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I can enter Time Machine and navigate but cannot go further back in time. The time hashmarks on the right turn red when I hover the cursor. I have run First Aid from Disk Utilities and the disk checks out healthy. Does this situation indicate that the data is corrupt? If so, what's the process for correcting it?
I'm using a 1-TB USB external powered hard drive for T.M., backing up a late-2015 iMac running OS 10.13.6, High Sierra.
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
For fundamental troubleshooting references please read If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine - Apple Support and Time Machine troubleshooting - Apple Support.
I have run First Aid from Disk Utilities and the disk checks out healthy.
Repeat that exercise with the source volume. You have to boot macOS Recovery first and select Disk Utility from the macOS Utilites menu, since DFA cannot "repair" the volume on which it's running.
Does this situation indicate that the data is corrupt?
Not necessarily since TM's file storage events database is maintained on the source. That's the reason for running DFA on it. The backup disk might have suffered corruption regardless of what DFA concluded, which is the reason at least one additional, redundant Time Machine backup drive is advisable. Any backup is better than none, but one and only one backup device does not comprise a robust backup strategy. For that reason I suggest getting another one at your earliest convenience.
Then consider the following:
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The following technique can be used to "reconnect" to the backup disk, which will force a traversal of the backup hierarchy. It will not affect TM's existing backup history in any way.
Open Time Machine's Preferences and de-select the Back Up Automatically checkbox. Make sure no backups are in progress, otherwise you should wait for it to finish or terminate.
Then, click the "Select Disk..." button, select the backup disk, then Remove Disk, then Stop Using This Disk.
This will not affect any existing backups.
Reconnect the backup disk to the Mac, power it on if required, and wait for its icon to appear on the Desktop.
Then, Select Disk... again in Time Machine's Preferences. Re-select the same one under Available Disks, then Use Disk. If the backup is on a network (TC or AEBS), you will be prompted for the password you provided for that disk in AirPort Utility.
"Waiting to complete first backup" will appear, which means it won't do anything until the next scheduled backup. Despite the implication of that message, it does not mean it needs to create a completely new backup, as if it's creating a brand new one. Your existing backups will still be available.
If you don't want to wait that long, select Back Up Now.
A Notification may appear if your source volume is encrypted and the backup volume is not. That's normal.
Re-select Back Up Automatically. The "Preparing Backup..." status message will remain for a long time. Eventually, "Backing up xxx of yyy" will appear, but those values will not be accurate, nor will the "Estimated time remaining" in Time Machine's Preferences. Just ignore it. It may take a few hours even if your Mac is not allowed to sleep. Time Machine will also pause or become slow if you use your Mac for tasks it considers a higher priority.
For fundamental troubleshooting references please read If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine - Apple Support and Time Machine troubleshooting - Apple Support.
I have run First Aid from Disk Utilities and the disk checks out healthy.
Repeat that exercise with the source volume. You have to boot macOS Recovery first and select Disk Utility from the macOS Utilites menu, since DFA cannot "repair" the volume on which it's running.
Does this situation indicate that the data is corrupt?
Not necessarily since TM's file storage events database is maintained on the source. That's the reason for running DFA on it. The backup disk might have suffered corruption regardless of what DFA concluded, which is the reason at least one additional, redundant Time Machine backup drive is advisable. Any backup is better than none, but one and only one backup device does not comprise a robust backup strategy. For that reason I suggest getting another one at your earliest convenience.
Then consider the following:
---
The following technique can be used to "reconnect" to the backup disk, which will force a traversal of the backup hierarchy. It will not affect TM's existing backup history in any way.
Open Time Machine's Preferences and de-select the Back Up Automatically checkbox. Make sure no backups are in progress, otherwise you should wait for it to finish or terminate.
Then, click the "Select Disk..." button, select the backup disk, then Remove Disk, then Stop Using This Disk.
This will not affect any existing backups.
Reconnect the backup disk to the Mac, power it on if required, and wait for its icon to appear on the Desktop.
Then, Select Disk... again in Time Machine's Preferences. Re-select the same one under Available Disks, then Use Disk. If the backup is on a network (TC or AEBS), you will be prompted for the password you provided for that disk in AirPort Utility.
"Waiting to complete first backup" will appear, which means it won't do anything until the next scheduled backup. Despite the implication of that message, it does not mean it needs to create a completely new backup, as if it's creating a brand new one. Your existing backups will still be available.
If you don't want to wait that long, select Back Up Now.
A Notification may appear if your source volume is encrypted and the backup volume is not. That's normal.
Re-select Back Up Automatically. The "Preparing Backup..." status message will remain for a long time. Eventually, "Backing up xxx of yyy" will appear, but those values will not be accurate, nor will the "Estimated time remaining" in Time Machine's Preferences. Just ignore it. It may take a few hours even if your Mac is not allowed to sleep. Time Machine will also pause or become slow if you use your Mac for tasks it considers a higher priority.
I like a joke as well as the next person but the fact that I cannot retrieve my files presents serious problems for me so I don't appreciate you wasting my time. Please do not post again on this thread unless you have something helpful to contribute.
See if Back in Time works, though the demo just allows the most recent. :(
https://www.tri-edre.com/download/download/backintime.html
It worked for me once when TM wouldn't allow anything but would display.
Did you click on the red hashmarks?
Yes. They only turn red. As I wrote, it won't go back in time.
Mine are always red, And they do go back in time. That's why I was asking.
I see. The red kind of jumped out at me so I assumed it might be a sign of some problem. Perhaps I am mistaken. In any case, it doesn't go back in time when the hashmarks are clicked.
To be honest, I wondered the same thing since they are red. I'm not sure why you can't go back in time. Hopefully someone else who knows will respond.
I clicked on one of mine and it took me back to when I was 24… Oh wait a minute…
Did they have computers back then?
Maybe you can find a solution here: https://www.baligu.com/pondini/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Thanks. I saw that site already when I googled "Time machine won't restore files." Unfortunately it does not seem to have a topic that covers my problem. I appreciate your help.
Does the TM drive show OK in Disk Utility>First Aid?
As I wrote in my OP, Time Machine checked out okay in Disk Utility > First Aid.
Thanks! I'll try it.
Time Machine won't go back in time
