Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: therichard
therichard Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Incomplete Initial Backup

I'm having problems to do the initial backup in time machine. It first shows that it's going to backup something around 33Gb but the process halts around 6Gb. I tried a couple of times to format my external disk, even using the process to split it into 2 partitions (one being GUID), but had no success so far. After the backup is interrupted, I force a second backup, and it shows that 18Gb will be backed up. Again, the process is interrupted at a certain point. I repeat the command until it shows that no backup is needed, but the total space used in the external hard-disk is way less than it was supposed to be in the beginning (the 33Gb). Time Machine seems to be failing and is not reliable. Any suggestions or ideas on what might be going on?

Thanks,

richard

MacBook Pro 15" 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.1), Dual Screen 23" HD Display

Posted on Jan 2, 2008 11:47 AM

Reply
5 replies
User profile for user: Peggy Lynn
Peggy Lynn
User level: Level 4
2,484 points

Jan 2, 2008 12:19 PM in response to therichard

Click on your hard drive in the finder and do a Get Info (command i). Is the format Mac OS Extended (Journaled)? If it isn't the formatting didn't work. Try it again following the directions in this article. People with PPC Macs should substitute Apple Partition Map for GUID when following the directions.

If the formatting is correct launch Disk Utility which is in your Applications > Utilities folder. Verify your internal disk and Repair your Time Machine disk. If there are any errors reported for your Time Machine disk repeat the repair process until no errors are reported

If your internal disk shows any errors boot from the Leopard install DVD. Hold down the "C" key immediately after the startup chime and keep holding it down until you see the spinning gear. Pick a language and choose Disk from the Utilities menu. Repair your internal disk and repeat until no errors are reported. Then Repair Permissions.

If that doesn't work launch Console which is in Applications > Utilities. Choose All Messages in the left pane of Console and type in "backupd" without the quotes in the search window to see the Time Machine log. Post any errors you find.
Reply
User profile for user: therichard
therichard Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jan 3, 2008 8:36 AM in response to therichard

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your reply. I carefully followed the instructions you gave me along with the directions in the article, but Time Machine still halts at around 6Gb. Any further help will be deeply appreciated. Here's the log from the Console:

03/01/08 14:09:54 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] Backup requested due to disk attach
03/01/08 14:09:54 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] Starting standard backup
03/01/08 14:09:55 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb
03/01/08 14:10:06 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] No pre-backup thinning needed: 2.50 GB requested (including padding), 207.04 GB available
03/01/08 14:10:06 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] MDBackupBegin() returned result (906) > 0, waiting
03/01/08 14:11:07 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] Stopping backupd to allow ejection of backup destination disk!
03/01/08 14:11:07 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] Copied 575 files (456.9 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
03/01/08 14:11:07 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[211] Backup canceled.
03/01/08 14:13:50 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Backup requested by user
03/01/08 14:13:50 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Starting standard backup
03/01/08 14:13:50 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb
03/01/08 14:13:50 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Ownership is disabled on the backup destination volume. Enabling.
03/01/08 14:13:50 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Backup content size: 33.2 GB excluded items size: 1.3 MB for volume Macintosh HD
03/01/08 14:13:50 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] No pre-backup thinning needed: 39.84 GB requested (including padding), 232.46 GB available
03/01/08 14:13:50 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] MDBackupBegin() returned result (909) > 0, waiting
03/01/08 14:25:08 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Error: (-36) copying /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/GarageBand Demo Songs/GarageBand Demo Songs/For the Mind.band/Media/bass guitar.aif to /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/CLAIRE ANNIE’s Computer/2008-01-03-141350.inProgress/CA5F27E6-C5DA-470E-9009-3163C14467ED/Maci ntosh HD/Library/Application Support/GarageBand/GarageBand Demo Songs/GarageBand Demo Songs/For the Mind.band/Media
03/01/08 14:25:08 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Copied 2004 files (5.0 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
03/01/08 14:27:38 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] No pre-backup thinning needed: 25.09 GB requested (including padding), 226.82 GB available
03/01/08 14:28:11 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Error: (-36) copying /Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/Apple Loops for GarageBand/Electronic Drum Beat 02.aif to /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb/CLAIRE ANNIE’s Computer/2008-01-03-141350.inProgress/7DE6EBB2-18AB-4D05-841E-393E8B3B33EF/Maci ntosh HD/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/Apple Loops for GarageBand
03/01/08 14:28:11 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Copied 448 files (410.7 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
03/01/08 14:28:12 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] _lastSnapshotNumber returned nil
03/01/08 14:28:12 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Starting post-backup thinning
03/01/08 14:28:12 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
03/01/08 14:28:12 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[236] Backup completed successfully.
Reply
User profile for user: therichard
therichard Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jan 3, 2008 9:13 AM in response to therichard

