Time machine--verify backup is grayed out on the menu.

When I go to the Time Machine menu and hit option to get the Verify Backup command, "verify backup" is grayed out. How do I verify backups?
I'm using a G-Drive Mini ext hard drive with a Mac Lion 10.7.2 machine.

I see mine is also greyed out but I know it's backing up by looking at the message as described in my first post and also by launching TM to see the backups.
If you are attempting to test the integrity of your drive you can try the Verify Disk and Repair Disk features in Disk Utility. This will work, you can also get third party applicaitons that do more in-depth checks, Drive Genius comes to mind.
I have been using TM for about 4 1/2 years, it works fine. If you want to learn more about it then I'd recommend Pondini's Time Machine FAQs & Time Machine Troubleshooting articles.

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Does Time Machine verify backup

Do you know if there's a way to get Time Machine to verify backups? I've always used backup programs in the past which verify the backup after it's done. But Time Machine seems to stop once a backup is completed.
Also, after the first backup, is there a way to find out what's been backed up in the subsequent backups? When I clicked on the folders for the hourly backups, all the usual subfolders were there. I was wondering if there's a way to get Time Machine to create a log so I wouldn't have to click through the subfolders to find out which ones had new files added.
Thanks,
Elllen

Elllen wrote:
Do you know if there's a way to get Time Machine to verify backups? I've always used backup programs in the past which verify the backup after it's done. But Time Machine seems to stop once a backup is completed.
There is no way.
But generally, if it doesn't throw any errors at you, it's fine.
Also, after the first backup, is there a way to find out what's been backed up in the subsequent backups? When I clicked on the folders for the hourly backups, all the usual subfolders were there. I was wondering if there's a way to get Time Machine to create a log so I wouldn't have to click through the subfolders to find out which ones had new files added.
No, AFAIK.

Time Machine problem: backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly

Hi all,
I'm having trouble with Time Machine. Each time it tries to do a backup, it errors out.
Here is the most recent log from TM Buddy:
Starting manual backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb
Using file event preflight for Macintosh HD
Will copy (740.5 MB) from Macintosh HD
Found 1702 files (741 MB) needing backup
2.43 GB required (including padding), 57.43 GB available
Stopping backup.
Error: (-34) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/Alan/Pictures/iPhoto Library (original)/Masters/2013/02/25/20130225-174952/IMG_1601.MOV to /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb/Alan’s iMac/2013-07-27-024450.inProgress/FE0FAB85-8482-43AF-B2D2-CB4804D0B0E9/Macintos h HD/Users/Alan/Pictures/iPhoto Library (original)/Masters/2013/02/25/20130225-174952
Copied 111323 files (57.29 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Copy stage failed with error:28
Backup failed with error: 28
It usually errors out in the middle of trying to backup the very large "iPhoto Library (original)" file, so I went digging into this file back in time. About a month ago, I emptied the trash in iPhoto for the first time, and the size of the iPhoto Library file shrank from 87 GB down to just 1 GB. That seems rather extreme, and according to iPhoto, I still should have approximately 62 GB of photos remaining. The last completed backup that Time Machine was able to make had the library file at 800 MB. Even more strange, the current iPhoto Library file on my iMac is 83 GB. So I think this is the reason why TM is trying to make another complete backup of this file.
I'm guessing that if TM is able to completely backup the iPhoto Library file, the errors will go away. Does this seem like a reasonable hypothesis?
If so, then I'll need to delete files on the TM volume to make more room. At one point last year, I had tried splitting my monolithic iPhoto Library into 3 smaller libraries, and later merged them again under the current name "iPhoto Library (original)". These changes/instances of the libraries were all captured on TM. If I delete the original monolithic iPhoto Library file (named "iPhoto Library") on the TM volume, will I also lose my current iPhoto library (named "iPhoto Library (original)"? In other words, how does TM distinguish one file from another? By the file name? Or some other more permanent identifier?

The backup volume was full. That shouldn't happen, because TM is supposed to manage disk space by deleting snapshots as needed to make room for a new one, up to the last complete snapshot, which is never removed automatically. Normally, a snapshot won't be started if there isn't enough space for it.
First, I strongly suggest that you make a new backup (not necessarily with Time Machine) on another external drive. A single backup isn't enough to be safe.
One possibility is that you were writing other data to the volume during the backup. Apple recommends that no other data be stored on a backup volume.
If you've moved any files to the Trash on the backup volume, empty the Trash.
Sometimes a reboot will clear the error.
Otherwise, turn Time Machine OFF temporarily in its preference pane. Launch Disk Utility, select the backup volume, and run Repair Disk. That operation may take a few hours. If the volume is repaired successfully, or if no problems are found, try another backup.
If TM still isn't working right, boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) and repair the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Reboot as usual and try TM again.
As a last resort, put the backup drive aside and don't use it until you're sure you'll no longer need the data. Then erase it and start over. Do this only if you have at least one other backup device.

