Problems Using WD Elements to Back with Time Machine

Question

Level 1

6 points

Problems Using WD Elements to Back with Time Machine

For some time now, I have been using a 2TB WD Elements external hard drive to back up my 2012 MacBook Pro with Time Machine. The external hard drive was identified as being compatible with Mac but need to be formatted first. I did that when I first started using this storage device for back up and it worked fine, until the last day or so. When I connected the hard drive to perform a backup that was indicated, things hang up at the stage where Time Machine indicates that it is "Preparing Backup." It eventually times out and I get a window stating, "That an error has occurred with copying files. The problem may be temporary. If the problem persists, use Disk Utility to repair your backup disk."

I opened Disk Utility to do First Aid on the WD Elements hard drive but the application said that the external hard drive was not "mounted." Not sure what that means.

Last successful update was, when indicated, in October.

I have a series of backups on the storage device and don't want to lose them. Is there some way to do a repair without losing what I have or is the simplest thing to do now is to buy a new external drive.

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Posted on Jan 7, 2019 7:11 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 9, 2019 9:27 AM in response to tpaine76

I opened Disk Utility to do First Aid on the WD Elements hard drive but the application said that the external hard drive was not "mounted." Not sure what that means.

The drive has to be mounted to run DU First Aid—this would be worthwhile.

Disk Utility>File>Mount if it refuses you can from terminal ex.

diskutil mount /dev/disk1s2

see for details on your diskutil list

http://osxdaily.com/2013/05/13/mount-unmount-drives-from-the-command-line-in-mac-os-x/

Reply

Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jan 8, 2019 10:51 AM in response to tpaine76

Yes, the simplest is to buy a new external hard drive. WD isn't the most reliable in the external drive department, I'd suggest OWC, their line of Mercury Elite Drives is excellent.

https://www.macsales.com

Of course, you always can try erasing the WD and see if that works.

If it said it was not mounted, then for some reason it was not seeing the drive. Does it show as mounted on your Desktop or in Finder > Sidebar under Devices? If not try ejecting the drive and then reconnecting it.

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 8, 2019 10:56 AM in response to tpaine76

2012 MacBook Pro

Time Machine indicates that it is "Preparing Backup." It eventually

times out and I get a window stating, "That an error has occurred with copying files.

**See if you have any dataless snapshots in the list: It will literally say (dataless.)—IF so delete them—

Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app

From the Terminal look at Time machine local snapshots, copy & paste:

tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

# tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

com.apple.TimeMachine.2017-10-04-014927 (dataless)

com.apple.TimeMachine.2017-10-04-024750

com.apple.TimeMachine.2017-10-04-024752

com.apple.TimeMachine.2017-10-04-024835

com.apple.TimeMachine.2017-10-04-024852

here is an ex. to delete from the above output list.

sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots 2017-10-04-014927

Reply

Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

136,049 points

Jan 9, 2019 7:07 AM in response to macjack

Yes, the simplest is to buy a new external hard drive. WD isn't the most reliable in the external drive department, I'd suggest OWC, their line of Mercury Elite Drives is excellent.

Yes. None of my WD drives have lasted more than 10 years (so far). 😝

Reply

Answer 5

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jan 10, 2019 7:02 AM in response to tpaine76

If the drive won't mount, there's not much you can do. You'll need to purchase a new external drive and start over. I gave you a suggestion for a good external drive but any external drive will work for TM. Be sure to reformat the drive Mac OS Extended (Journaled) before use.

Reply

Answer 6

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jan 9, 2019 7:21 AM in response to dialabrain

See, I told you so! 😎

But I have seen many posts in these forums with failed WD external drives. More so than any other brand. It may be the chipsets they use in them or it may be the software that's included, if they're not reformatted before use. Do you purchase the drives in enclosures or roll your own?

Reply

Answer 7

tpaine76 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 9, 2019 6:53 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks for your thoughts on this. First, I was able to confirm that my WD Elements drive is visible in Finder as "Time Elements" when I attempt the back up.

After a "BackUp Failed" message, I went into Terminal, as you suggested, and typed the command line "tmutil listlocalsnapshots /". I got nothing back in response.

I then simply did the command "tmutil" and got the following output:

:~ $ tmutil

Usage: tmutil version

Usage: tmutil enable

Usage: tmutil disable

Usage: tmutil startbackup [-a | --auto] [-b | --block] [-r | --rotation] [-d | --destination dest_id]

Usage: tmutil stopbackup

Usage: tmutil delete snapshot_path ...

Usage: tmutil restore [-v] src ... dst

Usage: tmutil compare [-@acdefghlmnstuEX] [-D depth] [-I name]

tmutil compare [-@acdefghlmnstuEX] [-D depth] [-I name] snapshot_path

tmutil compare [-@acdefghlmnstuEUX] [-D depth] [-I name] path1 path2

Usage: tmutil setdestination [-a] mount_point

tmutil setdestination [-ap] afp://user[:pass]@host/share

Usage: tmutil removedestination destination_id

Usage: tmutil destinationinfo [-X]

Usage: tmutil addexclusion [-p|-v] item ...

Usage: tmutil removeexclusion [-p|-v] item ...

Usage: tmutil isexcluded item ...

Usage: tmutil inheritbackup machine_directory

tmutil inheritbackup sparse_bundle

Usage: tmutil associatedisk [-a] mount_point volume_backup_directory

Usage: tmutil latestbackup

Usage: tmutil listbackups

Usage: tmutil machinedirectory

Usage: tmutil calculatedrift machine_directory

Usage: tmutil uniquesize path ...

Usage: tmutil verifychecksums path ...

Usage: tmutil localsnapshot

Usage: tmutil listlocalsnapshots <mount_point>

Usage: tmutil listlocalsnapshotdates [<mount_point>]

Usage: tmutil deletelocalsnapshots <snapshot_date>

Usage: tmutil thinlocalsnapshots <mount_point> [purgeamount] [urgency]

Not sure what any of this really means.

Any further thoughts anyone?

Thanks

Reply

Answer 8

tpaine76 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 10, 2019 6:27 AM in response to leroydouglas

Ok, I think I give up. I decided to run Disk Utilities First Aid through interface (not via terminal).

Good thing was that it mounted and went through the entire diagnostic process. Took several hours.

Bad news is that I got the following message (at the end of a long set of details): "... The volume Elements could no be repaired after 3 attempts. File system check exit code is 8. Restoring the original state found as mounted. Problem -69842 occurred while restoring the original mount state. File system verify or repair failed. Operation failed ...

Even worse news, after I went back into Terminal, although I could see the external hard drive listed, it would not mount, even using the commands recommended. It is no longer visible in the file directory in Finder.

So I guess the question at this point is what is the best and easiest external hard drive to use for Time Elements and do I need to start the back up process from the beginning or are prior backups still recoverable?

Thanks

Reply

Answer 9

tpaine76 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 10, 2019 7:27 AM in response to macjack

Yes, thanks. I'll take a look at the OWC Mercury Elite Drives.

Reply

Answer 10

dialabrain

Level 10

136,049 points

Jan 9, 2019 7:25 AM in response to macjack

Too lazy to roll my own. My guess is you see more problems because of the software and also they are most likely the biggest sellers. I did have one fail recently after only 5 years. I was very disappointed. Of course they're as cheap as a $2 suit.

Reply