is not working at the moment, as I have restored the original Lion image again; it has all my work and apps on it.
Many thanks for the info on the log, though. It tells a strange story. Here's the log from the last backup that worked to the first one that failed: --
Sep 12 17:15:55 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Starting standard backup
Sep 12 17:15:55 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup/Backups.backupdb
Sep 12 17:15:55 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: 100.0 MB required (including padding), 633.72 GB available
Sep 12 17:15:55 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Waiting for index to be ready (100)
Sep 12 17:16:00 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Copied 793 files (601 KB) from volume System.
Sep 12 17:16:00 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: 100.0 MB required (including padding), 633.72 GB available
Sep 12 17:16:01 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Copied 89 files (93 bytes) from volume System.
Sep 12 17:16:01 Johns-MacBook-Pro mds[34]: (Error) Volume: Could not find requested backup type:2 for volume
Sep 12 17:16:01 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Starting post-backup thinning
Sep 12 17:16:01 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Deleted /Volumes/Backup/Backups.backupdb/John’s MacBook Pro/2011-09-11-154229 (1.1 MB)
Sep 12 17:16:01 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Post-back up thinning complete: 1 expired backups removed
Sep 12 17:16:01 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[674]: Backup completed successfully.
Sep 13 10:34:12 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[287]: Starting standard backup
Sep 13 10:34:12 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[287]: Backing up to: /Volumes/Backup/Backups.backupdb
Sep 13 10:34:52 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[287]: 7.51 GB required (including padding), 630.11 GB available
Sep 13 10:34:52 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[287]: No expired backups exist - deleting oldest backups to make room
Sep 13 10:34:52 Johns-MacBook-Pro mds[32]: (Error) Volume: Could not find requested backup type:2 for volume
Sep 13 10:35:03 Johns-MacBook-Pro com.apple.backupd[287]: Backup failed with error: Not enough available disk space on the target volume.
I don't understand. For starters, I think it's a little wasteful that 3.5 GB has been used to back up 601 KB. That's the difference in free space on the backup volume between the two backups. That can't be normal, surely.
The only error is that mds[32] error, and from what I've read on forums, that seems to appear on backups that work perfectly.
Too weird. It looks like I'll have to reinstall Lion and all my applications again to get Time Machine working, or find another backup solution.

TIME MACHINE Error: This backupup is too large for the backup volume ...

Hi Folks !
I have also my first problems with TM. It was running, the first time nicht&day to make the first backup and now seems the device to be full! This TimeMachineError was displayed:
This backup is too large for the backup volume. The backup requires 127.5 GB but only 46.5 are available. To select a larger volume, or make the backup smaller by excluding files, open System Preferences and choose Time Machine.
END OF ERROR Message
First thing > if I choose SystemPrefs/TM there is no chance to exclude file or folders the only dialog is for Volumes
Any Idea ?
Are the TM Preferences corrupted or why I cannot choose to define my backup ?
Ciao
Massimo

When my Time Machine disk had only 50GB left, I got the message that it couldn't back up because it required 118GB to do so. Because there was, for some reason, only one day backed up, I deleted the backup files to start fresh. Now I am getting the message:
"This backup too large for the backup volume. The backup requires 1056.6 GB but only 929.4 GB are available."
Well, the backup only require 118GB a little while ago, and the initial full backup that I deleted was 880 GB. Nothing has been added to the startup disk, and a 400GB disk has been excluded to try to make this work, so this message can't be right.
How do I make this work? Do I have to keep reinstalling Time Machine every time I want to backup?

Every other time machine backup to timecapsule is too large

Hello,
I have a strange thing going on here. I am running 10.8.2 on a MBP early 2011. I backup with time machine to my timecapsule via WiFi and to an external drive connected to USB. Both backups are encrypted.
Everything worked great for a year. A couple of weeks ago I had to reset my MBP from a backup. Worked fine as well. After that time mashine did a new complete backup.
Since then, sometimes my incremental backups get as large as 37GB even though not much has changed. I have excluded my downloadfolder and also my Virtual machine (Windows XP via parallels). The backup begins and is being calculated to be lets say 3MB large but during the backup the size grows up to 37GB.
This happens maybe once a day. Eight backups or so just work as always and then all of a sudden 37GB again. And the funny thing, this does NOT happen at all backing up to the external HD, ONLY when backing up to my timecapsule.
What I have tried so far:
- I reset my timecapsule i.e. I deletd all backups and did a fresh complete backup
- I reset timemachine as described here http://pondini.org/TM/A4.html
This did not help. I found out comparing the backups that when it comes to a 37GB backup the following folders are backed up to an great extend if not completely:
- Machintosh HD / System, Library and Applications
This is really frustrating as it takes so long for large backups...

OK, it looks like it IS supported to have a Time Machine backup to an external drive hanging off a Time Capsule:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2038?viewlocale=en_US
"...but you cannot choose AirPort Extreme's AirPort Disk as a Time Machine backup volume.
However, you can choose Time Capsule AirPort Disks or internal disks as a Time Machine backup volume."

Time machine says back up disk doesn't have enough room?

use to work no problem, now this... any help is appreciated.
macbook pro (late 2011, mavericks, 500gb HDD)
back up drive lacie and 500gb

I have had this problem with time machine on OS X Lion also.
About your only options are to Erase that drive then make a new TM backup or buy a new larger external drive.
Time machine is supposed to delete older backups to make room for new ones but in my experience that doesn't happen with the Lion TM system. Eraing the drive was what I had to do.

