Received error message today that my latest back-up failed as not enough disk space, but I haven't added anything of size to cause that. I opened Time Machine and all my history was gone (only shows "Now" and "Today").
My external hard disk is 80GB and the files being backed up are 62GB. They still all seem to be there. The error message says backup requires 62GB of space but only 18GB is available on the hard disk (which happens to be the difference between 80GB hard disk size and 62GB backup size).
This suggests to me that Time Machine has lost its link with the backup history and is therefore trying to back-up everything again (the whole 62GB), rather than just the changed files (much smaller) which it would ordinarily do.
Can anyone help me restore the link to the back-up history?
Yes, it does indeed appear that Time Machine doesn’t recognize its’ own previous backups. In that case Time Machine will ignore these backups and attempt to start a full backup.
First try, Ctrl-click the Time Machine icon in the Dock and select “Browse Other Time machine disks…”
Now see if it will allow you to select the existing backups. Now can you go ‘back in time’ and see your previous data? Then it is indeed still there, it has just lost the link to it.
*Computer Name*
If that’s the case, the most likely culprit is you or something else has changed the name of your computer.
Go to System Preferences --> Sharing. If the “Computer Name” field is blank, Time Machine will have a difficult time maintaining consistent backups. Before adding or changing the computer name do the following:
In a Finder window open your Time Machine drive.
Open the folder labeled “Backups,backupdb”.
Inside is the folder containing the backups of the computer in question.
Note the name of the folder. It might be something like “Bills MacBook Pro”. That was your computers’ name when Time Machine performed its’ first full backup. If this name is missing or different in the Sharing “Computer Nane” field then time Machine backups will fail.
Copy the name of the folder and paste it in the “Computer Name” field.
Next turn Sharing OFF and then back ON by unchecking and then rechecking the box on the left.
Close the backup folder and eject the Time Machine disk.
Now try resuming backups
*Corrupt Backup Files*
If you were not able to access your previous backups via the “Browse Other Time machine disks…” function, then it is likely that the backup data is corrupt.
In that case you’ll want to erase the disk or partition that the old backups are on and begin Time Machine backups again.
To help prevent future instances of corruption, avoid storing other data files on the same partition that the Time Machine backups reside on. Rather create a separate partition for other files and folders to use.
Yes, it does indeed appear that Time Machine doesn’t recognize its’ own previous backups. In that case Time Machine will ignore these backups and attempt to start a full backup.
First try, Ctrl-click the Time Machine icon in the Dock and select “Browse Other Time machine disks…”
Now see if it will allow you to select the existing backups. Now can you go ‘back in time’ and see your previous data? Then it is indeed still there, it has just lost the link to it.
*Computer Name*
If that’s the case, the most likely culprit is you or something else has changed the name of your computer.
Go to System Preferences --> Sharing. If the “Computer Name” field is blank, Time Machine will have a difficult time maintaining consistent backups. Before adding or changing the computer name do the following:
In a Finder window open your Time Machine drive.
Open the folder labeled “Backups,backupdb”.
Inside is the folder containing the backups of the computer in question.
Note the name of the folder. It might be something like “Bills MacBook Pro”. That was your computers’ name when Time Machine performed its’ first full backup. If this name is missing or different in the Sharing “Computer Nane” field then time Machine backups will fail.
Copy the name of the folder and paste it in the “Computer Name” field.
Next turn Sharing OFF and then back ON by unchecking and then rechecking the box on the left.
Close the backup folder and eject the Time Machine disk.
Now try resuming backups
*Corrupt Backup Files*
If you were not able to access your previous backups via the “Browse Other Time machine disks…” function, then it is likely that the backup data is corrupt.
In that case you’ll want to erase the disk or partition that the old backups are on and begin Time Machine backups again.
To help prevent future instances of corruption, avoid storing other data files on the same partition that the Time Machine backups reside on. Rather create a separate partition for other files and folders to use.
Thanks so much for this and sorry for the long delay in responding. I still can not find the old backups, but don't seem to have lost anything either so just hoping it doesn't happen again. I think your answer was on the right track, as I made some major changes to folder sharing before this happened, i.e. I allowed all folders for each user of my Mac (family of 4) to be accessed by all other users. I think this may have confused the back-ups somewhat.
