Q: How do I get Time Machine to resume backing up?
Time Machine is supposed to delete old backups automatically when it is full to make room for new back ups.
After years of use it suddenly is giving me the message that it can't complete a backup.
It lists the "Details" as follows"
"Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Time Machine Backups"
The backup disk needs 114.76 GB for the backup but only 103.95 GB are available.
Select a larger backup disk or make the backup smaller by excluding files."
I do not wish to select a larger disk or exclude files.
How do get it to resume deleting old backups to make room for new?
OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)
Posted on Apr 8, 2014 5:09 PM
That means you've backed up more than one volume to the same destination. That could happen as a result of erasing the primary volume, depending on how you restored it.
TM will delete older snapshots when necessary to make room for new ones, but it will never delete the last snapshot of any volume. So you can end up without enough space for a new snapshot.
Your best option is to put the drive aside and stop using it until you're sure you'll no longer need the data. Then erase it and start over. Meanwhile, start another backup on a new drive. You should do that anyway, as one backup is not enough to be safe.
Posted on Apr 9, 2014 2:04 PM