since OS 10.15.6 my time machine has failed and now reports no times or dates for the oldest and latest backups

I entered TimeMachine again, initially it looked as though there was just a backup from today, but after about 20s the right hand side date slider (or whatever it is called) showed all backup dates dating back to 2017.

Tried to retrieve an old file and it worked, so what is up with the TimeMachine Preferences panel about

Should I let the verify run overnight ?

thanks

thanks,

I thought I would try another backup but really limit what it backed up to a handful of files so that it should be quick, and then maybe it updates this info ?

I wonder if there is a way to "rebuild" this info, bit like reindexing.

Ultimately want to go into time machine and delete backups items pre say 2017.

ok so if I have finder set to the Documents folder and I enter time machine and go to Dec 31 2018 and delete the Documents folder at this point does this mean it has deleted all the backup of the Documents folder before that point ?

I used time machine a lot to bring back files, but never done any housekeeping on it and don't really understand the implications of this type of deletion.

Ideally I would delete all backups for everything before this date to hopefully free up space, last year will be good enough

Or is there a way to find certain MAC OS upgrades as I always made a manual back up before instigating any OS Major up grade

thanks

Ian

Ok so I have created a archive copy (2.5 days !!) of the TC to an external USB plugged into the TC using the tool in airport utility.

Now when I connect the copy to the mac and select this time machine backup, when I enter time machine rather than showing all the individual dates of backup on the right hand side, it just has NOW in red and no other dates

Checking back on the TM it has backups stretching back to 2018, although I have to wait 30-40ss or so for all of these to appear, but even after 10mins on the copy they do not appear

Yet the size of the copy is the same as the TC

No joy I'm afraid

I ran a TM backup on TC-Copy today, thinking this might add and bring to life the older backups.

When I look in finder at the TC-Copy the top level has two directories

AirPort Time Capsule Archive under which is Ian's MAC &

Backups.backupdb - Ian'S MAC - todays date (one done today)

But if I look at the TC itself the only directory is

Data & under this is Ian's MAC (Sparse Disk Image Bundle.

So I'm thinking I should erase TC-Copy and run the archive again. ?

The verify backup status bar is a blue pulsating to the right rather than filling up to show progress.

still stuck with no info

thanks for your help

Also noticed that selecting any file does not ungrey the restore button?