Time Machine will not backup to my external Hard Drive even though it works on another Mac

I have a WD My Book Studio Edition II that backs up perfectly fine on my iMac 2008 ,but when it comes to my Mac Pro 2001 it just comes up with a "Calculating size..." Message that goes on forever.

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard." Note the timestamp of the last such message. Clear the text field and scroll back in the log to that time. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them (command-C) to the Clipboard. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — anonymize before posting.

Similar Messages

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    First - I live in a tiny fishing village in Belize, so getting support here is virtually non-existent. There is no one else in my village who even uses a Mac. Recently, my hard drive in my 2012 Macbook Pro 13" went bad (said it suffered a "shock"?) and I was traveling to Cozumel, Mexico, so had it replaced there. We used an external hard drive backup to restore the data to it's last time machine backup (October of 2014). Everything was working fine, until I returned home, added some pictures, and wanted to do a fresh backup. Now, time machine will start the backup, but gets about 113,000 of 181,000 done, and it locks up. I can do nothing - everything freezes, and I have to eventually power down the computer. I even tried deleting the old backup from the external hard drive, erasing it completely, and reformatting the external hard drive using disk utility. Still locking up. It is a 5 GB external hard drive, so space shouldn't be an issue, and it was backed up to the same external hard drive previously with no issues. I'm still running Mavericks, and don't want to try to upgrade to Yosemite until I can be sure I have a backup of my old data and pictures. I am a writer, and use that to make my meager living LOL
    I'm stumped. I've looked through the files endlessly but can't find anything similar to my issue. Any suggestions? I know just enough to be dangerous, and don't want to lose everything we worked so hard to retrieve when my hard drive crashed last month.
    Thanks!

    SMH5206 - I tried letting it sit and crank overnight twice. First time I thought it was my error causing it to lock up. Now I know better. I haven't changed any of my time machine settings - and actually never used time machine regularly. Only reason I had a fresh backup from last Oct was because I did one before I upgraded to mavericks. Everything worked fine then - and we used that to restore when the hard drive crashed and was replaced. I have actually deleted hundreds of pictures off my hard drive and one entire user, so it should actually be a much smaller backup - so if it did it before on the same external hard disk, I don't understand why it won't now.  I'm really confused.
    Kahjot - the external hard drive is the same one I backed up to previously - and I have completely erased it and reformatted, and the information I'm backing up now is less, so there should be no reason why it doesn't have enough room now, when there is actually less information on my current hard drive (see my reply to SMH5206). When I plug it in, it says it is a 500.07 GB WD "My Passport"
    I've even tried to have time machine only backup certain files, and not the whole thing. Still locking up.
    I'm sure it's my error somewhere, - I just don't know how or where

  • I upgraded to Maverick and now Time Machine will not connect to the external hard drive to back up files.  The external hard drive is a Western Digital "My Book Live" 2 TB.  How do I solve problem?

    I upgraded to Maverick and now Time Machine will not connect to the external hard drive to back up files.  The external hard drive is a Western Digital "My Book Live" 2 TB.  How do I solve problem?

    I also had problem accessing my WD MyBookLive after upgrading to Maverick.
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    You can also verify that you have admin access to the MyBookLive using Safari or Chrome.
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  • TIme Machine will not back up to External Hard Drive

    I reinstalled Snow Leopard on my Mac Mini after having some issues. After reinstallation, Time Machine would no longer backup to my External HD because it will not allow me to change permissions. I right click on my "Backup" drive and change the permissions to Read + Write but it just sets it back to "Custom". I'm guessing that the reinstallation changed my account information but I'm not sure how to fix this. My External HD shows in Disk Utility that it is still almost full of Time Machine backups but I have no way to access them or to continue to use Time Machine for future backups. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

    crash888 wrote:
    I reinstalled Snow Leopard on my Mac Mini after having some issues. After reinstallation, Time Machine would no longer backup to my External HD because it will not allow me to change permissions.
    What message did you get? You should never change permissions (or anything else) on a Time Machine drive -- TM does that for you.
    Start with #C2 in the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
    It will show you how to locate the message(s) that describe the problem, then help you fix it.
    If that doesn't help, post back with details, including all the messages, your setup (especially the destination for the backups), what you've done, and the results.

