Time machine says it can't create a new backup folder.

Time machine fails to create a backup because it says it had an error creating a folder. When I go into finder and try to manually create a folder, I get a -50 error. I used disk utility to verify the time machine partition and it said it appeared to be fine. Any ideas?

See Pondini info about the issue.
C13 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
And yes, we find that wireless is much less robust than ethernet.
There is too much automatic stuff in the wireless of the TC.
Lock it down.. I recommend a full reset.
Give it all new names.. short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. That includes TC name, wireless name for 2.4ghz and different name for 5ghz.
Lock the wireless (called radio) channels. Especially for 2.4ghz .. try 11, 6, 1
Otherwise the TC can swap channels at any time.
Make sure you use WPA2 Personal security. Make sure you get good signal in your location.
Airport Extreme with disk is
1. Not authorised by Apple for use with TM.
2. Suffers the same problem.
See http://pondini.org/TM/Airport.html
TM is very exacting.. and very difficult.
SuperDuper will create a simple file structure that isn't dependent even on AFP.
As alternative to wireless you might find EOP adapters will work better for you.
Another alternative which I highly recommend for iMac, as a desktop is to simply plug in an external drive and use that.
It is cheaper, faster and more reliable than TC.. you can then do a backup from this drive to the TC occasionally by superduper as a further protection.

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Time Machine says it needs to make a new backup.....

I have a Time Capsule. I did the initial backup via ethernet cable as instructed, then moved my iMac downstairs where it needs to be. The Time Capsule is upstairs functioning as my wireless network router and backup disk. I then connect the iMac via wireless to the Time Capsule backup disk upstairs and begin to do my subsequent backups wirelessly. All goes well for several weeks, then one day I get a message on my iMac that basically says that Time Machine has verified that it must do a new backup. Another full backup. OK, so I bring the iMac upstairs to do another backup via ethernet cable, then back downstairs to connect wirelessly. All goes well for another several weeks, then again it tells me I need to do another full backup.
What gives? What is the point of having a Time Capsule as a router and wireless backup disk if I have to keep connecting every few months to do an ethernet backup? It kind of defeats the whole purpose. I have another backup disk connected to the Time Capsule doing daily backups via SuperDuper and that goes on and on with never a problem. Why does the Time Capsule have so much trouble with wireless backups via Time Machine?
Am I doing something wrong?
Is this happening to anyone else? If this is the case, it was a real waste of money buying the Time Capsule. I should have bought an Airport Extreme and connected a hard drive.
Thanks for any ideas or comments you might have.
Len

See Pondini info about the issue.
C13 http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
And yes, we find that wireless is much less robust than ethernet.
There is too much automatic stuff in the wireless of the TC.
Lock it down.. I recommend a full reset.
Give it all new names.. short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. That includes TC name, wireless name for 2.4ghz and different name for 5ghz.
Lock the wireless (called radio) channels. Especially for 2.4ghz .. try 11, 6, 1
Otherwise the TC can swap channels at any time.
Make sure you use WPA2 Personal security. Make sure you get good signal in your location.
Airport Extreme with disk is
1. Not authorised by Apple for use with TM.
2. Suffers the same problem.
See http://pondini.org/TM/Airport.html
TM is very exacting.. and very difficult.
SuperDuper will create a simple file structure that isn't dependent even on AFP.
As alternative to wireless you might find EOP adapters will work better for you.
Another alternative which I highly recommend for iMac, as a desktop is to simply plug in an external drive and use that.
It is cheaper, faster and more reliable than TC.. you can then do a backup from this drive to the TC occasionally by superduper as a further protection.

My external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive. Same thing has happened with Final Cut Express.

My new LaCie external hard drive is 'seen' by my iMac and I can go into the Finder and open files and folders. I am using the hard drive for Time Machine back up. However Time Machine says it can't find the drive.
The same thing happened recently between Final Cut Express and my other LaCie external hard drive used as the Scratch disk. It fixed itself.
I've run out of ideas. Help would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

have you done some searches on FCPx and time machine? Is there a known issue with using a TM drive with FCPx? dunno but ...wait...I'll take 60 sec for you cause I'm just that kind of guy.... google...." fcpx time machine problem" Frist page link
http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/fcpx-bug-best-practices-for-using-external-hard- drives-and-final-cut-pro-x/
You cannot have time machine backups on your hard drive if you intend to use it in FCPX.
booya!

