Impossible to make a Time Machine back up

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Level 3

845 points

Impossible to make a Time Machine back up

I have a key usb 32 go, I had made a time machine backup on October 21 (the last) which worked very well. but the disk was full so I erased it and tried to start a new backup. Except I don't know why I'm no longer able to save first there was always a message that said she wasn't able to save I don't know which file (it was all day a different one) but now it says I can't try to backup anymore because the disk is not available? Is it well connected though? What can I do? I absolutely have to make this backup because I have to sell my mac.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Oct 31, 2022 11:39 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

102,613 points

Nov 1, 2022 2:11 AM in response to Samuel-F

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

The issue maybe that the " I have a key usb 32 go " does not have a large enough Drive Capacity.

Since a Time Machine Backup was last performed on " October 21 " . the Time Machine Backup has been making Snap Shots to the Internal Drive.

October 21 to November 1 = 11 Days of Snap Shot have accumulated on the Internal Drive and now when you try to Backup - the Destination Drive ( " I have a key usb 32 go ) is just too small

Think you need a Bigger Drive Capacity Drive to achieve this Backup

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

102,613 points

Nov 1, 2022 6:20 AM in response to Samuel-F

Part 1 of 3

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster and comprise the Operating System

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a portion on each sale. What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions

This will include CleanMyMac and some time referred to aka " BrickMyMac "

Read some of the posting and arrive at your own conclusions.

Part 2 of 3

Specific to Time Machine Backup

Under Catalina Mojave and below format as HFS Journaled with the GUID Partition Map

Under Big Sur, Monterey and Ventura format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map

Part 3 of 3

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac

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Answer 3

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 4:01 PM in response to Owl-53

apple support can’t help me but tanks anyway. I will save my documents I iCloud…like you say maybe it’s the usb that does not have a large enough Drive Capacity and here : Time For firts Time Machine - Apple Community it say :

First, it is extremely slow.

Second, it is very small. It will fill up very quickly.

Third, it is absolutely not reliable. That is a very bad idea.

So maybe it’s the case but I will save my files with iCloud and tanks.

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

102,613 points

Nov 1, 2022 7:35 AM in response to Samuel-F

Then have a few suggestions ;

1 - Get Support Choose a product and we’ll find you the best solution.Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are Apple Employees to deal will these types of issues .

2 - Product Feedback - Apple and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue

3 - Have the computer evaluated by the Professionals who have the Special Hardware / Software and Expertise to diagnose the issue and offer possible solutions

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Answer 5

Owl-53

Level 10

102,613 points

Nov 1, 2022 5:09 AM in response to Samuel-F

OK but as mentioned earlier 32 in the name of the drive could indicate 32 MB or 32 GB.

There is huge difference between 32 MB and 32 GB and if the Snap Shot waiting to be move to the drive exceed 32 GB - there is the issue IMHO

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Answer 6

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 5:11 AM in response to Owl-53

It’s 32 gb. Now I erase the disk another time and I well see. 🤞

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Answer 7

Owl-53

Level 10

102,613 points

Nov 1, 2022 5:14 AM in response to Samuel-F

Terminal command below

\tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

The Terminal will show a list of local snapshots with names

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Answer 8

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 5:23 AM in response to Samuel-F

And this is the list of my app I install: memory diag, Final Cut Pro trial, onyx, cleaner one, 1 extensions for safari (I don’t remember the name), Apple Configurator, zoom, clean my Mac, realchess3d and iMovie. Maybe one app don’t let me back up my Mac ? Tell me if I remove one app.

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Answer 9

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 6:36 AM in response to Owl-53

Ok so I have another time an error so I will erase clean my Mac and Final Cut Pro Trial beacause the error was with clean my Mac the first time but the after it was Final Cut Pro and now Final Cut Pro.

Its I French but it say : Time machine can't back up MacBook Air (its the name of my usb)

This is the error so it say : Users/samuel.f/Library/Trial/Treatments/1000/factorPacks/629fe54ebc762c0b6f758b6b/assets/com.apple.siri.dialog.socialconversationfl#d5b433e/dialog/SocialConversation.catfamily/dalWhatIsYourStarSign.cat/_params.cat.bin can't be back up so time machine not complete the back up. So now I will to what I say and see if it work.

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Answer 10

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 7:28 AM in response to Owl-53

No this not work now I have a message : /Users/samuel.f/Library/Trial/Treatments/SIRI_DIALOG_ASSETS/factorPacks/629fe54ebc762c0b6f758b6b/assets/com.apple.siri.dialog.sirikitflow/dialog/UnsetRelationship.catfamily/PromptForRelationship.cat/es-mx.cat.bin can't be save. Now I do what ? I try agains or what ?

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Answer 11

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 7:52 AM in response to Owl-53

Before contact Apple Support I will try to make backups after the error like : back up > error > back up>.... util is finish (if finish because now its at 52 %) if its impossible to finish the time machine back up I will contact Apple Support like you say but tanks anyway.

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Answer 12

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 8:49 AM in response to Owl-53

No I have another error but now I now the bug :

1 : I try to made a back up but I not work beacause it can complete (can save I don’t now what file…)
2 : I retry to made a new back up after the bug but like after 1h I have the same bug.
3 : I retry a lot of times…
4 : After retrying a lot of time I have an error that the disk is full but in reality no
5 : I retry to made a backup
6 : I have the first bug : (can save I don’t now what file…)
7 : when I want to retry now I have a message that it can prepare the Time Machine
8 : I erase the disk
9 : I come back to number 1

So I will contact Apple Support 😓

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Answer 13

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 5:03 AM in response to Owl-53

But I erase it. I will try annoter time. The problem is : I can make a back up but never complete and the problem is not the storage. If the bug still there I will send you a screenshot.

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Answer 14

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 5:19 AM in response to Owl-53

I don’t see the screenshot? But this is not so important. I have another question : when I erase the disk I have to erase in which format ?

APFS, macOS, ms-dos fat,exfat ?

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Answer 15

Samuel-F Author

Level 3

845 points

Nov 1, 2022 6:25 AM in response to Owl-53

Tanks you fery mutch 😀 I well delete clean my Mac it’s not very necessary and I don’t have data in this app and tanks to confirm it’s APFS with guid. Tanks for 3 of 3 but I now this link 😉

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Impossible to make a Time Machine back up

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