my Time Machine has worked for about a month, then I've got a few backup error messages. Now it's blocked on the "preparing" step.
Not 100% sure but the same days I've got the backup errors I've installed the last version of iWork and Logic Express 8.
At that time I was using a Lacie 250GB FW400 disk.
Thinking about drive failure I've got a new Iomega 1TB UltraMax FW800 Disk.
The first backup was done without problems (118GB into about 4 hours). But then no other daily backup can be done. The "preparing" step has run for hours without completing.
So I searched for support and found a lot of messages about TM problems in this forum.
*I tried all suggested solutions without success. If I initialize the disk the first backup is always ok then no other backups can be done*
Looking at the system log I've found that there is only one line saying the backup has started.
The backup process is consuming a lot of CPU when "preparing".
Does a more verbose log exist ? Just to try to understand what TM is doing when "preparing".
Thanks
Message was edited by: vettori
iMac 24" 2.16Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo,
Mac OS X (10.5.1),
2GB RAM, Iomega 1TB FW800, Lacie 500GB USB2, Lacie 250GB FW400
Nearly all new drives ship formatted FAT32 (Master Boot Record). Time Machine disks need to be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). In the finder select the icon for your Time Machine disk and do a Get Info (Command-i). The format should be Mac OS Extended (Journaled). If it isn't copy any files from your Time Machine backups that you deleted from your hard drive and follow the directions in
this article. Those with PPC Macs should substitute Apple Partition Map for GUID when following the directions.
If the disk formatting is correct launch Console which is in Applications > Utilities. Choose All Messages in the left pane of Console and type in "backupd" in the search window without the quotes to see the Time Machine log. Post any errors or complaints that show up in the log.
Alas as I said I already tried all the suggestion found in this forum. More specifically the drive is formatted GUID Mac OSX Extended (Journaled) (I've formatted the drive more than once).
The problem is that TM does not complete the second backup. The first one is ok.
For example It's about one hour that's blocked on "Preparing".I've rebooted and opened the System Monitor (don't know how the program is called in english version). Then I opened time machine preferences and with the "active" switch set to off I choosed backup now from the dock icon.
backupd is eating from 90% to 100% CPU. There is low disk activity (16KB per second on average).
This is the console log :
Dec 21 18:37:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Backup requested by user
Dec 21 18:37:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Starting standard backup
Dec 21 18:37:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Backing up to: /Volumes/TimeMachine/Backups.backupdb
Now it's 19:37 so it is exactly one hour that the backup started and it's "preparing".
I think we (users having problems) all need to turn on some debug switch to have a more verbose log to understand what tm is doing...
At about 20:00 so after one hour and a half TM started to backup files. But It's locked at 184MB of 2GB (the size seems correct since I have a new video on the iMac disk).
It's about fifteen minutes that's locked at 184MB.
In the console there is a new line
Dec 21 19:53:58 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.08 GB requested (including padding), 813.90 GB available
Leave well enough alone and just let Time Machine finish doing its thing. Time Machine is actually pretty good about complaining if it doesn't like something. If any errors show up in the log post them.
If it Time Machine just hangs all night without finishing and without reporting an error in the log you might want to Verify your internal with Disk Utility. Also, it might be a good idea to repair permissions, particularly if you didn't do so after installing iWork and Logic Express.
If that doesn't help you might want to try excluding the iWork and Logic Express folders and any new files or ones that have changed since you installed those programs in Time Machine Preferences > Options > Do not back up. If Time Machine runs OK start add the files back a few at a time until you can isolate the troublemaker.
During one of the many tries I started with a full backup, then excluded almost anything apart few documents and then started to add a few GB in various steps.
I sucessfully backed up all my disk (nothing excluded). Than the first daily backup blocked....
It's 21:30 now, still blocked to 184MB, backupd at 100% CPU, no new log messages.
I think I'll stop it before going to sleep and turn off TimeMachine until Apple comments on this problems that affects many users...
Is there anything in just the system log that might indicate a problem?
One more thing that might be worth trying is to boot from the Leopard install DVD. Several people have posted that this causes Time Machine to do a deep traversal which might clear its brains. If your drive comes with firewire 400 support you also might try that to see if that makes a difference.
If none of that works and no one else comes up with a solution it would probably be a very good idea to report the problem to Apple. If there isn't Apple Care support in Italy you can report the problem through Apple Feedback.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback/
There is also a possibility that an archive and install might help which isn't terribly painful if you have enough internal disk space.
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null)
Dec 21 22:04:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Unable to rebuild path cache for source item. Partial source path:
Dec 21 22:05:55 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Copied 346112 files (2.2 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 21 22:52:44 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[189]: Backup canceled.
Still blocked at 185MB.
Now I interrupted the process.
What does Error: (-43) getting cat info for item: (null) mean ?
-43 fnfErr File not found; Folder not found; Edition container not found; Target not found
It looks like the system is keeping track of files in the path cache and that it lost track of something and can't find it. Too bad the log didn't provide even a partial path or the name of what it couldn't find. It is also interesting that Time Machine went ahead and copied the 2.2GB file without complaining about anything. I'm not at all familiar with the path cache, what exactly it does or how one would go about fixing one.