Afterwards, I tried to continue the backup by choosing "Back up Now" from the TM icon on the dock. It backed up some 13Gb more and this is the log I'm copying from the console:

03/01/08 14:38:33 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[330] Backup requested by user
03/01/08 14:38:33 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[330] Starting standard backup
03/01/08 14:38:33 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[330] Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine/Backups.backupdb
03/01/08 14:39:57 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[330] No pre-backup thinning needed: 14.40 GB requested (including padding), 226.42 GB available
03/01/08 14:45:57 kernel FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in: 83 bus resets in last 3 minute.
03/01/08 14:52:21 kernel FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in: 84 bus resets in last 3 minute.
03/01/08 14:54:39 mdworker[255] iCal.mdimporter: ignoring file </Users/CLAIRE/Library/Application Support/iCal/Sources/2832C4BC-7D04-4438-A477-0817426999B4.calendar/corestorage. ics>
03/01/08 14:54:40 mdworker[255] iCal.mdimporter: ignoring file </Users/CLAIRE/Library/Application Support/iCal/Sources/FA033468-7CA1-473F-A0CF-B03D7CA6E069.calendar/corestorage. ics>
03/01/08 14:55:33 kernel FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in: 82 bus resets in last 3 minute.
03/01/08 14:58:45 kernel FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in: 85 bus resets in last 3 minute.
03/01/08 14:59:21 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[330] Backup requested by automatic scheduler
03/01/08 15:01:57 kernel FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in: 96 bus resets in last 3 minute.
03/01/08 15:05:09 kernel FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in: 66 bus resets in last 3 minute.
03/01/08 15:05:27 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[330] Copied 83684 files (13.4 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
03/01/08 15:06:41 /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[330] No pre-backup thinning needed: 10.74 GB requested (including padding), 212.48 GB available
03/01/08 15:07:57 installdb[200] closing abandoned connection 1
03/01/08 15:07:57 installdb[200] Closed receipt database on '/Library/Receipts/db/a.receiptdb'
Reply
User profile for user: Peggy Lynn
Peggy Lynn
User level: Level 4
2,484 points

Jan 3, 2008 9:47 AM in response to therichard

Select your hard drive in the finder and do a Get Info (command-i) to double check that the formatting is Apple Extended (Journaled). If it isn't reformat using the link I posted upthread.

If the formatting is OK go to System Preferences > Time Machine > Options and use the "+" button to put these files in the "Do not back up" pane:
/Library/Application Support/GarageBand/GarageBand Demo Songs/GarageBand Demo Songs/For the Mind.band/Media/bass guitar.aif
/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/Apple Loops for GarageBand/Electronic Drum Beat 02.aif

Choose Back Up Now by right or control clicking the Time Machine icon in the dock. Then use Console to look at the Time Machine log. If you see any more -36 errors put the associated file in Time Machine preferences "Do not back up" pane. Keep doing Back Up Now and excluding any files associated with a =36 error until the log reports no more of the -36 errors.

If you don't get a full backup after that post the log.
Reply

Incomplete Initial Backup

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.
Learn more Sign up