My Time Machine says backup drive is too small

After upgrading to Lion I created a new backup. My Time Capsule had 400Gb free, and the full backup is 270gb. However after a day or so time machine cant perform a backup because there isnt enough space on the drive. It says it needs another 270gb. The size of the backup hasnt changed since snow leopard so im not sure why this has happened. I feel it could be to do with File vault 2 which I enabled after upgrading to Lion. Also after I did the full backup it said on the TC that it was only 22mb in size, but this has now changed.
Many thanks

gooober wrote:
What is strange is that I had the exact same problem with Time machine after I moved my Time machine drive from being directly connected to my Macbook Pro to connecting it to our Airport Extreme.
After I moved the drive, I got an error message stating the same - yet there was plenty space left on the drive!
That's a different problem. Time Machine stores backups differently when done over a network. See the blue box in #E2 of Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
And I hate to have to tell you this, but backing-up that way is unreliable and not supported by Apple. See Using Time Machine with an Airport Extreme Air Disk.

HT3275 time machine states: the backup is too large for the backup disk?? not sure what to do here,

does anyone know what to do here?? time machine will not complete any backups- every time it attempts it states the backup disk is not large enough

If you decide to erase the Time Capsule and start over with a new set of Time Machine backups.....
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the Time Capsule icon, then click Edit
Click the Disks tab at the top of the window
Click Erase Disk
The Quick Erase option will only take a few minutes
Once the procedure is complete, close AirPort Utility
To start over with a new set of Time Machine backups.....
Click the Time Machine clock icon at the top of the Macs screen
Click Open Time Machine Preferences
Make sure Time Machine is On
Click Add or Remove Disks
Click your Time Capsule
Click Use Disk
A new backup should start in a few moments. Allow plenty of time for the first backup because the entire contents of your Mac will be copied over on this backup.
If you want to keep your current backup history and add a new Time Capsule, we'll need to understand how you have your Time Capsule set up in your network at the present time.
Is the Time Capsule now connected to a modem with a wired Ethernet cable?
What is the make and model number of the modem?
Does the Time Capsule provide your wireless network signal, or does another modem/router perform this service?

Time capsule says: This backup is too large for the backup volume.

What should I do. Has been working quite happily for a year or so. Now every time it tries to back up i get the error message "backup requires 66.4 gb but only 45.3 available."

Welcome to the discussions!
Your Time Capsule is almost full. You have a few options:
1) Add another Time Capsule to keep your current backups and continue future backups. This is a good solution, but it requires an additional purchase.
2) Erase the Time Capsule disk that you have now and start over with the backup process. If you don't really need all the backups to indicate how your computer looked months ago, this is an economical option.
The downside to this option is that you will be without backups at all during the period between the time you erase the disk and make master backups for each computer. In the unlikely event that one of your computers might fail at the wrong time, you would lose the data on that computer.

Time Machine says backup is too large for backup disk -- but it isn't...

I have a MacBook Pro with a 120GB drive and a 120GB external drive I use for Time Machine. Everything went fine for months until my laptop's drive got close to full (about 3GB of free space). Then Time Machine started saying it didn't have enough room to complete a backup: "needs 10GB but only 8.6GB is available"
So I told it to stop backing up my iTunes movies (about 7GB). Still didn't work -- same error message (the actual values may have changed some, I don't remember).
Next, I added another 10GB do the "do not back up" list. Still didn't work. Finally, I deleted (actually deleted, not just said "don't back up") about 5GB of files and emptied the Trash.
Now it says it needs 15.9GB of space to do a backup and only 8.6 is available... ??? I've restarted the machine several times, still doesn't work.
My solutions seem to be making it worse. Makes no sense to me.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Peter,
Unfortunately, Apple hasn't documented this very well. However, those of us who know how Time Machine works behind the scenes know this to be true. Of course, Time Machine can back up a given machine at least once with only slightly more space on the backup drive than needed, but subsequent backups will fail.
I have to disagree, though, that most people would fill a 250 GB hard drive. I have what I would consider a "just barely manageable" amount of data in my HOME folder, and my installation clocks in at about 100 GBs. Those "big ticket" items that would tend to bloat my HOME folder- iTunes videos, folders of huge images, etc.- I regularly place on some form of external storage when I no longer need them, removing them from my HOME folder. In fact, I have a partition on an external drive just for the storage of iTunes videos that have already been watched.
If your installation is filling a 250 GB hard drive, you might consider your file management, and just what is consuming so much disk space. It could be that you have some data that would be better stored externally.
Those that would benefit most from using a Time Capsule are those using portable computers, since these are the least convenient to connect directly to an external drive. Certainly, it doesn't make sense to have a portable connected directly to an external to allow hourly backups, which could occur easily when using a Time Capsule. And, I dare say that most portable computer users have internal drives smaller than 250 GBs. I know I certainly do.
All this said, your question is really whether or not a Time Capsule is right for you. If you are filling a 250 GB hard drive, the 500 GB model would do, but just barely. Adding a second machine, also using all of a 250 GB hard drive, wouldn't be possible. In this case, even the 1 TB model would be just barely enough, if that. Again, you might want to consider your file management, or just stick with directly-connected external drives for use with Time Machine. There are scenarios where a Time Capsule makes sense, and scenarios where directly-connected solutions are better.
Scott

Time machine says back up is too large.

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