Unable to copy time machine backup

I need to move my Time Machine backup to a new and larger disk.
I have followed the instructions for doing a copy at the finder level - correct disk formatting, unchecked the "ignore ownership" setting. Got a message - can't copy file - need a new version of iWork (why is that relevant in a copy, I don't know). Clicked OK and copy continued. Soon after, copy fails at 490GB of the 650GB copy with a message that don't have permission to copy certain files. - Clicked OK, but copy would not continue - disk activity light flashing but no progress after 3 hrs so I killed the copy. Happened twice at same spot. Getting to that spot took 24 hrs! I am logged in as Administrator.
Tried the disk image copy suggestion using "Restore" from Disk Utilities. That quit after some unknown amount of time with "cannot copy" error that I didn't save as it didn't seem to have any relevant information in the message.
All told been trying to do this copy for 5 days - no luck.
Used Disk Utilities ot examine the current backup disk - no problems evident
I could bite the bullet and start a new Time Machine backup on my new disk, but that throws away a year or so of backups. Really negates the purpose of backing-up, doesn't it?! Don't really want to do that.
Any suggestions?
Thansk
Peter

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
syslog -k Sender kernel -k Message CSeq "I/O error" | tail | open -f -a TextEdit
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 may take a noticeable amount of time to run. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear.
A TextEdit window will open with the output of the command. Normally the window will be empty. If you get output like this:
kernel[0] <Debug>: disk1s2: I/O error
a drive is failing, or there's some other hardware fault in the storage subsystem.

Similar Messages

Problems when Copying Time Machine Backups to another Drive

MacBook Pro Retina 250 GB SSD (mid 2013) and Mavericks:
I had a 1.2 TB TimeMachine Backup on a 2x3 TB RAID1 Thunderbolt Drive and wanted to continue these on a 1x3 TB MyBook (RAID1 appeared to me not very appropriate for TimeMachine Backups as I have always two redundant external archives for all my data, except system, applications and libraries)
i did this 3 months ago, shifting /copying the Backups from a 1 TB Passport Drive to the 2x3 TB RAID1 Duo. I followed strictly the recommended procedures on formatting the new drive. It took many hours, but there was no problem.
Now, shifting from the 2x3 TB RAID1 Duo to a 1x3 TB Drive took again 7-8 hours, but short of completion, copying the Time Machine directory Backups.backupdp to the new drive, the system said that there are files, unable to convert (???). See two of the messages.
The Backup directory on the new disk is some 40 GB smaller than on the original disk – and grayed out, i.e. unable to open.
Again I followed strictly the instructions for formatting the new drive, as I did earlier. The only difference in between the two actions:
a Mavericks update from 10.9.1 to 10.9.2
a pages, numbers and keynote update, which I deleted after a few tries and I reinstalled Pages9 etc. again The simplified apps were useless for me, as too many of the standard features of iWork 9 - an ergonomic, simplier but almost full alternative to MS Office – are missing.
What could be the problem?
Another message, the one about "unable to convert", I missed the screenshot...

Although the documentation says you can copy Time Machine backups in the Finder, it's very slow and sometimes doesn't work at all.
First, open the Time Machine preference pane and click the Options button. You may have to unlock the settings first by clicking the padlock icon in the lower left corner of the window. Authenticate as an administrator.
Delete the volume you're going to copy from the list of backup destinations. Then turn Time Machine OFF.
Launch Disk Utility, open the built-in help, and search for the term "Duplicate." Follow the instructions. All existing data on the destination volume will be erased. That shouldn't be a problem, because you don't want to mix backup and non-backup data on the same drive anyway.
In the TM preference pane, select the new volume as a backup destination.

Copying Time Machine Backup

hi
i'm transferring Bacckups.backupdb to a new external hardrive - however, when I copy over the file structure is disrupted
So on the original drive everything is correct file structure... Backups.backupdb/MyMacbookPro/x14 dated folders
after copying to a new drive 3 of the dated folders are in the correct place and the other 11 (including 'Latest' folder) are sitting in the directory above
like this Backups.backupdb/MyMacbookPro + x11 dated folders/x3 dated folders
When opening up Time Machine it only sees those 3 dates and there seems no way of transferring the folders
i've tried an number of different things, anybody have any further suggestions?

