Time Machine won't create a bootable full backup

Equipment : Mid 2010 13" Unibody MBP, Late 2010 1Tb Apple Time Capsule, 4Gb RAM, 240Gb HDD, OSX Mavericks
Upgraded to Mavericks a few months ago, Time Machine has been backing up incrementally to my 1Tb Time Capsule no problem for years.
I have just bought a SSD so , feeling very confident, popped out the Seagate Momentus and replaced with PNY 240gb SSD. Booted off my Mavericks recovery CD, selected restore from a previous Time Machine Backup, selected My Time Capsule, MyMac.sparsebundle,Continue
To my horror, the last full backup was June 2012, kind of worked out why - I had some Exclude options in Time Machine preferences that excluded /Caches , Download folder, Trash so wasnt creating any Full backups
In order did the following
Put the Seagate HDD back in and booted up successfully
removed all the excludes in Time Machine ,
renamed MyMac.sparsebundle to MyMacX.sparsebundleX ,
kicked off Back Up Now in the confidence that this would create a brand new backup and do a full backup of the disk
It didnt, what looked like a full backup started taking about 2h though no full backups found in the newly created MyMac.sparsebundle, so something isnt being backed up to make a full bootable backup
Checked to see if there were any other system excludes with
sudo defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine SkipSystemFiles
Answer came back as 0, so obviously not that
Rebooted my Mac and Time Capsule, deleted MyMac.sparsebundle, did step 4 again
Exactly the same result.
So at this time, I cannot create a full backup to enable a HDD swap out with my SSD
Help, Ideas anyone

You need to partition and format the drive first.
Drive Partition and Format
1. Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
Quit Disk Utility after formatting is finished. Install Snow Leopard. Upgrade to Mavericks.

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Hi there. just bought a TC, installation was succesfull, but time machine won't work. can't select Backup disk. get transferred to TC install again. Called Apple, 25 min. later no succes, have to call on monday again!!!! Can anyone help me? Thanks a lot.

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See #Q1 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule.
If you have a problem, please tell us exactly what, and on which step there.

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Does anyone know why my Time Machine is NOT creating a backup folder on and regular scheduled backup? Just recently I downloaded the Time Machine Editor and it said to turn off the regular Time Machine (ON/OFF) switch, and just run off the TM Editor. However, at 1am in the morning, it comes up with the error saying it can't create a Backup Folder. I'm sure this is a simple solution but I really don't know how to handle this... Would appreciate any and all help in this matter... Thanks, Gary

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For a couple of weeks my backups are failing. (Time Machine couldn't complete backup to "Time Machine Backups". The backup disk needs 156 GB for the backup but only 138 GB are available. Select a larger backup disk or make the backup smaller by excluding files.) I thought Time Machine was supposed to delete the oldest backups to make room for new ones? Thanks for your help.

It will delete the oldest backups, but when you have already deleted all of those, there will come a time when you will just run out of space.
If you don't think you should be at that point, tbirdvet is likely correct.

Time Machine won't create diff. back-ups despite sufficient disk space

Hi,
I have one full back up on my external HDD, and several differential back ups. However, despite there being over 80GB left on my external HDD, Time Machine will fail to complete further differential back ups when I disconnect my external HDD and then reconnect (say a week later or so). Time Machine seems to want to create another full backup when I reconnect my external HDD (or it seems this way). My questions are: why won't Time Machine create further differential backups based on my original full backup when I reconnect my external HDD and/or can I change a setting so that TM will create ONLY differential backups (given that one full back up already exists)?
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OK... I just noticed something strange... I had some movie files that I deleted sometime yesterday (don't need them anymore)... just now, I wanted to see to retrieve one of them with TM and they're gone!
My backup drive is nowhere near full and TM didn't warn me about deleting anything... looking at my backups, I noticed that I only have backups for yesterday at 8:03AM and from 8:09PM (and on)... I'm guessing that's the case because anything before 8:09PM is now more than 24 hrs old... hence, it's 'thinned out'... I also noticed that I only have my initial backup from Friday... not the several it made afterwards... and that backup from Friday is missing some data I had that was captured by the later backups...
What's going on here? Seems to me that it should have all of my stuff, no?