  • Time Machine will not backup Lacie 1TB Rugged (Biometric) drive

    I have a Lacie 1TB Rugged Drive running Lacie Safe Manager (Biometric Login). I use this for my iPhoto libraries and Final Cut Pro media and would like this to be backed up by Time Machine.
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    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 the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, or by a peripheral device. 
    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. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
    Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including Wi-Fi on certain iMacs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
    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? After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

  • If I deleted a file on my Mac would Time Machine delete its copy on my external hard drive when backing up?

    I just finished backing everything up onto my new 2T WD My Book Essential because my Macbook Pro is absolutely full of Photoshop files. I want to delete them from my Mac (since they're backed up) but I'm too scared Time Machine will delete them from my external hard drive.
    Thanks in advance.

    Move the images over to an external drive that is connected to your Mac by USB or FireWire.
    Then....Time Machine will backup both your Mac..and..the hard drive automatically. 
    Can you elaborate on this?
    I have a 128GB McAir (mid 2011 model) with a 2GB TC for backup. I need another external hard drive to save pictures and home HD videos. I wanted to partition the TC but learned that is not recommended. So now I’m looking to get two external hard drives to store priceless files and back it up.
    Your comment makes me think I only need one external hard drive and use the 2GB TC as backup. A good option since 2GB is an overkill for a 128GB notebook.
    Can you please share the steps? Plug in a HDD to McAir and run Time Machine? Is that it?
    Thanks.

  • Time Machine will not backup Time Capsule drive

    I was filling up my time capsule so I bought a new 2GB drive for my backups. It is attached as an air disk on the Time Capsule as I also use it to backup other computers in the house.
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    I have checked my excluded drives list and the Time Capsule drive isn't in there.
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    Sorry, but Time Machine will not backup a network drive (i.e. TC's HDD or any USB HDD attached to the TC). It can backup TO a NAS such as TC or a USB HDD attached to the TC. You can transfer your music to another external HDD that is connected directly to a Leopard-loaded Mac and TM can backup that up to TC/HDD attached to a TC.

  • Time machine will not backup but does restore

    My Time machine will not backup, but will restore from prior backups - the last made three months ago (end of January).  Can anyone help?  When trying to run a backup the screen shows:
    Select Disc (which I have already done)
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    A continuosly revolving progress bar
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    Note that when I run Time Machine in order to restore, all backups prior to Jan 30th are there.
    I am running OSX Mountain LIon Version 10.8.3

    Mickmannock wrote:
    I followed the proceedure described to delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist.  However I note that there are very many versions of this file in other locations.
    There shouldn't be.  Delete any others. 
    Make sure the one you deleted was in your top-level /Library folder (not the Library folder inside your home folder).  If you got the right one, when you went back to the Time Machine Preferences window, it should not have shown your TM drive or anything else.
    I am running Parallels 8 and windows 7 in a Virtual machine, but these do not appear to have created problems in the past - over two years now.
    You probably should exclude the VM files from Time Machine backups.  That shouldn't be the cause of much of this problem, but may be a problem in the future.  The reason is, to OSX, a VM file is one huge file -- if anything at all is changed, TM considers the whole thing changed, and will back it up again, taking time and lots of space on your backup disk.
    Have you Verified your internal HD, and Repaired any other disks being backed-up, and your backups, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting?
    What are you backing-up to (external HD, Time Capsule, etc.)?  

  • I am trying to use Time Machine to back-up to an external hard drive and I get the following message.Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder. Does anyone know what I should do?

    I am trying to use Time Machine to back-up to an external hard drive and I get the following message.Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder. Does anyone know what I should do?

    Hello Drake, I suspect one or more of the Drives needs repairing, but...
    Have you looked through Pondini's extensive TM help site?
    http://Pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    Can't imaging something not being covered there.

  • HT3275 When I press "select backup location" in the Time Machine section of System Preferences, my external hard drive doesn't appear as an option.  How do I change this?

    When I press "select backup location" in the Time Machine section of System Preferences, my external hard drive doesn't appear as an option.  How do I change this?  My external hard drive is a FreeAgent GoFlex Drive.

    Hi, what Format is the external Drive?
    They usually come PC Formatted for Fat32/MSdos, or NTFS... is there anything on it now?
    How to format your disks...
    http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html
    (To Install OSX on an IntelMac the Drive it needs the GUID Partitioning scheme mentioned at the bottom.)
    Thanks to Pondini, Formatting,  Partitioning, Verifying,  and  Repairing  Disks...
    http://Pondini.org/OSX/DU.html

  • I just backed up my mac to an external hard drive using Time Machine. What would happen if I turn Time Machine off and then plug the external hard drive back into my computer?