Although the documentation says you can copy Time Machine backups in the Finder, it's very slow and sometimes doesn't work at all.
First, open the Time Machine preference pane and click the Options button. You may have to unlock the settings first by clicking the padlock icon in the lower left corner of the window. Authenticate as an administrator.
Delete the volume you're going to copy from the list of backup destinations. Then turn Time Machine OFF.
Launch Disk Utility, open the built-in help, and search for the term "Duplicate." Follow the instructions. All existing data on the destination volume will be erased. That shouldn't be a problem, because you don't want to mix backup and non-backup data on the same drive anyway.
In the TM preference pane, select the new volume as a backup destination.

Unable to access time machine backup. The folder "Documents" can't be opened because you don't have permission to see its contents.

My MacBook Pro with 750GB storage refuses to startup due to a problem with logic board (unfortunately I'm in Singapore and there is no Apple store here and zero customer support). I'm trying to access some of the files from the time machine back-up using my MacBook Air with 120GB storage, but I'm unable to open the backup. I receive an error message "you don't have permission to see its contents". Unable to access time machine backup. The folder “Documents” can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents.
I don't really want to migrate the data from the time machine to the MacBook Air as I simply don't have sufficient storage space on the MacBook Air. The iPhoto library which I'm trying to access is 200GB, which is more than the size of the MacBookAir.
Is there any way I can view the photos and documents stored on the time machine backup.
Thank you very much.

When you setup the Mac, you created a Admin user account with say name X
You ran Migration Assistant and it migrated user Y from the Windows machine.
User Y has different permissions than User X.
User X can't normally access User Y's account.
So what you do is log out of User X via the Apple menu and into User Y, this way you have permission to access the files.
If you want to transfer files from User Y to User X account
Transfer files between user accounts on the same machine instructions
Finder > Go menu > Computer
A window appears with your boot drive, double click on it to open
Inside is Users folder, double click to open it
Inside is your User accounts, double click on the one you want to send files too
Double click on the Public folder drop the files into the DropBox folder,
The permissions will change and can be used in the other user account when you log into it and moved to the appropriate folders.
Applications are typically installed and kept in the Applications folder which is a global access folder all users can access to run them from, but not all users can modify unless they are a Admin user.
Windows programs won't run on a Mac, but they can be instaled into a virtual machine program that is running Windows.
Windows in BootCamp or Virtual Machine?

Unable to Transfer Time Machine Backups?

Hello community!
I'm having trouble copying 1TB of Time Machine backups to a fresh 4TB drive.
The 1TB drive is formatted AMP, Mac OSX Extended (Journaled), 1 partition, and has 11GB free. It has 2 machines backed up on it. One is a pre-Intel Dual G5 PowerMac and the other is an i7 MacBook Pro with 2 profiles/accounts.
The 1TB backup drive is working perfect to date and I needed extra space to ensure my backs are safe. Plus I am adding a new machine to the backups.
The new 4TB drive is formatted with GUID, Mac OSX Extended (Journaled), 1 partition. I have ignored ownership permissions. When I drag the backup folder from the old drive to the new it asks me for a password. I enter it. It then begins "preparing to copy to <new 4TB drive>." After about 1.5hr and 2,200,000 items prepared, I get this prompt...
"You may need to enter the name and password for an administrator on this computer to change the item named "Backups.backup".
My options are Skip, Stop, or Continnue. I hit continue. It begins to copy the data.
Error 1 @ 750GB: "Blank" cannot be converted. Please install a newer version of iWork.
Error 2: The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items.
Error 3: The operation can't be completed becasue an unexpected error occured (error code -8062).
Error 4: The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items.
Error 5: The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items.
At this point it just hangs at 750GB of 915GB.
Both are external. Both attached using USB to the i7 MacBook Pro.
What's the hiccup? AMP vs GUID? Pre-Intel & Intel back ups? 2 Accounts on one machine? It seems to be a permissions issue, but not sure how to troubleshoot this without messing up my backups.

