Time Machine backup failure

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Level 1

82 points

Time Machine backup failure

Since updating iMac to Catalina, my external Time Machine periodically reports:

“Unable to complete backup.”

This report typically follows a number of successful hourly backups. The backup drive has more than ample remaining space and diagnostics reports no drive problem. Restarting iMac usually corrects this problem… but only for a while!

Eventually, I erased the drive and started Time Machine anew. But, the issue returned as before!

Frustrated… I purchased a new external drive (WD My Passport Ultra for Mac). But the new drive exhibits the same behavior!👹

Suggestions would be welcomed.

iMac 27" 5K, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 9, 2020 6:57 AM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

136,115 points

Apr 12, 2020 4:14 AM in response to nkh

FWIW, I have three WD drives connected to three Macs running Catalina since Catalina was released. Time Machine has never failed for me on any of them. I don't have WD bundled software installed on any of them. If you do, I would try uninstalling it.

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Answer 2

sterling r

Community Specialist

Apr 11, 2020 5:13 PM in response to nkh

Hello nkh,

Thank you for reaching out in Apple Support Communities. I understand there are times that a backup with Time Machine cannot be completed, as an error message appears.

I would be concerned myself, as creating a consistent backup of your data is vital. I'll be happy to help.

To help troubleshoot the error message you're experiencing, I recommend to follow the steps outlined in these two helpful articles:

Please keep me posted on the results.

Kind regards.

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Answer 3

nkh Author

Level 1

82 points

Apr 12, 2020 3:30 AM in response to sterling r

Thanks for these references…

I’ve perused the links… and, I continue to remain stymied!

After each day’s reboot… a number of hourly updates proceeds unimpeded, and then, inexplicably, the update will fail. At this point the iMac cannot eject the disk… nor does “force eject” work!

The only solution is one that I follow at end of each day: close computer & modem and reboot. This will reload Time Machine which will then function for ~10-12 updates… and then failure (without comprehensible explanation)!

This has got to be a problem many others are facing… so I feel obliged to just wait until Apple cares to address it!

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Time Machine backup failure

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