Thanks again for your thoughtful response, Richard.
I have updated my thoughts on this issue since we last communicated. See if any of the below helps to resolve the issue.
*_Previous Time Machine Backups Are No Longer Visible_*
There are several reasons why this might be the case. Consider the following:
If Time Machine can successfully launch into its’ “time travel” interface then the software is seeing backups. It you only have two time travel windows to chose from, “Today (Now)” and a single window behind that, then Time Machine has only performed its initial full backup. You can verify this by looking at the time scale on the right. If no dates appear other than Now and the date of your first full backup then subsequent incremental backups have not been taking place.
If it has been MORE than an 1 ½ hours since the first full backup completed, then you need to determine why Time Machine has stopped backing up. It might simply be that the Time Machine Preference has been turned off.
If, on the other hand, you look at the time scale on the right and you see multiple dates going back to the time of the first full backup, but they are grayed-out, then Time Machine knows that incremental backups have been taking place. Nevertheless, only the front most window “Today (Now)” shows content. Take a look at the Sidebar of the Finder window. Among the various Devices, Shares, and Places, what is highlighted/selected? If it is the Time Machine backup disk itself that is highlighted, then click on some other location in the Sidebar to make the former backup windows appear.
You see, the Time Machine “time travel” interface displays the historical backup state of what ever location is highlighted in the Finders’ Sidebar. Since Time Machine does not back itself up, then there will be no historical backup windows visible.
Bear in mind as well, if you have added locations and items to the Time Machine “Exclude From Backup” list, then there will be no visible history of these items either if they too are highlighted or selected.
And of course, if you are looking at a file or folder that has only recently been created, then there will not be many, or any, backup copies of it depending on how long ago it was created.
*Anti-Virus Software*
If you have anti-virus software running try disabling, launch Time Machine again, and see if you can access previously backed up data. Sometimes such programs scanning processes can interfere with Time Machine.
*File Vault*
Does the User Account in question happen to have File Vault active? In another thread V.K. stated: "if you start TM from a filevaulted home directory all you'll see is present. you could browse your old backups of files outside your home directory but not anything in it."
*For Time Capsule / AirDisk users*
If you are backing up to a wireless device, and you have the Time Machine backup disk image (sparsebundle) mounted on your desktop while you are trying to access it via the Time Machine "time travel" interface, you may not be able to see any files from previous backups.
You see, if the backup disk image (sparsebundle) is already mounted on the desktop (a White drive icon) then Time Machine may conclude that the disk is “in use” and fail to mount it properly. Obviously, this is not a factor when backing up to a locally connected drive.
*SideBar is Missing / Can’t Navigate to Other Locations*
It may be that you see no backup history because the current window displayed
HAS no backups. Nevertheless, there is nothing else to choose as the SideBar on the left is missing and won’t allow you to select another location on your Hard disk to explore.
Cancel out of Time Machine on the left.
Back in the Finder, go up to the “View” menu.
Select “Show Toolbar”. The Sidebar should now be visible.
Choose another location to begin exploring backups.
Now click the Time Machine Dock icon to enter the “time travel” interface again.
*Reselect Your Time Machine Disk*
Go to System Preferences --> Time Machine.
Use the slider on the left to turn “OFF” Time Machine.
Click the "Change Disk..." button.
Select "None" and click "Stop Backing Up".
Now click "Choose Backup Disk" and reselect your backup hard disk again.
Now use the slider on the left to turn “ON” Time Machine.
Close System Preferences and try viewing previous backups again using the Time Machine interface.
Thanks again, but still can not find any back-ups prior to 14 September, the day every back-up prior disappeared. As I say, not a problem as I still have all my files, so long as it doesn't happen again.
Is there a chance you had to go in a delete any files/folders yourself back then? When you highlight a file to delete you go up to the Action menu (Gear icon) and select “Delete all backups of <this file>”.
Unfortunately, "Delete
Backup" is right under that selection. If you accidentally chose this option,
ALL items in this particular backup will be deleted! If the backup is old enough to have been consolidated into daily backups, then the whole backup for that date will be deleted. If the backup is old enough to have been consolidated into weekly backups, then the whole backup for that week will be deleted if this option is accidentally selected.