Although the documentation says you can copy Time Machine backups in the Finder, it's very slow and sometimes doesn't work at all.
Launch Disk Utility, open the built-in help, and search for the term "Duplicate." Follow the instructions. Turn Time Machine OFF in its preference pane while copying the volume.

Copy Time machine backup using a different Mac

A friend has a Time Machine backup from an iMac that he sold some time ago. He's concerned that the drive might fail so wants to make a copy of the backup, but doesn't have a Mac at the moment. So he'd like to use my MacBook to copy his backup drive. The backup is about 400GB, my HD is 256GB and he'd like to copy it to a new 1TB drive.
All the answers that I can find to similar questions assume that the Time Machine backup belongs to the Mac making the copy, in this case it doesn't. So is there a way to copy a Time Machine backup using a Mac that wasn't used to create the backup?

Hi ozRob,
If you would like to copy an existing Time Machine backup from one drive to another, you may find the following article helpful:
Time Machine: How to transfer backups from the current backup drive to a new backup drive
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5096
Regards,
- Brenden

Unable to configure Time Machine backups to shared volume on network

I've been unable to coax Time Machine (TM) into using a networked shared volume that SuperDuper! accesses without a hitch.
My wife and I have laptops (TiBook and MacBook Pro, respectively), and we have a G4 Mac Mini with an external 300 GB HD. The Mini is connected to a wired Ethernet port on a GigE Airport base station (I've long ago given up on connecting that HD to the Airport). Our laptops connect wirelessly. All three machines are now running 10.5, and I've checked that the Mini is sharing the external HD via System Preferences. My wife and I both have accounts on the Mini, and those accounts provide read/write access on the external HD. Mounting that volume from our laptops works perfectly, as does backing up to it using SuperDuper! TM, however, doesn't recognize that volume as a backup location.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Andreas

Adapting the instruction in this post worked for us. I connected to the Mini via ssh and entered the commands to enable the external HD. It then showed up as a TM backup location on both of our computers, and the progress meters for the initial backup are ticking away.
Cheers,
Andreas

Need help copying Time Machine backups to new drive

I was attempting to move my Time Machine backups from one hard drive to a newer hard drive, by copying the Backups folder. It gets through the process of preparing the files to copy but then as it starts to copy the file I get an dialog error box saying that it can't convert one file and that I need to install a newer version of IWork. I don't have IWork installed on this computer, but I have used pages on the iCloud website. I have attached a screen shot showing the error. The copying stops at this point. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to proceed?

That usually works better than a Finder copy and is often faster.
If required.
Inherit a Backup
Inherit a Backup (2)

Unable to restore time machine backup onto a new hard drive

I recently bought a new hard drive for my mid-2010 white Macbook. I have kept this computer regularly backed up with time machine, but just to be sure I made sure I hooked up my external hard drive prior to changing the hard drive and made sure it was fully backed up. I checked my exceptions and saw that my system files and applications were listed, so I removed them from the exceptions list and let it back up again (it only backed up a further 60MB though, so that made me a little uneasy).
I successfully switched over the hard drive and then plugged in my external hard drive so I could do a restore from Time Machine. My external hard drive has 3 partitions: 2 time machine backups for each of my computers, and one partition for storing files that also has an old copy of 10.6 on it.
When I booted the computer, I held option, then selected Macbook TM. When it came to the window with 4 options, including disk utility and restore from time machine backup, I selected restore from Time Machine backup. When I did so it said "No OS X Backups Were Found." Why wouldn't it have backups listed if I have been consistently backing it up? How else do I do a full system backup?
Also, how can I be sure that I'm restoring this backup onto the new hard drive? It didn't prompt me to select that drive at any point, and I want to make sure I'm not overwriting the middle partition on the backup drive (or anything else).

Please visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.
You will find that Mountain Lion stores an invisible copy of the Recovery HD. You can boot from your Time Machine backup drive by restarting with OPTION boot:
Boot Using OPTION key:
1. Restart the computer.
2. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "OPTION" key.
3. Release the key when the boot manager appears.
4. Select the disk icon for your Time Machine backup drive.
5. Click on the arrow button below the icon.
Your computer should boot into the Recovery HD. You will be presented with a main window of options. Select the option to restore from a Time Machine backup then click on the Continue button.