How can I create a new documents folder

Anyone know how I can create a new documents folder in my home folder? I accidently deleted it. Nothing was in it, so I don't need to recover it. I just want a new empty documents folder.
Actually, never mind. I solved the problem myself.
At first I created a folder in the sidebar, and it didn't have the documents icon on it. I just solved the problem by deleting that icon, then creating a new folder in the main window, naming it "documents", and then the documents icon appeared. Then I dragged it to the sidebar and it created a copy there.

My mistake. I was able to create a new documents folder without any throuble.

Can I create a new GeneratedItems folder?

No luck with my first question. So maybe this one is easier?
I've noticed that my page on my system also does not work (rollovers or actions) and I have tried it both ways as well (import from library and encode into page), so I was wondering about a corrupt CSScriptLib.js file? And can I create a new one from the page somehow?
Once again the site is www.bluemoonbandblues.com/index4.html if you can help.
Thanks again in advance.
Eric

Try this. Back up your entire site folder somewhere safe, then delete the Generated Items folder. Made a small change to an action - Golive should create a new Generated Items folder. Don't ever do anything to your site or files from then on unless via the site window - as I pointed out in your other thread, this is usually what causes such problems.

Time machine says you can't do that

Hello everyone,
I'm trying to use time machine for the first time but to no avail.
When I try to restore my entire HD it says "Applications' can't be modified or deleted beacuse it's required by Mac OSX''
I haven't got a clue why.. do I have to boot from an external disc?
Any ideas?
many thanks in advance
val

do I have to boot from an external disc?
That is exactly what you should do - or boot from the system installation DVD.
If you are trying to overwrite the Application Folder while running TM from it, you would be erasing Time Machine while it is running.
if you have a running System on an external drive and want to restore your system from a Time Machine Backup, I recommand to use the Migration Assistant to do that.
Boot your MBP from the external volume, then start the Migration Assistant from Application->Utilities (on your external disk) and select to migrate from a Time Machine Backup.

THE DISK IS USE FOR TIME MACHINE AND I CAN'T INSTALL THE NEW SISTEM

Hi everybody.
how I can install the new ios if the main disk is attach to the time machine. So I guess that I have disconnect the time machine funtion however I did this and I still continue trying to install. I can't
Somebody have the same problem.?

You have an item somewhere on your hard drive named Backups.backupd. Try searching for it. If you don't find it, try getting a copy of EasyFind and look with that.

HT201250 I use time machine and I can't get a certain backup to allow restore

My MBPro stopped booting up. I got it up and running again after reinstalling everything(OSX and all). I am now running Mountain Lion, could this be causing problems seeing all the non Mountain Lion era backups. I can only restore those dates now, no older than upgrade date ones.
I hooked up my time machine drive and now I can't get a certain date to make itself available for "Restore" the latest date that lights up that button in Time Machine is the date I did the reinstall. How do I get my excel files I made back onto my computer.
Other issue is where are Excel files kept in the MAC's file structure. I know the were backed up, but I can't see them when I am using Finder to look within each subfolder in Time Machine.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
When you turn on the new iMac for the first time, Setup Assistant will ask you to restore a backup, so connect the external disk and follow steps to restore all your files to your new iMac. Your new Mac will have the same settings and programs as your old computer.
In other cases, I would recommend to restore the whole backup without using Migration Assistant or Setup Assistant, but a Late 2012 iMac uses a special OS X build, so the OS X version that you're using on your old Mac won't work on the new one. For more information, see > http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

Time Machine almost full, can I start a new drive and NOT delete old one?

