Can't Erase/Mount Time Machine SSD...

Question

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Can't Erase/Mount Time Machine SSD...

How do I erase my encrypted TM ** if the SSD will not mount?

I noticed the last TM backup had failed and it would not backup manually either.

The drive icon showed on desktop, but would not unmount.

DU First Aid worked on each volume/container, but Erase failed to mount.

I tried to disconnect/reconnected but no change.

I've been using TM with HDD and SSD since beginning and never had this happen, so I can only assume the SSD has failed somehow after only about 3 years. It's a Glyph ATOM RAID SSD 1TB USB-C (Thunderbolt).

iMac 27″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Mar 6, 2022 12:29 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Mar 7, 2022 8:44 AM in response to Sapote

Update:

Issue resolved.

It seems to have been caused by TimeMachineEditor (an app to custom schedule TM backups). Once I turned off the schedule and removed the app, the TM ** disk mounted, but no backups, so erase did work, it just wouldn't mount because it was being accessed. I thought it was a coincidence, but this issue did start the following day after I used it to schedule backups (M-F @ 7PM).

I also recall seeing a message window about the disk being accessed by Finder when I tried to manually backup TM and eject the disk, so I relaunched it. I thought that worked at first, but then the other issues followed after the first scheduled backup using TME.

This was from Glyph Tech Support:

The error message usually means something is accessing the disk and it can't be mounted because said program, usually FSCK is attempting repairs to the file system. This usually happens after an improper ejection/power outage/crash.

Try 'sudo pkill -f fsck' in the terminal and then mounting it. It might resolve over time as well, sometimes not though.

https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/26704/timemachineeditor

[Link Edited by Moderator]

Reply