Copy Time Machine backup from Hard drive to Time Capsule

I have my Time Machine backup on my external hard drive. Is there a way to copy this to the Time Capsule so I don't lose the backup and to save time on the initial backup. Is there a way to make the Backups.backupdb folder into the Time Capsule Sparsebundle? Any ideas?

AppleCare just told me this was not possible (5-23-8 3:56pm EDT).
This is too bad as people do not want to lose their archive data and it is possible with pre-existing wifi TM backups (ex. my wifi's MB use to backup to my local iMac and since it is sparsebundle, it can be moved around(now backups up to AEBS/USB 10.5.2) same image file)
Cheers
-wsn

Can't copy Time Machine "Backups.backupdb" to another drive.

My external Time Machine backup drive now displays this message every time I connect it to my Mac.
Mac OS X can't repair the disk "Backup Drive"
You can still open or copy files on the disk, but you can’t save changes to files on the disk. Back up the disk and reformat it as soon as you can.
Since this is a Time Machine drive, I found these instructions here -- Time Machine: How to transfer backups from the current backup drive to a new backup drive -- that say to copy the Backups.backupdb to a new drive.
Every time I do this, the process gets to about 150,000 files then crashes my Mac. Sometimes it's a grey screen with words telling me to hold the Power Button down to force a reboot. Sometimes it just crashes and reboots itself.
I've repaired disk permissions and it keeps happening.
How do I copy Backups.backupdb to a new drive when the process keeps crashing my Mac?

Try using one of the clone apps to copy. It's possible the drive is too damaged and the files will not copy.
Both of these applications can be used to create a clone.
SuperDuper! http://www.shirt-pocket.com/
CCC http://www.bombich.com/download.html

Unable to access time machine backups after creating new user profile

Hi,
I had visited the Genius Bar with some problems with iTunes not opening. The Genius had indicated that I likely had some corrupt files and that the easiest fix would be to create a new user profile... So we did...
After transferring all my data over to the new profile and setting everything back up as I like I deleted the old (presumably corrupt) user profile. To my dismay I no longer have access to any of my time machine backups that were created prior to setting up my new user profile... They appear to still all be there. However, I am unable to select any of the dates prior to the new user profile's creation and the deletion of the old profile...
Please help...
Thank in advance,
Des

desbiss wrote:
After transferring all my data over to the new profile and setting everything back up as I like I deleted the old (presumably corrupt) user profile. To my dismay I no longer have access to any of my time machine backups that were created prior to setting up my new user profile... They appear to still all be there. However, I am unable to select any of the dates prior to the new user profile's creation and the deletion of the old profile...
That's correct. What you see in Time Machine's "Star Wars" display depends on what you have the Finder window set to. While looking at the new profile, you can't see any backups that were done before it existed.
You're right, they're still there, for now, but are grayed-out in the timeline at the right, because what's in the Finder window wasn't backed-up then.
If you select your internal HD or Computer Name in the sidebar, you'll be able to see those backups.
But since they're for a different user, you won't be able to view inside that home folder or restore from it -- one user, even an Admin user, doesn't normally have access to a different user's data.
It's doubtful, but you might be able to create a new user with exactly the same name as the one you deleted, log on to it, and see if the old backups appear.

Can't copy Time Machine backups to new hard drive

The external HD with the Time Machine files is unusable (it can't be written to). Disk Utilities reports missing/damaged nodes and recommends copying all files to a new volume and erasing the HD. I got a brand new HD and began copying the contents. I was able to transfer all the regular files but when I tried to copy the Time Machine files, I got this message: "The backup can't be copied because the backiup volume doesn't have ownership enabled."
I want to use the new HD as the TM volume and continue with the same sequence of backups. How can I enable the ownership soI can copy the files?
Thanks

Michael Brady wrote:
I want to use the new HD as the TM volume and continue with the same sequence of backups.
You can't.
Time Machine backups use a complex structure; everything is intricately linked together. If that structure is damaged, as yours is, they can't be copied successfully.
If you have a copy of +Disk Warrior+ or another heavy-duty 3rd-party disk repair app, it's possible it can repair the backups. DW is about $100, and probably a good investment for the future, but there's no guarantee it can fix the backups.
And it's not a good idea to mix other data with your backups. See #3 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

