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Disk Utility has been running for 3 days on task "checking multi-linked files" on my Time Machine backup disk

Hi, I am trying to run first aid on my Time Machine backup disk since after returning from two months off, when I tried to run a Time Machine backup it took days and wouldn't progress so I exited the Time Machine backup, turned it off, and tried to run First Aid.

Any ideas (short of erasing the Time Machine volume and starting all over again--which I would prefer not to have to do)?

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 11, 2020 11:39 AM

Top-ranking reply

steve626

Level 6

11,501 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2020 8:52 PM

I would be suspicious of the time machine disk.

I would get another new external disk, connect it, and add it as a Time Machine disk. It's always safer to have two backups rather than one. I would also reboot the computer and run Disk Utility on the computer's main disk. Assuming it is healthy, I would suspect a problem with your old Time Machine disk. You could try to erase and reformat it but it will always be suspect, best to simply replace and discard it, you will never be able to really trust it.

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Disk Utility has been running for 3 days on task "checking multi-linked files" on my Time Machine backup disk

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