Time Machine wireless with Lion?

I've been using an AirPort Extreme with an external 1TB hard drive plugged in to the USB port for Time Machine with Snow Leopard. When I upgraded to Lion, it started failing - about once a month Time Machine would decide it had to do a whole new backup from scratch. Apple support tole me that this configuration is "not supported".
I don't like having to shell out $299 for what amounts to a new AirPort with a hard drive included. Is there any other alternative to wireless Time Machine under Lion?
Walt

HACKINT0SH wrote:
We had a couple firmware versions out a while back to support this.
No. There was an update early in Leopard that made it possible, and many blogs, etc., claimed that meant Apple supported it, but it has never been supported by Apple.
A little history: Time Machine was introduced with Leopard. Some of the pre-release info did say it would work, and it was tested (with mixed results) during the beta period, but when Leopard was publicly released, it did not work and was not supported. Some folks discovered that they could use that configuration anyway by employing a Terminal command that allowed "unsupported" destinations. A few months later (about 10.5.4, I think), that command was no longer necessary -- apparently to allow backing-up to USB disks connected to Time Capsules and/or 3rd-party NAS drives that meet Apple's requirements. That's what some incorrectly assumed was Apple support.
Bottom line: It's usuallly unreliable. If you value your data, use a more reliable destination. See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #2.

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Time machine wirelessly with Airport Express

I am curious if I can backup my MBP with Time Machine wirelessly through my Airport Express. I have attached my external HD to my AE via USB cable and it does not appear on the desktop. It would simply make backing up more convenient.

If you mean an Airport Extreme, yes, you may be able to do that, but backing-up that way is unreliable and not supported by Apple. See: Using Time Machine with an Airport Extreme Air Disk.
If you mean an Airport Express, no, it doesn't support connecting a hard drive at all.

Lost login keychain; Lost previous time machine backups with Lion install

I downloaded Lion and it would not install on my 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 4 gb 1067 mhz ddr3 Mid-2009 Macbook Pro. I got the exclamation mark with hard disk irrepairable error. I took it to the local Apple store. They did a number of hardware tests and after several false calls saying it was ready (when I arrived to pick it up and tried to set up OS (select language etc) I got spinning beachball), I finally brought it home with Lion installed. All seems well, and I restored the data from Time Machine backup done under Snow Leopard. To my surprise, I find old versions of the login keychain - last updated 2010. I had 2 separate time machine backups going back six months, but when I tried to browse one for the newer keychains, I find that all previous Time Machine backups have been removed and all I have is the Time Machine backup from Lion install. So there are two related problems: one is that I lost keychain data and the other is that I can't restore from Time Machine backup since the only backups that seem to be there have restarted with Lion. Another factor, is that the technicians had to reset my user password in order to set up Lion and I subsequently changed it back to my own password. Any solutions to locating old time machine backups or restoring recent keychain entries?

How so I know...
Time machine preferences shows last known backup as NONE
NOTE: I found a section in the time machine prefs to use another backup file and all seems ok now
Thx

Time Machine Error with Lion

Been using Time Machine with no problems for a couple of years now. It's wonderful. Upgraded to Lion two weeks ago and it's been working flawlessly. However, two days ago, my Time Machine backup quit working. I'm not getting the following error message every time I try to perform a backup:
"The backup was not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk. The problem may be temporary. Try again later to back up. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk"
I have run Disk Utility twice a day for the past two days and nothing. It says the volume is fine and does not need repairing, yet the backup continues to fail.
I have checked Software Update and there are no updates available. I have checked the drive manufacturer and there are no firmware updates.
I have (4) internal disks. All of them check out fine, permissions are checked, repaired. Nothing.
The Apple tech document suggests deleting my backup and doing a new one. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a backup in the first place, right?
It's been working just fine until now. Any ideas on how to proceed?
Thanks!