Copying Time Machine backups

If you find you need more space for Time Machine backups, or want to change locations (local to network, or vice-versa), your best bet is to simply start a new set of backups in the new location. Keep the old ones "on the shelf" until you're sure you don't need them. (If you're backing-up to a locally-connected disk, it's best to give it a different name.)
You can always browse and restore from the old backups, via the +*Browse Other Time Machine Disks+* option (hold down the Option key while selecting the TM icon in your menubar, or right-click the TM icon in your Dock).
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But if you want, in many cases you can copy your Time Machine backups to a new location. It's not quick, and sometimes not easy. And there are some restrictions:
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If your backups were made to an internal or directly-connected USB or FireWire disk or partition, you must copy all the backups for all the Macs that were backed-up to the same disk/partition that way.
You can only copy a complete set of backups, not just some individual backups.
You cannot merge two or more sets of backups, even for the same Mac.
On Leopard, you cannot change from local to network, or vice-versa.
You cannot convert case-sensitive backups to case-ignorant, or vice-versa.
You cannot copy anything from corrupted backups.
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Because of the last two items, be sure your backups are ok by Repairing them, per #A5 in the Time Machine - Troubleshooting *User Tip.*
While you're using Disk Utility, determine whether the backups are case-sensitive; you'll need to know that below.
When you select a volume in Disk Utility's sidebar, the Format is shown towards the lower left. If your backups are in a +sparse bundle,+ double-click the sparse bundle to mount it, then select the +Time Machine Backups+ (or +Backup of <computer name>)+ partition that will appear, indented, below the sparse bundle.
The Format is either +Mac OS Extended (Journaled),+ meaning case-ignorant, or +Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, journaled).+
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The method of copying is different depending on how the backups were made; whether you're changing from local to network, or vice-versa; and, in some cases, for Leopard vs. Snow Leopard
Part of the complexity below is because Time Machine stores it's backups differently depending on how they were made:
+*Local backups+* (made to an internal disk or a USB or FireWire disk connected directly to a Mac) are stored in a folder named "Backups.backupdb", at the top level of the drive/partition.
+*Network backups+* (made over a network, whether via WIFI or Ethernet) are also stored in a folder named "Backups.backupdb," but it's on a partition inside a special container called a +sparse bundle+ at the top level of the drive/partition.
You cannot just switch from one method to the other.
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Note that below, a "volume" is either an entire disk drive or a partition on a disk drive.
Before starting to copy, turn Time Machine off, via TM Preferences. When done, select the new destination.
Copying backups will take a long time under the best of circumstances; even a small set of backups will contain +several hundred thousand+ files; a large one may number in the millions.
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*_C O N T E N T S_*
*1. To copy LOCAL backups from one volume to another LOCAL VOLUME*
*2. To copy NETWORK backups to another NETWORK location*
*3. To copy LOCAL BACKUPS to be used on a NETWORK*
*4. To copy NETWORK backups to be used LOCALLY*
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_*1. To copy LOCAL BACKUPS from one volume to another LOCAL VOLUME_*
*_Using SNOW LEOPARD:*_
a. Format the new drive/partition, with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and the exact same Format as the old backups. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
b. Connect both drives to your Mac, via separate ports if possible.
c. Right-click the new volume on your desktop or Finder sidebar and select +Get Info.+ If the +Ignore ownership on this volume+ box is checked, click the padlock at the lower right and enter your Admin password at the prompt. Then remove the check mark from the box and close the window.
d. Drag the Backups.backupdb folder from the old volume to the top level of the new one. Enter your Admin password when prompted.
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*_Using LEOPARD:_*
You cannot copy local backups properly from one volume to another via the Leopard Finder. But you can duplicate the backups to a different volume via the +Disk Utility+ app (in your Applications/Utilities folder).
Note that you must duplicate an *entire volume* to another *entire volume* -- if you have other items on the old volume, they will be copied, too (this is a bad idea: see item #3 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip).* Also, any data already on the new volume will be erased.
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a. Format the new drive/partition, with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and the exact same Format as the old backups. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