Time machine: "verifying backup" has been going on for days

I have an MBP that backs up to a 2 TB time capsule over wifi. For the last few days time machine window says: "verifying backup." The line is alive and seems to be moving. it is now ~4/5 full and was ~ 7/10 yesterday. So it does not appear to be hung up. I have about 350GB of data on my 500 GB hard drive. Mac OSX Lion. This has never happened before. I've had this system for almost three years, and this is the first time I've seen this happen.
I am keeping all my data on the cloud, so I am not too concerned about crashing but this makes me wonder if my Time Capsule is ok or, perhaps, I ahve a bug somewhere.
Advice is welcome.
FG

Start by having a look here...
http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html

Time machine verify backups sticks at 69%

Mac os mountain lion 0s 10.8.2 No longer a disk image on the desktop but backup seems to be working. Verification sticks on 69% Any help appreciated

I don't know how much you know about your Mac, so I'm trying to include all the details.
Open a Finder window. (Click on an empty spot on your Mac's "Desktop", then invoke the menu option File > New Finder Window.)
Look for your Time Capsule in the "sidebar" on the left. If you don't see it, pull down the Finder menu and select Preferences. Click on "Sidebar" in the toolbar. In the "Shared" section check "Connected servers".)
Click on the Time Capsule icon in the sidebar. The "Data" volume should appear in the main part of the window. Double-click on it. If prompted, enter the password you declared when you configured the Time Capsule.
You should now see a "sparsebundle" file. That's where Time Machine stores the backups for your Mac. Double-click on it. It should mount.
Now pull down the Time Machine item in the menu bar and select "Back Up Now".
If you have trouble with these instructions, report which step failed and exactly what messages you saw.

Time machine (older) backups not recognized after renaming the drive

Hi all.
For quite sometime I've been backing up my data (in my Mac Book Pro) using the time machine to an external drive.
Recently I changed the name of the drive I was backing up to from Finder and now I see the older backups using Finder but they're not recognized in Time Machine mode.
Is there anything I should do to make it know that those older files are actually in the same drive? I'm guessing changing a couple of lines in a text-only file (such as an XML file) where there's a file mapping will fix the issue but I'm not sure which file and where exactly that is.
Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the valuable online resource you shared.
There's a lot of critical information there. Bookmarked.
Back to the issue… Before taking any action I created an additional user in Mac OS. This had nothing to do with the awkward behavior of the TM, it was just something I should have done long ago.
After I created that user I wanted to make sure that the problem persists before doing anything. So I logged of the new account and switched to the admin account, and for the one last time I entered the TM mode. Guess what? While managing users the system must have corrected something and it finally decided to recognize my older backups! This is pretty awkward but it just happened and I'm seeing all the backups in TM mode now.
Thanks again for the help and the link

Time Machine, when I stop back up at the menu bar...will files be deleted?

Hey Forum,
I am using snow leopard on my macbook and I just started using time machine, today i switch off auto backup and manually press backup at the menu bar, then I realised that i did not backup only for a day and when the time machine finished calculating the changes, it states that 49.22GB needs to be backup(i let it run for 2 mins), thus, I wanted to re-calculate, I press stop backup and then start backup again, but then it is still 49.22GB. So I thought that it is normal and continue backuping. So, forum, will the 1st backup(the one i said run for 2 mins) be deleted when I stop backup? And Is it normal to backup 49.22Gb in just one day when i dont backup?
In summary:
1. Will the 1st backup be deleted?
2.Is it normal to backup 49.22GB in a day without backuping?
Thanks.
ALa

alazahee wrote:
1. Will the 1st backup be deleted?
If you mean the one you interrupted, yes, sort of. Time Machine will automatically "recover" it the next time it does a backup. It's sort of suspended now -- since it's not complete, you won't see it in the Time Machine "Star Wars" display.
2.Is it normal to backup 49.22GB in a day without backuping?
Probably not.
How much data is on your internal HD?
Did the first backup complete normally?
Have you done a full restore, moved or renamed a very large folder or folders, or are you using any virtualization software, such as Parallels or VMware?

HT5085 how do i update itunes match if it is grayed out on the menu bar? why can i not select it?

My iTunes Match is giving the cloud with the exclaimation point for majority of my music (all of the songs with this error were purchased through iTunes store) the support page says to go to Store>update iTunes Match - however, this option is grayed out. Why? and how do i fix the issue?

Try this http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1559

How do I restore a previous session when the Firefox homepage does NOT have the "restore" button and it is grayed out in the menu? menu

My Firefox homepage had a "Restore Previous Session" button but it has disappeared. SO when my Firefox crashes I lose all my tabs and tab groups, and this is very inconvenient. I have checked through all the "Options" seeing if there is some button there to enable this feature, but to no avail. I am frustrated as after a crash I spend hours revisiting all my links in my History menu to reset my tabs. Can you help?

In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":
*do not clear the Browsing History
*Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" > Settings
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Clear+Recent+History
Note that clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.
Clearing cookies will remove all specified (selected) cookies including cookies that have an allow exception and cookies from plugins.

