Time Machine stuck in 'Preparing Backup'

Hi, I've looked at other posts on this already. Time Machine is stuck in 'Preparing Backup' and has been for hours....

One of the key points mentioned in other posts relating to this, is to look at removing the '.inProgress' file. The problem is I cant even locate this.

My Timecapsule has a mounted drive called 'Data' which when I go into it, has a Sparse Image Disc Bundle for my macbook Pro (see image below). I have searched on the macbook and the external drive, but cannot locate this 'inProgress' file anywhere.

MacBook

Posted on Feb 26, 2021 2:06 AM

Top-ranking reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,262 points

Posted on Feb 26, 2021 1:12 PM

What OS are your computers running? Since it is Sparsebundle and not BackupBundle it must be Mojave or earlier.

Is this the same computer on the same OS? Did you upgrade OS for example. That will cause issues.

What about network. Any changes?

You cannot run a backup with the sparse bundle open in Finder.. so do unmount the TC disk.

Sometimes the previous backup just becomes bad.. you can verify it and it passes.. (that is next step btw.. stop the backup and run verify on backup) Option for verify is under the Time Machine icon.. hold down option key and click it.

If it proves ok but backup still won't work.. just delete the backup and start a fresh one.. sorry.. if you have important info in the old backup run archive first on the TC to a Mac format disk of the same size or larger than TC drive. Time Machine likely cannot use it but you can extract (with difficulty) key files and folders using Finder if it is not corrupt.. note corrupt is common.

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Time Machine stuck in 'Preparing Backup'

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