b. Connect both drives to your Mac, via separate ports if possible, then open a Finder window. Make sure both volumes are shown in the sidebar (if not, from the Menubar select +Preferences > Sidebar,+ and check the box to show +External disks+ in the sidebar). Leave the Finder window open.
c. Start Disk Utility, select either volume (indented under the main drive line), and click the Restore tab.
d. Drag the old volume to the Source box, and the new volume to the Destination box.
e. Check the +Erase destination+ box, then the Restore button. This will take a long time.
f. When the duplication is complete, note that Disk Utility has *+changed the name+* of the destination volume to be the same as the source. You do not want to leave it that way, so immediately rename one of them. In the sidebar of the Finder window opened above, right-click the one you want to rename. When done, look back at the Disk Utility display to be sure you renamed the right one, then quit Disk Utility.
+Go to Top+
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_*2. To copy NETWORK BACKUPS to another NETWORK location_*
*SNOW LEOPARD or LEOPARD*
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If you're copying to a Time Capsule, configure your Time Capsule for your network. (See the documentation that came with your Time Capsule for information about setting it up on your network.)
If you're copying from one Time Capsule to another Time Capsule, give the new one a different name. Then use one Ethernet cable to connect your Mac to the Ethernet port on the existing Time Capsule, and use another Ethernet cable to connect from the existing Time Capsule to the new one if at all possible. If not, leave your Mac in the same room as the Time Capsules.
If you're copying to a USB drive to be connected to a Time Capsule, Airport Extreme, or another Mac on your network, connect it directly to your Mac and format it with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and either +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ or +Mac OS Extended Case-sensitive, journaled)+ Format. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
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a. Configure Time Machine to back up to the new network location, but don't start a backup.
b. If possible, connect the old and/or new drive(s) directly to your Mac (or a Time Capsule via Ethernet).
c. Open a Finder window for each network location by double-clicking on each. Note the amount of free space on the new one.
d. Drag the +sparse bundle+ from the old network location to the new one.
Note that the copied sparse bundle will have the same +*maximum size*+ as the old one. (Just to be contrary, though, +Time Machine Preferences+ will incorrectly show the new volume size.)
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*SNOW LEOPARD: 10.6.3 and above:*
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That's not a problem; Time Machine will increase it automatically on the next backup. You're done!
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*SNOW LEOPARD: 10.6.0 through 10.6.2:*
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1. Drag the sparse bundle to Disk Utility's sidebar and select it, but don't mount the +Time Machine Backups+ or +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
2. Click +Resize Image+ in the toolbar (or +Images > Resize+ from the menubar).
3. Enter the size desired (that you noted in step c above) and click Resize.
4. Double-click the sparse bundle to mount the +Time Machine Backups+ or +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
5. With the sparse bundle still selected, click the Partition tab towards the top of the window.
6. In the diagram that appears, drag the lower right corner of the partition all the way to the bottom, and click Apply.
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LEOPARD:
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1. Drag the sparse bundle to Disk Utility's sidebar and select it, but don't mount the +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
2. Click +Resize Image+ in the toolbar (or +Images > Resize+ from the menubar).
3. Click the disclosure triangle below the slider, and select +Resize Partition and Image.+
4. Move the slider to the desired size and click Resize.
5. Double-click the sparse bundle to mount the +Backup of <computer name>+ partition.
6. With the sparse bundle still selected, click the Partition tab towards the top of the window.
7. In the diagram that appears, drag the lower right corner of the partition all the way to the bottom, and click Apply.
+Go to Top+
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_*3. To copy LOCAL BACKUPS to be used on a NETWORK_*
*SNOW LEOPARD only; you cannot convert Local Backups to Network on Leopard.*
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If you're copying to a Time Capsule, configure your Time Capsule for your network. (See the documentation that came with your Time Capsule for information about setting it up on your network.)
If you're copying to a USB drive to be connected to a Time Capsule, Airport Extreme, or other Mac, connect it directly to your Mac and format it with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and either +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ or +Mac OS Extended Case-sensitive, journaled)+ Format. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
