Time Machine Error Message

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Level 4

1,428 points

Time Machine Error Message

I just set up an external HD and Time Machine a couple days ago. The initial backup didn't take long and apparently worked. But a few times today I've gotten an error message; one that I've not found in the "Troubleshooting" link above.

"Time Machine could not complete the backup.

Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder."

And then it shows a ? mark……….and……………… "OK"……………

The drive shows 130GB capacity; 105GB available; 25GB used, so it's by no means full; and apparently has done a backup.

When I open Time Machine, there's several windows labled "Desktop" from "yesterday" but only "now" for today.

Any ideas?

Thx!

Early 2009 Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6.5), G4 Sawtooth; 10.4.11; several upgrades

Posted on Nov 29, 2010 3:37 PM

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Answer 1

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Nov 29, 2010 4:02 PM in response to David Cun

David Cun wrote:
I just set up an external HD and Time Machine a couple days ago. The initial backup didn't take long and apparently worked. But a few times today I've gotten an error message; one that I've not found in the "Troubleshooting" link above.

"Time Machine could not complete the backup.

Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder."

That's some sort of problem talking to the TM drive.

Double-check the TM drive's setup, per #C1 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

If the external is set up properly, see #A1 there to get the messages from your logs. If nothing seems obvious, copy and post them here.

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Answer 2

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 1, 2010 5:53 AM in response to Pondini

Not "#C1" because it shows backups from 27NOV and 28NOV.

I downloaded the widget. Here's the message:

"...Starting standard backup
Backing up to: /Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb
Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.ModelID path:/Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb/David Cun’s Power Mac G4 (AGP graphics) size:10
Error: (-50) Creating directory 2010-12-01-083315.inProgress
Failed to make snapshot container.
Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.ModelID path:/Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb/David Cun’s Power Mac G4 (AGP graphics) size:10
Backup failed with error: 2 ..."

"TM Backup" is the name I gave the backup volume.

(I used Setup Assistant when I setup the Mac Mini, using my G4 as source. Ever since, it's called my machine David Cun...d's Power Mac G4 AGP Graphics. I have no idea why it does that.)

Thx!

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Answer 3

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Dec 1, 2010 7:23 AM in response to David Cun

David Cun wrote:
Not "#C1" because it shows backups from 27NOV and 28NOV.

Check the setup anyway.

Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.ModelID path:/Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb/David Cun’s Power Mac G4 (AGP graphics) size:10
Error: (-50) Creating directory 2010-12-01-083315.inProgress
Failed to make snapshot container.
Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.ModelID path:/Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb/David Cun’s Power Mac G4 (AGP graphics) size:10

All problems writing to the TM drive. Assuming it's set up properly, repair the backups, per #A5 in Troubleshooting.

If that doesn't help, I'd suggest downloading and installing the 10.6.5 "combo" update. That's the cleverly-named combination of all the updates to Snow Leopard since it was first released, so installing it should fix anything that's gone wrong since then, such as with one of the normal "point" updates. Info and download available at: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1324 Be sure to do a +Repair Permissions+ via Disk Utility (in your Applications/Utilities folder) afterwards.

If still no help, reinstall OSX from your Snow Leopard Install disc (that won't affect anything else), then apply the "combo" again.

(I used Setup Assistant when I setup the Mac Mini, using my G4 as source. Ever since, it's called my machine David Cun...d's Power Mac G4 AGP Graphics. I have no idea why it does that.)

+Setup Assistant+ copies the Computer name (unless you de-select the +Settings > Machine+ option). You can change it easily via +System Preferences > Sharing.+

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Answer 4

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 1, 2010 4:23 PM in response to Pondini

Well, well...
I ejected and turned off the external HD. Turned it back on and today backups are successful. Who knows?

"...Setup Assistant copies the Computer name (unless you de-select the Settings > Machine option). You can change it easily via System Preferences > Sharing..."

Thx! And thx for the suggestions!

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Answer 5

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Dec 1, 2010 4:24 PM in response to David Cun

Cool! Glad it's sorted out, and thanks for the feedback.

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Answer 6

etresoft

Level 9

56,338 points

Dec 1, 2010 4:34 PM in response to David Cun

David Cun wrote:
The initial backup didn't take long and apparently worked.

That sounds suspicious.

The drive shows 130GB capacity; 105GB available; 25GB used, so it's by no means full; and apparently has done a backup.

You only have 25 GB on your machine? Have you ever used it? I suggest you double check by doing "Get Info" on your start up drive.