jdelima wrote:
If you have all of the hourly data essentially versioned and incorporated into the daily, then Joe wants to restore from 3 days ago, if he has a file there that he has changed every single hour for that particular day, then he has 24 possible files to restore! It becomes a versioning nightmare. Though my example is extreme it's possible.
Yeah, but that is what computers are good at, though. You can even put a simple UI on this, where the most recent version (the last edited version before its untimely deletion) is the only thing you see, unless you want to delve deeper into the depths of versions of the file.
Also consider what is currently done for backups. People manually, or to a schedule, do point in time backups. Not as frequently as time machine, but it still happens. They have the exact same issues, with the exception that TM may have people becoming relaxed about their data, falsely believing it always going to be in a backup set somewhere.
Yeah, point-in-time backups are always an issue, because they are just a snapshot, and not a journal of things done to change a file, so you can't recover something if it was never in a point-in-time backup.
Sure it has it's flaws, but overall it's better there than not.
I totally agree with that. Getting people to use some backup (even if flawed) is way better than the dismal state of backups for end users. I guess I'm just advocating for improving even further the state of backups, to a point where you can actually rely on them 99.999%.
In case anyone is interested, I have been participating in an Open Source backup project "Box Backup" for the last few years. It supports the keeping of deleted files as long as the backup server has space left. It also solves another TM problem, in that it backs up only what changed in a large file (like a Parallels virtual Disk), so you don't need to do full backups of every file every time it changes. It has many other features as well, such as network backups, encrypted backups, and multiple platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux, and more).
Go to http://www.boxbackup.org/ to check it out.
This, however is not a solution (yet) for the average Joe to use. It requires a server on which to run the backup server (which could be a Mac), and some setup, and use of Terminal.app, etc. But it does solve many of the issues with TM.
Thanks,
Per

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When I click on "enter time machine" it takes me to the last backup 7/22/11 and doesn't allow me to go further back.

No idea's?
I'm starting to think I just need to delete the sparsebundle file altogether and start over again...

I bought a new external hard drive for backups, but time machine won't do a full back up. I think it is remembering backing up onto previous external hard drives, which I don't own anymore. How do I do a new full backup?

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I think it is remembering backing up onto previous external hard drives, which I don't own anymore. How do I do a new full backup?
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Then I bought a new external hard drive (Seagate) and it worked fine for three weeks, then died.
So I just got a new external hard drive, which was put together from an internal hard drive and a hard drive enclosure.
Time machine did the first backup today, and it should have taken 9 hours like it did on the previous first time full back up. Instead, it took 30 minutes. That can't be right. I want to start over and do a full backup to make sure everything gets onto my new external hard drive, but I can't figure out how to do that. Please help.

Triple-click anywhere in the line below to select it:
tmutil compare -E
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C).
Launch the Terminal 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 Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V).
The command will take at least a few minutes to run. Eventually some lines of output will appear below what you entered.
Each line that begins with a plus sign (“+”) represents a file that has been added to the source volume since the last snapshot was taken. These files have not been backed up yet.
Each line that begins with an exclamation point (“!”) represents a file that has changed on the source volume. These files have been backed up, but not in their present state.
Each line that begins with a minus sign (“-“) represents a file that has been removed from the source volume.
At the end of the output, you’ll get some lines like the following:
Added:
Removed:
Changed:
These lines show the total amount of data added, removed, or changed on the source(s) since the last snapshot.

Time Machine won't recognize my last backup after a power outage

Good Afternoon Everyone,
I just set up a Western Digital My Book Live on my network. Last week, I set up Time Machine to start a backup on my MacBook Pro (running 10.7.5). It took 2 days to finish, but all went well. For three days, all the backups worked perfectly. However, we had a power outage for an hour during the night and now that I turn on my MacBook Pro, Time Machine recognizes the disk, but doesn't have a record of any backup.
I have gone to the drive manually and seen that the files are still there, but how to I tell Time Maching on my MacBook that the full backup is already on that NAS drive, so that it won't do a full backup?
I would really appreciate the help.
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TM apparently identifies the machine's backup by the Computer Name stored in the Sharing preferences. Try opening Sharing preferences and changing the Computer Name to the one you used previously when your TM backup was created.
Also see:
Time Machine Troubleshooting
Here are several articles to help troubleshoot Time Machine Problems as well as assist in properly setting up Time Machine.
Mac 101- Using Time Machine in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Is Time Machine all you need?
Some advice for those using Time Machine
TidBITS Macs & Mac OS X- Time Machine- The Good, the Bad, and the Missing Features
Mac OS X 10.5- Time Machine backups are not visible
OS X 10.5- Time Machine stops backing up to external disk
10.5- Disable the 'use this disk?' Time Machine dialog
Time Machine tips and troubleshooting
Mac OS X 10.5 Help- Restoring files backed up with Time Machine
OS X 10.5- Using Time Machine and troubleshooting Time Machine issues