a. Configure Time Machine to back up to the network location, and start a backup.
b. As soon as the +sparse bundle+ is created, cancel the backup (that may take a few moments).
c. If possible, connect the new drive directly to your Mac (or a Time Capsule via Ethernet).
d. Use the Finder to mount the new sparse bundle.
e. Double-click it to mount the +Time Machine Backups+ partition inside it.
f. Click the +Time Machine Backups+ partition to open it, and delete the Backups.backupdb folder inside it.
g. If the old backups are case-ignorant (per the yellow box above), you must change the new sparse bundle to be case-ignorant, too:
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1. Select the +Time Machine Backups+ partition in Disk Utility's sidebar and click Erase.
2. Select the +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+ Format, and click the Erase button. That may take a few moments (to unmount, erase, and mount the partition again).
3. Via the Finder, do a +Get Info+ on the +Time Machine Backups+ partition.
4. Click the padlock at the lower right and enter your Admin password at the prompt.
5. Remove the check from the +Ignore ownership on this volume+ box and close the window.
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h. Via the Finder, drag the Backups.backupdb folder from the old volume to the new +Time Machine Backups+ partition. Enter your Admin password when prompted. After a few moments, you may also get a prompt saying that you'll need to enter it again later: click Continue.
+Go to Top+
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_*4. To copy NETWORK BACKUPS to be used LOCALLY_*
*SNOW LEOPARD only; you cannot convert Network Backups to Local on Leopard.*
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a. Format the new drive/partition, with either the GUID or APM *Partition Map Scheme,* and the exact same Format as the old backups. See item #5 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* if you need detailed instructions.
b. Right-click the new volume on your desktop or Finder sidebar and select +Get Info.+ If the +Ignore ownership on this volume+ box is checked, click the padlock at the lower right and enter your Admin password at the prompt. Then remove the check mark from the box and close the window.
c. Connect the old drive directly to your Mac if possible.
d. Use the Finder to mount the old sparse bundle.
e. Double-click it to mount the +Time Machine Backups+ or +Backup of <computer name>+ partition inside it.
f. Click the partition to open it, and drag the Backups.backupdb folder from the disk image to the top level of the new volume. Enter your Admin password when prompted. After a few moments, you may also get a prompt saying that you'll need to enter it again later: click Continue.
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Bob Timmons wrote:
Ton of work...great job!
+You can always browse and restore from the old backups, via the Browse Other Time Machine Disks option (hold down the Option key while selecting the TM icon in your menubar, or right-click the TM icon in your Dock).+
Odd that on my MacBook Pro and iMac (both 2008, both running Snow Leopard 10.6.3), that I need to hold down the Control key to do this.
What do you show in +System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys+ for the Control and Option keys? I think I saw something in another forum about some keyboards having them reversed, perhaps some European versions?
I hate to put even more alternatives in these things, but perhaps I should add that one?
Great stuff and should be very useful as a number of users are buying new Time Capsules to replace their earlier generation models. Most seem to want to try to hold onto their old backups and transfer to a new TC when they get one.
Yeah, I really don't understand why some folks get so nutzo about keeping backups for years, but I guess it beats the opposite.
Was curious if you found a way to compact the sparsebundle after users delete a number of backups, but the sparsebundle file still indicates the same amount of data is being used. I know you can compact using Terminal commands, but Terminal scares me. I understand the basic nuts and bolts, but programming is a language that I don't speak.
Yes, in #12 of the FAQ tip I show how to do it via Terminal, but I hate sending a novice to Terminal. (I avoid it myself as much as possible.)
Now that you mention it, I'm going to use the Feedback site to request adding "Compact" to Disk Utility's options for sparse bundles. Maybe if a few of us chime in, they'll do it?
I still have my "first generation 1TB TC, now about 22 months old (holding my breath on the power supply capacitors),but the device has been flawless otherwise. Not too worried, as I also keep bootable SuperDuper clones of both computers on an attached drive on both computers along with another set of Time Machine backups that I manually handle about once a week. Redundant, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
I couldn't agree more! I backup via TM to an AEBS, so am even more paranoid! But I have a CCC clone updated daily; other things to CDs/DVDs in my safe deposit box; and some small stuff goes to iDisk via Backup daily.
Thanks very much for your help.

