backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/iMac.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error (null))

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Level 1

8 points

backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/iMac.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error (null))

Trying to back up my late 2009 imac, running OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 to my Time Machine & keep getting an error message that The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/iMac.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error (null)). I have updated the Airport TC firmware & repeatedly followed instructions found here including:

- shutting down TM

- deleting back-up destination & then adding it back

- resetting the SMC on the iMac per Intel iMac SMC and PRAM resetsand then restarting the iMac and restart the TC and re-test Time Machine.

Still not able to back-up – get the same error message!

Desperately need help…..

Many thanks…

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on May 2, 2020 2:45 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,688 points

May 2, 2020 3:18 PM in response to K2imac

Have you tried running Disk Utility's First Aid on the Time Machine drive? If you do know that it will take a long time as it has to do with complex permissions and hard links in the backups.

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

215,688 points

May 3, 2020 10:49 AM in response to K2imac

Did you run the First Aid on the drive that the sparse bundle was located on?

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Answer 3

K2imac Author

Level 1

8 points

May 2, 2020 5:42 PM in response to Old Toad

Hello Old Toad:

As suggested, I ran First Aid on what appeared as "Apple Sparse Bundle Disk Image Media" 2TB Disk Image External Physical Disk which was the only external item shown - "untitled" ..... it only took a second to run & indicated the operation was successful.

I then tried to back up: selected "untitled" 1.2TB of 2TB available; the TM cycled through "looking for disk", then "preparing backup"; a few minutes later received the "backup failed" message.

Perplexing?

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backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/iMac.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error (null))

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