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I recently got a Time Capsule, and successfully set it up to back up my iMac's primary drive, but for some reason Time Machine won't back up my external drive to the Time Capsule.
I removed the external drive from the exclusion list in System Preferences > Time Machine > Options, and from what I've read this should be sufficient to make Time Machine back up the drive.
The external drive is connected to my iMac via Thunderbolt > Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adaptor > Firewire 800 input, and the Time Capsule is connected via Ethernet to my LAN.
Since I'm using Ethernet, I've disabled Wi-Fi on the Time Capusule by going to AirPort Utility > My Time Capsule > Edit > Wireless > Network Mode > Off.
The reason I believe the external drive is not being backed up is because when I click the Time Machine icon in the upper-right status bar and choose "Enter Time Machine", none of the folders on external drive show any older versions.
Furthermore, when I click Finder > Time Machine Backups > Backups.backupdb, I can see only one sub-folder which has the name of my iMac's primary drive. I can't see any equivalent folder for my external drive.
Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

I don't see anything you have done wrong.. perhaps it does backup in a different way.
Load the widget.. A1 here... http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
That will allow you to track the log of TM to see what it is doing.
I would also try rebooting the computer.. exclude the drive again.. reboot.. and remove the exclusion.
You should be able to check the actual settings of TM in plist file.
And you can do a full reset of TM as well.. See A4. Check what is in the file. Pondini lists the location for you.
Nothing surprises me with Mountain Lion ...!!

Time Machine Won't Continue Old Backup

My computer was being repaired at Apple for a few weeks and I just got it back. No hard drive data was modified during the repair; the optical drive needed work. Anyway, I plugged in my external hard drive a few moments ago and it's backing up the whole system and won't let me return to the previous backups that I already have. I'm trying to recall a few files and Time Machine won't let me find them even though they're on the external drive. I did, however, accidentally rename the external hard drive when I was using it without Time Machine a few days ago.
Is there a way for me to continue where I left off with my old Time Machine backups? I'd hate to lose them all and I don't want to re-install the entire system from a previous one from a month or so ago; I just need to look at a few old files. Thanks for any help!
Greg

So, here's what happened.
Time Machine uses the xattr system to assign specific folders hidden attributes. Time Machine sets each folder up in its hierarchy with a xattr tag for the Ethernet MAC address of the machine it is backing up. This is all done invisibly. So, when I got a logic board, and a new MAC address, it wouldn't treat the old archive as concomitant with the new machine. So, here's how you fix this:
- remove the ACLs from the Time Machine DB
- use the xattr command at Terminal to put your new MAC address on the folder.
Full details are available here:
http://www.tombridge.com/rta/2008/01/after-the-apple.html

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The airport utility should still allow you to erase the drive of the TC.. that means a full wipe.. if you want to keep anything from the old backups you should archive it first.. that option was removed on the v6 utility but if any of your computers still runs Lion or earlier you can download 5.6 airport utility or use the inbuilt one.
In mountain lion you cannot install the 5.6 utility but there are ways and means of getting around that.. it does work.. it is relatively easy to unpack the utility and extract the file and just drag it to the utility directory.

Time Machine won't start after migration to new MacBook Pro.

I upgraded to a new MacBook Pro. Both machines are running OS X 10 (10.7.5 on old, 10.8.2 on new). I used an ethernet cable for the data migration.
I'm trying to use the Time Capsule we've been using all along for Time Machine, but Time Machine won't start because there's only 5.1GB free on the device and it wants to run a full backup. "The backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 252.33 GB but only 5.07 GB are available."
What are my options? I'd hate to lose prior versions of all the data I've moved to the new machine, but if I have to, then I have to. But then I'm not sure how to access the Time Capsulre base as a non-backup drive and delete what's there.
Thanks for yor help.
Vince

Windows in VM is going to know it's on a different machine, so you'll still have to hop through Microsoft's hoops or you won't get updates.
Just an FYI: when moving a Fusion virtual machine, the first time you run the virtual machine, you are prompted if you "moved it" or "copied it". Selecting "moved it" will retain the UUID and prevent Windows from prompting for reactivation. (However, if it is a copy of the virtual machine and you wanted to run both copies simultaneously on the same network, you must select "copied it" otherwise the copies can't run at the same time.)
If one did select "copied it" accidentally, then just follow the reactivation prompts. As long as you're not reactivating a lot then it usually will work the normal way over the internet. Even if you're forced to call, just tell the support rep that you're reinstalling Windows and type in the really long code that they say. The few times I've had to call, it was less than 15 minutes. Again, as long as you're not reactivating a lot (so looking suspiciously like a pirate,) reactivation is a pain, but relatively quick.