Because I had an External HD crash, I was wondering if I can start a new External Hard Drive (500 GB) from scratch (meaning I don't copy old files to it) and keep the old one as a back up to the back up??? Also, I have NOT been backing up the applications and on the new drive, would like to do that. If I move the old stuff from the 300GB, won't the Applications take up most of the 500 GB??
Or is is simply better to copy everything over (I asssume it all remains on the old 300 GB hard drive) and simply let it start rewriting? My iMac is gettin on in years and I'd like to be prepared should something happen to it.
And as you can tell, I am not very techie so please feel free to talk down to me.
Has anyone migrated to a new External HD? I have directions from Apple, is it easy????
Thanks . . running out of space soon . . .

figleef wrote:
Because I had an External HD crash,
Just to be sure, do you mean your TM drive crashed? Or an external HD, containing data that TM was backing-up?
I was wondering if I can start a new External Hard Drive (500 GB) from scratch (meaning I don't copy old files to it) and keep the old one as a back up to the back up???
Again, I'm not sure what you mean. If you mean put the old TM drive "on the shelf" and start fresh on a new one, then yes. Eject and disconnect it, then format the new one (see Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #5 if you're not sure how). Give it a different name, so you're sure which is which, then select it as the destination via the Time Machine Preferences window. TM will do a full backup to it, so may take a while.
The backups on the new drive will be completely separate from the old ones.
If you ever need to see or restore from the new ones, use the Browse Other Backup Disks option, per #17 in the above link.
I have NOT been backing up the applications and on the new drive, would like to do that.
Yes, it's usually not a good idea to exclude System or Applications folders.
If I move the old stuff from the 300GB, won't the Applications take up most of the 500 GB??
No -- your Applications folder is probably in the range of 10-20 GBs.wn to me.
Has anyone migrated to a new External HD? I have directions from Apple, is it easy????
Again, not sure just what you mean.

Time Machine Keeps Thinking That it's a New Backup

We're running Snow Leopard Server on a Mac Mini, and are using an external FW drive for Time Machine backups of the server and shared data only, no client backups. Time Machine has not worked since we setup the Mac Mini, but was working well on the previous server using Leopard Server. Here are the troubleshooting steps I've taken, as well as the latest log.
Erased and re-setup the Time Machine drive using another drive name. I've encountered issues where Time Machine doesn't like to use the same drive name after a migration.
Repaired permissions
Trashed Time Machine preferences
Made sure that all updates are applied
Made sure date and time are correct on the server
Made sure that the backup hard drive was not damaged or corrupted
The error:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Graphics Backup/Backups.backupdb
Starting pre-backup thinning: 235.12 GB requested (including padding). 164.53 GB available
No expired backups exist - deleting oldest backups to make room
Error: backup disk is full - all 0 possible backups were removed, but space is still needed
Backup failed
Every time it fails, I wipe the drive and the preferences hoping that something will fall in to place on the next backup attempt. This happens every time after we complete an initial new backup where Time Machine doesn't recognize that there is an existing backup for the server on the external drive and that it only needs to create an incremental. It's extremely frustrating. We're not using any type of software that is using any crazy sql databases that would be flexing while backing up. Shoot, we have it set to backup at 5AM when no one is in the office nor connected remotely (which we don't allow nor have setup anyway). We are merely using the server for a share point for our digital assets (overkill, but not my idea). Indexing of the initial backup occurs in a reasonable time. Super frustrated at this point.

Still having this issue. Now with TWO servers, two different clients. Nothing had changed prior to this error.

Time Machine says 'about 200+ days left' to finish backup

Hello guys!
This has been a head scratcher for some days now, I tried various things to no avail, so now I come to you .
Obviously I've got ML installed, everything works fine (but TM hehe).
I'm trying to do my first backup to an USB 2.0 external drive which is connected directly to my mid 2010 iMac.
I've tried relaunching Finder and doing the backup again but I get the same 200+ days (I even got 200,000 days!)
I've also tried formatting again the drive, but the same is happening.
TM says the backup (which is everything) is about 236GB.
It has been running for about 20hs now and it has backed up almost 890mb .
I really don't know what to do, if you need any more info please say so and I'll be glad to help you help me.
PS. sorry for my english, it's not my native laguage .
Thanks!

