Time Machine Error Code (-50) - Failed to make snapshot container

Question

Level 1

8 points

Time Machine Error Code (-50) - Failed to make snapshot container

Time Machine has not been able to backup my computer for 2 days.
First I was getting a message that I did not have access to a strange file that, when searched, I could not find. Now I'm getting the following log message when a Time Machine backup fails:

Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/WD Backup/Backups.backupdb
Error: (-50) Creating directory 2009-02-11-144057.inProgress
Failed to make snapshot container.
Backup failed with error: 2

Any advice?

Message was edited by: Laura Kaiser

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 11, 2009 2:51 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Feb 11, 2009 4:15 PM in response to Laura Kaiser

Hi. I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but it sounds like you have a failing disk drive.

Here's a similar thread from just the other day: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8924621&#8924621

Reply

Answer 2

Laura Kaiser Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 11, 2009 9:36 PM in response to Laura Kaiser

Thanks for the info. I looked through all the links, and after Disk Utility failed to verify the external HD, Disk Warrior appears to have corrected any barriers to hourly Time Machine back ups. I will monitor for a few days to be sure. Time Machine Buddy was useful, too.

Reply