Time Machine thinks backup disk is full but its not

I just purchased a new 1 Terabyte hard drive for backup. In the past I backed up both my internal Mac harddrive (250 Gb with 8gb free) and an external iOmega archive drive (DRIVE H 320Gb with 41Gb free) to a 500Gb Lacie drive. I purchased an iOmega 1 Terabyte drive (DRIVE G) because the Lacie drive was full. I went into Time Machine and changed the backup drive to the G one terabyte drive and did a full backup of my internal hard drive. When I did this I did not have the external H archive drive attached so Time Machine didn't back that up. I did it that way because I wanted to first backup the internal drive then do some work and then go backup the external archive drive over night. I plugged the H archive drive in, so it show up in the finder and then told Time Machine to Backup Now. It started the back up but right after doing the initial computations when it actually started backing up I got the standard error message that "the backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly..." I've double checked that the backup disk is set correctly in Time Machine to the 1Tb G drive and when I do a Get Info on the G drive it shows Capacity: 1TB, Available: 713.54 GB.
Is it possible something is wrong with the new drive? Can I test that?

Its funny how sometimes asking a question can prompt your thinking. As soon as I finished posting this I thought "of course Disk Utility". I ran a check disk and got the following error message:
Unused node is not erased (node = 107)
I did a restore which corrected the error. Turned Time Machine back on and its backing up the rest of my data now.

Time Machine wont backup

I bought an external hard drive and put files from my old computer on it before I bought my iMac. Now I want to use it for backing up my iMac but Time Machine wont backup to it without erasing the contents. Is there a way around this? Or will I have to buy a new EHD? Or is there a way to backup to cyberspace?
Thanks

jmhoskin wrote:
I bought an external hard drive and put files from my old computer on it before I bought my iMac. Now I want to use it for backing up my iMac but Time Machine wont backup to it without erasing the contents. Is there a way around this? Or will I have to buy a new EHD? Or is there a way to backup to cyberspace?
The drive is probably set up with the MBR (Master Boot Record) partition map, that Windoze uses. To use it for TM you must completely reformat it, which will erase it. If you have enough space (or can borrow another external temporarily), you can copy the data off, reformat it, then copy the data back.
TM works best with it's own, exclusive space, so you should partition the drive anyway. If you're going to use the other data with a PC, make the other partition MS-DOS (FAT).
For formatting instructions, see item #5 of the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
Also see #1 of the FAQ Tip for size considerations.

Time Machine vs Backup Clarification

Hello all,
I need to reinstall my OS (10.6.8), and recently purchased an external hard drive to backup all my data beforehand. I intend to use Time Machine to backup said data before reinstalling the operating system from the DVD, but want to avoid restoring the OS from the Time Machine Backup. Will restoring my data from Time Machine only retrieve my files and settings, or the "previous" OS as well? If so, how can I avoid this? Thank you in advance.

Yes, for the backup. When you restore using Migration or Setup Assistant you would opt to restore from a Time Machine backup. Then when the account listing is displayed choose to restore only the Home folder. If you do this from the Setup Assistant right after installing Snow Leopard, then this will restore your Home folder as the only user account which is what you would prefer to do.

TS3992 The option to select iCloud Backup under iCloud-Settings-Backup is "grayed out." Why is that and what does this mean?

So I cannot tell if my ipad is backing up to iCloud or not. Forgive me, but I am just figuring all this out!

Are you saying that when you go to Settings>iCloud>Storage & Backup, "iCloud Backup" is grayed out at the bottom? If so, is this an iPad from your employer or do you have your employer's exchange email account on it? If you do, your employer may have installed a profile on it that prevents you from backing up to iCloud. If that's the case you would see a setting called "Profile" in Settings>General near the bottom.

HT3275 Time machine error, backup disk image "/volumes/data-1/.sparesbundle " already in use. I don;t know what this means, can someone help?

My Mac mini time capsule is showing an error Time machine error, backup disk image "/volumes/data-1/.sparesbundle " already in use. I don;t know what this means, can someone help?

I had a similar problem and I solved it as follows -
In Time Machine - > I deselected time capsule Data Disk as a destination.
Then I pulled the power plug on the Time Capsule, twiddled my thumbs for 15 secs, plugged the power back in.
Went back t Time Machine -> Re-Added the Time Capsule Data Disk as destination. And then tested by selecting Backup Now.
All went well and the backup picked up from before the problem.
BTW - I also have a USB drive connected to Time Capsule that is an alternate disk for Time Machine to backup.
In Mountain Lion the GUI lets you add more than one Time Machine backup destinations very easily so I think it a good idea to have redundancy.
Hope this helps.

Time Machine missing backups, grayed out dates

My Time Machine disk is showing blacked out dates for some of my folders and no backups of those folders and files for those dates...There are earlier and later backups for some of the folders, but missing interim dates even though other folders were backed up. This seems to have happened after the Lion upgrade. Note: It's not a disc capacity issue, as my backup disk is 2 tb.....

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
To access to older backups through Time Machine, read > http://pondini.org/TM/B6.html When you get a new hard drive and install OS X in it, Time Machine creates a new backup instead of connecting it to the old backups you had, so you cannot access to those backups.

Time machine--verify backup is grayed out on the menu.

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