Q: Time Machine "could not create backup folder" error
I recently changed to a new Time Machine drive (external LaCie Porsche 1TB) connected via USB to my early 2009 iMac running Lion. I set up the drive with a single GUID partition, MacOS Extended (Journaled ) format, and copied my old Time Machine backups over from an older drive via the disk utility restore function. The disk worked fine for a while, then after several backups I get recurring Time machine errors that tell me it cannot create a backup folder. When I run Disk Utility to repair (after turning off Time Machine), it cannot unmount the disk. After a force eject (required because I am told the disk is in use when trying to eject after a Time machine fail), the disk mounts, no problems are found by disk utility, and Time Machine works for awhile. Then more of the same "cannot create backup folder" error. The backups work fine a few times, whether the iMac is put to sleep or not, then the error occurs again. Any suggestions on how to make this work without error and without constantly unmounting/remounting the disk? I had previously used a different, smaller LaCie drive via firewire 800 without any problems ever.
Thanks
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)
Posted on Aug 10, 2012 1:38 PM
I found the solution for myself: The drive needed a firmware update.
The problem appears to have come from a PC-centric feature present in the firmware that was shipped on it that spins down the drive regardless of the settings in the energy saver preferences. The wierd sleeping of the drive was causing some mounting/unmounting issues leaving Time Machine unable to write to it. After the update, I have been using the drive as my Time Machine disk continuously for 27 days witn no recurrence.
I had previously used LaCie drives effortlessly and was surprised to find this problem. I can recommend them again now--just be sure to update the firmware.
Posted on Sep 6, 2012 9:16 PM