Since this looks more like something gone wrong at the system level rather than being a Time Machine error try posting in the Using Mac OS X Leopard Leopard forum. Use "error -43 Unable to rebuild path cache for source item" in the title of your post. Hopefully, that might catch the attention of someone who understands what has gone amiss and how to fix it. If not, you should probably contact Apple.
In looking at your log, I see there is a space after your computer name. Your computer's name appears to be iMac(space). This may be causing the problem you are having with Time Machine. You need to go to System Preferences, and then "Sharing". At the top of this window in the "Computer Name:" field, get rid of the space after your computer's name. You may need to restart your computer to get this to take. Then I would try to start over again using Time Machine. You will probably find everything works much better.
I initialized the external disk, booted from Leopard DVD, verified permission and then rebooted,installed Developeers tools, enabled time machine, requested backup and left the iMac on all night.
This morning I found the first backup is ok and there are a few hourly backups too.
Here is the log
Dec 22 00:36:24 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Backup requested by user
Dec 22 00:36:24 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Starting standard backup
Dec 22 00:36:24 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Backing up to: /Volumes/TimeMachine/Backups.backupdb
Dec 22 00:36:24 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Ownership is disabled on the backup destination volume. Enabling.
Dec 22 00:36:33 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Backup content size: 120.9 GB excluded items size: 443.0 MB for volume Macintosh HD
Dec 22 00:36:33 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 144.62 GB requested (including padding), 930.97 GB available
Dec 22 00:36:33 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: MDBackupBegin() returned result (909) > 0, waiting
Dec 22 01:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Backup requested by automatic scheduler
Dec 22 02:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Backup requested by automatic scheduler
Dec 22 03:10:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Copied 622845 files (115.3 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 03:10:43 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 995.3 MB requested (including padding), 811.00 GB available
Dec 22 03:13:32 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Copied 566 files (603 KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 03:13:33 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: _lastSnapshotNumber returned nil
Dec 22 03:13:33 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Starting post-backup thinning
Dec 22 03:13:33 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Dec 22 03:13:33 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[277]: Backup completed successfully.
Dec 22 03:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: Backup requested by automatic scheduler
Dec 22 03:33:21 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: Starting standard backup
Dec 22 03:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: Backing up to: /Volumes/TimeMachine/Backups.backupdb
Dec 22 03:33:38 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 572.6 MB requested (including padding), 811.40 GB available
Dec 22 03:33:52 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: Copied 311 files (10.1 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 03:33:53 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 560.5 MB requested (including padding), 811.39 GB available
Dec 22 03:33:56 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: Copied 311 files (626 bytes) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 03:33:57 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: Starting post-backup thinning
Dec 22 03:33:57 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Dec 22 03:33:57 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[620]: Backup completed successfully.
Dec 22 04:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: Backup requested by automatic scheduler
Dec 22 04:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: Starting standard backup
Dec 22 04:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: Backing up to: /Volumes/TimeMachine/Backups.backupdb
Dec 22 04:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 560.5 MB requested (including padding), 811.39 GB available
Dec 22 04:33:39 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: Copied 335 files (1 KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 04:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: Starting post-backup thinning
Dec 22 04:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Dec 22 04:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[643]: Backup completed successfully.
Dec 22 05:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: Backup requested by automatic scheduler
Dec 22 05:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: Starting standard backup
Dec 22 05:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: Backing up to: /Volumes/TimeMachine/Backups.backupdb
Dec 22 05:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 560.5 MB requested (including padding), 811.39 GB available
Dec 22 05:33:39 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: Copied 335 files (1 KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 05:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: Starting post-backup thinning
Dec 22 05:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Dec 22 05:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[667]: Backup completed successfully.
Dec 22 06:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: Backup requested by automatic scheduler
Dec 22 06:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: Starting standard backup
Dec 22 06:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: Backing up to: /Volumes/TimeMachine/Backups.backupdb
Dec 22 06:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 560.5 MB requested (including padding), 811.39 GB available
Dec 22 06:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: Copied 335 files (1 KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 06:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: Starting post-backup thinning
Dec 22 06:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Dec 22 06:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[690]: Backup completed successfully.
Dec 22 07:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: Backup requested by automatic scheduler
Dec 22 07:33:20 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: Starting standard backup
Dec 22 07:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: Backing up to: /Volumes/TimeMachine/Backups.backupdb
Dec 22 07:33:35 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: No pre-backup thinning needed: 560.5 MB requested (including padding), 811.39 GB available
Dec 22 07:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: Copied 335 files (1 KB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Dec 22 07:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: Starting post-backup thinning
Dec 22 07:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Dec 22 07:33:40 iMac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[713]: Backup completed successfully.
I'll see if, after a bit of working, next backups will be ok.
I would very much encourage you to report this to Apple. Carbon Copy Cloner is donationware and does incremental backups as well as doing bootable clones. That would be easier than keeping track of backups by hand.