    I just backed up my mac to an external hard drive using Time Machine. What would happen if I turn Time Machine off and then plug the external hard drive back into my computer?
    What I am ultimately wanting to do is make more room on my computer by backing up all of my files onto the external hard drive and then deleting them off of my computer. However, neededing to be able to retrieve them from the external hard drive later down the road.
    From what I have read and am trying to understand, is that I probably shouldn't have used time machine. I need to use the external hard drive like a basic flash drive where I can put things on and get things off without having it automatically update through time machine everytime I connect it to my computer.
    Not tech savvy at all and barely understand basics. I need very simple and easy to understand explanations.

    sydababy wrote:
    and then deleting them off of my computer.
    BIG BIG MISTAKE ..... youre making a linchpin deathtrap for your data trying to shove everything on a single fragile HD.
    Dont suffer the tragedy other people make, buy another or 2 more HD, theyre cheap as dust.
    The number of people who have experienced terror by having a single external HD backup is enormous.  One failure that WILL HAPPEN, and kaput,......all gone!
    Dont do it, its all about redundancy, redundancy, redundancy.
    follow here:
    Methodology to protect your data. Backups vs. Archives. Long-term data protection
    Deleting them off your computer is fine....having only ONE copy is extremely BAD.
    The Tragedy that will be, the tragedy that never should be
    Always presume correctly that your data is priceless and takes a very long time to create and often is irreplaceable. Always presume accurately that hard drives are extremely cheap, and you have no excuse not to have multiple redundant copies of your data copied on hard drives and squirreled away several places, lockboxes, safes, fireboxes, offsite and otherwise.
    Hard drives aren't prone to failure…hard drives are guaranteed to fail (the very same is true of SSD). Hard drives dont die when aged, hard drives die at any age, and peak in death when young and slowly increase in risk as they age.
    Never practice at any time for any reason the false premise and unreal sense of security in thinking your data is safe on any single external hard drive. This is never the case and has proven to be the single most common horrible tragedy of data loss that exists.
    Many 100s of millions of hours of lost work and data are lost each year due to this single common false security. This is an unnatural disaster that can avoid by making all data redundant and then redundant again. If you let a $60 additional redundant hard drive and 3 hours of copying stand between you and years of work, then you've made a fundamental mistake countless 1000s of people each year have come to regret.

  • HT201250 I run time machine on my iMac using an external hard drive.  I just bought a MacBook Pro and want to know if i can run time machine on it using my wireless network on to the iMac external hard drive

    I run time machine on my iMac using an external hard drive.  I just bought a MacBook Pro and want to know if i can run time machine on it using my wireless network on to the iMac external hard drive

    How do I set up Time Machine to a shared drive on another Mac?

  • I am trying to download Final Cut Pro, but it keeps telling me there is not enough space on my hard drive even though there is. Help?

    I am trying to download Final Cut Pro, but it keeps telling me there is not enough space on my hard drive even though there is. Help?

    I realized that my laptop only has 2GB of memory. It's a MacBook Pro 13in bought in 2009. Is it true that I'm able to upgrade up to 8GB of memory. Seems like 4GB of space is a lot for a single program to be running.. A bummer I'll have to save up for more memory.

  • Time machine will not backup my home folder

    I am having problems with time machine backing up my home folder. There is nothing in the TM exclusion option except (time machine backup) which is understandable. Even if I wanted to exclude it from backups it does not give me the option like its not recognized. Could this be a problem because my home folder is encrypted? I have talked to someone at the apple store about the issue and they where unable to help.

    Yes, it's because it's encrypted. Time Machine does not backup a File Vault protected Home folder as it would an unencrypted one. The File Vault disk image is only backed up after you log out. If you never log out then it will not be backed up.
    If you want a "normal" backup of your Home folder you will have to turn off File Vault.

  • Time Machine won't backup up to external firewire drive

    MacBook Pro - Time Machine won't backup to firewire external drive.  Has worked well in past few weeks..........any ideas?

    Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
    ☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.
    Select "system.log" from the file list. Enter "backupd" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. Post the messages from the last backup, beginning with "Starting standard backup."
    Post the log text, please, not a screenshot. If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Do not post many repetitions of the same message.
    Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — edit that out, too, but don’t remove the context.

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