Looking back at your original post made me realize something - you are not designating enough space for Time Machine backups. A backup drive should be +at least+ twice as large as your Macs internal hard disk. That way it has room to grow and you are less likely to experience what you did. This protects you as well in the event of accidental allowing Time Machine to backup a hard disk you did not intend on being backed up - If you backup drive is not large enough, you lose all your data while Time Machine attempts to add this additional drive to the backups.
Think of Time Machine backups as tube. As you push more material into one end the amount of empty space at the other end is reduced. Once the tube is completely full, material will not necessary stop from being add. But old material will begin to exit the other end (be deleted).
This article may explain why you received that original message regarding 'not enough room for the backup'.
*_“This Backup is Too Large for the Backup Volume”_*
First, much depends on the size of your Mac’s internal hard disk, the quantity of data it contains, and the size of the hard disk designated for Time Machine backups. It is recommended that any hard disk designated for Time Machine backups be +at least+ twice as large as the hard disk it is backing up from. You see, the more space it has to grow, the greater the history it can preserve.
*Disk Management*
Time Machine is designed to use the space it is given as economically as possible. When backups reach the limit of expansion, Time Machine will begin to delete old backups to make way for newer data. The less space you provide for backups the sooner older data will be discarded. [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/15137.html]
However, Time Machine will only delete what it considers “expired”. Within the Console Logs this process is referred to as “thinning”. It appears that many of these “expired” backups are deleted when hourly backups are consolidated into daily backups and daily backups are consolidated into weekly backups. This consolidation takes place once hourly backups reach 24 hours old and daily backups reach about 30 days old. Weekly backups will only be deleted, or ‘thinned’, once the backup drive nears full capacity.
One thing seems for sure, though; If a new incremental backup happens to be larger than what Time Machine currently considers “expired” then you will get the message “This backup is too large for the backup volume.” In other words, Time Machine believes it would have to sacrifice to much to accommodate the latest incremental backup. This is probably why Time Machine always overestimates incremental backups by 2 to 10 times the actual size of the data currently being backed up. Within the Console logs this is referred to as “padding”. This is so that backup files never actually reach the physically limits of the backup disk itself.
There appears to be a method for getting around this that may work for some. Bear in mind that it will involve deleting older backups that Time Machine does not yet consider “expired”. But it should allow you to complete the current backup attempt. It is fitting, as well, to remind users that backup disks should be +at least+ twice as large as your Macs’ internal hard disk.
The Time Machine error message tells you how much space the current backup requires.
Using that measurement, go into the Time Machine Preferences and click “Options…”.
Now using the Exclusion List, begin adding things like System & Library folders, and anything else that will get the “Total Included…” figure down to the amount that Time Machine reported was necessary. Leave your User folder for last. If it is still not enough, you can begin including folder within your Home folder.
Once the “Total Included…” is below what Time Machine requires, then perform a backup. During the backup, Time Machine perform certain house-keeping duties that frees up additional space.
Once the backup is complete, check Time Machine Prefs “Available:” line. You may discover that you now have more room than expected.
Go back to the Exclusion List and begin removing items until the “Total Included…” is again just under what “Available” states.
Perform another backup. Again more room may become available. You may have to repeat this procedure several time until a backup includes
ALL of your desired files.
*Backups WAY Too Large*
If an initial full backup or a subsequent incremental backup is tens or hundreds of Gigs larger than expected, check to see that all unwanted external hard disks are still excluded from Time Machine backups. Time Machine will attempt to backup any hard disk attached to your Mac, including secondary internal drives, that have not been added to Time Machines Exclusion list.
This includes the Time Machine backup drive ITSELF. Normally, Time Machine is set to exclude itself by default. But on rare occasions it can forget. When your backup begins, Time Machine mounts the backup on your desktop. (For Time Capsule users it appears as a white drive icon labeled something like “Backup of (your computer)”.) If, while it is mounted, it does not show up in the Time Machine Prefs “Do not back up” list, then Time Machine will attempt to back ITSELF up. If it is not listed while the drive is mounted, then you need to add it to the list.