Time Machine does not create req'd file and fails. Restart provides a fix until the problem recurs.

Previous replies are omitted to reduce excess data.
Latest reply from Pondini is as follows:
You're still having a problem with Apple's old Backup app (with the umbrella icon).
It should be sending a message when that happens; (it does)if not, make sure you have the current version (3.2). If not, it should be available in the Softwarefolder on your iDisk, or here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1025.
If you do, start Backup, double-click the Plan in question, select the Historytab, then double-click the date/time of the backup in question to see the log. The error message should be towards the end.
Following the above instructions from Pondini produces this entry in the Backup App log:
Connected to MobileMe
Beginning a new Full Backup...
Begin backup at 2011-12-08 08:14:49.369 -0500
Scanning files...
Acquired a destination for the backup.
Copied part 1 of file /Users/wpiez/Pictures/iPhoto Libraryb.zip
Unable to upload to /Backup/iPhoto Libraryb - 2011.12.08-08.14.49.369 - Part 1.FullBackup on iDisk
End backup at 2011-12-08 09:54:02.905 -0500
I am guessing Backup did not backup the file iPhoto Libraryb.zip because the same file was already on iDisk. This somehow leaves a deadend trap in Time Machine.
Have checked and found my Backup App is version 3.2. Have changed my Backup instructions to work only manually. Am hoping not running it will avoid creating problems in Time Machine. Latter working OK after restarting.
As an aside I think I will miss iDisk when Apple stops it. If my house burns down taking my computers, my hard drive, my separate hard drive dedicated to backups and my disk backups, it would be nice to have replacements offsite. Maybe will decide to engage a non-Apple service for that.
Thanks to Linc D and Pondini and other anonymous rreaders and thinkers.

William Piez wrote:
Unable to upload to /Backup/iPhoto Libraryb - 2011.12.08-08.14.49.369 - Part 1.FullBackup on iDisk
Hi, again,
Are you signed-on to Mobile Me, via System Preferences > MobileMe > Account? If not, do so. If you are, sign out for a few moments, then back on. Then try again.
Have changed my Backup instructions to work only manually. Am hoping not running it will avoid creating problems in Time Machine.
Not necessary. The two are unrelated (except for Backup delaying a scheduled backup if a Time Machine backup is running). I run both myself, with no problems, and my Backups are scheduled.
As an aside I think I will miss iDisk when Apple stops it. If my house burns down taking my computers, my hard drive, my separate hard drive dedicated to backups and my disk backups, it would be nice to have replacements offsite. Maybe will decide to engage a non-Apple service for that.
I agree. Apple doesn't seem to have anything else at the moment. Many folks are switching to DropBox.

After installing Mountain Lion, my Time Machine won't back up ... says the sparsebundle is in use

After installing Mountain Lion, my Time Machine won't back up ... says the sparsebundle is in use

Standard problem in ML.. apple do not seem to want to recognise.
Reboot the TC .. if that fails restart the whole network in correct order.. modem.. router/TC... clients.. with 2min gap.
There are other suggestions like changing the password.. all they do is the same as reboot.
Read C12.. most quoted Q in pondini website history. This is asked 10 times a day.
http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
Here is another way to get a useful utility in ML.. rather than toyland version.
How to load 5.6 into ML.
1. Download 5.6 for Lion.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Click to open the dmg but do not attempt to install the pkg.. it won't work anyway.
2. Download and install unpkg.
http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/
Run unpkg on the desktop.. it is very simple.. drag the AirPortUtility56.pkg file over to unpkg.. and it will create a new directory of the same name on the desktop.. drill down.. applications utilities .. there lo and behold is Airport utility 5.6 .. drag it to your main utilities directory or just run it from current location.
You cannot uninstall 6.1 so don't try.. and you cannot or should not run them both at the same time.. so just ignore the toyland version.. the plastic hammer.. and start using 5.6.. a real tool.

Time Machine won't create a bootable full backup

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