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New Time Machine drive taking weeks

I’ve just got a new 2Tb external drive to use with Time Machine as my old 1Tb got full. The first backup will, at the rate it’s going, take approximately three weeks running 24/7 to complete. Surely something isn’t working properly?

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 5, 2022 3:16 AM

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Question marked as Apple recommended

Best thing is probably to start over. Follow these steps and try again:

-First, open Disk Utility and do a Disk First Aid on the internal drive to insure it is good shape.

-In SystemPreferences->Time Machine, uncheck "Back Up Automatically".

-Next, press the select disk button, select the current and click remove.

-Close System Preferences and reboot. This is to remove any possible remaining TM data.

-Completely erase the external drive and set up as GUID partition scheme and APFS.

-When this is complete, if prompted to enable using this drive for Time Machine, allow it.

If not prompted, open Time Machine in System Preferences, select the disk, and check backup

automatically.


Posted on Mar 5, 2022 5:09 AM

Similar questions

4 replies
Question marked as Apple recommended

Mar 5, 2022 5:09 AM in response to Leezy2

Best thing is probably to start over. Follow these steps and try again:

-First, open Disk Utility and do a Disk First Aid on the internal drive to insure it is good shape.

-In SystemPreferences->Time Machine, uncheck "Back Up Automatically".

-Next, press the select disk button, select the current and click remove.

-Close System Preferences and reboot. This is to remove any possible remaining TM data.

-Completely erase the external drive and set up as GUID partition scheme and APFS.

-When this is complete, if prompted to enable using this drive for Time Machine, allow it.

If not prompted, open Time Machine in System Preferences, select the disk, and check backup

automatically.


New Time Machine drive taking weeks

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