Sorry, not really.
My normal backup looks like this:
02/08/2011 21:35:12.271 com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
02/08/2011 21:35:18.181 com.apple.backupd: Network destination already mounted at: /Volumes/Colin Robinson's Time Caps
02/08/2011 21:35:28.627 com.apple.backupd: Disk image already attached: /Volumes/Colin Robinson's Time Caps/Colin Robinson’s iMac.sparsebundle, DIHLDiskImageAttach returned: 35
02/08/2011 21:35:29.884 com.apple.backupd: Disk image already attached: /Volumes/Colin Robinson's Time Caps/Colin Robinson’s iMac.sparsebundle, DIHLDiskImageAttach returned: 35
02/08/2011 21:35:31.218 com.apple.backupd: Disk image /Volumes/Colin Robinson's Time Caps/Colin Robinson’s iMac.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
02/08/2011 21:35:31.289 com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
02/08/2011 21:36:02.117 com.apple.backupd: 183.1 MB required (including padding), 115.41 GB available
02/08/2011 21:36:02.182 com.apple.backupd: Indexer unavailable (200)
02/08/2011 21:36:04.185 com.apple.backupd: Indexer unavailable (200)
02/08/2011 21:37:10.485 com.apple.backupd: Copied 4498 files (125.6 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
02/08/2011 21:37:10.883 com.apple.backupd: 100.0 MB required (including padding), 115.41 GB available
02/08/2011 21:37:10.887 com.apple.backupd: Indexer unavailable (200)
02/08/2011 21:37:12.891 com.apple.backupd: Indexer unavailable (200)
02/08/2011 21:37:22.757 com.apple.backupd: Copied 1061 files (25.0 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
02/08/2011 21:37:29.466 com.apple.backupd: Starting post-backup thinning
02/08/2011 21:37:29.466 com.apple.backupd: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
02/08/2011 21:37:30.113 com.apple.backupd: Backup completed successfully.
And that's taken from Console using System Log Queries set to All Messages with backupd in the search box.
Pondini is the Time Machine expert - his writings are here:
http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Home.html
Message was edited by: Colin Robinson
I'm disappearing soon (GMT time zone) but James is in Florida so will hopefully see this and work his magic :)

Time Machine Fail with Lion

TM appears to have stopped working properly after I installed Lion on my 3 yr old MBP.
Specifically, TM seems unable to do incremental back up.s
Tried to back up to an existing, external HD used for TM for some time. Instead of deleting older files, TM insisted it needed a full 220 GB, so I deleted the entire, older back up and then let TM create a brand new 220 GB back up.
An hour later, after the computer had sit unused, TM tried to back up again and -- even though no files had changed, said it needed 220 GB.
Concidentally, or not, my BackUp to iDisk also failed.
Since TM had always backed up successfully until the Lion install, I assume that is the problem.
Any ideas?

JimLosAltos wrote:
@ Pondini. Re: TM fail.
I installed Lion "over" Leopard.
Odd.
There's a small chance it's the preferences file; try a "full reset" of Time Machine, per #A4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
If that doesn't help, try Verifying your internal HD, per #6 in Using Disk Utility.
Then Repair Permissions, per #5 there.

Can I use my older airport express with an ext drive to backup time machine wireless, Can I use my older airport express with an ext drive to backup time machine wireless

Can I use an older (flat) Airport Express to attach an ext hard drive and backup time machine wirelessly? and how?

can I then connect a HD with itunes music and photos?
Now we are drifting from the original question.
Im alreadty using the HD attached to my Mac Pro...can I just connect it to the Extreme and access it wirelessly with any device on the wifi net?
You may get another opinion on this from another user, but I do not recommend this either, based on a number of experimens over the years with this.
Access to your data on the drive will be much slower. iTunes will tend to "lose" the library this way and you will have to re-point the iTunes application at the library on a regular basis.
Things are even worse with the iPhoto library. The experts over in the iPhoto support area strongly advise that you do not do this, since any break in communication between the iPhoto application and iPhoto library can easily corrupt the entire library. A wireless connection makes things even more dicey.
My advice......Use a drive connected to the Extreme for storage or other backup copies of data.....not for "working" files or libraries.
But, you may get some other opinions from users here.

Since upgrading to Mountain Lion, I cannot restore emails with time machine. In Lion TM created a folder in Mail called recovered emails(or similar) No such folder is created since ML. I am able to see the email I want to restore, but it then disappears

Since upgrading to Mountain Lion, I cannot restore emails with time machine. In Lion TM created a folder in Mail called recovered emails(or similar) No such folder is created since ML. I am able to see the email I want to restore, but it then disappears

I am inside Mail, waiting for the TM 'recovered mail' folder to appear - which it doen't.
I only looked in my home folder after trying several times from within my Main app.
Marion

I'm suddenly getting the kernel panic message and constant restarts when connected to the time machine wireless network. if is switch to the BT network, all fine. no help found so far as to what's wrong or how to correct, anyone have any thoughts...