Thanks for your lightning fast answer AnaMusic , I read that webpage and checked that my drive is formatted correctly; it is, so I continued to item C2, but the problem is that my backups don't fail, they simply never complete because they are too slow.
I am now verifying my drive for problems using Disk Utility and downloading TM Buddy.
I'll keep you updated!

Time Machine would create a NEW backup

Hello,
sorry for my bad english, I'm not a native speaker.
I'm useing Mac OSX 10.7.3
Since a few days, I've some trouble with Time Machine. When TM would create a new backup in the normal hourly loop it creates the following message:
Time machine has completed the review of its backups. To improve the reliability time machine must create a new backup. (i hope it's the correct translation in englich)
Now I've to options:
1. I can create a new backup later
2. create a new backup
Does anyone knows what is wrong? I don't want to create a new backup, I want to use the old one.
I still have enough space on my backup volume. I'm using the Airport Extreme and a WD hard drive.
Thank you for your assist.
David

Unfortunately, the issue is that the wireless connection isn't fast enough. The error is saying that basically its going to take too long to do the work.
Not sure how apple makes the time capsule faster,but apparently it works.
Apple suggested configuration is either by a direct USB or FireWire connection, or use a time capsule.
Linc is correct in his last post. You can actually plug in your USB drive at random intervals and time machine will see it and do its thing. This will probably work better in the long run, even though you haven't had any issues up until now.

Time Machine has lost the link with its old backup files

This has got me a bit puzzled.
I recently obtained a nice new iMac to use in conjunction with my trusty MacBook Pro. Previously the MBP was my main machine and I habitually plugged it into an external HDD for Time Machine to use. No problem there.
Now, since setting up the iMac I have the external HDD connected to that. I access the HDD on the MBP over my ethernet network, which is great: I can swap files, sync files easily and automatically with ChronoSync, and I'm very happy. The only problem is that I can't use the HDD for backing up the MacBook Pro anymore. Time Machine says there isn't enough room, "This backup is too large for the backup volume." Obviously TM doesn't recognise its own files from the days when the HDD was connected directly to the MBP.
I realise I can erase the HDD and tell TM to start backing up from scratch but I'm hesitant to do so. I have months of incremental backups on there already and I'm not keen to lose them. Is there anything I can do to pick up from where TM left off before I changed my cables around? It seems such a pity to throw months of backup out the window.

Have you thought about re-connecting your HDD directly back to your MBP - as you had it before. Provided the MBP's name has not changed, TM should pick-up from where it left off. Bear in mind that TM will only back up one mac at a time, and as I understand it, you would need Time Capsule or other networkable HD to back up both macs to. Considering the reasonable cost of external HD, you might be better off to get another one for your iMac.
The macs can still be connected over the network and you could still use ChronoSync for syncing etc.
Joe

When I tried to back up my computer, Time Machine says 'an error occurred while creating the backup folder.' When I check the side of the partition where I manually saved old files, the folders are there, but NONE of the files are.

I haven't backed up my computer in over a year. When I tried to back it up today, Time Machine says 'an error occurred while creating the backup folder.' When I check the side of the partition where I manually saved old photos and documents (including all the pictures from the year I studied abroad/traveled a bunch), the folders are there, but NONE of the files are.
Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be, or how I could fix it? I really don't want to lose all those photos

So you were doing a time machine backup to another partition on the same hard drive? Just trying to gather some information so i can provide a helpful response.

HT3275 what do I do when time machine says: Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder?

I am trying to back up my imac using an external storage: My passport Studio 1TB. Each time it trys to back up Time machine says: Unable to complete back up. An error occurred while creating the backup folder. Does anyone know how I can fix this problem? Thanks

Plowie,
Do a search in Discussions, "An error occurred while creating the backup folder."
Many of us are having this problem and no fix has been offered, that I could find.
Unless you call "eject the external HDD; turn off; turn back on" a fix. That's what I have to do every 2 or 3 days; I even have to "force eject", with the concomitant warning message that you could lose data, etc.

Time machine says it can't create a new backup folder.

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