Time Machine .sparsebundle File Trouble

Joe RS wrote:

Hi there,

My Time Machine backups stopped working on MacBook Pro v10.14.6 and I received notifications that I hadn't backed up in X number of days. I noticed that in the Time Machine preferences my last back up was dated many days in the past. When I clicked 'start backup now' everything looked like it was working except after the preparing stage no backup occurred. The backup ended, I didn't get an error message and the .sparsebundle file date was updated on the backup drive.

I could enter Time Machine and access those earlier files but there was nothing recent so I picked a new drive to backup my MacBook and it works fine.

My question is, 'What do I do about the original .sparsebundle' file?

The new backup location is actually a different partition of the same hard drive. The new backup file is named exactly the same as the original one on the original partition. I have been told by someone not to delete that original .sparsebundle file and of course it has older backups on it.

Is there a way to repair a .sparsebundle file and continue using it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Learn more about backup disks that you can use with Time Machine —https://support.apple.com/kb/HT202784

If you need to create a new backup from Mac—

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/if-you-need-to-create-a-new-backup-mh34042/10.14/mac/10.15

"Time Machine has completed a new backup for you, or get a message saying it can't create the backup,"

or “failed to complete the backup.”

This message reappears most likely the TimeMachine disk is operating in a state of failure , the solution would be to replace the drive. Learn more about backup disks that you can use with Time Machine —https://support.apple.com/kb/HT202784

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

** will not see Networked Drives.

Do you still have both Time Machine (TM) backup sets as separate destinations in the TM interface? ... or is there only the new one showing? If only the new one, hold down the Option key, and then, select Browse Other Backup Disks from the TM icon on the macOS menu bar. Does the problematic backup disk appear? If so, select it.

It may be possible to repair it. To do so, hold down the Option key, and then, select the TM icon in the menu bar. Then select Verify Backups. Let it run through the verification process and note the results.