Recently upgraded to mountain lion in order to buy the new tall tower for time machine backups. had to get technical support to help with set up as it wouldn't play ball with two computers. all working fine up until last week when the iMac started getting backup error messages. then system restarts independently when using time machine on the time machine wireless network. only stops restarting when I switch the wireless network back to he bt one, which is a pain obviously as can't back up to time machine then. it has to be a problem with airport utility or something wireless but all says all up to date with software etc. all still works fine backing up from laptop on the wireless network, just the iMac is not happy. any help or thoughts very much appreciated.

Hi, many thanks Bob, what you say is not unthinkable at all, although it does answer the question
"what could I do *instead* of ..." rather than the one I actually asked, but seriously ...
Shutting down might be an answer, although it would clear out my tmp directory - which I might not want to have to sort through looking for things I want to save every time I go to work, and also, now that nvram doesn't seem to work for disabling the boot chime, it can get a bit embarassing booting up in a busy meeting if I have forgotten to mute before I shut down. There are all sorts of other issues, such as editing documents, loading web pages and so on that I would have to set up again.
Your suggestion of letting Apple know is a good one - thank you for the link.
Take care,
Mark

Time Machine wireless backup priority

Is it possible to give a lower priority to Time Machine wireless traffic? It is nearly impossible for me to stream video during a Time Machine backup. A feature to give priority to non-time machine traffic would be great. Many routers allow you to give higher priority to certain data (e.g. VoIP), and a similar feature would be great. Can this be done now? If not, how do I suggest this to Apple?

No, no microwaves. My phone is one of the new dect 6.0 types that is not supposed to interfere with networks. I wonder if this issue is connected to the drop out problems people are having with their airports?

Time Machine worked- with caveats- but worked

Ok, TIme Machine rocks!
I screwed with some applications, I tried to make the dock and desktop my own and F'd things up.
What I was trying to do was to create stacks in doc.
I wanted stacks for apple apps, stacks for business apps, stack for art, and stacks for personal.
Plus I wanted easy buttons for kids to pick out games as well.
Idea was good but I did not execute it well.
While I can do everything that I wanted to do, what I needed to do was create alias of apps and then put those into folders and drag them into doc. I did not I put apps in folders and tried to put those in dock. I screwed up the computer, BUT I had Time Machine.
With Time Machine you can rescue the whole drive. There are a few caveats here too.
One you have to do this reinstall with the OS-X install disk.
Information is not truly clear on line and I called apple.
When I was trying install the screen said it was going to reinstall system. This made me think that I was going to install system and applications but what about my docs. I was not sure. I called apple and the tech I got on line said no problem I would get all back, he was sure! Then he put me on hold, ask someone made sure, but came back saying I would get everything back. System, programs and docs.
When you do a restart from install disk it gives you choice of install, you have to choose from the above drop down menus- reinstall from time mach. NOT install from main instruction on screen. This is a little hidden but for those with some experience should be easy to find.
I then ran into another issue. I ran reinstall and it looked good till about 4% was completed and then failed. Message said try again or lose all. Not a great message. I did this over and over 5 time, each time same results. I at this point thought I maybe was losing battle. For anyone that has lost data, they know it is a battle to get back data.
I then thought that I have external drives in a dazzy chain over firewire configuration. How about taking the drive with Time Machine back up and making 1st and the solo drive- WORKED.
Took about 3 hours to back up. I have older iMac and others may go quicker.
I did get everything back and was very happy.
Interesting thing after reboot was that the computer had to reintroduce it self.
Programs came up like mail and had too find accounts, mail saved, trashed and still valid.
iphoto and iTunes needed to find their associated files. As when iTunes came up it 1st showed no music, no video, Tv shows, but quickly started to find items.
Lastly Time Machine had to rescan the computer as it does when you 1st install program.
So over all great program!
My one question would be if I am using time mach and computer dies and I tried this reinstall on a new computer would it work as well?