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Answer 7

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 2, 2010 5:03 AM in response to etresoft

"...25 GB on your machine? Have you ever used it? ..."
LOL

Yes, it actually shows 27.6GB used on my startup HD. I keep my machine lean and mean...lol. Maybe 100 or so pics and no videos; and your basic apps. Heck I even have the whopping 1.22GB Flight Gear loaded.

"....didn't take long..." Probably took about 10-15 mins.

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Answer 8

etresoft

Level 9

56,338 points

Dec 2, 2010 7:33 AM in response to David Cun

David Cun wrote:
"...25 GB on your machine? Have you ever used it? ..."
LOL

Yes, it actually shows 27.6GB used on my startup HD. I keep my machine lean and mean...lol. Maybe 100 or so pics and no videos; and your basic apps. Heck I even have the whopping 1.22GB Flight Gear loaded.

OK. I was worried that perhaps you had gone overboard on excluding things from your backup.

"....didn't take long..." Probably took about 10-15 mins.

That sounds about right for 27 GB.

Thanks for being a good sport 🙂

By the way, considering how lean your machine is, you might want to look at getting an SSD drive: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internalstorage/Mercury_Extreme_SSDSandforce

For most people, they are cost-prohibitive for large drives. You could get away with one of the smaller affordable ones.

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Answer 9

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 5, 2010 5:45 AM in response to etresoft

RE SSD drives; look pretty expensive to me; $150 for just a 60G! If I get a drive failure I'll look into it at that time.

TimeMachine started failing again. Friday it did five backups. Yesterday only one; then the next one had the same error message as before and din do anymore backups the rest of the day.

Back to troubleshooting, I reckon.

Just an FYI: I have mine partitioned, which shouldn't affect, right? I have a little over 100GB for Time Machine (first partition) and a little over 30GB where I store stuff like app .dmg's, read me's etc.

Darn!

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Answer 10

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 5, 2010 6:03 AM in response to David Cun

Started getting same error message.

I had to add this message to change to "unanswered".

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Answer 11

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 5, 2010 6:15 AM in response to David Cun

RE: "...OK. I was worried that perhaps you had gone overboard on excluding things from your backup..." I din know enough about it to exclude anything at first. I now have excluded the 2nd partition of the backup HD...where I store .dmg's etc.

Troubleshooting, C1...it seems to be setup correctly. Besides, if it wasn't setup correctly, how could it have done a bunch of backups?

A5; repaired, "...appears to be OK..."

C3 ... I have no idea to which file the message is pointing. Any ideas on what the error message is saying?

EG: "....Error: (-50) Creating directory 2010-12-04-091538.inProgress
Failed to make snapshot container.
Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.ModelID path:/Volumes/TM Backup/Backups.backupdb/David Cun’s Mac Mini size:10
Backup failed with error: 2 ..."

It made a backup this morning...but only after turning on the external HD from shutdown. Seems to work fine on startup of the drive; but then subsequent **'s may or may not fail.

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Answer 12

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 5, 2010 6:27 AM in response to David Cun

I just went to the tool bar>Time Machine and clicked "backup now". It worked. I guess now I must wait for the next automatic backup and see what happens.

Well, about 10 mins later it done an auto backup, successfully.
Hmmmm.....

Message was edited by: David Cun

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Answer 13

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Dec 5, 2010 8:35 AM in response to David Cun

David Cun wrote:
. . .
EG: "....Error: (-50) Creating directory 2010-12-04-091538.inProgress
Failed to make snapshot container.

Same problem; unable to write the backup folder to the external HD.

It made a backup this morning...but only after turning on the external HD from shutdown. Seems to work fine on startup of the drive; but then subsequent **'s may or may not fail.

That sounds like a problem with the drive; sleeping or "spinning down" but not waking up properly or quickly enough.

Try un-checking the +Put the hard disk(s) to sleep . . .+* option in +System Preferences > Energy Saver+ temporarily. Some drives respond to that setting, some don't, but if that stops the problem, you know what it is. If so, check with the maker for a firmware or driver update, or a way to alter or disable the sleep or spin-down feature.

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Answer 14

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 6, 2010 4:41 AM in response to Pondini

Well....without doing anything, it backed up six times yesterday. And, this morning at 'wake up'.

Go figure.

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Answer 15

David Cun Author

Level 4

1,428 points

Dec 8, 2010 6:46 AM in response to David Cun

...And, worked again all day yesterday ... and this morning.

Still no ideas on what the error message was saying?
(snapshot, error 22, error 2)

I guess I'll have to put up with it producing an error every now and then...and just having to restart the external drive. But, as stated, seems to be working now. Go figure.

🙂

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