Unable to complete Time Machine backup to Iomega 1TB external drive

I've read through all the posted topics related to Time Machine failing. I've run Disk Utility without errors; ensured that the external drive is formatted correctly GUID; 1 partition; Mac OS Extended (Journaled); downloaded TimeMachineBuddy; and still cannot get my new Iomega 1TB hard drive to complete a backup. My prior external drive, a LaCie, had no such difficulties but is now full.
Here is the TimeMachineBuddy error report. I am hoping one of you can help me understand what my next steps should be and thank you, in advance:
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Iomega-BU-02/Backups.backupdb
Ownership is disabled on the backup destination volume. Enabling.
Error parsing SystemMigration.log to determine source volume of system migration.
Backup content size: 82.2 GB excluded items size: 1.2 GB for volume Macintosh HD
No pre-backup thinning needed: 97.28 GB requested (including padding), 930.58 GB available
Waiting for index to be ready (101)
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying /Applications/Adobe Flash CS4/AIK1.1/runtimes/air/mac/Adobe AIR.framework/Versions/Current/Adobe AIR to /Volumes/Iomega-BU-02/Backups.backupdb/Lydia Mann’s iMac/2010-04-06-211444.inProgress/A0522F91-AE77-4536-BE6F-654DA7F2F4B5/Macintos h HD/Applications/Adobe Flash CS4/AIK1.1/runtimes/air/mac/Adobe AIR.framework/Versions/Current
Stopping backup.
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Applications/Adobe Flash CS4/AIK1.1/runtimes/air/mac/Adobe AIR.framework/Versions/Current/Adobe AIR to /Volumes/Iomega-BU-02/Backups.backupdb/Lydia Mann’s iMac/2010-04-06-211444.inProgress/A0522F91-AE77-4536-BE6F-654DA7F2F4B5/Macintos h HD/Applications/Adobe Flash CS4/AIK1.1/runtimes/air/mac/Adobe AIR.framework/Versions/Current
Copied 23.5 GB of 81.1 GB, 36103 of 932234 items

Thanks, Pondini.
I attached a new drive last night. Time Machine prompted me that it needed reformatting, which it did internally, without going to Disk Utility. It then started a backup but hung on "cleaning up" where I found it this morning.
Again, the finder was taken out with the TM hang and I had to hard reboot (on/off button - restart doesn't work nor does force quitting finder).
Here is the sad log from last night's attempt. Since it mentions an entirely new set of failures I am now ready to point to my computer as the faulty party. $180 worth of external drives into this, I am reticent about sinking anymore money into this until I rule out the computer itself. This line "NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error"
seems to be the essential problem.
Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Ownership is disabled on the backup destination volume. Enabling.
Error parsing SystemMigration.log to determine source volume of system migration.
Backup content size: 176.6 GB excluded items size: 90.1 GB for volume Macintosh HD
No pre-backup thinning needed: 103.69 GB requested (including padding), 930.58 GB available
Waiting for index to be ready (101)
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error: (-36) SrcErr:NO Copying / WORK/clientname/pdfs.zip to /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/myname’s iMac/2010-06-29-220723.inProgress/EFF47981-66BF-4C86-BA7F-7F802EC954F2/Macintos h HD/ WORK/KeriGans
Stopping backup.
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying / WORK/clientname/pdfs.zip to /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/myname's iMac/2010-06-29-220723.inProgress/EFF47981-66BF-4C86-BA7F-7F802EC954F2/Macintos h HD/ WORK/KeriGans
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Copied 12301 files (7.4 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Copy stage failed with error:11
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error writing to backup log. NSFileHandleOperationException:* -[NSConcreteFileHandle writeData:]: Input/output error
Error: (-36) Creating directory myname’s iMac 2
Error: (-36) Creating directory myname’s iMac 3
Error: (-36) Creating directory myname’s iMac 4
Error: (-36) Creating directory myname’s iMac 5
Error: (-36) Creating directory myname’s iMac 6
Error: (-36) Creating directory myname’s iMac 7
Error: (-36) Creating directory myname’s iMac 8
Message was edited by: lkmweb

Unable to copy time machine backup

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