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Time Machine Unable to get status of backup disk, fails. More than one disk.

After running just fine, my Time Machine stopped working with my external backup disk.



(I cannot find anything specific to this error message, however. Everything I have found has been more general.)


I decided to try a new HD. I got the exact same error message.


I have tried:

  • Updating my OS (latest security update, but I'm on 12.14.6 Mojave)
  • Running Disk First Aid on the startup disk AND the backup disk
  • Reformatting the backup disk (making sure it has GUID partition table and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format


What are my next steps? I'm mystified that all of a sudden, it would fail and NOT be the hard disk itself.


iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS 10.14

Posted on Feb 23, 2020 8:50 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 23, 2020 9:48 PM

Brent D. wrote:

After running just fine, my Time Machine stopped working with my external backup disk.


https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/b0f13fb1-8dad-4950-ab09-00bb8211c956

(I cannot find anything specific to this error message, however. Everything I have found has been more general.)

I decided to try a new HD. I got the exact same• error message.

I have tried:
Updating my OS (latest security update, but I'm on 12.14.6 Mojave)
• Running Disk First Aid on the startup disk AND the backup disk
• Reformatting the backup disk (making sure it has GUID partition table and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format

What are my next steps? I'm mystified that all of a sudden, it would fail and NOT be the hard disk itself.



If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine


Similar questions

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 23, 2020 9:48 PM in response to Brent D.

Brent D. wrote:

After running just fine, my Time Machine stopped working with my external backup disk.


https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/b0f13fb1-8dad-4950-ab09-00bb8211c956

(I cannot find anything specific to this error message, however. Everything I have found has been more general.)

I decided to try a new HD. I got the exact same• error message.

I have tried:
Updating my OS (latest security update, but I'm on 12.14.6 Mojave)
• Running Disk First Aid on the startup disk AND the backup disk
• Reformatting the backup disk (making sure it has GUID partition table and Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format

What are my next steps? I'm mystified that all of a sudden, it would fail and NOT be the hard disk itself.



If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine


Feb 24, 2020 8:44 PM in response to Brent D.

Brent D. wrote:

It turned out that the most recent Security Update, plus the reboot it required, got the original drive back to working. Unfortunately, the error message is of no use and gave no indication of the problem, and resulted in me losing the history of the Time Machine drive since I had reformatted it.


Thanks for the report Brent D.




3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.


Boot clone https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10081

How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250

Use DiskUtility Restore feature https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/restore-a-disk-dskutl14062/mac

note:

>System Preferences>Security & Privacy >Privacy>Full Disk Access

unlock the padlock, press the + button and add Disk Utility


Time Machine Unable to get status of backup disk, fails. More than one disk.

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