This looks like it was a TERRIBLE restore. The whole point of restoring from a backup is that everything should work as it did on the date of the backup. No missing files, no reconfiguration of applications...

Where do I find the Library in a Time Machine backup after Lion installation?

Where do I find the Library in a Time Machine backp after Lion installation?

You can access the backups of another computer by holding down the option key and selecting "Browse other Time Machine disks" from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar. As for getting to the Library folder, you would have to use something like the free application "Tinker Tool" (not "Tinker Tool System") to make hidden files visible in the Finder, then enter Time Machine.

Will Time Machine work with an external hard drive connected (via usb) to Airport Extreme?

Will Time Machine work with an external hard drive connected (via usb) to Airport Extreme?

Sorry, but this article is about 4 years old, and was printed based on preliminary information at the time.
The bottom line here is that Apple does not officially support Time Machine backups to a drive at the USB port of the AirPort Extreme.
If it works for you, great.
You might want to review the Apple Support documents below, which are far more recent than the article you reference:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15139.html
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2038
It is supported.....
This is NOT correct. Please do not post false information on the forums.

Unable to re establish Time Machine connection with Machine A

Hello,
Time Machine was working on machine A. I was able to go into time machine, look at the files in my backup and restore a file if I needed to.
My machine A was out of service due to a power supply and I used a Machine B to access my time machine files. Machine B had 2 userid's. Both users were ADMINISTRATORS. The 2nd user ID was able to SEE the files, I was NOT ABLE to RESTORE. (insufficient privileges). The 1st user ID. I was able to restore and discovered this by accident. I restored what I need to and was able to work off a laptop until Apple fixed my machine A (it took 7 days)
Problem:
When I got my workstation back I plugged in the hard drive that contains my backup and figured...I am off and away just as before.
1. I was not able to get TIME MACHINE started. ( I cannot recall the series of steps)
2. Now when I select time machine the menus offers me...
BROWSE OTHER TIME MACHINE DISKS
OPEN TIME MACHINE PREFERENCES.
When I select browse the 1st item, I am not even able to see the backup that was there.
When I select the Open Time machine preferences, I cannot figure out how to re - attach the time machine backup that I used to have connected to this workstation.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Hello Scott,
I tried a sudo cmd from the terminal application and wound up with the same error.
Prior to runnin this cmd, I managed to borrow an external hard drive and backed up all of the data I needed in case the sudo cmd did something to prevent me from seeing data on my hard drive.
Sudo cmd did not work. Time Machine was giving me the same access errors.
Since by now I had made a back up of my data to another hard drive,
I reformatted my original external hard drive.
I went back to time machine and selected the external drive I just reformatted
I received the same error again, but about 30 seconds later, Time Machine responded with ....the drive has been selected for back up and about 90 seconds later, Time Machine initiated and is starting a backup in the background.
To summarize
Prior to doing the sudo command (I am a little cautious about doing things I have no idea what the end result will be....)
I backed up the external drive A to external hard drive B
used Deja Vu to perform an entire system back up of my workstation as well as another one of everything in my USERID
I tried the sudo command...when it failed
Reformatted external drive A
Time Machine is now working again
Thanks for your comments and feeback. Between your comments and VK was enough for me to put together the pieces and decide on a course of action.
I would recommend to anyone reading this to always back up as the safest course of action

Restore an individual iphoto event from a time machine backup in Lion

How can I restore an individual iphoto event from a time machine backup using Lion.
Thanks

If you know the file names of the photos you want to restore you can use Find Any File to search your Time Machine hard drive for that file. When it is found you can drag it from the search window to the Desktop and import into iPhoto from there.
Due to the nature of the Time Machine backup structure each search can take a while. The search results window will look like this:

Access my Time Machine backup with another Mac?

The HD on my 24" iMac just bit the dust and I am using my old eMac to try to get some work done while I wait for another. Fortunately, I have a Time Machine backup. Is it okay to access files off my Time Machine backup with my eMac, as long as I don't change anything? I don't want to mess up my backup before I can restore it to my new Mac.
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Should be, if the eMac is running 10.5.x be sure to turn off TM backups though.

Time Machine wireless with Lion?

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