User profile for user: TimoK
TimoK Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Time Machine backup doesn't finish

I'm trying to backup my Macbook Air 2018 with an external USB drive with Time Machine, but it keeps crashing. Internal SSD is in APFS and both external drives are formatted to Mac OS extended journal. Sometimes it backs up 84 GB, sometimes 413 GB and sometimes something between those. Then it gives either error 512 or just says that 'error while copying files'. After that it may continue backup until it ends again, or sometimes it won't continue.


I have done recovery/fix drive with Disk Utility to all those drives. Power nap is disabled (this was one advice I found while searching for help). I gave Time Machine permission to all my folders, files and photos in settings. I set TM's backup settings to skip system files and apps.


Please help!

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 6, 2020 11:30 AM

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
155,414 points

Posted on Nov 6, 2020 1:59 PM

I doubt you're doing anything wrong, in fact all the other actions you took involving Power Nap and permissions were unnecessary. The external drive including its enclosure or the USB cable may be defective. The only practicable way to rule out those potential causes is to substitute another drive, cable, USB ports, etc.


For reference: If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine - Apple Support. Perhaps there is something in it both of us are overlooking.


Now I also have trouble in formatting the Time Machine disk for the next try, it appears in Disk utility but doesn't get mounted properly, hence I can't format or fix it. The drive is brand new Seagate 4 TB (Backup Plus Portable).


That's more than a clue, it's a smoking gun. That drive is defective. Try another USB cable before condemning it though.


It goes without saying but if you installed any Seagate-provided software bundled with that drive, get rid of it. From what you describe I think the drive is simply no good though.

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
155,414 points

Nov 6, 2020 1:59 PM in response to TimoK

I doubt you're doing anything wrong, in fact all the other actions you took involving Power Nap and permissions were unnecessary. The external drive including its enclosure or the USB cable may be defective. The only practicable way to rule out those potential causes is to substitute another drive, cable, USB ports, etc.


For reference: If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine - Apple Support. Perhaps there is something in it both of us are overlooking.


Now I also have trouble in formatting the Time Machine disk for the next try, it appears in Disk utility but doesn't get mounted properly, hence I can't format or fix it. The drive is brand new Seagate 4 TB (Backup Plus Portable).


That's more than a clue, it's a smoking gun. That drive is defective. Try another USB cable before condemning it though.


It goes without saying but if you installed any Seagate-provided software bundled with that drive, get rid of it. From what you describe I think the drive is simply no good though.

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User profile for user: TimoK
TimoK Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Nov 6, 2020 12:48 PM in response to AikamTheAppleDude

That safe mode I haven't tried yet, thanks for the tip.


I just updated OS to 10.15.7 and it didn't make any difference.


Forgot to mention of the settings that I have disabled the 'hard drives to sleep whenever possible' and enabled that 'prevent automatic sleep when display is off'.


Now I also have trouble in formatting the Time Machine disk for the next try, it appears in Disk utility but doesn't get mounted properly, hence I can't format or fix it. The drive is brand new Seagate 4 TB (Backup Plus Portable).

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User profile for user: TimoK
TimoK Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Nov 6, 2020 11:31 PM in response to John Galt

AikamTheAppleDude: Safe mode didn't do any difference. Disk utility found the drive, but it didn't get mounted, hence formatting etc failed still.


Old Toad: in my 250 GB internal SSD I have some 46+ GB free space.


John Galt: That broken hardware theory would be good as then I can just get a replacement drive and get this working. I'll try again with my old 2 TB drive and if it works, then I can return the Seagate to the store. It had some own backup software but I didn't install it.


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User profile for user: TimoK
TimoK Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Nov 13, 2020 12:48 AM in response to John Galt

Let's see if I can continue here or does that 'solved' mark hide this thread...


Anyway - yesterday I got a brand new Seagate 4 TB drive as a replacement. Started the Time Machine and it got to 434 GB until it stopped again with 'error while copying files'. That's a new record but still missing 1,05 TB of complete.


So now this same laptop backupped successfully to my old backup drive, but has failed to two different Seagate drives. So feels that the reason can't be cable+Seagate, but it also can't be Macbook Air...


All disks that I'm backing up are fixed with Disk Utility, so wouldn't think there's anything corrupted.


Would anybody have other ideas what to try next?


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Time Machine backup doesn't finish

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