*Recovering Backup Space*
If you have discovered that large unwanted files have been backed up, you can use the Time Machine “time travel” interface to recovered some of that space. Do
NOT, however, delete files from a Time Machine backup disk by manually mounting the disk and dragging files to the trash. You can damage or destroy your original backups by this means.
Additionally, deleting files you no longer wish to keep on your Mac does not immediately remove such files from Time Machine backups. Once data has been removed from your Macs' hard disk it will remain in backups for some time until Time Machine determines that it has "expired". That's one of its’ benefits - it retains data you may have unintentionally deleted. But eventually that data is expunged. If, however, you need to remove backed up files immediately, do this:
Launch Time Machine from the Dock icon.
Initially, you are presented with a window labeled “Today (Now)”. This window represents the state of your Mac as it exists now. +DO NOT+ delete or make changes to files while you see “Today (Now)” at the bottom of the screen. Otherwise, you will be deleting files that exist "today" - not yesterday or last week.
Click on the window just behind “Today (Now)”. This represents the last successful backup and should display the date and time of this backup at the bottom of the screen.
Now, navigate to where the unwanted file resides. If it has been some time since you deleted the file from your Mac, you may need to go farther back in time to see the unwanted file. In that case, use the time scale on the right to choose a date
prior to when you actually deleted the file from your Mac.
Highlight the file and click the Actions menu (Gear icon) from the toolbar.
Select “Delete all backups of <this file>”.
*Full Backup After Hardware Change/Replacement*
If you are running out of disk space sooner than expected it may be that Time Machine is ignoring previous backups and is trying to perform another full backup of your system? This will happen if you have replaced your computer with a new one, or had significant repair work done on your existing Mac. Time Machine will perform a new full backup. This is normal.
You have several options if Time Machine is unable to perform the new full backup:
A. Delete the old backups, and let Time Machine begin a fresh.
B. Attach another external hard disk and begin backups there, while keeping this current hard disk. After you are satisfied with the new backup set, you can later reformat the old hard disk and use it for other storage.
C. Ctrl-Click the Time Machine Dock icon and select "Browse Other Time Machine disks...". Then select the old backup set. Navigate to files/folders you don't really need backups of and go up to the Action menu ("Gear" icon) and select "Delete all backups of this file." If you delete enough useless stuff, you may be able to free up enough space for the new backup to take place. However, this method is not assured as it may not free up enough "contiguous space" for the new backup to take place.
*Outgrown Your Backup Disk?*
On the other hand, your computers drive contents may very well have outgrown the capacity of the Time Machine backup disk. It may be time to purchase a larger capacity hard drive for Time Machine backups. Alternatively, you can begin using the Time Machine Preferences exclusion list to prevent Time Machine from backing up unneeded files/folders.
Consider as well: Do you really need ALL that data on your primary hard disk? It sounds like you might need to Archive to a different hard disk anything that's is not of immediate importance. You see, Time Machine is not designed for archiving purposes, just as a backup of your local drive(s). In the event of disaster, it can get your system back to its' current state without having to reinstall everything. But if you need LONG TERM storage, then you need another drive that is removed from your normal everyday working environment.
This KB article discusses this scenario with some suggestions including Archiving the old backups and starting fresh [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/15137.html]
Hi Glenn- I jumped right in to this discussion because I have had the same issue. A few weeks ago I tried accessing TM and saw that the backup history prior to September 21 was grayed out- at that time I left to go be with my mother for 3 weeks. Didn't run TM since my disk was here. Came home and resumed using TM again. So from October 13 to present the backups were viewable but before that they were grayed out. I posted something to this forum at that time but by morning all was well. I hadn't done anything. So today I went to do a little poking around and again, all backups prior to 21 September were grayed out (although I have backups back to January). So I came back to the forums and started searching and came across this thread. I tried 2 things and both worked- going into the backup disk and I could see all the folders for the backups. I also went into System Prefs and did what you suggested as far as turning off TM, etc. and reselecting the hard drive. Very helpful. I put both hints and tips somewhere where I hope to remember to look at if this happens again. I am not sure at all why it has happened to me twice since I have not changed the name of my computer nor changed anything to do with TM. Just one of those things I guess!! Thanks for your help. Take care, Judy
